Another Red Day in the Garden

Not quite perfect summer weather, but it was warm and dry with more than a hint of sunshine (along with some cloud). My first garden sighting of the day stands out as the best (though not photographically). High overhead I spotted a raptor flying over. It was large (if small, distant spots in the sky can be 'large') and it wasn't a buzzard.

Yes, it's a red kite. These are increasingly common in the west of England, but they are still something of a rarity in Sussex. Having one fly over our garden is quite special.

At the other end of the size scale, but also welcome for their sheer delicate form, are the damselflies. This red paused briefly on a small flower.

For the rest (and for once holding to my theme), it has to be the red fox (cubs). They were quite evasive during the day, but one of the cubs wandered out as the sun was beginning to lower in the sky.

And of course they were back again tonight. We're becoming quite used to three little foxes running around, and mostly they are well behaved.

Well, that is when they are not intent in taking chunks out of each other, just for fun!


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Camera note: all daytime shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The final three photos were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. derWandersmann

    2 Jun 2013

    That was good luck on that red kite, Words! Congratulations! I don't think I've ever seen one.
    The formality of that damselfly on the flower is really effective.
    Nice of the fox cubs, too … they are certainly growing up!

  2. SittingFox

    2 Jun 2013

    A kite in the southeast is always a big bonus. You must have been pleased to glimpse that over your garden!

    Excellent shots of the cubs, as always 🙂

  4. gdare

    3 Jun 2013

    And what is red on that kite? 😀

  5. Words

    15 Jun 2013

    dW, thanks. I would love to get some decent shots of red kites. I could go to one of the feeding points in the west or north of the country, but it would be perfect if they establish themselves locally.

  6. Words

    15 Jun 2013

    Adele, thanks. Red kites are special down here. The cubs are also proving good fun, even if they spend most of their time trying to take chunks out of each other. 😉

  7. Words

    15 Jun 2013

    Darko, in that shot, not a lot, but closer up and with better light they do have a deep red hue.

  8. Words

    15 Jun 2013

    dW, glad to see the fox got away unscathed,

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