Baby Hedgehog

Woke this little guy up.

This Rook watched us for a while,

decided it was safe to approach

and sauntered up

bold as brass.

He checked us out one more time,

took what he wanted

and returned to his post.

Lough Neagh, evening, early Spring.

Mallard Ducks on Lough Neagh.

He's keeping a close eye on me.

Scarlet elf cup: Sarcoscypha coccinea

Took this in early Spring; this bright red little fungus was dried and powdered and used by the North American Oneida and the Iroquois as a styptic - a sort of haemostatic agent. In England it was used as a table decoration.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Blistering July afternoon and this big fella's been patrolling the street all morning.

He finally lands

and approaches the food. 

A quick bite

and he's off.

Marmalade Hoverfly

This harmless little fly is a great pollinator and its larvae kill Aphids. Its colours mimic those of a wasp which gives it protection against predators but causes alarm among human sunbathers in back gardens all over the country.
A tough thing to photograph in flight with a Nikon D3100 and a Nikkor 55-200 with no VR. 

Black-headed gull

The Black-headed gull,

actually a chocolate brown in summer

but black from a distance.

This guy made a couple of passes looking for food.

He landed quickly and was gone with the food before we could photograph him on the ground; much more beautiful in flight, though.

Sparrow lift off

Just in time.

Sparrow

Testing the goods.

Fledgling Sparrows

Learning the ropes.

Hooded Crow

Talons over Turf Lodge, Belfast