MINUTE WOODLAND kingfisher, the size of a blue tit,

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=========================================================Perched near fresh water to drink, but hunts insects around damp grassy margins, or picks them off on the surface of the water.. Africa's smallest kingfisher., and it made my day, as have got seen one for several years !!

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THANK YOU for your visit and comments, will enjoy visiting your photostream and commenting on your latest captures.

Stay safe and well..............God bless Tomx

SMALL and compact bird with a relatively short. dark tail. This male was seen at Sandwich Bay Kent and was the only bird of note seen today, and a bit distant, hope you enjoy it!

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Trust you are staying safe and well, thanks for your visit, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it encouraging . God bless.........................Tomx

ACTIVE BIRDS, and not common as the name suggests, are found in dense forests and mangroves, I found them very hard to photograph as to their jerky fast movements, love seeing them.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will soon be looking at your latest posting, which I very much enjoy, being transported around the world from the comfort of my armchair. Keep warm, safe, and well, God bless you ............Tomx

Recapping 2013 images of the Gambia, when I did only have very few followers, hope you enjoy, as this is my Favourite bird from this region.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting. Keep a smile on your face, love in your heart for everybody, Stay safe, God bless

............Tomx

VERY SMALL KINGFISHER

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Have so many images of these beauties, as they grew in confidence, getting closer and closer, typically perches low and in the shade. The fight is extremely rapid and straight. Miss these beauties very much, so entertaining. (one of nine kingfisher species found in the Gambia.)

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship to my Gambia trip images. Hope you have a very enjoyable weekend, God bless you............Tomx

REMARKABLY bold and inquisitive, and walks with a acteristic swagger, a opportunistic feeder, and comes in mob handed at Briar Cottage, A real villian seeing off the smaller birds!!! This one is saying "Do I look like a villan ?"

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THANK YOU for your friendship and visit and comments will do my best to return the visit, if not now then in a few days, my life is a bit hectic still. Keep safe and well, God bless you all..........................Tomx

A GREETING CARD star, one of the nations favourites. Often bold and inquisitive in garden settings, strongly and conspicuously territorial, so how can you not take its picture, I love them, seen at Stodmarsh, Kent, UK.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP in these difficult times, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting.

Enjoy the rest of the week, stay safe, God bless..............Tomx

ALTHOUGH it's very wary nature ensures that its attractive plumage is seldom viewed to the best effect and the raucous calls are heard more often than the bird itself is seen. A joy to see as I always consider this to be my Neminis bird.

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THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and comments, hope you are all keeping well, God bless.................Tomx

DAZZLINGLY ATTRACTIVE bird, not often seen in our corner of Kent UK, and was not expecting to see it in the Grove Ferry Feast Hide, but what a joy when it landed, he caught a couple of tiddlers and was off, leaving me with the biggest grin ever.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it very encouraging

.The weekend is coming on strong, stay safe, may God bless you.............................Tomx

DUMPY and short-tailed woodland bird, the Nuthatch has the habit of descending tree trunks head-downwards in a jerky mannor. The chisel-like bill is used to prise insects from tree bark, and to hammer open acorns wedged into bark crevices. It is also a frequent visitor to garden bird feeders in rural areas, sadly not mine.

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THANK YOU for your visit and comments, will look forward to returning to your photostream, and commenting on your lastest image.

OFFLINE for three days, enjoy the weekend, stay safe, God bless...............................Tomx

A adorable, rather dumpy short tailed woodland bird , which has the habit of descending tree trunks head-downwards in a jerky manner, its chisel-like bill is used to prise insects from tree bark and to hammer open acorns wedged into bark crevices. Love working with these birds.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, enjoy the new week dear friends, Stay safe and well, God bless.......................... ......................................Tomx.

LARGEST SEABIRD in the region. Very distinctive, easily recognized in flight by its cigar-shaped body and long narrow wings it was a real l delight to see so many at Bemton cliffs.

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THANK YOU, for your visit friendship and comments, love seeing your images and being transported around the world from the comfort of y armchair. Keep safe and well...........

God bless you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Tomx

CHARMING little reedbed specialist has a rather compact, rounded body and a proportionately very long tail. The distinctive call has earned the species the affectionate nickname of "pinger" which utters a diagnostic, high-pitched ping call.. Was overjoyed to get this chance encounter at Oare Marshes in Kent of a male, as I normally only see the female or juveniles, a bit of a nemesis bird for me.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, its a joy seeing your images and being transported around the world without leaving my armchair. Beautiful sunshine in the U.K at last, enjoy but stay safe............God bless......................Tomx

Gambia tour 2020

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A JUVENILE, , graceful black and white wader with relatively slim bodies, long legs and short tails. A surface feeder, walks into the reflections of the mangroves, and will a setting sun, causing some beautiful colours in the river water. the camera had to come into action !

