<\/span> Kestrel against the trees<\/span><\/p>\nWhen I finally got close enough for a reasonable shot I realized I'd stumbled upon a youngster of only a few months. It wasn't keen on being photographed and I kept my distance so this is cropped quite heavily. Pretty little thing though. The adult was nearby, circling just beyond some trees. I checked out the local pond at lunchtime, but there was no sign of the injured duck. I'll go back next week to see if it is still around (it may already have been rescued as there are a number of regular duck feeders there, and the pond is on the edge of a quiet village green).<\/p>\n While I was there I did manage (easily) my best shots yet of a house martin. Capturing these in flight is on a par with photographing swifts. They twist, turn and swoop ceaselessly and at speed. Two shots from about 50 is decent hit rate in my book \ud83d\ude09 This evening though belongs to the foxes. While I was typing the first part of this entry we heard a noise outside. Two cubs were play-fighting on the patio just outside the window \ud83d\ude00 One shot off almost immediately, and the second retreated to the rear of the garden (the trail cam will have some footage). No photos, but a joy to see them behaving like that.<\/p>\n Earlier, the bold vixen called by. She was in one of her more quiet moods and sat down on the (wet) grass just a few feet away from me. I ignored the damp, and sat down with her. She's like this occasionally, seemingly just wanting company (or maybe I'm just less hassle than the cubs). This was taken with the lens at 50mm. Finally a bit of trail cam footage from last night. Six visitors over the course of the night: the bold vixen, a fox cub, a hedgehog, a cat, a badger and (very briefly) a bat. The bat is right at the end. There's also a moth or two in there, but they don't count.<\/p>\n
<\/span> Young kestrel<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> House martin<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> House martin, pond skimming<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> The bold vixen<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> Her eye is virtually healed<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> Posing for a portrait<\/span><\/p>\n