Kensington Jay

Managed some reasonable Jay shots in Kensington Gardens today despite many uncontrollable dogs rampaging through the Leafyard. I guess they were getting tired of mauling the swans and thought Jays were better sport. A Grey Squirrel climbed up my Gitzo tripod, though funnier still was the man who allowed a Brown Rat to climb up his leg for some food. Looked for the adult Med Gull at the Round Pond (different bird from last winter) but difficult amongst several hundred Black-headed Gulls.

Docklands Shelduck

I never really feel the cold but sitting at East India Dock Basin in London’s Docklands today for four hours was fairly chilly. A dozen Shelduck were present and occasionally a squabble would break out over a favoured muddy patch and they would fly around the basin allowing some flight shots. Also 130+ Teal, Yellow-legged and Great Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher (1-2), Little Grebe (3) and Redshank (12) with the regulars.

Regent’s Pigeons

Took a lunch break in Regent’s Park to make the most of the good light and autumn colours.

Bloomsbury Firecrest

Hyperactive Firecrest in Gordon Square near Euston/UCL at luchtime today.

Hinotori

System 7, one of my favourite groups, have released a video edit for the track Hinotori, from their forthcoming album Phoenix. Here is the press release...

We present the new video made to an edit of our new track Hinotori. A lot of time and a lot of love went into this 21st century manga animation, based on Tezuka Osamu's original image of the mythical bird. Maximum respect to the animation team Mu-°C Magic. Hinotori - literally ³Bird of Fire² ­ is the Japanese title of Tezuka's groundbreaking series of manga graphic novels about the legend of the Phoenix. When intervening in human events Hinotori speaks with a magical telepathic voice directly into peoples¹ minds. It is our wish to celebrate the power, the magical voice and the emotion of the Phoenix in music.
Steve & Miquette (System 7) www.a-wave.com/system7/

Urban Parakeet Study

Ring-necked Parakeets at the feeding station at the Wildside Hide, London Wetland Centre WWT. The side windows don't open here so I had to shoot through some dirty plastic.