More buzzards and some other surprises...
Sunday, 22. June 2008, 23:30:18
It was wild, windy and sunny today, tempting enough to take me back to the location where earlier in the week I'd seen a buzzard swooping over the local fields. Plus the scenery is worth a visit on its own account.
South Downs
There are several species of birds which are common sightings over farmland, and today the house martins and swallows were out in numbers. Both species are hellishly awkward to photograph. They swoop, skim the ground and generally change direction at high speed without stopping for breath. I waste a heck of a lot of frames on them, but occasionally it works.
Swallow
In between taking shots of the swallows and martins I kept my eye open for what else might be about. And I hadn't been there long when I got my first 'big' sighting. A heron circled the field, coming somewhat closer than earlier in the week.
Heron
Next on the list of the more unusual sightings was a seagull. Yes, you read that right! A seagull. Most of the gulls we we see round here are the ubiquitous herring gulls, and at certain times of the year there are large flocks of black-headed gulls. This one was neither. It was a Great Black-Backed gull, the largest and most dominant of the gulls, but not nearly so common as the other species.
Great Black Backed Gull
But I'd gone out to see buzzards, and after an hour or so there still hadn't been any sign of them. Until I was about to leave...
Buzzard
It was keeping low over the fields, which proved something of a struggle for focusing. Lots of wasted shots (as ever). Buzzards are big, almost twice the size of a kestrel or sparrowhawk, but size is no deterrent to crows when they decide that someone is on their territory. Even so, I was still taken by surprise when a crow decided to do some lone 'mobbing'. And yes, it saw the buzzard off!
Crow and Buzzard
Buzzard and Crow
More shots from today in the June Birds and South Downs albums. I also saw a kestrel
Camera note: all the birds were photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. I used the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM for the landscape.
South DownsThere are several species of birds which are common sightings over farmland, and today the house martins and swallows were out in numbers. Both species are hellishly awkward to photograph. They swoop, skim the ground and generally change direction at high speed without stopping for breath. I waste a heck of a lot of frames on them, but occasionally it works.
SwallowIn between taking shots of the swallows and martins I kept my eye open for what else might be about. And I hadn't been there long when I got my first 'big' sighting. A heron circled the field, coming somewhat closer than earlier in the week.
HeronNext on the list of the more unusual sightings was a seagull. Yes, you read that right! A seagull. Most of the gulls we we see round here are the ubiquitous herring gulls, and at certain times of the year there are large flocks of black-headed gulls. This one was neither. It was a Great Black-Backed gull, the largest and most dominant of the gulls, but not nearly so common as the other species.
Great Black Backed GullBut I'd gone out to see buzzards, and after an hour or so there still hadn't been any sign of them. Until I was about to leave...
BuzzardIt was keeping low over the fields, which proved something of a struggle for focusing. Lots of wasted shots (as ever). Buzzards are big, almost twice the size of a kestrel or sparrowhawk, but size is no deterrent to crows when they decide that someone is on their territory. Even so, I was still taken by surprise when a crow decided to do some lone 'mobbing'. And yes, it saw the buzzard off!
Crow and BuzzardBuzzard and Crow More shots from today in the June Birds and South Downs albums. I also saw a kestrel
Camera note: all the birds were photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. I used the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM for the landscape.
WIDGETIZE
Darko # 23. June 2008, 04:41
I am amazed you managed to make photographs of buzzard and crow like you are above them. Were you on a tree?
José Torres # 23. June 2008, 10:57
It seems that you was very hight taken this photos...
Great shots as always my friend! fantastic.
Lois # 23. June 2008, 11:25
Angeliki # 23. June 2008, 12:18
are you a pilot?? but again the noise will scare them away before you approach!
Neil # 23. June 2008, 14:39
With the gull how can you tell its not a lesser black backed? Different people tell me different ways and yet I still struggle!
Vulpes vulpes # 23. June 2008, 19:43
Words # 23. June 2008, 19:44
Words # 23. June 2008, 19:45
Words # 23. June 2008, 19:46
Words # 23. June 2008, 19:49
Words # 23. June 2008, 19:56
Words # 23. June 2008, 20:03
José Torres # 24. June 2008, 00:38