Having mainly  focused on birds this year with my painting I fancied engaging more directly with my subject matter by trying out some bird watching.

Symonds Yat in Gloucestershire is known to have a successful breeding pair of Peregrine falcons.

The first reward for me was not seeing a Peregrine but instead two Nuthatches up close and snapping some half decent photos.

Luckily for me some time later I happened to have in sight the take-off point from which one of the Peregrine Falcons took to the wing and soared out across the Wye Valley below us.  There was a nice atmosphere between the regular birdwatchers who enthusiastically share information.  It was nice to get there early before the throng of tourists and walkers poured in nearer to lunchtime, and needless to say that is when I snuck away.

 

Peregrine photo below is courtesy of Pixabay images.