There have long been rumours of wild cats in this area. Today, out in local fields while watching for buzzards, I was stunned when one flashed across the path. It was feline. It was black. It was hunting. Could it be the mysterious Sussex panther? Judge for yourself. :cat:
Meanwhile, the local raptors continue to entertain. Today, the buzzards were joined by a sparrowhawk.
The pair circled each other several times, but keeping a safe distance between them. 
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
The next few shots are heavily cropped. They show a buzzard diving. While not reaching the speed of some of the smaller raptors, it was steep and swift. And a long way away! 
This third shot is also cropped…
On the home front the tadpoles are beginning to emerge. This batch is several inches below the surface, but seems to be doing well. 
The gills will be reabsorbed over the next few weeks.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, except for the tadpoles which were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.
32 Comments
Words, looks like a panther to me! :rolleyes:
Glad the tiddlers are out and swimming. Maybe they will survive the newts now!
Black panther definitely :eyes: Did you warn sheep and lambs to move away to shelter? :left:
A new species, the pygmy panther. 😆
Robin, given the number of sightings reported locally, this has to be the real thing :whistle: The tadpoles should do ok (and at least the newts will have to work a bit harder to catch them now).
Mick, spot on! Or would that make it a leopard?
Baaaa…d language I'm afraid 😉
Great stuff. Not seen any frogspawn yet round here
Darko, oh yes, I talked to the sheep and warned them to be careful.
Oh! What language you used to talk to them? :whistle:
Erwin, thanks!
Neil, I think the winter had an impact on the frog population so I hope you do get some spawn very soon.
Brilliant shot of the panther! What a catch!! I've been told we have a black leopard in the neighborhood, but I've never been lucky enough to see it.
Great pictures. :up:
You know, some newspapers would probably print that as evidence of our mysterious population of melanistic pumas :right:
Very nice to see the two raptors together! :up:
Lois, thanks. Now if only it were!
Adele, well you never know. Someone somewhere might yet pick up on the picture. I've got a much less clear shot which probably could make the papers 😉
The sparrowhawks have been much less prevalent over the past year or so, but I've had a few decent sightings this spring which is good.
Steffi, thanks!
Originally posted by Words:
I have an unfair advantage – I have one in captivity 😀
😆 😆 😆
Mick, LOL! That's a great shot!
My own small attempt at wildlife photography. 😆
Tony Martin writes:
Thats a black domestic cat, and those were 2 hawks, buzzards are solid black, with longer necks,buzzards do not dive to capture prey, they circle overhead to catch the scent of dead animals and then as a group sniff it out and glide down to devour the carcass. And the tadpoles are newts, goofball. You've misidentified all of these species. Get a book on these such creatures and you will see !!
Originally posted by anonymous:
No, I`m pretty sure it`s black panther :ninja: :left:
I think Tony needs to get a sense of humour. :rolleyes:
😆 @ "baaa d language to sheep" 😆
I agree, Tony needs a sense of humour! 😀
Originally posted by H82typ:
Oh I think he has a sense of humour!
I've no idea who he is, to be honest, but the description of vultures was too good to be serious.
:doh: I didn't realize you were mates. 😮
Not the first, I'm pretty sure of that!
I'm still not sure whether he was serious, kidding, or trolling.
Well, he hasn't returned so that leads me to think it was the last option.
Very nice post