Just a quick update on the 'unusual raptor' post. I've not had any more sightings (I looked today), but various email exchanges are leading the identification to be a Gyr/Peregrine, Gyr/Saker or Gyr/Peregrine/Saker tribred. Thanks to the Independent Bird Register for that information.
While I was out looking for the falcon again today (well, you never know, it might have returned) I spotted one of the other local raptors, but this time a wild one. And rather further away. Still, its flight was unmistakeable.
Sparrowhawk
As for the garden, the trail cam was very quiet last night. Apart from a couple of cats, the only 'capture' was the rear end of a badger disappearing out of shot!
Today was better though. When I went out to set up the cam, the Bold Vixen was waiting. I propped the cam on the ground (be interesting to check tomorrow what it caught) while she explored.
The vixen up by the pond
Exploring in the ivy
There's not much change in the dark patches on her side. It's odd, but if the coat were recovering I would have expected to see a little more progress by now. She's wholly unconcerned about it, so there's nothing to worry about except working to take photos of her good side ;).
There's an outside chance of snow on Wednesday, but hopefully nothing like so severe as over the last week or so. We'll see. :smurf:
Camera note: all photos with the Canon 40D. The sparrowhawk was caught in the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The vixen was photographed with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
CedarFox
19 Jan 2010Good shots, you've got much more luck than I have with raptors at the moment. It almost seems to be a guarantee a red-tail is going to appear somewhere when I leave the camera at home :insane:
gdare
19 Jan 2010Is there any chance it could be caught ("unusual raptor") and given neccessary care and food? It really looked bad…
Words
19 Jan 2010Darko, according to the falconers who have commented, the bird's condition is not actually too terrible. If it's hungry then it should be possible to recapture a well-trained bird with a lure (food), if you can locate them. It beats me how they do it, but apparently they can.
Words
19 Jan 2010Eric, it's pretty easy to see raptors round our way (just a matter of looking). They're often a long way off unless I head down to where I know I will nearly always see kestrels. I often spot them by the behaviour of other birds. And I pretty much always have a camera to hand 😉
Flying Red Fox Blog
19 Jan 2010Nice photos 🙂 It is unusual that dark colourings on the Vixens fur but if its not bothering her then hopefully its ok, she might have been mated on by another Fox that had an infection and it discoloured her fur perhaps.
I better update my blog soon, go loads of nice snowy photos to put on.
Words
19 Jan 2010Mark, I can't work out those markings. The top layer of fur is missing, almost like she's been shaved. She doesn't seem to care though, which is the main thing 😉
I still can't quite believe how much snow we had!
SittingFox
20 Jan 2010Those patches are a bit weird, but she seems healthy and I guess that's all that really matters. Perhaps they'll grow out with the spring moult.
Nice sparrowhawk! :up:
Words
21 Jan 2010Adele, I've seen the sparrowhawk several times recently, but usually as a dot in the distance. This was relatively close, but not quite the encounter you had.
The vixen's absolutely fine apart from those patches. Peculiar, but you might be right about the moult helping re-growth.