Different places and different days means different dominant species. I'm sure there are reasons for the sometimes rapid changes, though I'm far from certain as to what they are. Today, for example, the previously dominant whitethroats were much less active (maybe the young have fledged, which would reduce feeding activity), the kestrels were almost nowhere to be seen (too windy, or better hunting elsewhere?). The corvids were active (crows, magpies and jackdaws), but it was a much smaller bird that was dominant. The skylarks dusted the meadow as they rested between soaring and singing.
There was one other sighting that is worth posting. A lone fox was passing through the valley. It seemed purposeful, but wasn't actively hunting (I saw remarkably few rabbits either, as it happens). It was a brief sighting, but it's always a pleasure to see foxes out in their natural habitat. The first shot is uncropped.
Finally, a short news report from acouple fo days ago of a big cat sighting on the Sussex/Hampshire borders. This one even has video evidence (of a sort).
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
ICU109
24 May 2011must be a young fox cuz it is pretty thin!!
SittingFox
24 May 2011Yes, it is good to see foxes in the wild landscape. Good shots of the lark too! :up:
As for the big cat sighting – obviously I'm wasting my time exploring the Rocky Mountain wilderness! 😉
gdare
24 May 2011😆 😆 😆 San has a tiger like that, regular colour 😛
http://my.opera.com/sanshan/blog/2011/02/27/the-stranger-part-3
Words
26 May 2011Kathy, difficult to judge its age at this distance, but I imagine it has cubs of its own at the moment.
Words
26 May 2011Darko, San's tiger would have probably brought the whole country to a standstill!
Words
26 May 2011Adele, you can't beat Sussex for big cat sightings, but I'm happy just with foxes.
ICU109
7 Jun 2011yes, very good lark shots. I love birds. suppose if we were living in the wild, we'd be thin and in shape!! so glad i'm not heavy – would be hard to carry xtra weight around – rheumatoid arthritis kind of floats from joint to joint and if it's in the ankles or feet, it's better to weigh about 5 pounds! hurts less to walk! LOL!
Words
8 Jun 2011Kathy, thanks! We're lucky to have so many skylarks locally. I love their song and the way they seem to need to keep singing to stay in the air.
ICU109
6 Jul 2011very interesting point that dominance can arise off and on by virtue of circumstance such as babes in the nest!