Myriad of colour

I make no excuse for another pheasant shot, I find them such beautiful creatures (though totally lacking anything resembling intelligence). This one is building a nest under a conifer in the dry dirt in full view. The first egg will be taken by the first magpie that passes.

This shot was taken from inside the house as a test for my new Nikon 18-300 lens. It's lighter and shorter than my 'always on the camera' four year old 18-200mm. I'm hoping it makes lugging it around on holiday slightly less of a chore. MrsDB has seen through my, "I've got a sprained shoulder, could you carry the camera dearest"?