Great stuff, Alan, as ever. Love the third bluebell shot in particular, but all are terrific.

I finally wilted and ordered a 1.4 TC yesterday, so it's only a matter of time before I'm irretrievably snared by a 12-months-interest-free deal on a DA300...

As for the WWT, I've been a member for several years and can commend the centres I've visited - Arundel, Barnes (London), Slimbridge, Martin Mere and Welney. Washington now added to the must-do list...

Last weekend's football highlight (for me, at least) took place several miles from Vincent Kompany's right elbow - Altrincham winning the Conference North play-off final at Moss Lane. I have a soft spot for City, though, and this is a fine shot that highlights the 1.4 TC's qualities (and will doubtless cause me to spend more cash I don't yet possess).

Nos 1, 4, 6, 7 & 9 were taken with K-5 IIs and Sigma 100-300mm f4, the others with original K-5 and Sigma 50-150 f2.8.

I spotted your Man City parade shot, incidentally, so you might be pleased to know that a City scarf was visible among all the Ferrari bunting in Barcelona...

Q10 plus 5-15mm lens currently available as a 'deal of the week' for £160 in either silver link or black link...

With non-melting internet once more at my disposal, here are a few more...


8 - Romain Grosjean welcomes the news that a Lotus is now capable of more than three laps at a time


9 - British GP2 racer Adrian Quaife-Hobbs reflected in the TV commentary booths (and flipped)


10 - Nico Rosberg meets his (and Fernando Alonso's) public

Not sure how many grands prix I'll cover this year, but here are fragments from the first. I was going to include a couple of extra 'people' pix, but Spanish hotel internet has melted and is refusing to complete any more uploads...


1 - Nico Rosberg leads (most of) the field, but Lewis Hamilton is already halfway to Madrid


2 - Bernie savours a grilling from German TV


3 - The hills are alive...


4 - Red Bull: not yet a match for the Silver Arrows


5 - Fans spot Fernando Alonso


6 - Kimi spots Fernando Alonso in his mirrors


7 - Winning style

They look pretty good to me, Don - Oulton is quite kind to spectators in terms of fence-free views.

Glad you enjoyed the day and I hope our paths might cross before you head back to Australia.

Gosh, thanks for all the gracious feedback - and apologies for the slow acknowledgement, but I've been on the road all day.

@Algernon: the dead moorhen is/was actually a fledgling coot. The heron subsequently tried to catch its sibling, too, but I scared the predator away with a handclap and the coot was able to scuttle to its parents (although it is unlikely to ;last long, given the size of the heron population). Having been chased away, the heron simply flitted to the far side of the lake and ate a young mallard instead.

@Bill Barnes: the Sigma 100-300 f4 is hard to find in Pentax mount, but seems to change hands for about £800. They don't come up often, though. I was lucky: in 2010, I went to SRS to buy something else... and a 100-300 had that very morning arrived as a trade-in.

@Barrie: I'm not giving iup on motorsport any time soon. Below is what I've been doing today, at Thruxton. I'm now halfway to Donington Park...

All taken in Kelsey Park, Beckenham, where the heron community has a vibrant breeding colony. Sensitive souls should be warned that the following images contain evidence of nature being its customarily cruel self. All taken with K-5 IIs and Sigma 100-300mm f4.


1 - Launching


2 - Calling


3 - Contemplating


4 - Staring


5 - Peeping


6 - Interloping


7 - Killing


8 - Consuming

Gorgeous images, David - particularly like the hint of swans.

That said, could I ask you to refrain from posting any more, leastways until next time Amazon loses its marbles? I won't do anything I'll regret, but I might do something I can't presently afford...