Members of Winchester Photographic Society enjoyed a slide presentation entitled "Flora and Fauna of Britain and Lesvos", by Pauline and Colin Thornhill, from Petersfield.

They have been photographing wildlife for five years, concentrating especially on birds in areas such as Norfolk, Kent and Sussex.

For the last three years, they have travelled to the island of Lesvos, which is on the main bird migration path from Greece to Africa and is noted for its wonderful variety of birds, which attract many photographers, especially in spring.

Pauline and Colin performed a very informative and interesting double act as they took it in turns to describe and comment on their pictures, providing technical details and an insight into the problems involved in taking photographs of fast moving or well camouflaged birds, as well as mammals.

Often hours of searching and waiting are involved in order to find and photograph their subjects, which are generally best taken in natural light, often very early in the morning or late afternoon and evening.

These conditions bring out the exquisite colours and feather detail of birds such as kingfishers, herons, chaffinches, gold finches and pheasants.

Many of the birds they photograph so skilfully are common garden birds but some in Lesvos are rare and difficult to find, such as the bitterne, buzzard, some varieties of nuthatches, tree creepers and the red-throated pippet.

Some rare in Britain, such as the nightingale, are common in Lesvos, which is quite a primitive and, as yet, unspoilt island.

Birds were photographed on the nest, endearing fluffy chicks, some in flight and others catching fish.

Wading birds were beautifully captured with reflections in the water. All were pin-sharp and, with the use of a 500mm lens in close-up detail.

Some of their pictures are taken from hides, but many from a car window.

Pauline and Colin also displayed many beautiful slides of fungi, flowers and some mammals such as deer, otters, squirrels and badgers.