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, AND LEAVING A COMMENT. Will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting. Stay well and safe, in these rather troubled times.

God blessings go with you...................................Tomx

EXTREMELY wary birds, widely spread, opportunistic feeders, taking both carrion and live prey, they will also scavenge quite happily on the seashore as above, or at rubbish tips and car parks.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT, am behind with my commenting as still having laptop troubles, will try to catch up.

Stay safe and well my dear friends.........God bless...........Tomx.

SUMMER VISITOR, this bird was busy feeding up close to the coast , to make the hop across the Channel and work its way south to warmer climates. I know that I am still fairly new to birding, but it seems like a lot of birds think its Autumn already, and indeed the weather has been a bit autumnal, at times. have you seen any signs ?

Bit of a heavy crop on this, but not a lot to show you.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, Enjoy the Lords day, keep safe, God bless...................Tomx.

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"Dear GOD, help us to focus on the greatest gift of the whole year through. THANK YOU for sending your one and only Son, that we might be saved through Him.

FAMILIAR black, grey and white bird. The Pied Wagtail has a bounding flight and distinctive habit of pumping its tail up and down. They love locations such as playing fields and supermarket car parks, where this one was captured, but I was willing it to go into a little grass area to get a better image.

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THANK YOU for being a friend, please leave a comment and I will look forward to returning the visit.

We have the road map out of lockdown, just hope the nature reserves and hides will soon open.

Stay safe and well, God bless..........................Tomx.

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JESUS LOVES YOU and died for you, let him into your life today as your savior!

GAMBIA TOUR feb. 2020

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FAVORS wooded areas with oil palms, frequently hovers in front of leaves and flowers, alighting to dodge out of sight between leaves, Also takes insects and spiders, probing bark of palm trees, and sap leaking from incisions made in oil palms to collect palm wine. Calls frequently.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please stay well and safe, God bless, you are in my prayers...........................Tomx

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Ask Jesus into your life today! you will never regret it ..

BUCKINGHAM PALACE lake to the humblest farm pond, the little grebe- often called a dabchick- is the most widespread of its family in Britain as well as the smallest. It is home in any still or fast flowing fresh water, that has a lush growth of vegetation. IT dives at the smallest alarm, coming to the surface some distance away. Love their powder puff tail feathers. Captured in the summer but not shown before !

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THANK EVERYONE, who takes their time to view and comment on my image, it is appreciated and find very encouraging. Will look forward to doing the same on your latest postings.

Keep that smile on your face, and love in your heart for everyone, enjoy every day God made, bless you all............

.............................................Tomx.

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Ask Jesus into your life, you will never regret it !

afternoon sighting in Shaba Nature Reserve, Kenya, in 2010.

Gerenuk are also called Giraffe Gazelle or Giraffe-necked Gazelle.

A medium-sized antelope with a long thin neck and a small head; it often feeds while standing on the hind legs and

lives in arid areas, mainly in Northern Kenya

Litocranius walleri

gerenoek of girafgazelle

gazelle de Waller ou antilope-girafe

Giraffengazellen oder Gerenuk

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Near Threathened

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. ButsFons©2021

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

A BULKY, broad -winged raptor , medium sized bird of prey, and still not that many in the south-east area of Kent. A pure joy to see coming of the fields at Elmley Nature Reserve, the brown and black blobs on the ground are cows!!

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THANK YOU for your visit, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your lastest posting.

Please stay safe , God bless....Tomx

One of our most loved birds

The brimstone is a fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, with distinctive, leaf-shaped wings. Adults hibernate through cold weather, so may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the spring. Usually seen in ones or twos, they are never very common, but are widespread. They can be found in damp woodlands, along sunny, woodland rides and mature hedgerows, and in large gardens. The foodplants of the larvae are buckthorn and alder buckthorn. Both shrubs are found in wet woodland, while buckthorn also occurs on dry chalk and limestone soils.

OFF LINE FOR FIVE DAYS

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THREE FULL DAYS STAYING ON SKOMER ISLAND, with my brother Bob, the forcast looks not very good, but it will be great fun, and you know what to expect with my images, in the next coulpe of weeks, puffins ans more puffins.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will return to your images to comment as soon as possable.

Look after yourself, stay well and safe, God bless...................Tomx.

FORAGING in low scrub, rather warbler like, picking and hovering from the underside of leaves, Was told of this uncommon bird to the Kotu area, and have to admit to spending more time looking or waiting for an appearance, than any other bird on the trip, but it did put an appearance just for a few seconds, would have loved to have got a side image, to show its full beauty.

