After a couple of weeks away from the pond, I was back there this morning and so were most of the usual gang. It didn’t take me long to find the local heron, hiding away under the trees on the wooded bank.
The greylags were there as well. This one enjoying a good splash (as were many of the birds). It’s a ritual that is extensive as the juveniles lose their downy feathers and adults complete their moult. The splashing serves a useful function of cleaning the new feathers of dust and mites.
There were ducks (of course). This one was paddling in my favourite corner of the pond.
I was surprised (but pleased) to see that there were even some late-season ducklings swimming about.
The gulls were there as well. These two young herring gulls were harassing the adult for food… with some success.
Up on dry land, the rabbits were in lively mood.
I even saw a rat 😉
I’m still working on the gull special I mentioned a little while ago. It’s grown somewhat but it will get posted soon (within the next couple of weeks).
Precious few fox sightings lately, though the trail camera is picking up their nightly activity (plus a badger or two). The cast of characters is changing. The nicked ear fox has barely featured in recent footage, but there’s a young fox (this year’s brood) and an older fox with a stump for a brush who we saw several months ago but has reappeared after a lengthy absence.
More soon…
Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
Darko
19 Aug 2014I haven’t seen any foxes on your blog for a while. Hope that will change soon!
Words
23 Aug 2014Darko, the foxes have been quite noisy lately, but still very evasive. Plus I’ve not spent nearly so much time trying to get them on camera. But they are still around and I may try again soon.
derwandersmann
26 Aug 2014Try leaving a porkchop in the yard … LOL
Great shots of the heron and the graylag … and the ducklings are priceless. Nice to catch them lined up like that. Have the terrapins been in evidence this year?
Nice one of the bunnies!
Words
27 Aug 2014dW, well the sunshine today worked a treat so I can hold on the chop. 😉
Not much sign of the terrapins. They were there earlier in the year but a local mentioned that he thought some of them had been removed, which if true is excellent news. Certainly been no sign even in the hotter weather.