Another belated Hello

[Helen]

Well, I live in the Chilterns (in Oxfordshire, close to the Buckinghamshire border) in woodland, and am lucky to have buzzards and red kites as "garden birds". Also have muntjac deer, pheasants galore and whatever else decides to wander this way.

One advantage to living in the woods, is the ability to study these birds on a daily basis, including the interaction with each other in their natural surroundings. One disadvantage is that it tends to make one lazy regarding "going out" birdwatching, as I have it all on the doorstep!

I have lived abroad for quite a few years in a variety of places, and have now settled here. I have also travelled fairly far and wide too. I enjoy driving, and tend to do mostly long distance motorway driving, both here and abroad. I actually prefer driving alone.

I am involved in the Red Kite Project down here, which has been a huge success. My primary involvement is the Red Kite CCTV Nestwatch, and I am now working with a new scheme called "Friends of the Red Kites in the Chilterns".

I am quite keen on wildlife photography, particularly birds, and am the proud owner of a Canon 20D and 100-400 IS lens, both of which I acquired only a few months ago.

Err, that's about it for now.

[StuartDH]

And I must admit that before you started posting your photos in the Gallery, your neck of the woods is one of the last places that I'd have thought we'd be getting great Kite pictures from. Stunning photos of what has now become one of my favourites

[Tinkerbell]

Just been reading your Hello, Helen. Your surroundings certainly sound idyllic and add to that the British seasons - what more could you ask for? I'm one of those folk who would love to wake up sometimes in a rural 'hide' to observe nature from dawn to dusk, but I've never actually done it. For you, though, it's on the doorstep. Wow.