I've been busy with work most of the week which has left precious little time for attending to the blog. That, and dreadfully dull weather which has limited opportunities for decent photography.
The foxes have been around, and the star this week has without doubt been the bold vixen who insists on living up to her name and is currently a more frequent visitor than the old dog fox. That said, both of them were spotted together in the garden last night (Thursday). This shot is from Wednesday, when she decided that she'd investigate the torch I'd left on the ground. She was just a few inches from me when I took this.
Of the bird sightings this week, I saw a heron early on Tuesday morning. The light was poor, but I grabbed a couple of shots as it flew directly overhead looking decidedly prehistoric. (Except it's not a heron at all, but a curlew which makes it a first for me. Thanks to Neil for the correct i.d. :up: )
Heron Curlew
The rabbits were also unusually bold, allowing me to get this shot of one grazing in the fields.
Wednesday morning provided me an opportunity to look for kestrels, but again the poor light scuppered the chance of any decent shots (of which there were many). This is one of the more interesting ones I caught.
Kestrel
Today took me further afield. I had to go up to the University of Warwick for a meeting. I took the camera on the off chance I'd have a few minutes to photograph the campus, and did manage to squeeze a brief 20 minute break. It was graduation day, and the students were gathering for group photos when I went outside.
I'd almost given up hope of finding any local wildlife when I came across this sign. I had about 10 minutes to spare… 
No herons on Heronbank, but the lakeside proved fruitful.
Canada Geese
Female Mallard
Camera note: Heron, rabbit and kestrel taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens; the vixen with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM; and the geese and duck with the highly portable EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
SittingFox
18 Jul 2008Unusual angle on the heron! I guess those graduates at Warwick were some of the last of the year? My graduation ceremony was in mid-June.
And the kestrel is great, as ever. By the way, I thought I glimpsed a hobby dashed over my front garden this morning, but I couldn't be 100% sure.
Words
19 Jul 2008Adele, the heron went more or less directly overhead. It was more of reference shot than anything else. The kestrel is much easier, and poses so well. I took loads of shots but they're all somewhat noisy due to the light (or lack of). Not sure what the Warwick timetable is… at Sussex our graduations are next week. With luck they'll get decent weather.
There certainly seem to be plenty of hobbies around this year. Not always easy to i.d. though as they insist on flying so high.
Ukwildlife
19 Jul 2008Nice pics. Though Im sure that isn't a heron, as a herons legs trail behind it as it flies, the beaks too long and the wings have bars and arnt squarish – but I these all point to a curlew instead 😀
Vulpes vulpes
19 Jul 2008Never one to waste a wildlife opportunity – rightfully so! :p
Words
19 Jul 2008Vulpes, absolutely 😀
Words
19 Jul 2008Neil, a curlew? That didn't occur to me at all! I'll check further. Thanks!
mountainlion_wales
20 Jul 2008wow, ur kestrel pics r awesome!! 🙂
Words
20 Jul 2008Thanks Jenny!
Cynthia23
21 Jul 2008All the photos are great, but the kestrel image is magnificent!
Words
22 Jul 2008Cynthia, thanks!