Author Archives: Words

Out in the Fields

May 19, 2014 by Words | 2 Comments

Today was definitely a taste of summer, and too good to miss a chance to head out to the local downland fields at lunchtime. There was just enough of a breeze to keep things comfortable, and the views are always good even if there’s little else around.

Horse in field at Falmer

A few yellowhammers were down at ground level, feeding.

yellowhammer

I’d all but given up and was heading away when I noticed a slight inconsistency in the distance. Peering through the camera I could just make out a couple of foxes at the edge of the field. They were by some dense shrubs and were warming themselves in the sunshine.

Two foxes in field at Falmer

Two foxes in field at Falmer

The third shot was taken a few minutes later after they had retreated back under cover. I was actually photographing the rabbit in the top of the frame and only spotted the fox lurking near the bottom of the image later on.

fox and rabbit

On another day I’ll do better (I can hardly do worse), but it’s always a treat to get photos of foxes in fields.

Back on campus the blue tits are still actively feeding their young. The adult pair was gathering food so quickly that they almost crashed into each other as one was entering and the other leaving the nest box.

Two blue tits

It can’t be too long now before the young fledge. I’d really like to see that, but since I don’t know quite when that will be and my time is constrained I’ll need a fair slice of luck.

The final photo tonight is to make up for all the eye strain in picking out the daytime foxes. This is the nicked ear fox in the garden this evening.

fox in long grass

Camera note: all daytime photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The nicked-ear fox was taken with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Birds, Farming, Foxes, horse Tagged , , , |

West Pier and other Brighton Sights

May 18, 2014 by Words | 5 Comments

We had to go down into Brighton today and while we were in town we made the most of the beautiful sunshine and went for a stroll along the promenade. The area near the Palace Pier (the lively, fairground pier) was mobbed, as might be expected on what was probably the warmest Sunday of the year so far. We headed west towards the quieter Hove end of the promenade and the West Pier, which for me far outshines its more successful sibling.

More of the West Pier collapsed during the winter storms, but for all that it remains a wonderfully iconic feature. Click on the image to enlarge (it should roughly fill your screen).

West Pier, Brighton

Many years ago I used to live on the sea front in Hove. That was when I was a student (late 1970s). I was in a basement at the far end of Brunswick Terrace. The place was damp, dingy and running with rodents. It was also huge, with an 80 foot corridor running the length of it. The buildings have had something of a face lift since those days and now go for a not so small fortune.

Brunswick Terrace

I didn’t notice when I took this photo, but if you look to the right-hand side at the ice cream van you’ll notice someone standing just in front of it filming with a tripod. And down at ground level, this sign. I’ve no idea whether it is for real or not, but it seems so typically Brighton (or Hove, actually… by about 50 yards).

ice cream for dogs

Brighton (and Hove) is certainly quirky, and is the only place in the country with a Green MP and a Green Council (ironically we also have some of the worst recycling rates in the UK and they’ve got worse under the Green regime). With the Euro elections this week the Green Party Bus was out drumming up support (there was a distinct lack of activity in its vicinity while we were there). The bus, I’m told, runs on bio-fuel (aka re-used cooking oil).

Green Party Bus

As for wildlife you probably expect some gulls, or possibly a cormorant. They were certainly around, though the latter were out of range of my 70-300mm lens. I’ve got something rather better though. These shots were taken as we walked up West Street, just off the seafront.

Peregrine falcon over West Street, Brighton

Peregrine falcon over West Street, Brighton

Peregrine falcon over West Street, Brighton

Unmistakably a peregrine falcon, and almost certainly one of the pair that breed on the roof of Sussex Heights, a towering block of flats in central Brighton.

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

Posted in Bird of Prey, coastal, Landscape, Seaside Views Tagged , , , , , |

Spiderlings on the March

May 17, 2014 by Words | 3 Comments

We didn’t have to look far for the highlight of the day. The handle to our back door has been sequestered by a horde of spiderlings.

Spiderlings

I think these are the common garden spider (Araneus diadematus). They are tiny and were packed together in a tight group, resembling something akin to a hairy caterpillar. Periodically they would collectively wake up and stretch their many legs, before regrouping in the shelter of the door handle supported by a fine mesh of barely visible webbing.

Spiderlings

We left them there during the day while we got on with more tidying up, which is when I discovered a fine slow worm dozing under a discarded roof tile.

Slow worm

Slow worm

Slow worm

Overhead, starlings were taking their young for flying lessons. Numerous small groups flew over with the adult taking the lead. Later in the afternoon a small number of swifts circled high above the garden, too distant for any usable images.

We’d been keeping an eye on the spiderlings throughout the day, but nothing much happened until this evening. Tonight they went on a long march! All the way up to the guttering on the roof. It was touch surreal to watch the line of spiderlings seemingly ascending in mid-air (the webbing is very fine); but it was a very disciplined and orderly exodus and means we have the use door handle again.

Spiderlings

Spiderlings

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

Posted in slow worm, Spiders, Wildlife Tagged , |