Cold morning, unusual for July, found a swallowtail sitting trying to dry out and warm up, so basically it was unable to fly yet. Which.... made it a perfect model for filming. Enjoy.

I have been watching three or four osprey nests for weeks, actually months now and feeling quite attached to the families. This nest had 3 young which is the most they would ever have I think, often they have only 1 baby. Over the last few days the juveniles have been doing lots of wing beating and stretching and often flying up a few feet above the nest in preparation for the big day of their maiden flight. It was getting pretty crowded on the nest with at least one adult and three young birds all flapping their wings. Well today as I watched one of them took off and flew into a tree a few hundred yards away, this photo is of the second one who looked very confident as he took off. The third one did a lot of wing flapping but didn't have the courage or the strength to fly and was still in the nest resting when I left, I hope he/she will be OK. As I watched the juveniles take off I looked up above the nest and there were 4 other ospreys soaring above and watching the show! A total of 7 ospreys at one time, quite a day.

Osprey mum talks to her young it seems? Or was she calling for her mate to bring fish? The latter I believe, and a few minutes later lunch arrived. Click here to see more.

More hummer pics click here.

Great, the humming birds have arrived for 2009, they are amazing to watch. So far only female rufous. Should make for some interesting photo challenges.

Mr Richardson mending his nets in Tobago in the West Indies. Had a wonderful week there bird watching and turtle watching, fabulous. Wildlife of Tobago here.

More views here.

Male with ants for the chicks.

Had a great time this morning filming Williamson's Sapsuckers nesting in a hole in aspen tree. Tried hard for flying shots but very difficult. Here at least is a nice portrait of papa.

As noted below, had an early rise and 5 mile hike to film Long's Peak at dawn today. Beautiful sky but some cloud over the peak.

Had a great morning shoot with a friend at high altitude in the Rockies then headed down a little to find some birds. This sapsucker was one of a pair hurriedly feeding their young and it is carrying the waste from the nest in this shot. I'll post a landscape photo also.