All posts by Armin Grewe

Hi, it's just me.

Long-Tailed Tits

Went for a walk locally along the Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Kennet this afternoon. Not an awful lot around, so I ended up taking pictures of Long-Tailed Tits. A small flock of may be half a dozen of them was at the River Kennet. Surprisingly difficult to capture on picture, as they are constantly on the move.

(Click on the pictures for larger versions)

Marsh Harrier, Pintail, Kestrel and more at Otmoor, Oxfordshire

Following on from yesterday’s Swans and Starlings at Otmoor pictures today a few more pictures from some of the other birds I saw at RSPB Otmoor. The star of the show was probably the Marsh Harrier, a first for me:

(Click on the pictures for much bigger versions)

Swans and Starlings at Otmoor, Oxfordshire

Had a very nice afternoon out at the RSPB Otmoor reserve. While I saw a large variety of birds (more of them in another entry later) the main reason I went today was the impressive Starling roost with their amazing murmurations. Two Swans decided to photobomb the show as well:

(Click on the pictures for much bigger versions)

Mobile phone users should be more alert

Mobile phone users should be more alert, that’s probably true in many cases (and I include myself here). But I don’t think in the sense as reported in Mobile phone users should be more alert, says ex-security chief.

We could and should all probably be more alert to our surroundings. To notice the little things, may be an animal, or a beautiful view, or a person in need of help. To enjoy life by enjoying the little pleasures of seeing or hearing or smelling what’s around us. To notice others and may be enjoy something with them or help them with something and make their day better.

But I very much doubt it needs to be out of paranoia about possible terrorist attacks. If you just walk around looking out for possible terrorist threats you’ll just make your life a misery.

Oh, and as far as the Munich events (or lack thereof) go, unless there are any confirmed arrests I don’t believe there was anything. If there were any terrorists with bombs ready to attack, surely closing the train stations wouldn’t have stopped them? I should think they would have just improvised and found another busy enough target?

International Space Station and Startrails over Aldermaston Wharf

The last pass of the International Space Station over the UK in 2015, on Christmas Eve (click on the picture for the full size):

It was a low pass (as you can see) and not as bright as previously, also it wasn’t as dark as I had hoped. Still, fairly happy with the picture (which is a composite of over 100 pictures). Oh, and the thick stripes are clouds.