After the weekend's photo frenzy I thought I could have expected a somewhat quieter day today. After all, it was back to work with a few minutes in the morning, and a shade under an hour at lunchtime. Just goes to show how wrong you can be. And that's left me with a dilemma. Which photo to post?
I thought about this one of the chicks playing tug-of-war over a bone…
Or perhaps it was time for a portrait…
But then at lunchtime I was down at the dew pond, and the broad bodied chasers were excelling themselves. I thought about posting this shot…
But I also rather liked this one as well…
Then again, I nearly got the shot of the day back at home this evening. The nicked-ear vixen had wandered down to the front of the garden. The light was perfect, but the camera wasn't ready so I could only watch as she calmly stole a pair of gardening gloves that had been left near the house and hightailed off into a neighbouring garden with her prize. So not shot there (which at least reduces the choice a bit).
So instead of a fox, and having decided against dragonflies or gulls, I'm going to post this photo as today's choice. It was taken down at the pond at lunchtime. I don't know who was more surprised… me or the…
That's my first ever shot of a stoat. It only popped its head out for a moment before turning back into the undergrowth but a beautiful moment.
There are more of the gulls on page 2 of the Herring Gull Chicks album, and several more shots of the chasers in the Broad Bodied Chaser album.
Camera note: all today's photos were taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. I added the Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter for the gull shots.
Vulpes vulpes
10 Jun 2008Decision, decisions, decisions…! :confused:
Good job you were indecisive, as all great shots! And the stoat – well, what can I say!! :up:
cakkleberrylane
10 Jun 2008Yes, very happy you posted them all!!! I am particularly partial to the first one!!
Cynthia23
10 Jun 2008I'll toast the stoat and all of these great images. :wine: :up: Words!
gdare
10 Jun 2008It seems a lot of animals have heard by now that you are making photo sessions in your area and decided to take part 😀
Words
10 Jun 2008Lois, a pleasure. The chicks were incredibly active. It's amazing how quickly they're growing.
Words
10 Jun 2008Cynthia, thanks :cheers:
Words
10 Jun 2008Vulpes, sometimes that's the way it goes 😉
Words
10 Jun 2008Darko, it does feel like that sometimes. Now I just need to find one of the foxes at work. They're there somewhere!
Ukwildlife
10 Jun 2008Wow that stoat is amazing – that's photographers instinct: most people would have stood there for a second taking it in, while I imagine you pointed the camera at it straight away! The gulls and dragonflys are great to:up:
FrogBoots
10 Jun 2008:yes: Another wonderful series…but I am left wondering what exactly the nicked-ear vixen is doing with those gloves?! 😀
Flying Red Fox Blog
10 Jun 2008The tug of war looks so cute :heart: i wonder who won 😉 That is a great shot of the Stoat, a moment that can go missed if not at the ight time well done. 😀
Stoats and Weasels look the same i wonder how i could tell them apart?
SittingFox
10 Jun 2008STOAT! Words, I'm so jealous! :faint:
(And happy for you, I should add! ;))
Not just any picture of a stoat either, but an absolutely perfect one. Congratulations :hat:
Words
10 Jun 2008FB, I think she must have got jealous of this guy with the real fox gloves 😉
Words
10 Jun 2008Mark, the one on the right won. The left one fell over on its rear and then rushed in like a mad thing to get its own back! Seriously!
You can tell a stoat by the black tip on its tail 😉
Words
10 Jun 2008Adele, thanks! I was dead chuffed with that shot. Still am, and reckon I will be for a while yet 😀
Words
10 Jun 2008Neil, thanks. The camera was pointing in the right direction anyway, and I was crouched low down. I simply had to refocus and shoot. But yes, it made my day!
FrogBoots
13 Jun 2008😆 I love the shot in the link! Thanks! 🙂 :up: