Two more raptors, a blackbird and a pair of playful squirrels

It was a little brighter today, and the temperature is still holding up. I wandered back to the kestrel field from yesterday, but it seemed deserted so I headed slightly further and came across a pair of squirrels busy playing chase up in the treetops. They were fairly well hidden by the branches, as you can see.
Squirrels at play

Out over the neighbouring fields a buzzard was circling. It kept its distance, but I'm always pleased to see these magnificent birds.
Buzzard circling

I had rather more luck with a sparrowhawk which flew in reasonably before disappearing behind the woods.
Sparrowhawk

All of those were grabbed shots, taken on the move. Nice moments, but fleeting. The blackbirds were more cooperative, but only just. They were busy feeding in the tall hedgerow, dashing to and fro across the path. Occasionally one would settle (though the branches conspired to cut across my line of sight). This appears to be a young male.

blackbirdBlackbird

No foxes tonight, but the squirrels (or more exactly 'a squirrel') has been active early in the mornings, sweeping up any leftover peanuts from the previous night whilst fearlessly seeing off the crows. No photos, but I do have some trail cam footage that I must sort out.
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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. gdare

    20 Nov 2009

    Black bird is the winner of the day :up:

  2. Words

    20 Nov 2009

    Darko, I agree about the blackbird 😀

  3. SittingFox

    20 Nov 2009

    Nice to see the buzzard and the hawk 🙂

  4. cakkleberrylane

    20 Nov 2009

    Great shots! My favorite is the blackbird too.

  5. Ukwildlife

    20 Nov 2009

    great photos. Thats a great sparrowhawk – so hard to photograph!

  6. CedarFox

    22 Nov 2009

    Wonderful photos. I also like the blackbird. 🙂

  7. Words

    22 Nov 2009

    Lois, thanks. I had rather more time to get the blackbird shot.

  8. Words

    22 Nov 2009

    Adele, thanks. They were more than adequate compensation for not seeing the kestrels again.

  9. Words

    22 Nov 2009

    Thanks Eric!

  10. Words

    22 Nov 2009

    Thanks Neil! The sprawk was a little further away than I'd have liked, but the light was reasonably decent.

  11. Words

    22 Nov 2009

    Thanks Erwin!

  12. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Great photos

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