Well the Easter Bank Holiday beckons, so we're getting ready for a cold, damp spell. At least one forecast is indicating a flurry of snow. None of that seems to be worrying the garden birds, particularly the delightful blue tits.
We also had a great tit making good use of the peanut feeder.
It's also time to stop calling it 'frog spawn' and to start talking about tadpoles. They are still a little way off being the traditional black and bulbous shape, but they are more or less free of their individual sacs, and were crowding the surface of the pond this evening. You can see their eyes beginning to form, and just the hint of a proper mouth on some of them!
The foxes have been very quiet. I've had one or two fleeting sightings, and a very brief visit in the early hours of Wednesday. I can't be absolutely certain but I think this is the 'not so shy' vixen. She was at the far end of the garden when I took this shot. It was only afterwards that I saw what seems to be a wound on the side of her head. She was mildly cautious (not unusual) and strolled off as I tried to approach. The wound is probably not as bad as it looks, and is possibly just a tear.
Camera note: The birds were photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS and Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter; the tadpoles and fox with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro.
BitzyMe
21 Mar 2008These are all very interesting (great) shots!
The Blue Tit and Tadpole shots are amazing.
I am simply in awe of How Fast those tadpoles can grow.
Words
21 Mar 2008Thanks Bitzy. The tadpoles are utterly bizarre, and still incredibly small.
Vulpes vulpes
21 Mar 2008Particularly like the action blue tit shot (first one…stunning!) but they are all great, as per usual! Ah, the poor vixen.
BitzyMe
21 Mar 2008Ditto on the vixen… Hope everything turns out alright.
Whatever happened, it seems not to have effected her night vision.
cakkleberrylane
21 Mar 2008All your shots are amazing!!! The blue tits are always so sweet, very nice against the white background. First shot is great with the wing movement, second one has such a funny look on his face – like he's telling us he's really a big, bad, bossy tough guy! 😆
The great tit photo is wonderful too.
I too, am surprised at how fast the tadpoles are growing. I was really amazed to see the cell division in your previous blog and now!!! they are recognizable as tadpoles!! just incredible!
I hope not-so-shy-vixen is all right.
gdare
21 Mar 2008Wow, that first photo is amazing :up:
Flying Red Fox Blog
21 Mar 2008Lovelly pics, the Bluetit in flight is brilliant:D I wish i could take more pics of the small birds and that they would stay still long enough lol, guess i better be more patient.
sprogger
21 Mar 2008That first Blue tit shot is just wow
Mickeyjoe-Irl
21 Mar 2008I was beginning to wonder if the birds ever used those feeders or were they just for the mice. 😉
SittingFox
21 Mar 2008That wound looks almost identical to the scars I've seen on some of the more rural foxes around here :confused: Possibly an accident with some fencing?
Tadpoles are amazing, again! :up:
Words
22 Mar 2008Thanks Vulpes. It launched itself as I hit the shutter release, so I have to applaud its timing.
Words
22 Mar 2008Mickeyjoe, yes it does seem like the wood mice have taken over the feeders at times, but the birds do use them them sometimes 😉
Words
22 Mar 2008Adele, a fence wound is possible. It may be the same fox I saw being chased at speed by a cat a couple of days before. I doubt the cat caugt it but it may have caught itself getting away.
Words
22 Mar 2008Thanks Sprogger!
Words
22 Mar 2008Bitzy, I'm keeping an eye out for the vixen. Hopefully she'll be fine. Good example of eyeshine in that shot. Like headlights!
Words
22 Mar 2008Thanks Darko!
Words
22 Mar 2008Lois, blue tits always look like such rascals. I think it's to do with the 'bandit mask' they wear. The tadpoles seem to be doing well despite the rapid temperature changes round here. No more news on the vixen though. They see very shy at the moment.
Words
22 Mar 2008Mark, that was a lucky shot. I was focusing on it neatly perched when it took off! Small birds are very tricky and I waste loads of shots to get a couple of decent ones, particularly when they're flitting around like that.