I thought I would post this to show a different behaviour for those badgers that Dave has commented upon.
These Badgers have in a sett in an old mature wood that is a long way from humans; in fact (if the text books are correct) the very furthest edge of there potential range would just about border human houses. Needless to say they are not acustomed to hearing/smelling people.
Unlike Dave's sett, these badgers do not come out until about 11.00pm at the earliest, they are extremely wary and the smallest indication of human presence will see them running down the nearest sett entrance. Obviously, as it's night, all photography requires the use of remote flash set up ( 2 guns where used above) and these must be set up well in advance.
In the beginning I wasn't having much luck ( between sightings and runners) and, as it turns out, possibly, for a very good reason. The sett is that immense (some 30 entrances) and probably that old (100+ years) that, initially, when I sat down (having deployed by flash guns and food) I was probably sittng over the top of the sett therefore any movement was an instant giveaway in the tunnel system below.
Now I have moved further back ( the photo is 8M, a 50% crop) and found some 'firm' ground they appear more at ease and looking for the food and not me.
The cub (pictured above) appeared first, ate, and was chased off by a more wary and mature older badger. The cub came back later.
It has taken about 4 weeks of feeding to get to a stage that, after the flash fires, they don't run.
The young cub above hung around for about 10 minutes in its first sitting.
300mm/2x580's/STE-2
Manual, Eval
250ASA/F7.1/250'
Flash guns where deployed on trees either side of the subject and about 3 metres from the subject; this allowed a quick flash recharge time.
Discussion
3 repliesI thought I would post this to show a different behaviour for those badgers that Dave has commented upon.
These Badgers have in a sett in an old mature wood that is a long way from humans; in fact (if the text books are correct) the very furthest edge of there potential range would just about border human houses. Needless to say they are not acustomed to hearing/smelling people.
Unlike Dave's sett, these badgers do not come out until about 11.00pm at the earliest, they are extremely wary and the smallest indication of human presence will see them running down the nearest sett entrance. Obviously, as it's night, all photography requires the use of remote flash set up ( 2 guns where used above) and these must be set up well in advance.
In the beginning I wasn't having much luck ( between sightings and runners) and, as it turns out, possibly, for a very good reason. The sett is that immense (some 30 entrances) and probably that old (100+ years) that, initially, when I sat down (having deployed by flash guns and food) I was probably sittng over the top of the sett therefore any movement was an instant giveaway in the tunnel system below.
Now I have moved further back ( the photo is 8M, a 50% crop) and found some 'firm' ground they appear more at ease and looking for the food and not me.
The cub (pictured above) appeared first, ate, and was chased off by a more wary and mature older badger. The cub came back later.
It has taken about 4 weeks of feeding to get to a stage that, after the flash fires, they don't run.
The young cub above hung around for about 10 minutes in its first sitting.
300mm/2x580's/STE-2
Manual, Eval
250ASA/F7.1/250'
Flash guns where deployed on trees either side of the subject and about 3 metres from the subject; this allowed a quick flash recharge time.
Great stuff
Tim