Everything is Permuted

The winter light is so good that inevitably I gathered several more photos today. Regular visitors will recall the somewhat blurred shot of a lapwing from Tuesday's post. Well, I had another sighting today, in more or less the same spot. This time though I was able to track it as it flew overhead and although far from the best b-i-f (bird in flight) I've managed, at least it's in focus this time.
Lapwing

There were plenty of the more common local birds in the vicinity, including this crow which flew past while I was surveying the fields from an excellent raised vantage point.
Crow

And I can hardly ignore the robins, which seem to be falling over themselves to get in front of the camera at the moment. This one seemed quite intent on being noticed.
Robin

The final shot tonight is more of a reference photo. I was unable to get anywhere near the subject, but spotted it in the distance and took a few frames as I tried (unsuccessfully) to get within proper range of the lens. Nothing particularly unusual about the species. It's a rabbit, and we have countless rabbits around here. What made this one special though was the colour. It's a black (melanistic) variant, the first such one I've seen in the wild. Melanism, is a pigmentation variant caused by an excess of melanin (logical) and is occasionally seen in foxes, squirrels, rabbits (evidently), and cats (among other mammals). The photo is heavily cropped.
Black (melanistic) rabbit

Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

It was bleak this morning. The Downs had been covered with a light dusting of overnight snow. Not too severe, but it was cold and bleak when I finally made it into work this morning.


By lunchtime though, the weather had improved, although the thermometer was barely hovering above freezing. But the light was good Plus a heating breakdown at work meant it was as 'warm' outside as it was in.


It was a day for the smaller birds. Smaller, red birds to be precise. A small flock of redwings were flitting between the woodland alongside one of the local fields.


Redwings (Turdus iliacus) are small thrush-like birds. They have a distinctive light bar over the eye, but get their name from the reddish underwing. Both features are visible in this shot.
Redwing

Here you can see the resemblance to the more common thrush.


There were numerous smaller birds flitting among the trees, and several blackbirds and magpies, but my eye was taken with this little robin, trying its best to hide in open view by pretending to be a teasel seed head. I think it needs a new strategy
Robin on teasel

Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

No, not the new and improved version of the Opera Browser launched yesterday, but a kestrel of the feathered variety.

I decided to explore a different route today, which took me out to some playing fields.


There were numerous rabbits about enjoying the sunshine.


But it was some movement overhead that really caught my eye. A kestrel was sweeping the field. My first set of shots were into the light (and have been quickly discarded), but it turned so that the sun was behind me and I was able to get a number of usable shots.







More birds from today in the June Birds album, including this closing shot of a robin. The shot was taken under thick foliage, handheld and without flash. The shutter speed was a miserable 1/50s and the lens was at 400mm. It's a good example of just how effective the image stabilization in lenses can be.



Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens