Everything is Permuted

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

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

,

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.

Lunchtime KestrelsFoaming Seas

Comments

Darkogdare Friday, November 20, 2009 6:01:17 AM

Black bird is the winner of the day up

Words Friday, November 20, 2009 7:29:59 AM

Darko, I agree about the blackbird bigsmile

Adele BrandSittingFox Friday, November 20, 2009 6:52:45 PM

Nice to see the buzzard and the hawk smile

Loiscakkleberrylane Friday, November 20, 2009 8:17:52 PM

Great shots! My favorite is the blackbird too.

NeilUkwildlife Friday, November 20, 2009 10:33:20 PM

great photos. Thats a great sparrowhawk - so hard to photograph!

EricCedarFox Sunday, November 22, 2009 3:02:28 AM

Wonderful photos. I also like the blackbird. smile

Words Sunday, November 22, 2009 11:55:22 AM

Adele, thanks. They were more than adequate compensation for not seeing the kestrels again.

Words Sunday, November 22, 2009 11:56:00 AM

Lois, thanks. I had rather more time to get the blackbird shot.

Words Sunday, November 22, 2009 11:56:56 AM

Thanks Neil! The sprawk was a little further away than I'd have liked, but the light was reasonably decent.

Words Sunday, November 22, 2009 11:57:26 AM

Thanks Eric!

ERWINWulpen Sunday, November 22, 2009 8:55:16 PM

Great photos

Words Sunday, November 22, 2009 10:41:31 PM

Thanks Erwin!

How to use Quote function:

  1. Select some text
  2. Click on the Quote link

Write a comment

Comment
(BBcode and HTML is turned off for anonymous user comments.)

If you can't read the words, press the small reload icon.


Smilies