Right! I’ve got some time to devote to this subject so I’ve managed to get a couple of photographs.
At this time of the year the chicks have left the nest and are being taught by their parents to find food. They are still reliant on their parents in many ways but the can now fly and forage.
Starlings are voracious. This fat block along with 6 fat and seed balls were gone in less than two hours. A flock of starlings descended on my garden and during the time they were there all we heard was noisy squabbling as they fought for possession of the food.
Here you can see an adult bird and three young ones having a go at each other.
Yesterday I was on Talacre beach practicing long exposures, for next weeks challenge, with a 10 stop ND filter attached to the 12-40mm f2.8 PRO lens. Although most people say you can’t focus through a 10 stop filter – you have to do it before you add the filter, I’ve found the Olympus E-M1 does in LiveView. Not only that I don’t have to calculate the exposure times either. I just watch the histogram, as the photograph builds, until I have the correct exposure.
Anyway, I digress. This is all about birds, not lighthouses but underneath the lighthouse I found this little Turnstone.
It was badly injured, I didn’t hold out much hope for it. We do have Marsh Harriers hunting along the estuary and I’m wondering if it had been attacked by one of them, or perhaps a gull.
That wraps it up for this weeks challenge. As usual feel free to comment.
Say It With A Camera 
Hi Mike. I think I told you, foxes also frequent that beach and I believe a Vixen has just had a new brood. I hope the Turnstone is OK but things are against it as you suggest.
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I’m not surprised Steve, lots of rabbits down there in the dunes and with all the Holiday Parks makes for good pickings for urban foxes
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The injured bird needed to go to a rehab place but there is most likely not one in your area. They are few and far between in my area as well.
I detest starlings. They are very aggressive but I’ve not had them or the English house sparrow in several years. My yard has larger trees now and it seems they are not interested in shady areas. Starlings and the English house sparrow have been the culprits that caused a decline in many of our cavity nesting birds.
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There’s none round here that I know of, Yvonne. Starlings here are very aggressive. House Sparrows less so. It’s funny though, since I cleared all the bushes from the garden and cut down a massive flowering Cherry Tree which was looking decidely dangerous to mine and my neighbours property I’ve had more bird visitors to the garden. I’d have thought it would be the other way round. Maybe it’s because they have a clear path straight to the feeders. They fly straight in, grab some food and out again. Of course it’s nesting time at the moment so it will be interesting to see what it’s like in the winter
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I love Starlings (and House Sparrows), they have so much character as depicted in your beautiful photograph. Looks like a parent teaching young ones how to partake of an easy meal! Sad little Turnstone, they’re such attractive birds.
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Noisy though! And they don’t half clear you feeder supplies. Not much could be done about the Turnstone.
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