Projects for the summer?

[The W]

Anyone got any interesting projects they hope to see through the summer?

Since the start of the year, I'd finally dedicated some time to having a go at getting some hare photos. Sadly it was a dismal failure; a combination of awkward field topology and the hares giving me the run around. I had to finally admit defeat when I turned up at the field and found the crop had exploded in height. However, the farmers whose land I use got in touch and said it looks like the local kestrels will nest in the end of the barn.

They tell me they're pretty habituated to people moving about the courtyard so there shouldn't be to many issues with my hide appearing in different spots. I've managed one brief visit so far, when the male kept turning up with food, making a lot of noise and disappearing in to the slot window. I didn't see the female and didn't figure out if she was tucked away inside or perched elsewhere. I'm off on a trip for a couple of weeks, but when I get back, I'll dedicate a decent amount of time to getting to know the pair. (Assuming Mr Kestrel has successfully completed the wooing his lady)

Mr Kestrel peering out of the window


Food delivery


According to the BTO & RSPB:
First Clutches Laid: 1 May (15 Apr - 14 May), 28-29 of incubation, fledging at 32 - 37 days. A couple of weeks of returning to the nest to roost, then a final couple of weeks before they completely disperse.

So that should hopefully keep me entertained through July. The farm also has some badger sets, so once we get suitably long days, that's another subject I'll try to get my head around.

So that's my show & tell. Over to you...

 

[Nod]

Well, as usual, we're off to Crete for a fortnight in June and I'll probably be taking the V1 and a 70-300 to try to capture some of the birds we see there. There are a pair of Buzzards (of some sort, not sure if they're common, honey or summat else!) which sit on telegraph poles not too far from our balcony, a flock (if that's the correct mass noun for them, maybe squadron is better?!) of Eleanora's falcons appear most evenings at dusk and a couple of years ago, we spotted a vulture of some sort on a cliff face not too far away from where we're staying. We'll also be heading up to a reservoir where there are quite a few bittern and other things to shoot. Luckily, my wife is very understanding (even to the point of carrying the DSLR kit around a couple of years ago when I used it for precisely 1 (one) shot!) and as long as we're out in the fresh air, she's happy! At the reservoir, there may also be some frogs and snakes - last year there weren't many but the year before, loads!