Curlew.

A number of different birds come up into the Lammermuir Hills,in the Scottish Borders,to breed and raise young in the spring/summer.One of these birds is Britains’ largest wader,the curlew.At the moment most of them have young chicks scrabbling about with them and if the adults think that there may be a potential danger to their offspring they will go into defense mode.While one adult will lead the youngsters away through the grasses and heather,the other adult will take to the wing,land not too far away and try to distract the potential predator away from the defenseless chicks.Of course as nature photographers we don’t represent a predatory danger,but this distraction technique can provide us with photographic opportunities.So it is a win win situation.We get our pictures and the adult bird gets to be the hero,saving the kids from’ terrible danger’. Once the danger is perceived to have passed the bird will fly back to its’ family and Ollie and I will continue on our drive through the Lammermuirs,looking for our next image to capture.

Calling to its' mate.

Havin' a scratch.

Relaxed and preening.

Havin' a good shake.

Calling to its' mate again.

A final scratch.

A final look back.

That’s all folks.