Lapwing

A chiaroscuro of one of my favourite birds, with lovely iridescence on the wing.

Stone Age Electrician

A combination of textures, colour and era seen in sculptor John McGill's garden. I didn't notice the dragonfly on the statue's head at the time.

Canon Can

An amusing photo opportunity at the preserved prefab at Duxford.

Twiggy 2

Time for a change from black and white to .. er.. black and white (with a touch of red). This bird deserves the 'twiggy' title more than our kindling-collecting kite. Aerial elegance.

Beyond Repair?

Probably.

Miner's Bedroom, Blaenavon

This view is from the miners' cottages at the Ironworks Museum at Blaenavon.

kite art

This is one answer to the question of what to do with the less well-focussed pictures.

Nora No.5

Nora is one of the exhibits at the Big Pit Museum at Blaenavon, where black and white was again suitable. Not so suitable was a photograph of Margaret Thatcher under a sign saying 'Mines Rescue Service'.

Twiggy

Another of the snaps of this handsome bird. We were spoiled for photographic opportunities, and I remembered my 1982 trip to mid-Wales with Gerry Cotter where we had a only a couple of sightings of far-away kites.

Dudley scene

The broad streets of Dudley town centre have more than their share of empty shops.

Blue Sky Buzzard

This is a dream image for a bird photographer - beautifully-marked buzzard, every feather, leg and eye sharp. Mid-Wales, 300mm lens, 1/2500th sec. at f/9.

Red Kite

After yesterday's rain at the Black Mountain Kite Site, today brought better light. The sky was full of thermalling kites and buzzards, but we had to wait more than two hours from the official feeding time before the birds came down, and by then everybody else had gone. Autofocus worked better when the kites came towards the camera and were big in the frame.

Black and white cows

After using a DSLR for ages, I discovered that you can take photos in black and white. And add filtration. So I chose a suitable subject. The oil refinery in the background is at Rhoscrowther.

Sparrowhawk

While photographing peregrines and kestrels on Ramsey Island, a sparrowhawk appeared and hung in the updraft long enough to be snapped. No idea what it was doing there - it's a woodland bird and there wasn't a single tree or even a bush on the island.

Museum of Speed

Parry-Thomas's restored car 'Babs' at the museum overlooking Pendine Sands, where the speed records were made.

Catching Kittiwakes in Flight

While fishing off Mumbles Pier, this young fisherman caught a kittiwake flying past. Ann held the bird while two fishermen untangled the line and the cross bird flew off unharmed.

Kittiwake Capers

This juvenile kittiwake was refused permission to land back on Mumbles Pier by the older generation.

Ann in cafe

For two days now I've been reminded to get out of the 180 degree view of her fisheye lens, so I took this flattering pic of her with it, but as usual it turned out nice again! Barry Island.

Stuffed Crufts

Surprisingly real toys from Crufts 2009