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THANK YOU, for your visit to my Gambian images, hope you are still enjoying them, I love reading your kind comments and doing the same to your latest posting. Enjoy the Lord's day, God bless and keep you safe and well..............Tomx.

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UNITE IN PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

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Gambia tour 2020.

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JOY OF JOYS, my brother spotted and called HOOPOE, no way I thought !!! But yes it was, our first sighting in the Gambia. Bless its heart, it let us very near, and I have over 100 keeper images, it was completely relaxed, and never stopped grooming itself, a experience I will never forget . Seen in the Kotu area.

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THANK YOU for being a friend and leaving a comment. Will look forward to visiting your photo stream and and doing the same on your latest posting. The weekend is coming on fast, enjoy, say safe, and may God bless you in all you do.

...................................................Tomx

THEY may be widespread and rather nondescript, streaked brown bird, but I have a real affection for them, as a ground-dwelling species, it is quite approachable with care. Feeds on invertebrates as seen, a bit harder in the capture in the winter when they often form loose flocks.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, they are always very appreciated and find encouraging, and will look forward to seeing your latest images......In the UK we are in lockdown again from Thurs, not sure if this means not visiting nature reserves?

Please take great care folks, put your trust in our Lord, and we will get through this................God bless you...............Tomx

MY WALK WITH BIRDING PHOTOGRAPHY STARTED AS ABOVE

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IN 2003, from our Spanish villa, it overlooked a large area of scrub land and orchards, was amazing. I found a area where BEE-EATERS where nesting in earthly holes in a bank near to water, just a short walk away, and set up a hide. The hide was in dense bushes , put in a chair, and other home comforts, was so well concealed that sometimes one would land on a branch only inches away from my face. I had the birds, but no experience and only a Canon 40D and a stigma 300m lens. Looking back on the images now, they are real rubbish. We had six amazing years in Spain, but Chris never settled, and the arrival of grandchildren, the pull was to great for her, so we returned.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, am going through my Archives starting at the beginning. Please stay safe, some restrictions lifted, but the virus is still there!

God bless..............................Tomx

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !"

A forest dwelling butterfly with black-brown wings marked with white spots, streaks and bands. The underwing patterns are repeated but against a pale orange back ground colour.

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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NORMALLY VERY PLACID HERON, with no neck showing, but something came near, did not see what it was, it reeled out its neck , with a feather duster look, with a loud grunting type call, was quite taken back with its very long neck behaviour. Have shown the normal pose thirty seven images back, if you want to compare

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, they are very appreciated, enjoy your day, stay well and safe, God bless....

.................................................Tomx.

THE FIG AND PLUM TREE, in our garden , only feed the birds, rarely do we get to eat of the fruits.. This was taken in the darkest possible spot, and therefore of poor quality, but a bit different. My wife Chris and I have been feeding two families of Blackbirds, and they have become very tame, and even enter the cottage, and has given us so much joy and entertainment during these difficult times of near isolation.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, I love doing the same to your lastest postings.

Enjoy the Lords day, stay well and safe, God bless..... ......................................Tomx.

Lens: Tamron AF SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro 1: 1

A FAMILIAR MIGRANT VISITOR, that can be recognized in flight by its pointed wings and in the adult long tail streamers. But to photograph one is the problem as the adults rarely perch, and then it's on roadside wires, so this had to be taken on something natural !!!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND FRIENDSHIP, hope you all have a great weekend, God bless............... Tomx

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"Jesus loves you, yes you !!"

Ask him into your life today.

Swallow taken from the out the window of our guesthouse room

This is what I was waiting for folks and have a little series of these guys with different wing positions that I'm you will like as well.

Hope everyone had a great and safe weekend, and as always thank you for everything.

DELIGHTFUL PLUMP-BODIED WADER, not often seen, and taken in very dark conditions, the best of a bad bunch, but just enjoy catching up with this pair every-year at the sea side defense wall, from Jan to about April. Seen a Hampton near Herne Bay, Kent, U.K.

VERY RUDE GESTURE, poking his tongue out, this Grey Heron, is a large and familiar wetland bird, often stands motionless for hours on end, waiting for prey to pass within striking range of its bill. However sometimes it will engage in active pursuit, fish and amphibians are its main prey. Seen at Bough Beech Reserve. Kent.

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THANK YOU for your support, and kind comments, am struggling with a lame computer, and internet that keeps tripping out, but will try to keep up with your images. Stay safe, God Bless.............Tomx.

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You can see, GODs BEAUTY IS SIMPLY AMAZING !

Taken at Bempton Cliffs last summer.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.

AN ELEGANT and unmistakable pure white, heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and a long neck. Was very well hidden, when this bird dropped in, it then started working its way towards me, until I could not fit it in the frame, then past me, but who wants a back side view ! What a experience. Classed as a rarity in Britain a while back, but now fairly easy to find.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, it is always appreciated. Enjoy the weekend dear friends, Stay safe, God bless...................Tomx.

