I'll come to the title of the post later, but I thought I should provide an update about the gull chicks. Well, they've flown the nest. They were gone on Wednesday morning when I went to look 🙁 So here's the final shot, taken on Tuesday.
It seems early for them to have flown, but they may well have ended up on a neighbouring roof where there seems to be an increased presence of chicks. My access isn't nearly so good though, so I won't be able to monitor them as easily. Here's a number of numbered chicks (they're ringed) on one of the other buildings, taken on Wednesday through a thick glass window.
Meanwhile, after last night's fox excitement the third of the troupe showed up tonight. The 'nicked-ear' vixen is much the less sociable of the foxes, but she makes up for it by being the most persistent hunter. She was probably after insects in this sequence. I've added several more from tonight to the July Fox Gallery.
Which brings me to the point of this post. I'd had a very quiet day with the camera as I had lunchtime meeting and only managed to grab a couple of poor shots of a rook during the day. The garden seemed quiet as well when I got home. Apart from some gulls and the occasional pigeon, not much was happening. Until, that is, I saw a small dark shape fly high over the garden. I grabbed about three or four frames before it disappeared, and wasn't at all sure what I'd seen until I uploaded the photos to the computer.
The bird in question is a Hobby. It's very similar to the peregrine falcon, but has a slightly brighter face, and vertical striping on the body which you can just about discern in the second of these shots. One of the more unusual sightings, the hobby is a non-native summer visitor from Africa.
Camera note: the birds were all taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. For the vixen I used the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
cakkleberrylane
4 Jul 2008All wonderful shots- as always!
Words
4 Jul 2008Thanks Lois!
Ukwildlife
4 Jul 2008hehe I got it from the title 🙂
good photos as ever. The gull chick is lovely and sharp and the foxes are always good. Hobbys are always hard to get, the best I've managed is a smaudge 20 pixels across lol.
Talking of foxes, judging by the near nighly sequence of the neighbours security light going of, then my light going of and the fact one time I was downstairs when it happened and saw a fox (I think that makes sense!), I believe Im getting a regular visitor – no hope of capturing it with the current camera but once I get my DSLR…….for know Ill make do with the screams of the cubs playfighting (well I think thats what the noise is!)
Cynthia23
4 Jul 2008Ahhh … the baby gulls have grown into the strength of their wings. This is wonderful news Words! It was such happiness watching them through your lens. This hobby is amazing. Great day wishes to you and your family. 🙂
Words
4 Jul 2008Neil, I thought you might 😉 As you say, tricky to photograph. Those are probably the best I've managed but are a long way short of really showing what the bird is like.
Sounds like you may well have a fox coming on a regular basis. Cubs too! If you hang around outside and keep still (for hour after hour) you may be able to get some decent shots. I don't recall what camera you have, but I was getting decent shots with a small compact and then with the Canon S2 'bridge' camera.
Words
4 Jul 2008Cynthia thanks. Yes good news for the gulls, but I'll miss seeing them.
SittingFox
4 Jul 2008A hobby!! Over your garden!! Wow! :eyes:
Great shots of the vixen hunting too. And that's a nice final shot of the gull chick. They've certainly got a lot of growing up to do yet, even if they can fly now 🙂
Vulpes vulpes
4 Jul 2008WOW!! Nice pun too! 😉
Vulpes vulpes
4 Jul 2008PS I LOVE the photo on your website of the nick-eared vixen (taken 3rd July) – she doesn't look too pleased with whatever it is on her nose! LOL!
Words
5 Jul 2008Adele, we see them occasionally down here, but always gliding over at high altitude. Nicked-ear is always very intense, slightly nervous, and very wary of the other foxes. I see much less of her than the others.
Words
5 Jul 2008Vulpes, I think it was a leaf on her nose.
Vulpes vulpes
5 Jul 2008@ Words: yes, she has that look of "Ah come on, leaf my nose alone!". 😉
Words
5 Jul 2008LOL!
anonymous
7 Jul 2008The Black Rabbit writes:
Wonderful shots Words (of course)!
I don't recall seeing a hobby yet this year, so I'm glad I made a trip to "everything is permuted"!
Thanks.
TBR
Words
7 Jul 2008TBR, you're welcome!
ALLY_G
8 Jul 2008I good understand your sad face about the missed gulls. 🙁
I guess, you had so much fun to watch them and to take the wonderful photos. :up:
Maybe next year you'll get a new chance. 🙂