Just a quick post tonight to update on the tadpoles, or rather to confirm that the spawn has now completed that part of the cycle and we do indeed have tadpoles. 
As you can see they are still some way from full development (let alone transformation into froglets). They also have tiny fringed gills. As yet they are not very mobile. They flick and twitch but that's about it. Full mobility will come over the next few days, at which point they will be much more difficult to photograph.
The other shots for today are of the sunset. Another cracker today. This is a series of three shots, the first two being taken through the low beech trees at the edge of the garden.
Nothing to see in the garden this evening. I'm hoping for a badger… one has passed through several times during the week (but only when I'm not there).
So in the absence of a badger (or a fox) I'll close with one more owl photo… this is the tawny perched on a hollow tree.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM except the tadpoles which were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.
derWandersmann
25 Mar 2012Nice to see the tadpoles; it looks like they still have some yolk-sac to get along on.
The first two sunset shots are good, but the vertical one is fantastic!!
The tawny is giving a lesson in Nature's camouflage. He's easy to miss, if you're not looking.
gdare
25 Mar 2012That owl looked :irked: because you woke her up 😛
SittingFox
26 Mar 2012Wow, the tadpoles are growing fast.
Pretty sunset :up:
serola
26 Mar 2012I start to believe in your latitude there are more dust or thin clouds on upper atmosphere than here. I just can't ever spot sunsets like that around here
Words
28 Mar 2012dW, the tadpoles are developing very quickly now. They'll soon be free-swimming and difficult to see. I was pleased with the third sunset as well! I love getting some landscape into the shot. As for the owl, the perch was carefully selected to offer a good shot, so I can't claim too much credit for it.
Words
28 Mar 2012Sami, we have a great location looking out over a valley to the hills about a mile or so away. Plus we are by the coast. Maybe that helps. And there's a small city the other side of the hills. It must all make a difference to the atmosphere, but I agree that we do get great sunsets. 😀
Words
28 Mar 2012Darko, that little owl was a real star. Very patient with us (unlike the short-eared owl).
Words
28 Mar 2012Adele, thanks. I'll lose sight of the tadpoles fairly soon, but so far they're surviving quite well.
serola
29 Mar 2012Originally posted by Words:
💡 That's it 💡 Tampere is far from cost and now that you mentioned it, I recall seeing wonderful sunsets when I lived on west coast of Finland :up:
RachelJuleiane
29 Mar 2012Beautiful sunset :hat:
Words
30 Mar 2012Rachel, thanks!
Words
30 Mar 2012Sami, it must help to be near wide open space.
serola
30 Mar 2012Originally posted by Words:
That is a big problem when living in such place where something always blocks the view 🙁
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Very nice shots