Just because it amuses me, so some of you might also like it.

Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

I'm sure you'll eventually see better, but still, 12/8/2026 Partial Solar Eclipse, Prospect Park, Reading, UK

First in sequence 17:09 Third in the sequence is 18:20, last 19:40

Canon R5 MkII + RF600 F11 +16 stop Thousand Oaks Filter, 1/500s, ISO and luminance all a bit of a mess with AUTO, -1 on camera, and luminance curve messing about

Red Kites just love the camera (actually they tend to fly off if I turn a camera to them, but...) so I can't resist taking ever more shots, so I'm afraid yet another from Prospect Park, today.

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF 200-800

Bonus food photo:

Far too high up in the sky even to be sure this was a Sparrowhawk, but a couple of Kites and this hawk were clearly interacting for a few minutes, though not that I noticed attacking each other - offered as I'd not seen this sort of interaction before (crows and jackdaws, now, they will eagerly take on Kites near their nests). Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Assorted Grebe photos from my trip to Dinton Pastures, Winnersh, Berks., UK. The more knowledgeable amongst you will have guesses the overly green one was a shot partially obscured by a branch - alas it was the only one with the classic heart shape from a courting pair.

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Well, that's what Merlin tells me, and given it was amongst reeds (at Dinton Pastures, Winnersh, Berks., UK) I'll go with that. First time I've decided one of my photos is of that species (claiming it's the first time I've seen one would be pessimistic).

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Probably young (other, even poorer, photos show a fluffy underside) and probably male (the crest tending to orange)

Prospect Park poking around a large conifer, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Slightly shaded (ISO4000) and a little further away than ideal, but still, the first Goldfinch I've seen for a while.

Prospect Desert, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Red Kite (either a youngster or moulting from later shots), Prospect Desert, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

Prospect Park Desert, Reading, UK after too many days without rain - there's very little to see bar the scavengers like this Red Kite.

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

It's too hot and dry here, so most birds are in hiding. A few jackdaws were pecking around, and I rather liked this shot - I've not noticed iridescence on them before (only on some of their fellow corvids).

Prospect Park, Reading, UK circa 28 degrees C at 9am and getting hotter (OK, some of you have it much worse)

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800.

I saw no other Mandarin ducks of either species on my walk, so I'm guessing this cutie was off exploring new pastures.

River Thames, Tilehurst, Reading. Canon R5 + RF200-800

And a close up:

Bit of iridescence, I liked the contrast with the weeds, and a lack of anything better in todays crop of photos...

Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

More posted as I was pleased to see anything the least unusual today at all (too hot even at 9am) rather than them being great shots. Can't expect much shooting from under an old conifer with bright sunlight on the far side (so +1 2/3 exposure modification).

Canon R5MkII + RF200-800

Rather overcast this morning, for all we're told we're about to have a massive heatwave... anyway, always happy to see a Nuthatch in Prospect Park, UK, even if they like the shade. Ring-necked Parakeets are escapes/introductions that have managed to survive and thrive in the wild in parts of the UK - but are seen as destructive & noisy.

Canon R5MkII + RF200-800

European Jay, Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800

And I'm not kidding about shooting from the hip. I was sitting on a bench having a coffee break, and this bird hoped onto the branch maybe 3 yards away. Jays are shy birds at the best of times, and there was no way this one would tolerate bringing the camera to the eye that close. So I left it at 200mm, pointed it as best I might with as little movement as possible and snapped blind. So, in the circumstances, even if the twig in front of the Jay was the point of focus, I'm pleased with the result!

The Jay then flew a little further into the trees - so I got in theory a better shot, at full focal length, but alas in the shade:

... have this lot head towards you ... happily passing to my right but way too close - only a couple of yards, if that.

First time I've seen a (presumably) honey bee swarm on the move, and I've no idea what prompted them. The photos on the left are blown up segments of those on the right.

Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800 (at 200mm in this case)

First onto a submerged stick and then onto a closer sawn off branch - very kind.

What struck me was the depth of yellow in the plumage - I'd normally expect paler.

Kennet Canal, nr. Reading

Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800