David Cunliffe @dxc@qoto.org

Today’s short offering is called ‘Common Peephole’.

We do not need smug, self-promoting social media clips from Tory ministers telling us about their ‘exciting’ plans for 2023.
They’ve spent 12 years lying to us and failing us. The country is on its knees and in despair.
The only way they could offer us hope now is to give us an election, so we can vote them out and start to repair the profound damage they have done.

Boing!

Another of my favourite red squirrel jumping shots, as the squirrel's body is almost perfectly symmetrical as it makes the jump.

Photographed at a friend's hide in the Scottish Highlands.

#RedSquirrel #squirrel #ScottishWildlife #scotland #Highlands #Cairngorms #nature #wildlife #WildlifePhotography

Another ‘interview’, another depressing exercise in political arrogance. Sunak refuses to admit his own use of private health care and endlessly repeats his 5 feeble pledges, as if they’re some miraculous cure-all for everything they’ve broken and ruined over the last 13 years.
As for claiming that ‘stopping the small boats’ is *our* priority… how very offensive. Only if you mean providing safe routes, not deporting people to Rwanda, you cowardly, callous bastard.

Golden Eagle.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my previous image. ☺️👍

Here's another from the encounter, just before the eagle was lost from sight behind a rocky outcrop.

Last time I saw one as close as this, I forgot I was using a zoom lens. Thankfully this time I remembered, and gave the eagle a bit more room in the frame.

#GoldenEagle #eagle #mull #ScottishWildlife #wildlife #nature

The collective term for a group of otters is a "romp" but I think a "snuggle" of otters works well here.

After fishing alone for a while, mum had returned to her two young cubs, and showed them some affection.

One for the otter fans out there.

#otters #mull #wildlife #nature #cute #AnimalMagic #snuggle #BritishWildlife

New Year's Day View.

This was my view, late afternoon here on Mull, looking towards Iona in the distance, with the small island of Inch Kenneth between us.

It was quite a calm day, but there were a few heavy wintery showers around, and I think one was lingering over Iona.

I was standing on the hills on the north shore of Loch Na Keal.

#landscape #mull #scotland #seascape #coastal #scenery

It’s nice to stand still. #naturephotography

Blue Monday
The Urr Estuary in South West Scotland.
It’s been a wet, mild day, but the ground is still frozen. Winter returns in time for Christmas though!
#Thaw #Scotland #Galloway

Hawfinch In Flight.

This is what's called a lucky shot. I had been watching a small number of these fabulous finches feeding on the berries of yew trees in a graveyard in the Midlands, when one of them suddenly took flight.

I reacted and fired off a burst of images, and managed to capture this.

The original is slightly soft, but the wonders of Topaz have certainly helped...

#hawfinch #BirdPhotography #BirdsInFlight #wildlife #photography

Sunrise through Durdle Door...a bitterly cold morning shoot but ultimately worth it...

#sunrise #coast #durdledoor #rockarch #beach #nikon

Morning all, still cold but our snow is disappearing. So here's a delicate display of yellow at the edge of a regiment of conifers.
#photography #Woodlands #trees #naturephotography

#silentsunday #photography #woodland #forest #winterwonderland #winter #trees

“I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains, and then find somewhere where I can rest. In peace and quiet"

#photography #nature #naturephotography #landscapephotography #NewZealand #NZTwits

So the sneering inadequate that is Rees-Mogg was on #bbcqt last night and a wine merchant of years of experience told him that Brexit was an utter disaster of lies, costs and inconvenience.
Of course, Rees-Mogg insists that our Brexit sovereignty makes it all worth it.

Sovereignty is only as good as your governance. Which means ours is now significantly worse: ragingly ideological, less democratic, less trusted and far less valuable. So no, Mogg, you’ve ruined that too.

Snow on the beach #Shetland #snow #Scotland

Barn Owl.

A few years ago, I was strolling along a track, early one spring morning, between a small stream and a meadow in North Norfolk, hoping to see brown hares, when this stunning barn owl flew round the corner and right towards me.

I'm not sure who was more surprised!

#BarnOwl #owl #nature #Norfolk #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #BirdsInFlight #BirdPhotography

Here’s a poem in the shape of a Christmas tree. It’s called ‘Needles’.

#Cats as #art.

Red Deer.

Whilst staying in the Scottish Highlands some time ago, a friend offered to show me an area she had visited when growing up which she said would be good for red deer and landscapes.

Understatement of the year. The location is staggeringly scenic, and as we were watching the sunset, a group of stags strolled past us, towards the loch.

A day out that will live long in my memory.

#RedDeer #landscape #Scotland #ScottishWildlife #ScottishHighlands #WildlifePhotography #sunset