Kestrels are the most frequently sighted of our local birds of prey, usually seen hovering over roadside verges while they hunt for small mammals. I came across this male while I was waiting in a queue to get into our local recycling centre. The cars weren't moving so while I was waiting I got the camera out and took a few shots. It's one way of passing the time 😉
On the way back home I took a brief detour around Sheepcote Valley in the hope of seeing more kestrels. No luck today, but I did get this shot of a whitethroat.
I've spent the last 20 minutes outside with three fox cubs. I am beginning to get to know the different personalities, and there's one which is especially cute. These shots though are from last night. More playfulness and squealing.
Camera note: birds taken with the Canon 7D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. Fox cubs taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
derWandersmann
19 May 2013Loverly kestrel shots, Words! You can see how he does it: flap like crazy with the wings, while the tail is in a stall position.
Pretty little whitethroat.
SittingFox
19 May 2013It seems to be a good year for whitethroats – there are plenty at Dungeness.
The cubs are sorting out their squabbles in style!
Words
24 May 2013Adele, we generally do ok for whitethroats locally. Fighting fox cubs are such fun! 😀
Words
24 May 2013dW, thanks. I love watching kestrels hover. I couldn't get to the right side of this one but it passed a few minutes while I was waiting for the cars to start moving again.