The early light has all but vanished (the clocks go back this weekend which should improve things for a while). I was scouting round the fringes of Falmer Pond this morning when I spotted a most unusual little visitor. Not a rat (or even a mouse). This was on the water, and though a familiar sighting in other locations, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on the pond.
I instinctively grabbed a couple of shots as it darted across the water, but even at ISO 1600 the shutter barely crept to 1/20s (which happens to be about my optimum choice for motion blur).
The title gives it away, but that blur of movement is a little grebe.
It was still there at lunchtime, and the light was much improved. These shots of it swimming among the local ducks gives shows just how small it is. For once, a well-named bird.
At the other end of the size scale comes the cormorant. The light was good, and the cormorant was in a fine posing mood.
That’s all for this evening, though I’ve got some more shots from tonight which I will include at some point tomorrow. Pretty came by, so the inevitable fox photo will be included; but I’ve also got a couple of shots of a levitating newt! Really!
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
