Familiarity, it is said, breeds contempt. As far as birds go there is some truth in this observation: common birds are not looked at with the attention that is given to those that are less familiar. Consequently few see the "stars" and beautiful iridescence of the starling. The humble house sparrow is given only the most cursory of glances and so the similar but clearly different tree sparrow is unknown to the man in the street. Most stretches of water provide a home for the familiar moorhen and therefore its charms go unseen. This bird was on the narrow ribbon of water known as the New River where it is above ground in Islington, London. The camera allows us to study its striking beak, colourful legs and subtle brown, blue-grey and white plumage.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
