To the Crooked Spire

The reappearance this morning of the crag martin at Chesterfield prompted a quick getaway from York and drive in bad traffic down the M18 and M1 to St. Mary's church.

The first photo was in fact one of the last I took, using this time my iphone. However it replicates my first view of the crag martin - my 419th UK lifer. Here it is along with the crooked spire. The dot[!!!] to the right of the spire is the bird.

St. May's church Chesterfield plus crag martin

My big lens did a bit better but it was tricky. It was drizzling steadily and the bird seemed, to me at least, faster than a house or sand martin. Very difficult to track in the viewfinder I tried pointing the camera while watching the spire: but not through the camera. Lots of completely blank photos of course but some worked... Crag Martin Crag Martin

Crag Martin

I'm not sure whether people noticed it land briefly below a gargoyle. I was lucky to get these [high ISO]shots.

Crag Martin

Crag Martin

It dropped back into the void.

Crag Martin Crag Martin

UK 2015: 276