Grey Squirrel Nibbling Nuts

Apologies for posting another squirrel video, but I've just bought an external microphone with a windshield to try and cut down on wind-noise, which was marring some of my previous video efforts. Just trying it out with this little film:

By the way, is anyone else finding this blog slow to load, as someone has reported to me it's slow for him?

Fox on a Trail Camera

I picked up my trail camera on Friday evening, and here's some of the footage it captured; all taken between 7.37 and 8.56 p.m. on May 2nd:

Pretty sure this is a different Fox to the one in my previous post, as this is near the other den at the far end of the field.
I wish I'd taken my big lens out with me, because, as I was walking up through Singleton Park, I located a Tawny Owl, and was able to stand right underneath it as it hooted, before flying off toward Brynmill Park. Would've made a great shot, but I only had a smallish lens with me.
And then there were the approachable Wheatears on the beach earlier.
 Anyone else find they get the best photos opps. when they've left their gear behind?!

Chance Encounter with a Fox

I think now is the time of year when the first Fox-cubs begin to appear above ground, so, on Tuesday evening, I went down to what I've now begun to call my "Fox Field", where I first started seeing Foxes last year. There are two fox dens visible in the field, and I set up my trail camera near one of them, hoping to capture any signs of activity. I passed the second den on my way back, stopping to photograph the holes, when I spied a Fox watching me from only about thirty yards away, on the other side  of a small stream that borders the field. It didn't seem too worried by my presence, and gave me time to delve into my bag and get out my camera and big lens, enabling me to fire off a few shots at about a 1/200 of a second:

It then proceeded to casually stroll further into the large overgrown garden it was in, before settling down for a snooze in the long grass, unfortunately almost out-of-sight of my camera. It was only 6.30 p.m., and the first Fox I've seen out on a summer evening this year. Hopefully, the first of many such encounters.

Wheatear

A very windy early afternoon saw me walking along Swansea seafront. Dodging the fallen trees, I saw a half-dozen Swallows flitting overhead, as well as a migrant Wheatear sheltering from the gales on a grass verge. It was quite approachable, but of course I don't have my big lens with me. I returned home to watch some snooker (can't miss Ronnie O'Sullivan!), and came out again later with my camera gear to see if the Wheatear was still around. I eventually located it a few hundred yards along the promenade, on the grass opposite St. Helen's. I tried a few shots with my 500mm lens attached to 1.4x and 1.7x converters, resting my camera on a beanbag on the ground for support:

I got a few strange looks from passing cyclists as I lay face down on the wet grass (but, with a face like mine, I get some strange looks at the best of times, so I'm quite used to it!):

It soon began raining, and got darker still, meaning I was down to a 1/2 second exposure at ISO 1600 (which is pushing it a bit on my 40D) for this shot:

I might head down to see if it's still there tomorrow, but my experience with Wheatears suggests they don't hang around long when passing through on migration, so I don't hold out much hope of it still being around.

Robin, with Tawny Owl Hooting in Background

I post this clip, not for its quality, but mainly to show Stifyn, whom I met in the park yesterday. I've heard the occasional Tawny Owl in Singleton Park over the last few years, and even saw one a couple of months back, but thought I was hearing things a week or so ago, when, on at least two successive days, I heard an owl hooting as early as 5.30 p.m. 

Anyway, here's conclusive proof that I've not gone (totally) mad. I was filming this Robin in the Ornamental Gardens area, on Wednesday, April 18th, when an owl hooted nearby. The 'too-whit, too-whoo' occurs after about 13-14 seconds:

Anyone else heard Tawny Owls hooting during daylight?

Spring Flowers

A few recent floral shots:-

Violet:

Primrose:

Three-cornered Leek:

Cuckoo Flower:

Blackthorn (I think):

Cherry blossom:

Daffodil:

Forget-me-not:

Stonechats

I came across this quite-approachable pair of Stonechats round at Bracelet Bay near Swansea last Wednesday afternoon. Of course, the more-boldly-marked bird is the male:-

A short video of the female: