Two more raptors, a blackbird and a pair of playful squirrels

It was a little brighter today, and the temperature is still holding up. I wandered back to the kestrel field from yesterday, but it seemed deserted so I headed slightly further and came across a pair of squirrels busy playing chase up in the treetops. They were fairly well hidden by the branches, as you can see.
Squirrels at play

Out over the neighbouring fields a buzzard was circling. It kept its distance, but I'm always pleased to see these magnificent birds.
Buzzard circling

I had rather more luck with a sparrowhawk which flew in reasonably before disappearing behind the woods.
Sparrowhawk

All of those were grabbed shots, taken on the move. Nice moments, but fleeting. The blackbirds were more cooperative, but only just. They were busy feeding in the tall hedgerow, dashing to and fro across the path. Occasionally one would settle (though the branches conspired to cut across my line of sight). This appears to be a young male.

blackbirdBlackbird

No foxes tonight, but the squirrels (or more exactly 'a squirrel') has been active early in the mornings, sweeping up any leftover peanuts from the previous night whilst fearlessly seeing off the crows. No photos, but I do have some trail cam footage that I must sort out.
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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in Bird of Prey, Birds, squirrel and tagged , .

12 Comments

  1. gdare November 20, 2009 at 6:11 am #

    Black bird is the winner of the day :up:

  2. Words November 20, 2009 at 7:11 am #

    Darko, I agree about the blackbird 😀

  3. SittingFox November 20, 2009 at 6:11 pm #

    Nice to see the buzzard and the hawk 🙂

  4. cakkleberrylane November 20, 2009 at 8:11 pm #

    Great shots! My favorite is the blackbird too.

  5. Ukwildlife November 20, 2009 at 10:11 pm #

    great photos. Thats a great sparrowhawk – so hard to photograph!

  6. CedarFox November 22, 2009 at 3:11 am #

    Wonderful photos. I also like the blackbird. 🙂

  7. Words November 22, 2009 at 11:11 am #

    Lois, thanks. I had rather more time to get the blackbird shot.

  8. Words November 22, 2009 at 11:11 am #

    Adele, thanks. They were more than adequate compensation for not seeing the kestrels again.

  9. Words November 22, 2009 at 11:11 am #

    Thanks Eric!

  10. Words November 22, 2009 at 11:11 am #

    Thanks Neil! The sprawk was a little further away than I'd have liked, but the light was reasonably decent.

  11. Words November 22, 2009 at 10:11 pm #

    Thanks Erwin!

  12. Wulpen October 19, 2012 at 8:10 pm #

    Great photos