Meal Time!, a photo from Lancashire, England

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

We have been very lucky to have a pair of starlings nesting in a hole in our hawthorn tree.

In fact, this pair have been returning for four years to the same nest!

The hole is not very high in the tree so we have placed wire around the trunk to prevent cats climbing as high as the nest.

Earlier in the year, the pair produced young but they fledged early in the morning and we missed them!

Fortunately, the starling parents have had a second brood and I was able to capture just a glimpse of one of them!

My photograph shows one of the parents returning to the nest with a tasty meal.

My w/s shows it just a moment later!

I sat quietly to capture this, free hand. If I make too much of an appearance, with tripod and camera, the birds become very agitated! Now that I have this shot, I may try again with a tripod, a little further from the nest.

Thank you for your interest, Bev :-)

holmertz, ikeharel, pierrefonds, Fis2, aliabazari, jemaflor, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (103520) 2022-06-17 3:55

Hello Bev,
These photos are all very charming and interesting. The main photo is the best "portrait", a perfect and sharp profile view like out of a book about birds. Both WS have more action, and especially I like the hungry baby's open beak. And some motion blur doesn't disturb me in a photo of a bird going down for landing.
I appreciate your consideration to protect the starlings from murderous cats. (I love cats, but...)
Best regards,
Gert

ikeharel (114435) 2022-06-17 4:13

This starling bird specie is very different from the common israeli starling, mainly seen in Jerusalem area, Beverley.
Beautiful colors upon the black feathers, close range picture is clear and distinct.
WS's also attractive moments captured.
Good afternoon,
Ike

pierrefonds (115408) 2022-06-17 4:49

HI Bev,

The bird is well placed in the frame. The point of view is showing the details of the Starling. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Fis2 (171789) 2022-06-17 6:30

Witaj Bev!
Excellent shot.
The bird makes impression.
Good POV, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Good afternoon.
Krzysztof

aliabazari (23115) 2022-06-17 9:26

Hello Beverley
Beautiful view of this lovely bird. You are very entertained and happy in your backyard. Clarity and lighting done well. thank you

Silvio1953 (222747) 2022-06-17 9:56

Ciao cara Bev, great capture of lovely bird in nice pose, wonderful natural colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Tue (93296) 2022-06-17 10:00

Hello Beverley,
What a great photo of this starling, which had just managed to catch a bit of food. The patterns and colours of its wings are really amazing and so well visible here. The yellow, green and purple tones are fantastic.
Lars

jmdias (116307) 2022-06-17 10:59

bev

excellent moments of nature so well captures. the WS with the baby waiting the food is fantastic too. I liked the patterns of the body of the bird with white spots.

take care

jorge

lousat (139906) 2022-06-17 13:47

Hi Bev,3 very good pics, lucky discover of this nest,so it's enough to wait to do pics so nice like yours,very well done! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

ifege (49257) 2022-06-17 22:11

Hi Bev
A good one of this handsome looking starling, another bird that we regard as a feral pest, inappropriately imported. Excellent sharpness and colour and I do love the mouth wanting food in the WS.
cheers
Ian

emka (158672) 2022-06-17 23:02

Hello Bev, How great to have the birds nesting in the garden. Wonderful view of this father starling with the food for the young. Very sharp picture.
Last year, I had the nest of a blackbird on my pergola and we also could observe the busy parents.
I would choose the Workshop picture with the yellow beak of the baby. It is amazing.
The cats in the garden are always my concern.
Best regards MAlgo

jemaflor (148094) 2022-06-17 23:29

Hi Bev,
well observed and taken, well timed, good title, nice sharpness, tfs.

mkamionka (75009) 2022-06-18 6:10

Hi Bev,
Nice capture. An early bird catches the worm. Very well caught aganst the natural background of the tree. The sharpness was critical here to be able to notice the "meal".
I am a bit worried because house martins returned to my house and they rebuilt the nest abve the entrance, They droppings started to decorate the entrance already and dotted my car as well.
Other than that I love birds coming over :)
M

ChrisJ (172372) 2022-06-20 10:46

Hi Bev

Your patience paid off. The starling does look a little like the Indian Mynah bird, which is a close relative and is present in Australia. Good sharpness and shallow dof. Tfs!

COSTANTINO (117652) 2022-06-23 22:46

Hello my dearest Beverley and have a nice day
and a happy week end
you are a very lucky photographer
taking fantastic photos like this one
with the bird in the moment of eating
its meal....welldone......
yes you are avery lucky to have a pair
of starlings nesting in a hole in your
hawthorn tree....
great and clever idea too...
regards
Costantino