10 hours after catching the pegeon for breakfast this morning, the Sparrowhawk returned this afternoon to finish it off.  So a few more photos in slightly better light.

A few photos of a Sparrowhawk in the garden this morning.  It was there for probably an hour plucking, eating, perching.  Photos taken from the bedroom window.

Trying out some very close up macro stuff in the garden.  Using a 100mm macro lens with 65mm of extension tubes.  Some nice close ups, but some quality challenges relating to iso - depth of field - lighting trade offs.

A few snaps from Arne yesterday.  Note for next year - second half of July is rubbish for birds, bring different lenses.

Over the two weeks I've spent 5 mornings in the woods looking for Purple Emperors.  Only ever saw them high up around the top of oaks.  It seems they emerged early this year, so I missed the opportunity to see them stocking up on minerals on the ground.  Anyway, today I managed to actually get a few photos, albiet of female Purple Emperors high up in a tree.  Plus a hover fly close up.