After the recent diversions it's back to two of my favourites: kestrels and foxes.
The kestrel was a bit of a surprise. I spotted it near the car park at work this morning and followed it as it tree-hopped along the edge of the woods.
Kestrel against the trees
When 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.
Young kestrel
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).
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 😉
House martin
House martin, pond skimming
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 😀 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.
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.
The bold vixen
Her eye is virtually healed
Posing for a portrait
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.
Camera note: the daytime shots all taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens; the fox photos were with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM.
CedarFox
30 Jul 2009Great to see her injury has healed up nicely. I like the portrait of her, she has really nice forepaws :up:
I also see you prefer your prime over the zoom now. 🙂
gdare
30 Jul 2009Very active day. I like the house martin above the pond photo. Also the vixen looking at you one 😀
Flying Red Fox Blog
30 Jul 2009Very good photos and lovelly video 😀 I had an idea, put a small video camera on the feeding box and then catch cool snaps of the foxes really close up – like they do for Safari Wildlife sometimes.
That might be expensive though lol 😛
Words
31 Jul 2009Thanks Darko. The vixen was on good form that evening, very friendly.
Words
31 Jul 2009Mark, glad you liked the video. I could try and set something up closer, but yes more money and there's always a risk that they'll eat the camera 😆
Words
31 Jul 2009Eric, yes she's doing well. For a lot of things I prefer the prime, but the main reason I've not used the zoom lately is that it's being repaired. The zoom ring managed to lock itself up badly and I was risking damaging it. Should have it back in a week or so (I hope!)
SittingFox
31 Jul 2009The Bold Vixen is looking very handsome :up:
Both martins and martens are sorely testing for the camera :insane:
SittingFox
31 Jul 2009Ah yes, definitely in Sussex…although I can vouch that sand martins aren't easy to photograph in Scotland either :faint:
Words
31 Jul 2009Adele, yes she's looking good at the moment. Nice to see her brush is getting thicker again. Martens are significantly more tricky from where I'm sitting…
Words
31 Jul 2009There is a marten over in Surrey though (at the British Wildlife Centre, but that's not quite the same). 🙁