A flycatcher chasing its prey

This was our last day of camping before heading home but we didn't have to leave until the afternoon. So Helena and I headed to the cliff top field to sit in the sun and enjoy the views of the landscape both out to sea, along the shoreline and to the hills inland.

Helena lay reading on a blanket close to the edge of the cliff, which worried me somewhat. I stood with a long zoom lens and enjoyed following the birds that were all around us. The main interest at first was the pair of kestrels which were patrolling the cliffs and fields behind, hovering intently at times, soaring on the up draughts at others.

But there were still many swifts and swallows, as well as goldfinches, gulls and crows. But very close by was a slightly stunted hawthorn tree on which a pair of flycatchers were constantly manoeuvring. It took me a little while to realise that they were after the swarms of tiny flies hovering over the tree. I then concentrated on catching them on flight and rather like this image of one of them with its prey.