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.
RobinL
24 Mar 2011Words, looks like a panther to me! :rolleyes:
Glad the tiddlers are out and swimming. Maybe they will survive the newts now!
gdare
24 Mar 2011Black panther definitely :eyes: Did you warn sheep and lambs to move away to shelter? :left:
Mickeyjoe-Irl
24 Mar 2011A new species, the pygmy panther. 😆
Words
24 Mar 2011Robin, 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).
Words
24 Mar 2011Mick, spot on! Or would that make it a leopard?
Words
24 Mar 2011Baaaa…d language I'm afraid 😉
Ukwildlife
24 Mar 2011Great stuff. Not seen any frogspawn yet round here
Words
24 Mar 2011Darko, oh yes, I talked to the sheep and warned them to be careful.
gdare
24 Mar 2011Oh! What language you used to talk to them? :whistle:
Words
24 Mar 2011Erwin, thanks!
Words
24 Mar 2011Neil, I think the winter had an impact on the frog population so I hope you do get some spawn very soon.
cakkleberrylane
25 Mar 2011Brilliant 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.
wellisteffi
25 Mar 2011Great pictures. :up:
SittingFox
25 Mar 2011You 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:
Words
25 Mar 2011Lois, thanks. Now if only it were!
Words
25 Mar 2011Adele, 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.
Words
25 Mar 2011Steffi, thanks!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
27 Mar 2011Originally posted by Words:
I have an unfair advantage – I have one in captivity 😀
cakkleberrylane
27 Mar 2011😆 😆 😆
Words
27 Mar 2011Mick, LOL! That's a great shot!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
27 Mar 2011My own small attempt at wildlife photography. 😆
anonymous
31 Mar 2011Tony 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 !!
gdare
31 Mar 2011Originally posted by anonymous:
No, I`m pretty sure it`s black panther :ninja: :left:
Mickeyjoe-Irl
31 Mar 2011I think Tony needs to get a sense of humour. :rolleyes:
H82typ
31 Mar 2011😆 @ "baaa d language to sheep" 😆
I agree, Tony needs a sense of humour! 😀
Words
31 Mar 2011Originally posted by H82typ:
Oh I think he has a sense of humour!
Words
31 Mar 2011I've no idea who he is, to be honest, but the description of vultures was too good to be serious.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
31 Mar 2011:doh: I didn't realize you were mates. 😮
Words
31 Mar 2011Not the first, I'm pretty sure of that!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
31 Mar 2011I'm still not sure whether he was serious, kidding, or trolling.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
1 Apr 2011Well, he hasn't returned so that leads me to think it was the last option.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Very nice post