Almost Buzzard success

I blogged yesterday evening about the presence of the Buzzard on the free offerings in front of my hide and said that I was sure that I was going to get some success very soon.  It was just after 6.30 when I got myself up and about and by 6.50 I was parked up and walking towards the hide along the edge of the wood.  It was a pleasant morning and I was a bit deflated as I looked ahead not to see a Buzzard where I hoped it would be. Imagine my pleasure when it became apparent that it was actually head down and feeding on the carcass and I got very close before it flew up and in to the wood.  I quickly got in the hide and started to wait with a real feeling of excitement.  At 7.10 it returned and landed on the telegraph pole just in front of the hide.  I was expecting it to come down to the prey and I waited and waited.  The minutes ticked by and soon half an hour had elapsed and still it remained tantalisingly close as I composed the "shot" in my mind.  My camo was working perfectly and when it started to preen with it's head down I quickly moved the lens to focus on to it, high at the top of the pole. The minutes ticked by to a whole hour and still it remained and that's the way it remained. Then at 10 past 10, literally 3 hours later, off it flew leaving me frustrated and disappointed but happy  in the knowledge that I am sure it wont be long before it comes down to feed while I am there. As if that was not enough, during my wait I had a memorable visit from a vixen.  I saw the Buzard bristle and look down at something that was disturbing it.  A fox was making it's way towards the carcass.  Then I blew it to be honest.  I tried really hard to gaet a photo but the grass was long and the camera couldn't focus on it and noisily "hunted".  The wirring of the auto focus was enough to disturb the fox and off it scarpered without me getting the photo.  I should have just frozen and waited for it to come up to the free offering and then got a good shot with it just in front.  If all this wasn't enough I had the utter pleasure of watching a tiny Pygmy Shrew in the hide with me.  It repeatedly clambered around amongst the hazel sticks and leaves that the hide is made of and at one point with its long snout twitching up and down, clambered over my camera.  A real treat.

 

When I first arrived my camera lens had  misted up because of the damp air and when the Buzzard posed nicely I couldn't get a  clear image. I had to use all of my guile in "Photoshop" to try and get something out of the photograph but it does show that when everything comes together it's going to be quite a photograph.