I think there are two things going on here with this Russian attack. First how does NATO respond. That's the obvious one. Second will European countries now be reluctant to send AA equipment to Ukraine. I believe this second issue is the real target of Russian drone attack.

A white headed blue beaked goos peeks out from behind a green mound of thick grass where it is forgaging. Its black and white circle barred body is rotund but forms a beautiful almost geometric pattern on the birds throat. This is the Emperor Goose of Alaska and the Russian Far East.

Emperor Goose - Slimbridge WWT UK
#birds
#wwt
#emperorgoose
#wildlifephotography

Flamingos reflecting Slimbridge WWT
#birds
#wwt
#flamingos

Rookery Slimbridge WWT. Standing in the midst of the Rookery with the cacophonous sound all around was a rare treat.
#birds
#ukwildlife
#birdphotography
#wildlifephotography
#WWT
#rooks

There is more humanity in this little girl than in the entirety of the US Government. May she and the rest of her family have lives blessed with love and peace soon.

Wings oustretched showing red brown, white and black patches a red kite with a wingspan of a metre or two looks down for carrion. Its grey blue crown feathers on the top of the head contain dashes of black and are set off by two orange piercing eyes and a yellow, grey and black hooked beak. This bird is carrying something in tucked into its short yellow feet which may be carrion or something to decorate its nest site with.

Red Kite - above garden UK
#birds
#photography

Amongst a ruined school building and rust red bricks some of which are white encrusted with lichen a pair of Little Owls stand together looking directly into the camera. Their orange eyes with fluffy whitish brows, reddish orange beaks and white and brown speckled bodies making them look like annoyed balls of feathers

Little Owls - Old School Building Elmley Nature Reserve UK
#birds
#owls
#elmley
#birdphotography
#ukbirds
#wildlifephotography
#littleowls

Against a backdrop of a light blue grey lake edged by some long grass a creamy coloured barn owl flies low over the ground its dark eyes and white oval face forward looking its barred and dappled wings in the downbeat and its yellow legs tucked up against its tail feathers.

Barn Owl Elmley Nature Reserve UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#Elmley
#Owls

A sparrow sized reed bunting sits in a budding bush its brown striped wings folded and jet black head with equally black eye surrounded by a bright white collar that stops just before it meets the beak which is small and broad. Its breast is mainly dirty white with brown speckles.

Reed Bunting, Elmley Nature Reserve UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#Elmley
#ReedBunting

Wings outstretched with bands of grey in the middle and black tips a male Marsh Harrier descends into a reed bed at dusk it's feet lowered and great tail splayed wide to slow it down as it approaches the long reeds to roost for the night.

Male Marsh Harrier landing in reeds. Elmley Nature Reserve Kent UK.
#birds
#elmley
#raptors
#wildlife
#ukwildlife
#photography
#marshharrier

In amongst the thick grass a hare sits alert to the possible dangers of the many Marsh Harriers that fly above this reserve in England its large eyes and lovely brown, fawn and white fur colouration makes it difficult to spot. Long whiskers dangle from its rather pointed brown, black and white nose.

Hare - Elmley Nature Reserve Kent UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Elmley
#ukmammals
#hares

A creamy white and fawn coloured barn owl with heart shaped round white face and black eyes comes in to land on a fence post wings outstretched and legs down on final approach

Barn Owl - dawn landing at Elmley Nature Reserve UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#elmleynaturereserve
#barnowls
#owls

Perfection is the enemy of good enough and oh boy do we need just good enough right now.

A thick billed greenfinch sits on a tree branch against a blue sky as the name suggests the sparrow sized bird is a lovely array of shades of green colouration with yellow and black wing flashes

Greenfinch....Croxley Common UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#Greenfinch

A grey winged marsh harrier seen at a long distance flying over a field where two mallards and two hares are hiding in the long grass

Male Marsh Harrier Elmley Nature Reserve Kent UK...same bird as close up posted earlier with two mallards and two hares looking on intently ...all safely lived another day
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#Raptors
#Elmley
#MarshHarrier

A grey, pink and brown marsh harrier with black tipped wings up quarters a field at a nature reserve the dry reeds a straw colour and the hedges a darker green colour almost divide the photo in half as the blurred background. the birds yellowish eye and hooked beak are visible as the bird looks intently for food.

Male Marsh Harrier, Elmley Nature Reserve, Kent UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#Elmley
#Raptors
#MarshHarrier

Against a blue and white cloudy sky a large raptor the Red Kite soars wings outstretched it forked tail splayed to control flight direction. Its red brown body and brown and white underwings , yellow but smallish talons and hooked beak clearly on view

Red Kite - Above Garden, UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#RedKite
#Raptor

A large grey white and blue black bird wades through the remains of reeds in a lake it's bright yellow eyes looking for amphibians or fish to spear with it's yellow beak.

Grey Heron Cassiobury Park Watford
#birds
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#heron
#cassiobury

Dr Robert Lyman MBE on Substack I am hearing a lot of noise in the UK at the moment about peacekeeping. Most of it embarrassing rubbish, political sound bites by empty people allowing them to sound tough and virtuous. These are peop...

Expectations are going to come crashing into the granite cliff face of reality soon. substack.com/@drrobertlym...

You cannot negoatiate with a madman and Putin and Trump are mad.

The Beluga Sinatra expelled himself from humanity some years ago.

Oh for the day when Europe adopts a more threatening posture against Russia....seriously demonstrating a realistic threat to Kaliningrad, Belarus and the closure of the Baltic.

A large Grey Heron almost completely grey with patches of white and dark blue black on its head has speared a large fish its lower yellowish mandible completely piercing the fish just behiind the gills. Its large yellow eye stares off into the distance whilst the bird adjustrs its capture so it can swallow this large fish.

Grey Heron - Stockers Lake Rickmansworth UK
#Wildlife
#NaturePhotography
#ukwildlife
#wildlifephotography
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
#StockersLake
#Heron

Germany is going to take its time even if someone other than Scholz is returned. Better to crack on with nations who are willing to act and hope Germany will at least provide logistical and financial support.

It's up to Ukraine to choose. It would be embarrassing for the rest of Europe but if it can't move faster....I see Scholz applying the brakes again in Paris....it might be the least worst option.

Worrying to see Scholz putting the brakes on.

Actions speak louder than words and USA does not want UKraine present at the talks.

I see it as a moral question for the Society. Do we make moral judgments? Its not fashionable nowadays. But if we never exercise the moral judgment muscles we will end up living in a moral vacuum.

I think the mindset needs to change from what does Europe need to stop Putin winning in Ukraine to what do we need to defeat Putin in Europe.

Only until the sea went red then I'd switch to stills.