Quite a rarity here in Hertfordshire so I had to take the opportunity to grab a few shots. Was interesting to see how these terns behave differently to common and artic terns when we get them inland. The other species will hawk insects, but the sandwich tern seems to just dive for fish. Like many birds, after a dive, they shake themselves dry as seen here. At 15fps, only 3 had the shake showing how fast this is done.

Tags:   Phill Luckhurst Distinctly Average www.distinctlyaverage.co.uk Wildlife Bird Handheld Herts Hertfordshire Lake Stevenage Canon Sandwich Tern 100-400 II R7 Water

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One of many adders found on a recent walk around my favourite site.

Tags:   Phill Luckhurst Distinctly Average www.distinctlyaverage.co.uk Wildlife Adder Snake :London Vipera Berus Canon R7 100-400 II Handheld

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Found quite a few slow worms today. There are two in this shot but it is hard to see that. They were just basking, trying to get warm after all the rain we have had recently.

Tags:   Phill Luckhurst Distinctly Average www.distinctlyaverage.co.uk Wildlife Bucks Buckinghamshire Reptile Slow Worm Lizard Anguis fragilis Canon 100-400 II Handheld R7 Rag Pits

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It was fantastic watching and hearing the waxwings during the recent irruption. Locally we had plenty, something we have not had in quite a few years.

At this spot there was a small pool of water in the tree. Many were coming down to drink and it was quite obvious there is a pecking order.

Tags:   Phill Luckhurst Distinctly Average www.distinctlyaverage.co.uk Wildlife Herts Hertfordshire Handheld Waxwing Tree Tring Park Canon R7 100-400 II Bird

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We have for the last few weeks had a fantastic local murmuration. This footage was shot in the early days when there were around 24,000 birds. The flock peaked at over 40,000 birds as time rolled on.

Audio was recorded once the starlings had roosted. While in flight the only sound they make is the combined whooshing sound of thousands of beating wings. That is unless one for the opportunistic 4 or 5 sparrow hawks grabs one. Then that individual understandably makes one hell of a racket. It was quite interesting to see just how many times the sparrow hawks have to try to get a catch. When the birds are higher they seem to fail almost every attempt. It is only in the last minute or so before the birds roost that the success rate goes up.

Tags:   Phill Luckhurst Distinctly Average www.distinctlyaverage.co.uk Canon R7 17-55 EF-S17-55mm Starling Murmuration Starlings Birds Water Reservoir Tringford Tring Herts Hertfordshire

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