That is an absolute beauty of a shot!
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Wow …!
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Loving the owl pics.
I have no pics, but spent half an hour this afternoon watching a barn-owl quartering the overgrown paddocks near me while I was out on the dog walk. He or she was uncommonly bold, and flew directly over to within a few metres to take a closer look at us - quite something being looked square in the eye by a wild owl. Wonderful seeing them at work in the bright sunshine, albeit I guess it’s because they’re very hungry right now - lean time of year.
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That’s not all that unusual, I’ve experienced it with Shorties, Barn Owls and most memorably the Snowy Owl that was here in 2018. It’s always a very special interaction, every single time.
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100% ALL of my envy
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Bloody marvellous - it’s about the moment after-all, the memory; photographic virtue is a distant second.
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100% true!
I’ve had so many moments when I wished I had taken good pics of a bird and felt disappointed that I hadn’t. On reflection I realise that the memory outweighs anything that I can put into a frame.
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Life in a nutshell mate.
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Totally unrelated to the birder thread but if only people would realise that at concerts today.
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Wonderful @pmac
Much as I don’t like missing shots, I have missed loads - I seem to be jinxed on Kingfishers and Goldcrests for example - but I always put it down to bad luck and think about all the lucky shots I have made and will make in future. The memories are always there as you say.
Middle of winter - tends to be limiting.
We had a few fieldfares (and big flocks in the field surrounding us), plus a mini-flock of long-tailed tits today - can be damn sure they won’t show tomorrow when we’ll do the count.
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Fantastic photo!!!
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I have an innate hatred of peacocks and in 1989 (pre internet) was discussing ideas for a cookbook with a few chefs.
I mean they ought to be reasoable eating, not much different to a turkey?
My neighbour and I were discussing this and reached the conclusion that with plucking and hanging, it wasn’t worth the aggro. In that time it had flown from my van, onto the roof and then across the road to the roof of the house opposite. The thought that it was probably a direct descendant of a dinosaur, put us off catching the bastard altogether. 
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Apparently essentially the same as Pheasant
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Big pheasant has promise although now the Queen’s carked it I reckon swans are fair game.
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“Big goose” - it’s what’s for xmas dinner 2024 
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