Rumex obtusifolius

Doing well this year. Or at least, doing red.

Another one. This one, as so often, in the stove. Not sure how long it was there, probably less than a day. A bit more cantankerous than the last, and a bit sooty. (These two things may be related.) You’d think birds would have the sense not to fly down a dark reeky hole, but then it’s been so warm this year that even in mid-December we haven’t had the fire on. I suppose we should light it if only to make it smell a bit more daunting.

Almost got it. These are very interesting birds, so I have the ambition to take a good photograph of them one day. But they’re a bit too fast. You see red waxwings, but not for long. Usually blur-red waxwings when you get a camera near them. So long as they keep coming back for the berries and rosehips I think there’s a chance.

The Visitors have returned. Ten so far (as against twelve last year), but one was staying well uphill from the others, not talking. Several of the flock seem to be looking at the photographer, but I think they were wary of something on our roof; perhaps crows.

Word has it there was a lapwing in the field a couple of weeks ago, for the first time in several years. Maybe it’ll be a good year for something. Not for human visitors, but.

Also, new lens, which is why I managed to take the shot at all. But it rather exposes the limitations of the old camera . . . 

Abraxas grossulariata

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Either there are dozens of these today or this one has been following me around since yesterday, desperate for camera time.

(This picture is heavily brightened from the original as there’s too much breeze for clear, bright, narrow aperture shots.)