<\/span> So many rabbits…<\/span><\/p>\nShe wasn't there, but a kestrel flew overhead, so at least one hunter was out and about. As I was heading back I came across a squirrel, busy breakfasting. But no fox. To get to my office I have to pass the bridge where the vixen has her den. I waited around there for a few minutes (at around 8.25), only to be told by a colleague who overlooks that spot that I'd just missed her (she was out at 8.20, and he'd emailed me to get me over there!). Not only that, but she'd been playing with two cubs. Which goes to show that sometimes it's better not to go in search of the shot, but to stake out the prime location. That's a constant dilemma: to wait or to search. Both have their merits (I get plenty of great moments by searching, or more precisely by stumbling upon something interesting); but just as many by sitting still and watching. Like this first sighting of the year of a female broad-bodied chaser (she's the yellow one of this mating pair). She didn't stay around for long, so that was the only shot of her I managed. There were plenty of males about though. I counted 6 criss-crossing the pond. It's clearly not long before egg-laying begins in earnest and then my lunchtime walks will be spent crouched by the edge of a muddy clay dewpond taking hundreds of shots of dragonflies in flight, getting cramp, and occasionally managing to get a photo in focus \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n But I count the dragonflies as a hit. The second miss of the day came this evening, at home. I was out in the garden when a sparrowhawk flew in low and perched on a neighbour's chimney… the wrong side. I couldn't see it at all! That's the second time recently it's been there or thereabouts at around 7pm (the previous time it was hovering just above the chimney, but the camera was indoors), so we're clearly becoming part of its regular route. Judging by the size (smallish) it's a male. With luck – and patience – I'll get a photo. <\/p>\n I've probably managed several more misses tonight. I've got the stills camera set up on a tripod with the remote attached. I'm firing it periodically when the trail cam lights up (I'm staying hidden at the bottom of the garden). I've no idea what I've got (probably cats), or possibly a hedgehog. A fox would be great, and a badger outstanding (it's almost a nightly visitor). I'll see later. And tomorrow, if I'm up early I'll stake out the vixen's den.
<\/span> Kestrel<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> Squirrel<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span> Broad bodied chasers<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/span>
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[990,77,8,50],"tags":[1148,1152,423,1141],"class_list":["post-1394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-of-prey","category-dragonfly","category-rabbit","category-squirrel","tag-dragonfly","tag-kestrel","tag-rabbits","tag-squirrel","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t