I was at the point of calling this entry 'A Dry Day', but around 45 minutes ago the rain started up again. Sunday looks promising though! We'll see.
In the meantime here are a few 'bird in flight' (bif) shots from today, including this one of a common sandpiper. The sandpipers are occasional visitors to the pond, but they don't seem to follow any particular pattern of appearance so it's always something of a surprise to see one there. They prefer larger stretches of water, in common with many of our wading birds.
Not at all a surprise are the house martins which, at this time of year, take up residence in the barns and houses around the village. They feed voraciously on insects providing a constant aerial spectacle, mixed with fast sweeps just above the surface of the water.
The very common blackbird often proves one of the hardest birds to photograph in flight. In part this is because of their habit of darting from bush to tree across dense background foliage, making lighting and focus something of a challenge. I caught this one just as it was taking off from the church wall. Not really an 'in flight' shot, but close.
The last of today's birds is a kestrel. Not exactly a scarce or unusual subject for me, but this was a grabbed shot as it emerged from the woods which edge the field.
Two mammal shots to round things off for today. First one from this morning of a baby rabbit (solely to raise the cuteness quotient).
And a little bit of proof that fox cubs don't always fight… Shy Boy and Rough Ear just before the rain set in.
Camera note: all daytime shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The pair of fox cubs was taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
derWandersmann
14 Jul 2012Nice variety, Words … I always appreciate shots of birds in flight, through my years with my Olympus Ultra Zoom … the viewfinder blacks out when the shutter button is pressed home, and the panning action has a tendency to go all pear-shaped.
Words
15 Jul 2012dW, bird in flight is one of the areas where a bridge camera can't compete with a dslr. Fast focus and fast shutter speeds are close to essential if you're panning. I've got mine set-up to stay on the subject and not focus on the background even if I briefly stray of target.
gdare
16 Jul 2012Excellent house martin photo up I tried that once but swallows are too fast for my camera 😛
derWandersmann
16 Jul 2012Exactly why I bought the Nikon … as I said to my Scottish Lassie, the Oly is great for wildlife … sleeping wildlife. I think some of my albums around September last year, I started having fun with the gulls at the Lake … especially when I discovered a place that I could get above them. That was fun.
Words
17 Jul 2012dW, getting higher than the birds is always good… but I have no head for heights.
Words
17 Jul 2012Darko, some swallows coming up later tonight! 😉
SittingFox
18 Jul 2012That rabbit definitely raises the cuteness level!
Words
19 Jul 2012Adele, there seems to be a sudden rash of second litters at the moment. The baby rabbits are everywhere I look.