This morning I went in search of kestrels and although I managed some shots, it was nothing spectacular. So instead of kestrels here's a few shots from later in the day, in the garden. I'll start with a small surprise with a large apple :confused:
The encounter was as brief as they come. I nearly missed it, and it was only chance that I was looking in the right direction. I didn't have time to adjust the camera, which was set up for photographing birds in flight, so the shutter speed was on the slow side of useful. The squirrel scampered across the bottom of the garden and paused momentarily before disappearing into the hedge on the far side. Just long enough for a shot without motion blur.
Squirrel with apple
This evening no sooner had I set up the trail cam than a fox appeared. Handsome (that's his name). I managed to get a decent photo of his injured leg. It looks reasonably clean, and there's no sign of a limp or other adjustments to his mobility.
A cat was lurking at the bottom of the garden (an elderly ginger cat, one of several that pass through). Handsome remained somewhat wary throughout, despite there being some 20 metres between them (and the cat had no intention of approaching while I was there). He retreated briefly under the cover of the dog rose (maybe he thinks there is something in the name).
The other new development is of the mushroom variety, this time some small fungi sprouting around the feet of Zola (a new arrival who is clearly still working his Stamford Bridge magic :wizard: )
Camera note: the squirrel was photographed with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens; the fox with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens; and the mushrooms with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
gdare
21 Sep 2010It seems no apple is big enough for squirrel 😆
Words
21 Sep 2010Darko, it was doing extremely well carrying a load that size. It won't go hungry!
SittingFox
21 Sep 2010Is that a crab apple? That squirrel will get a stomach ache!
Glad to see that Handsome's injury is healing up. It doesn't look too bad now.
KayFour
21 Sep 2010Handsome is a great name for him!
Words
22 Sep 2010Karen, sometimes, just sometimes, naming them is easy.
Words
22 Sep 2010Adele, I didn't get a decent look, and the size is deceptive. It could be, but the squirrel looked very pleased with it… maybe until the first bite.
Handsome is doing fine… Cheeky was limping badly last night though. Seems to be a small cut on a hind paw (upper).