I had half an hour to kill this morning and went along to Hove Park to pass the time. It's one of those urban spaces which is little more than a sports field and area to run dogs. Very flat, with few features apart from trees around all four sides. The weather was overcast, but plenty of people were about so I wasn't sure if I'd even get the camera out. But something caught my eye flying across on the far side of the park, and I went closer to investigate.
I was right about the brief sighting I'd had. It was worth the chase, and eventually I spotted what I was looking for high in the trees.
I see green woodpeckers reasonably frequently, usually flying at high speed in the wrong direction and next to impossible to photograph. So a chance to take some reasonable shots was very welcome indeed (despite the poor light). And while I was watching – and snapping – I noticed a second bird flit into view. Now this was (for me) even more special as I almost never see them. Typically though it remained firmly on the wrong side of the tree trunk. But it's a great spotted woodpecker (honest!).
And to complete the day, the nicked-ear vixen paid a very brief visit to the garden this evening. She looks like she's in competition to be the grubbiest fox on the block, but although she only stayed a moment it was long enough for me to grab this shot of her at her cutest.
Camera note: Woodpeckers were photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The vixen was snapped with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS.
Vulpes vulpes
12 Jul 2008Lucky spot – 1.5 woodpeckers! :p As for the nick-eared vixen, grubby or not she does look pretty – I think roses suit her! :queen:
Words
13 Jul 2008Vulpes, I've never seen (let alone photographed) a complete Great Spotted. This is my previous sighting (March last year).
Nicked-ear is very cute, but seems highly strung. I don't think the other local foxes like her 🙁 She's certainly very wary of them.
SittingFox
13 Jul 2008Nice woodpecker duo! 🙂 Great spotteds can be a real tease sometimes. And the nicked-ear vixen looks very charming with the roses 🙂
Ukwildlife
13 Jul 2008nice photos as ever – its always good to see woodpeckers
Vulpes vulpes
13 Jul 2008Well, I've never seen either, so I'm jealous either way! 😉
Cynthia23
13 Jul 2008Great capture of the Great Spotted Woodpecker – wonderful focus! The Nicked-Ear Vixen is definitely very cute. :up:
SittingFox
13 Jul 2008Does Ireland have any woodpeckers? For some reason I thought it didn't…oh, here's the answer.
Words
13 Jul 2008Adele, all the nicer for being so unexpected. I've been to that park a few times but never seen anything other than crows, gulls and the occasional thrush (and blackbirds).
Words
13 Jul 2008Cynthia, that's the good shot of the great spotted. the only other one I managed yesterday simply had a glimpse of its back, with the head securely out of sight behind the tree.
Flying Red Fox Blog
15 Jul 2008Lovelly Green Woodpecker shot 😀 The Vixen looks sweet next to the Roses.
Words
15 Jul 2008Mark thanks. 😀