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HELP PLEASE !

Have always cropped my images by 6x4inches, and have tried to get them published, but cannot find anybody that will do this size, for a pictorial type book, any help or advice would be very appreciated. Thank you.

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SORRY once again my posting of this image lost the first couple of comments, very strange !!!

I'm on holiday in Scarborough until Sunday, so my uploads will be hit and miss

Good Monday morning everyone, and hoping a great and safe weekend was had by all.

This guy was interesting in that he kept going into the tall grasses and coming back with these little morsels that he would make quick work of, I did not know what they were until I got home and was able to see on the monitor just what they were, a little Froggy indeed.

Thanks for stopping by and for all the kind words, very very much appreciated.

SMALL dumpy wader that is associated with coastal habitats. Feeds by running along sand, gravel or estuarine mud as if powered by clockwork and then standing still for a second, to pick up food from the ground. Seen from the sea wall Reculvers, where their was a flock of about 20.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, and leaving a comment, will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting!

Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone

May God bless and keep you...........................................Tomx.

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COUNT your blessings, name them one by one, and you will be surprised what the good LORDs done.!

The meadow pipit is a common nesting bird of moorland, heathland and rough grassland. In the autumn and winter, it moves out of upland areas to lowlands where it gathers in small flocks and can be found on farmland and saltmarshes. In the spring, it performs a fluttering, 'parachute' display flight. There are 2 million breeding territories in the UK.

On moorlands, meadow pipits are the most common 'foster parents' of young cuckoos. The adult cuckoo will lay a single egg in a meadow pipit's nest. After hatching, the cuckoo chick will push the other eggs or young birds out of the nest, giving its foster parents more time to concentrate on feeding their new, oversized chick.

at a large pool in a farmland area

Ardea cinerea

blauwe reiger

héron cendré

Graureiher

Garza Real

Airone cenerino

Garça-real

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

A familiar bird of our wetlands, the Coot is often seen on park lakes, ponds and rivers. It spends more of its time on the water than its relative, the Moorhen, and will dive to catch small invertebrates. Unlike ducks, Coots will bring their catch to the surface before eating it, leading to squabbles over food. Coots breed in spring, laying between six and nine eggs in nests made among emergent vegetation. Coot chicks are black with orange fluff around the face and body; they are independent within two months of hatching.

The Coot can be distinguished from the similar-looking Moorhen by its larger size, entirely black body (with no white patches), and bright white bill. Coots spend much of their time away from the bankside, diving for food.

DELIGHTFUL and often confiding little bird with a proportionately very long tail and seemingly an almost spherical body. The long-tailed Tit is often seen in rather animated flocks; it moves in a rather jerky fashion and has acrobatic feeding habits, which is so entertaining to watch, one of my favorite birds, captured through the kitchen window on a very wet day, hence the 1/30 shutter speed on a I.S.O of 1250.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to returning the visit.

Stay safe and well, God loves you, keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone..............................Tomx

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !"

A FAMILIAR species, in part of its affinity for human habitation. Stiil is Britians most numerus bird just, but you cannot hide the fact it also is in fast decline. I think they are beautiful, and wish more people would post them. Seen from home today (Tues)

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THANK YOU, for you valued visit and comment, will return the visit very soon. Stay well and safe, God bless.............Tomx.

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GOD has over 7,000 promises made for you, written in the Bible, promises of success, confidence, health, prosperity, strenth , wisdom and more. Ask him into your life today, is all you have to do.

Say this prayer with me !

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LORD JESUS CHRIST, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life, please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. THANK YOU that you died on that cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. Please come into my life today, to be with me forever.

THANK YOU , Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Usually in winter, I photograph birds outside, but the kowhai tree flowering last spring was incredible... and the best view is from inside, where it's elevated and I can photograph straight into the tree. So I spent some time photographing through double glazing! Not my favourite glass... but... the glimpse into birdworld was too strong to resist :-)

Silvereyes are very communal birds, often visiting in small family groups and pairs. Some preening pairs are family, some couples, and some just dating ;-) If one preens too roughly the moment is soon over!

I glimpsed this pair through my lcd quite far back in the tree... I didn't see them at all with my bare eyes. They were there maybe only a minute, but seeing minutes like these makes a lot of happiness :-)

Here's to the world beyond the window...

and to moments of joy 🌼

whether quiet or aloud

my thanks for being here

on the other side of the glass!! :-)

I don't know how many I took of this guy folks, and mostly half body and feet, and that's at 30-f.p.s. timing all wrong and camera work needs some touching up, sad but unfortunate.

Thanks to all for everything.