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Tales of a South Downs fox... and other ramblings

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Fox of the Day

Wednesday, 26. November 2008, 20:01:00

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

Friday, 20. November 2009, 00:26:23

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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.
Nature Blog Network
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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Lunchtime Kestrels

Wednesday, 18. November 2009, 23:05:31

Another heavily overcast day, and I only had a short gap between meetings at lunchtime. Just enough time to head to the edge of the campus where I stopped by a small plot fenced off for future building work. It's lined by some light woodland; and seems to be home to a pair of kestrels.

The light was dreadful and I cranked up to ISO 1000 and then 1250, under exposed to generate some semblance of shutter speed, and steadied the camera against the criss-cross wire fencing.
The female kestrel

The male kestrel

Female again

Male again

Coming in to land

Heading for the woods

Perching on a brick store
Nature Blog Network
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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Just a couple of photos

Tuesday, 17. November 2009, 00:41:46

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horseHorse dressed for the weather

great spotted woodpeckerGreat Spotted Woodpecker
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Camera note: both shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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A Glint of Gold (goldfinch photos)

Monday, 16. November 2009, 00:09:30

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The rains moved away overnight, leaving moderately clear skies. The light, though not strong, was much improved from yesterday. Good enough indeed to lure me out to the Downs. The kestrels were quiet (unusually so), and I only saw one skim by. A few gulls circled overhead, and various of the corvid family were staking out their territory. I saw a lone wren lurking in the thickets.

And I saw gold. Or to be precise goldfinches. A small flock was busy feeding on seed heads, dashing between the low trees that punctuate this part of the South Downs. They were more often than not hidden by the branches (now largely clear of leaves), but once in a while they would perch on the higher branches or move into less crowded areas to feed.

goldfinch

goldfinch

goldfinch

goldfinch

goldfinch

goldfinch

goldfinch

Click on any of the above to enlarge them. There are also a few more shots in the November Birds album.

Back home, a familiar face paid a short visit this evening.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all the goldfinch shots were taken with the Canon 40D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens, supported by the Manfrotto 685B Neotec monopod and 234RC tilt head. I used the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens and Canon 430EX flash unit for the fox photo.

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