Distant Raptors – It’s just a hobby

By Words | Published March 31, 2009

Yes they're back after their winter holidays. I saw a pair fly over the garden on Sunday. As ever they were too far off for more than a quick reference shot, but nice to see them back over the Sussex skies.

hobbyHobby

They weren't the only raptors about. A pair of sparrowhawks circled overhead, until the local gulls ganged up on them and sent them packing.

sparrowhawksA pair of sparrowhawks

This morning provided yet another opportunity for a ridiculously long shot. This time, it was a pair of buzzards coming in to land in a field. This is one of them.

buzzardBuzzard coming in to land

To complete the set I have managed one rather better shot recently (not forgetting the owl), which takes me back to Saturday when I grabbed a shot of a passing kestrel.

kestrelKestrel
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Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in Bird of Prey and tagged , , , , .

12 Comments

  1. cakkleberrylane March 31, 2009 at 1:03 am #

    Awesome shots!!

  2. annoushkiss March 31, 2009 at 6:03 am #

    Wow… so many raptors around!

  3. Flying Red Fox Blog March 31, 2009 at 9:03 am #

    Lovelly shots 😀

  4. SittingFox March 31, 2009 at 6:03 pm #

    You're certainly doing well with the raptors! I'm glad the hobbies are back. I guess I should start to look out for them in a few weeks then!

  5. Vulpes vulpes April 1, 2009 at 1:04 am #

    Love that Kestrel shot!

  6. Words April 1, 2009 at 7:04 am #

    Anna, it seems a good time of year for them!

  7. Words April 1, 2009 at 7:04 am #

    Adele, I can't recall when I first spotted the hobbies last year, but it seems quite early for them to be around.

  8. Words April 1, 2009 at 7:04 am #

    Thanks Mark!

  9. Words April 1, 2009 at 7:04 am #

    Thanks Vulpes!

  10. Words April 1, 2009 at 7:04 am #

    Thanks Lois!

  11. anonymous March 4, 2010 at 4:03 pm #

    Hannah writes:

    Hey love your raptor shots, you must have some good lens. My local buzzards never come close enough for my 100mm 🙁
    keep up d great work!!

  12. Words March 6, 2010 at 1:03 am #

    Hannah, thanks. These are taken with a 100-400mm zoom. Tricky to get close with 100mm, though the kestrels sometimes come in that near.