Feathered Friends

Since taking over the Small City Gallery last year I have often found myself looking for ideas on the many photography groups that Facebook has to offer.  The best of these, for my money, is a local group called Pictures of Perth and Beyond.  It's a close-knit online community of local photographers who share their stunning photographs, give each other feedback and advice and discuss techniques.  

The group sometimes meets up in the non-internet World too, and recently when I was with ace photographer Gareth King at the Perth Riverside Light Nights for this gallery, I bumped into a couple of the group's members.  

Gordon Muir and Marysia Macfarlane where there honing their night photography skills and it was clear just chatting with them for a few that they have a real and contagious passion for photography.  

So when I wanted to assemble some pics for a gallery of Perthshire birdlife I knew that the group wouldn't disappoint!  Perthshire has some of the most stunning wildlife and scenery and these guys were definitely the ones to show it off to its best effect.

We have pictures of all sorts of birds, from the every day (but no less beautiful) pigeon, bluetits and robin's, while some had me reaching for my birdwatching books, like the harder to spot kingfisher and heron.  We even managed to obtain an elusive picture of the lesser-spotted Angry Bird relaxing in its natural environment at Belvaird. 

Despite the focus of this gallery being our little-feathered chums, these pictures also show off the stunning Perthshire surroundings too.  We've got woodland scenes, snowy vistas and closer to town the pond at the South Inch and the canal at the lade.

I'd like to thank all the members of Pictures of Perth and Beyond who were kind enough to contribute their amazing photo's to this gallery.  Thank you: Gordon Muir, Marysia Macfarlane, Craig Fraser, Fraser Hetherington, Jamie McEachen, Gail Dobbie and Tom Ryan.