After the non-stop blogging of fox cubs I finally had the opportunity to see some other wildlife today. The weather (at least until the afternoon) was warm and the birds were enjoying themselves in the sunshine.
Blue tit
Juvenile blackbird
Those were taken in the morning, before work. At lunchtime I went in search of insect life. I did see a butterfly, but it was somewhat 'surrounded' by a crow.
Crow (and butterfly)
A slightly tighter crop
It wasn't crows I was after though. Or butterflies. That shot was taken at the edge of a local dew pond. And at this time of year there's only one reason for visiting the pond… dragonflies. It's always a good spot for them. Secluded, with good sunlight (they like the warmth), and today a couple of broad-bodied chasers were out. These are the first I've seen this year.
Female broad bodied chaser
Male broad bodied chaser
And just to show that it's not only crows that prey on insect, the dragonflies are equally adept.
Broad bodied chaser eating a fly
And cropped in close
And finally, from the day, a pair of red damselflies in an ornamental pond.
Quite a colourful day all told, but it wasn't over. Tonight in the garden the hedgehogs kept me occupied until the foxes arrived.
The first fox of the evening was Bold. She'd been down to the local shops and rushed past me with a jaw crammed with provisions. Someone locally is far more generous than I am!
After a meal (they were in another garden, but I could hear them), the cubs always like to come out to explore…
Looking at the stars
Venturing a little too close to the camera 😉
And that really is the final photo for tonight.
Camera note: all daytime shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The hedgehog and foxes were photographed with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
Vulpes vulpes
20 May 2010Beautifully detailed shots! I laughed at Bold's night-time shopping and the star gazing! 😀
cakkleberrylane
20 May 2010A wonderful collection of beautiful shots. The shopping fox photo is brilliant!
Dudley
20 May 2010:up:
debplatt
20 May 2010That was quite a bit of variety for such a modestly entitled post. 😀 I especially loved the broad-bodied chasers (that top one was super!), and I got a chuckle out of the butterfly surrounded by a crow.
gdare
20 May 2010Butterfly surrounded by a crow 😆 :insane: A very interesting expression about someone`s last seconds :left:
And a shopping fox :up:
SittingFox
20 May 2010That crow looks disturbingly like a crocodile that is basking with its mouth agape, waiting for something to come and peck at its teeth :insane:
But a beautiful post – love the dragonflies. Bold certainly has a mouthful. If she had fewer cubs, I fear she would lose her waistline quite rapidly 😉
AnitaMargita
20 May 2010Hi Words! 🙂
Beautiful photos! :up: Thanks for sharing! 🙂
anonymous
20 May 2010Daveabirding writes:
Have been enjoying these posts.
Words
21 May 2010Darko, it's all a matter of perspective I guess. That's a photo of a butterfly :yuck:
Words
21 May 2010Andy :cheers:
Words
21 May 2010Deb, the chasers are always great fun to watch and the females are (relatively) easy to photograph in flight as they hover very consistently over the same spot.
Words
21 May 2010Adele, I've seen cros digging around but never before caught anything quite like that shot. Bold is quite skinny at the moment, and tired! She was sleeping for ages in the garden last night.
Words
21 May 2010Vulpes, thanks! The vixen is clearly quite popular 🙂
Words
21 May 2010Erwin :cheers:
Words
21 May 2010Anchi, it's a pleasure to share the photos. I'm glad you like them.
Words
21 May 2010Lois, thanks! Only the best for our foxes 😉
Words
21 May 2010Dave, thanks!
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012:up: