I took these at Falmer Pond today. Despite the cold weather, spring is obviously in the air.
That was an extract. The complete sequence is in my Mallards Mating album. Oh, and for the technically inclined, the complete sequence of shots took just 25 seconds, of which mating lasted just 10 seconds. For a video sequence you'll need to head over to Neil's UK Wildlife Blog.
And just a quick fox update. Still no photos (though I'm developing a strategy!), but I did see the stranger today. He (I'm convinced it's a male) is a slightly tatty thing, with a thin brush. He shot across the front of the garden as I was getting the camera gear ready (he's taunting me now!) and I got a good (but very brief) view of him through the window. The strategy involves setting up the camera at the bottom of the garden on a tripod, placing an egg at the far end of the garden, manually focusing on the egg and then hiding behind the tripod in the hope of an appearance. It hasn't worked yet, but the egg did disappear while I was inside sorting out tonight's photos. So it's not scared of the tripod. Just of me! I'll try again tomorrow.
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
gdare
30 Jan 2009They are doing it in water?
Words
30 Jan 2009Yep 😀
Vulpes vulpes
30 Jan 2009I'm glad I'm not a duck! 😉 Hmmm, new fox encounters…eggsciting stuff! :p
Words
31 Jan 2009Probably better than being a spider though :yikes:
SittingFox
31 Jan 2009I cannot imagine that any fox would have the patience to sit posing on the lawn while I go outside with a mop and a bucket of soapy water :p
Words
31 Jan 2009Adele, I may have to set something up but it's not easy as I don't have a particularly clear view to the rear of the garden. I may try and figure something out with my old S2 which has an 'interval' mode. Just set it up and leave it. Or buy a trail camera. At the moment though I'm just pleased that it's around at all.
SittingFox
31 Jan 2009Is it possible to photograph the new fox through a window? The sandy dogfox here has taken to sleeping in the Old Dogfox's spot under the conifer, but I'm sure he'd flee if I opened the door. I hate photographing through windows but it's that or nothing for him. Obviously though, out of the question if you want to use flash.
gdare
31 Jan 2009And a window must be cleaned before it 😀
Words
31 Jan 2009Well I might clean the window today, in case but the main problem is condensation when it gets cold. Of course, not all foxes are as shy. This little one would have waited for me to clean the windows.
SittingFox
31 Jan 2009If you do get a trail cam, I'd recommend an American one – you can pick them up on eBay for £150 or so. The only British-made ones that I've seen cost about £600 and are nowhere near as good.
Flying Red Fox Blog
1 Feb 2009Very cool, he looks like hes drowning her in the process! 😆
Words
1 Feb 2009Adele, I'm struggling working out what sort of spec / quality to expect from them, and of course to get night time colour means using a flash version which might not be the best thing. Decisions, decisions :confused:
Words
1 Feb 2009Mark, it does look somewhat awkward to say the least!
SittingFox
1 Feb 2009Yes, I don't often use the flash (or, to be exact, I didn't – my trail cam has never worked properly since Andrea buried it!) but the infrared setting is okay, at least for movie clips. I use Bushnell trail cams, but possibly others are better.
Words
1 Feb 2009😀
Cynthia23
1 Feb 2009😮 Oh @@ 😮