Fallow deer

These are fallow deer, a variety  which is quite common in the area in which I live. They can vary in colour from white through stages of brown to black. We have all colours here in Sussex.

While I was viewing a newly found heronry I was being watched by these two. Normally fallow deer are found in herds but these two seem to prefer each others company.

Peregrins mating

 I know I said I would leave the peregrines alone for a while but I paid a visit yesterday afternoon just to check everything was OK. As always my camera was in the car and I was treated to close ups of peregrine mating. I won't bore you with all the pictures I took.

 The female sat in a tree waiting and watching for the male to return.

When he did they both flew up to a ledge and in two minutes it was all over.

Peregrines

 I know I said I would lay off the peregrines for a while but I am having a bit of camera trouble so I visited the peregrines to do some test shots. I am glad I did because these are what I got. This first shot you can really see the difference in size between the male and female.

Over 100m away and he heard the camera click.

 I think he had something on his mind sitting for quite some time with one talon in the air.

I shall now give them a rest  for a bit and give them a chance to breed.

Peregrines again

I promise no more peregrines for a while unless I get something really good. You can't blame me when you have got such a magnificent bird so close to home sometimes flying over it. I just had to post these pics as this is the closest I have got so far.

Still not sure which is which. I think this is the male looking up at the female. Please correct me if I am wrong.

More peregrines

The camera set up that I use for these shots is equal to about 30X magnification or a lens of about 1470mm.
It takes a bit of getting used to. For the the static shots I rest the set up on the roof of the car or on the window ledge if I am inside. The flight shots are hand held. I rarely use a tripod or monopod so there is a bit of luck involved and a lot of pics are discarded.

The birds are so far away they are difficult to see with the naked eye, I estimate about 200m. I am hoping to get a lot nearer.

Checking on another nest site a metre or so from the last one.

Togetherness

Still can't get near enough for some decent pics, still much too far away, so I must be patient. In the meantime I will watch and wait. I like this shot because it is the first time I have been able to identify the difference between the male and female. The male is known as the tiercel which means two thirds. The male being the smaller, two thirds the size of the female.With her extra size and weight she defends the nest against predators while the male being smaller and more agile does the hunting.

Peregrine nest ?

I passed the peregrines today and noticed a bit off action, so always having my camera with me I stopped the car and and went for a climb. It was wet and slippery so I decided discretion was the better part of valour and didn't go too far. I was near enough to catch this bird about to land on a ledge. On loading it on to the computer I noticed a few twigs. I wonder if this is their new nest site.