Before the Storm

By Paul Cecil | Published December 12, 2011

The wind is howling and the rain is lashing outside tonight, so different from the calm blue skies of this morning. The cormorant circled the pond several times, always moving closer.

Eventually it made splashdown, coming in at the far end of the pond, and into the sun.

Lunchtime was bright, but cold. The black-headed gulls were enjoying a minor feeding frenzy, courtesy of one of the regular pond-walkers.

And a sparrow sat and watched, enjoying the bright calm before the storm.

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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in Birds, water birds and tagged , , .

12 Comments

  1. RobinL December 12, 2011 at 11:12 pm #

    Words, love these shots! Especially the gulls! What a mix up!

  2. Cynthia23 December 13, 2011 at 1:12 am #

    These photos show the amazing stages of flight: simple, wonderful, beautiful photography of movement. The fourth photo in the golden light is so brilliant and peacefull. I didn't think your photography could get any better, but really it has. As you can read, I love these shots today!

  3. derWandersmann December 13, 2011 at 5:12 am #

    Really good post, Words.

  4. gdare December 13, 2011 at 4:12 pm #

    Excellent shot of a sparrow :yes:

  5. Words December 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #

    Cynthia, thanks! That fourth shot was lucky in that I had completely lost sight of the cormorant as it flew into the shaded area.

  6. Words December 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #

    dW, thanks!

  7. SittingFox December 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #

    Very much like the cormorant coming in for the landing :up:

    The weather here was pretty bad last night, I have to say.

  8. Words December 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #

    Robin, thanks. I don't often photograph the gulls but just sometimes they put on a really good show.

  9. Words December 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #

    Darko, I was pleased with that. Nice to get a proper, normal bird once in a while.

  10. Words December 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #

    Adele, I think we escaped the worst of the weather. It was windy, and very wet underfoot when I got up this morning, but very little sign of damage or flooding. The forecast is slightly improved for the next few days.

  11. cakkleberrylane December 19, 2011 at 12:12 pm #

    The second shot is my favorite, very comical!

  12. Words December 19, 2011 at 10:12 pm #

    Lois, what they lack in elegance they make up in character 😉