A mixed bag
Saturday, 3. October 2009, 00:02:25
No grand theme today, just some shots taken over the past 24 hours.
I'll start with the hedgehogs, with a shot taken in the early hours of Friday morning. It's not the best shot I've taken, but it's the first with three hogs in the same shot (just). It seems that somewhere over the summer we have acquired a new youngster.
Hedgehog family
The little one was being very cute, more or less hanging on the tail of its mother much in the manner of duckling.
Next I'll set the location for today's sea-bird shots...
St Paul's Cathedral
Yes I was back in London, for two meetings. Thankfully both were on the South Bank of the river just a short 10 minute walk apart.
Cormorant with catch
Lift-off
Those were taken just before my first meeting. The next was taken at lunchtime, at Bankside (just by the Tate Modern).
Lesser(?) Black-Backed Gull
The most unusual sighting though was overhead. I caught a glimpse of a bird that didn't look 'right'. It wasn't a gull, or a cormorant or a pigeon. It was what I think must be the first raptor I've spotted in the centre of London. I am much more used to seeing these in downland or coastal areas, so it was something of a surprise. The photo was grabbed and is a full-size crop. My first thought was a juvenile peregrine (they nest at the Tate Modern and the very direct flight/swoop over the Thames seemed appropriate), but it is also suspiciously kestrel-like. I don't have a confirmed i.d. for this one.
Raptor over the Thames
And so to the garden. Bold was back. Her leg is improving (though she still carries it a lot of the time); but she seems to have acquired a second injury, this time around her right eye (it was partially closed). I couldn't see any obvious damage, and the photos I got are inconclusive as to the extent.
The Bold Vixen with injured right eye
Scratching fox
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D. The daytime shots were all with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The hedgehogs were photographed with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens, while the pictures of the vixen were taken with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
I'll start with the hedgehogs, with a shot taken in the early hours of Friday morning. It's not the best shot I've taken, but it's the first with three hogs in the same shot (just). It seems that somewhere over the summer we have acquired a new youngster.
Hedgehog familyThe little one was being very cute, more or less hanging on the tail of its mother much in the manner of duckling.
Next I'll set the location for today's sea-bird shots...
St Paul's CathedralYes I was back in London, for two meetings. Thankfully both were on the South Bank of the river just a short 10 minute walk apart.
Cormorant with catch Lift-offThose were taken just before my first meeting. The next was taken at lunchtime, at Bankside (just by the Tate Modern).
Lesser(?) Black-Backed GullThe most unusual sighting though was overhead. I caught a glimpse of a bird that didn't look 'right'. It wasn't a gull, or a cormorant or a pigeon. It was what I think must be the first raptor I've spotted in the centre of London. I am much more used to seeing these in downland or coastal areas, so it was something of a surprise. The photo was grabbed and is a full-size crop. My first thought was a juvenile peregrine (they nest at the Tate Modern and the very direct flight/swoop over the Thames seemed appropriate), but it is also suspiciously kestrel-like. I don't have a confirmed i.d. for this one.
Raptor over the ThamesAnd so to the garden. Bold was back. Her leg is improving (though she still carries it a lot of the time); but she seems to have acquired a second injury, this time around her right eye (it was partially closed). I couldn't see any obvious damage, and the photos I got are inconclusive as to the extent.
The Bold Vixen with injured right eye Scratching foxCamera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D. The daytime shots were all with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The hedgehogs were photographed with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens, while the pictures of the vixen were taken with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.
No doubt the hedgehogs would have appeared, which is about the best excuse I have for posting this last shot (taken this evening).
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