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Hedgehog

The Sunday Challenge this week was a photo using flash. My Canon has a built in flash which I never use, so this was quite a challenge.
Almost every evening, from dusk onwards we have a visiting hedgehog, sometimes two, that scrabbles around underneath the bird feeders for nuts and seeds, and hopefully a few slugs too. It is very dark underneath the feeders, and I couldn't have an outside light on so much of the time I was guessing where the hedgehog was.
The first photos I tried using my normal Canon lens were hopeless as the heghog was under a planter and by the time I got there he had rolled into a ball. New measures were called for.
The following evening before it was too dark, I placed some bird food in a more open area, fitted a somewhat clunky Tamron 70-300 lens on the camera and sat down to wait. I had to position myself about 4 metres away from the possible sighting to stand a chance of getting the hedgehog in position, and a tripod would have been too cumbersome. This is the result straight from the camera - the flash is lighting up the gravel which was a pity. I think that after this the poor hedgehog was so traumatised, he just turned and waddled quickly down the path. I hope he appears again though. Next time I'll just sit quietly in the dark and watch.icement into the open.
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9 comments

Marie-claire Gallet said:

How cute ***************************
8 years ago ( translate )

Marie-claire Gallet said:

8 years ago ( translate )

Ulrich John said:

So cute !
8 years ago ( translate )

Doug Shepherd said:

Nice catch in the end Amelia. I love the story of the intrepid wildlife photographer! I have to admit photographing wild animals is not my strong point.
8 years ago

Daniela Brocca said:

How nice.Amelia and what a work. Did he come back the next days?
8 years ago

Keith Burton said:

Well worth the effort Amelia.
8 years ago

Nick Weall said:

I miss hedgehogs they seem to be so rare around here these days, I last saw one in our garden some years ago now. Always leave piles of leaves etc in hidden spots for them to hide under. Maybe they have become very good at hiding :~) x
8 years ago

Peter Castell said:

I've not seen one in the garden this year
8 years ago ( translate )

Pam J said:

Sweet Hedgie
8 years ago ( translate )