I'm struggling with a shoulder 'injury' at the moment, which is restricting my use of the camera (and which I am certain was also the cause of it). So I'm taking things slightly easier, which means not so many elevated shots, and occasional use of a monopod to take some of the weight. But there's always another way to find a shot, and today was no exception. These were all taken at Falmer Pond.
Early morning is still the best time, not least because it's quiet and the more timid creatures are visible. Even when they think they're hiding: 'If I don't move they won't be able to see me".
The rabbit's strategy of hiding by standing bolt upright in broad daylight isn't quite as silly as it may seem, even when you add in those telescopic ears. Foxes have relatively poor eyesight and are more likely to seek movement or to respond to sound. Standing stock-still may well work when you are prey-animal to a fox. I should make clear that there was no fox about this morning to test the theory.
The morning also brings out the birds, many of them full of bright song, and none are visually brighter than the yellowhammer. The out of focus bird is a dunnock.
I did manage one flight shot today, a duck coming in to land on the pond. 
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
derWandersmann
4 Apr 2012Sorry about your shoulder, Words … I would definitely recommend a "gunstock mount" for your camera. You can pay as much as you like for one, but the cheapest I've found are:
1) http://www.amazon.com/STEDI-STOVE-Stedi-Stock%AE/dp/B0014007YE?tag=5336062087-20
2) Same thing from Adorama: http://www.adorama.com/CZSS.html
3) And a slightly different approach from Manfrotto: http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-361-Shoulder-Brace-Monopod/dp/B001A1NZ0A/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1321137922&sr=1-11
4) there is also the home-made route:
Above all, try to keep it from looking like a weapon, or some Nervous Nellie will shriek for the local boys in blue. It's not likely that you'd be seriously detained, even in gun-phobic Britain, but it's an annoyance to be avoided.
Use the same technique of following a flying bird as one would with a shotgun.
gdare
4 Apr 2012Despite the poor eyesight, I thought foxes, like dogs, can smell a prey. But maybe I'm wrong and probably rabbits know better 😀
Sorry to hear about shoulder, you might consider to give it a rest for a couple of days.
SittingFox
4 Apr 2012Hope your shoulder clears up soon.
Lovely to see the yellowhammer. The ground squirrels and prairie dogs here have a similar upright watching technique to the rabbits.
Words
5 Apr 2012Adele, yellowhammers are such startlingly bright birds. Always lovely to see. I'm sure the shoulder will ease up… the GP reckoned a couple of weeks should do it.
Words
5 Apr 2012Darko, I'm sure they do use their nose (hence territory marking), but mainly they use their ears to locate prey. Plus movement. of course. Their distance vision isn't great though (not that I can talk!).
Words
5 Apr 2012dW, I'm not sure about the home-made route (looks lethal), but the idea of a camera sling/shoulder brace has crossed my mind. I'll see how the arm goes. It's easing up slowly… I reckon two or three weeks for it to heal.
derWandersmann
7 Apr 2012Just found this one, totally by chance, if there is such a thing as chance, and thought you might find it of interest. It looks a little like overkill to me, but I'm not the injured chap, either.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036NMQ7S/ref=s9_simh_gw_p421_d3_g421_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1ET76K7XRVZ3N5C1W7DK&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846
Words
9 Apr 2012dW, thanks for this. I suspect by the time I figure out what might be useful the arm will have cleared up. It's sudden movement more than anything else that is causing the problem which has migrated to the upper arm. If I take care I find I can manage the camera…. picking up a cup of tea can be awkward though! I should be fine in a week or so.
derWandersmann
9 Apr 2012One of the things I find helpful in such situations os to tell my subconscious, in no uncertain terms, not to let me sleep in the wrong positions … this is especially important with rotator-cuff injuries.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
12 Apr 2012Originally posted by Words:
:no: A true tragedy. Though I suppose a straw would work.
That would be an "interesting" sight, you out in a field with a camera on a gun-stock mount and sipping tea from a Thermos with a straw. 😆
Words
12 Apr 2012Mick, hopefully I won't have to try the thermos and straw trick. Shoulder seems ok today (first time I've barely noticed it), so hopefully the worst is over.
Words
12 Apr 2012dW, I was always told that the subconcious doesn't understand negatives, but it can obviously absorb blog comments without any problem! Good advice.