{"id":1519,"date":"2009-11-07T23:11:27","date_gmt":"2009-11-07T23:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.permuted.org.uk\/photography\/archives\/1519"},"modified":"2013-11-12T21:34:49","modified_gmt":"2013-11-12T21:34:49","slug":"kestrels-in-the-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.permuted.org.uk\/photography\/kestrels-in-the-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Kestrels in the Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

It feels like it's been quite a while since I had a really good afternoon with the kestrels, but the sun was bright today and I had a good feeling that my luck would be in. Sure enough a female was out hunting in the valley. Or rather, she was hunting all over Sheepcote Valley and led me a merry dance as I followed her around. Good exercise though!<\/p>\n

\"kestrel\"<\/a><\/p>\n

During one of her hovers she attracted the casual attention of some gulls. They didn't mob. It was more a case of investigating and moving on. In this shot the gull is a little closer to the camera (but not too much), but it gives a rough approximation of the difference in size.<\/p>\n

\"kestrel<\/a><\/p>\n

\"kestrel\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"kestrel\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"kestrel\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There are a few more shots from today in the Kestrels 2009<\/a> album. You need to go to the end of the album for today's shots.<\/p>\n

The other reason I headed to this location was that last time I was there I saw a stoat. The moment was too fleeting to photograph it, but I have a fair idea of its home territory and went to have another look today. I saw a movement, probably the stoat, but even more fleeting than the previous time. So I can't really claim a sighting, just enough of a hint to encourage me to go back when I have the chance. I suspect I'll need to sit and wait… and wait. Or set the camera up on a tripod with a radio trigger and hide myself away. But I'm sure it's there.
\"Nature<\/a><\/span>
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and 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],"tags":[1152],"class_list":["post-1519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-of-prey","tag-kestrel","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