Another blue tit
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What a cocky ■■■■■■■!
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Isn’t language a funny thing? Earlier today our rooster gave his ‘airborne threat’ alarm call followed by the the screeching of a flock of Cockatoo’s (singular Cockatoo or Cocky 
) as they all took flight. I had my camera to hand but…
Rubbish photo:
Because they are a magnificent bird (just have to get closer):
It was caused by this:
Another rubbish photo, but at least in silhouette you can see why they are called a Wedgetailed Eagle… Next time?
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As a European it is kind of a strange feeling to see cockatoos in the wild (same with budgies). If you see one here the reflex is to wonder where it might have escaped and feel bad because it will very likely die very soon.
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In Amsterdam, budgies have become a native species. They can winter in the city by sheltering in warm places. Plenty food to be had too.
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My Mum was very upset when she let my only ever pet when I was lad escape - a budgie my Dad had named “Fletch” (after the character in the TV prison series “Porridge”) and kept trying to teach him relevant phrases!
I just shrugged when my Mum told me, but she was crying over it for days!
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In Germany there are small populations of rose-ringed parakeets, for example in Heidelberg.
They apparently can take the climate, and they are large enough so most predators can’t easily kill them.
Cool thing to see parrots in the wild in Central Europe.
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There’s a colony of parakeets over towards Heathrow near Wraysbury. Sighting them is a very odd experience, particularly on a dreadful rainy Sunday morning. 
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Spent last week in Fairbanks, Alaska for work. Got my SimEval completed and set about shooting some pics.
Fire season was winding down, after some much needed rain, so these ConAir Q400 tankers sat on standby.
As a bonus, I went out to the Eielson flightline on Friday morning. Caught the morning launch and recovery of the current Red Flag. The F-35s were all off limits unfortunately.
And lastly, back at work on Monday. Got surprised by a 3-ship of UH-60Ls with ESSS and tanks. Our local NG Limas don’t fly with them.
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Setting my sights a little lower than raptors for now. Hadn’t thought much about these little brown birds that are all over the place, but getting close in they are pretty neat looking in their own way.
Finches, I think, and a sparrow?
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I will post Oberschleisheim photos when I have a wifi connection. Meanwhile River, Aardvark and I made it and got on the other side of the barriers thanks to the brother of the man making the Bolkow 105 DCS helicopter. Tomorrow we meet up at Bruck in der Oberpfalz
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Likely not the same gent but one of the moderators at Mission4Today went by the name Aardvark. He was a member of the Hell Hounds (HH) before he became the CO of the Hopeless Few (HF). Sadly both groups have been inactive for quite some time.
Wheels
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Lovely week in Cornwall with the family. A really genuinely nice break. Even being invaded by a quarter kilometer of cruise ship couldn’t ruin it.
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I confirm not the same gent. Marcus aka Aardvark is a Huey pilot with Black Angels
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Im fairly sure it was trying to edge towards me to steal my can of stella
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Never trust waterfowl, I always say.
The chances of one stealing your beer are low, but never zero…
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There, FTFY.
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That too! They can’t be trusted…
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