ON THE WING

If you have tried taking photographs of birds,you will know how difficult it is unless they are perched on a branch and not moving.
Trying to catch small,fast flying birds is near impossible for the novice photographer.I have had some degree of luck,taking shots of the Hawk,Heron and Ducks,but I have now set my sights on getting a perfect small bird in flight.
I have taken hundreds of shots,practicing,but still the shot I am after eludes me,but I am posting the best of the bunch so far.
Any professional photographers looking at these will cringe ( David,Adrian and anyone else.!! ) but for little old novice,me, the best I can do at the moment.

OK,I cheated and set the camera up near the bird feeder by the shed,the only place that I knew the birds would be.
These will enlarge but do not bother because the focus is not good and the definition is lost in bigger format.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Carolyn.

BROTHERLY LOVE.

Those of you that follow me regularly will remember a post I did last year called a kidney to die for.I can not get the link to this post to work,but if you wish to re read this post you will find it in last years posts.
I wrote the post because one of our nearest and dearest needed a transplant.
We all offered,but B was reluctant to accept,plus most of us were the wrong blood group or not suitable for various reasons,however,his brother was a perfect match.
B said he would only accept it if he became too ill to carry on with dialysis,in the hope a transplant became available through the hospital.
B did become ill,his dialysis was not working and he needed his transplant.The two brothers were admitted to hospital and yesterday the operation was performed.I am pleased and relieved to say all went well but we have an anxious time ahead of us incase the kidney rejects,this is not expected to happen,transplants between siblings is very successful,so I pray all goes well.
What more could a brother do to show his love----Truly this gift was the gift of life.
Carolyn.

MAY ON THE MOOR AND IN THE HEDGEROWS

The last two days have been quite nice after last weeks rain,though still prone to the odd downpour and gusts of wind.
During my walks,listening to the birds and the buzzing of the bees and insects,I really became aware of the nature around me that  I take for granted.
On the moor heathland I found these beautiful blue flowers,I do not know the name of them,but just look at the intricacy of the petals.The flowers are tiny,I have magnified them to show the detail.

This next flower was also on the moor,I believe it is called Lungwort,but I stand to be corrected on this,I am not very good on names,I must invest in a good wild flower book.!!

The next photos are blossoms in the hedgerows.Have you ever stopped to look at the humble Hawthorn or the Mountain Ash flowers.?? They have a beauty and a scent that we are not aware of until we get up close and take notice.

The hawthorn.

The beautiful lacy flowers of the Mountain Ash.

The delicate waxy flowers of the Holly.
The next picture - bluebells and pink bells  in the grassy banks of the hedges.

So,next time you go for a walk,make time to really look at the nature in all it's glory--Get up close,look at the tiny flowers under your feet,you will be amazed.

 Until the next time take care. Please enlarge the photos to see the detail.

The bits you did not see .!!!

Found this on Youtube,very funny.Thought I would post this as an alternative to the real thing.
Have a good week everyone.