Catching Up – Variety Post

April 8, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I’ve become consistently inconsistent in my posting, partly due to fewer opportunities to spend time out with the camera but also because I am becoming a touch more picky about what I do post. Anyway, here’s a selection from the first week of April (8 days a week?)

I spotted this skylark on a fencepost at Sheepcote Valley on my way in to work.

April 1st – I spotted this skylark on a fencepost at Sheepcote Valley on my way in to work.

Kestrels over Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Lunchtime – a pair of Kestrels over Moulsecoomb, University of Brighton

The first photo of a fox in the garden for quite some time. I was pleased despite the poor angle.

April 3rd – The first photo of a fox in the garden for quite some time. I was pleased despite the poor angle.

Nicked-ear fox

April 4th – another encounter with a garden fox

Yellowhammer

April 7th – a very pretty Yellowhammer at Sheepcote Valley

Today - a Fulmar at Rottingdean Cliffs

Today – a Fulmar at Rottingdean Cliffs, taken at lunchtime

Short-eared owl

And after several missed attempts, a short-eared owl this morning at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

short-eared owl

Final shot for today – one of the owls flying over the edge of the golf course.

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

Posted in Bird of Prey, Birds, Kestrel, owl Tagged , , , , , |

A Furtive Fox

March 31, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I was feeling lazy today and rather than go hiking into the Downs stayed put at lunchtime and explored the area behind my office. It’s basically scrub, but important as part of the local green corridor. It home to various butterflies and insects (I saw a couple of brimstones today), kestrels, buzzards (overhead), lizards (I’ve yet to photograph them) and… so it seems… a fox.

A furtive fox at the top of Watts Bank, University of Brighton

A furtive fox at the top of Watts Bank, University of Brighton

The fox was probably as surprised to see me as I was to see him. The top of the scrub area is somewhat inaccessible, an even though an attempt has been made to clear the dense brambles it is heavily overgrown. Anyway, he watched me watching him for a minute of so before wandering off. The shots were all taken through the undergrowth and it was impossible to get a clear view.

fox

A closer shot (cropped)

fox

One last look…

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

Posted in Foxes Tagged |

Buzzards at Moulsecoomb

March 30, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

We’re enjoying some decent spring weather at the moment and I’ve been exploring the Downs near work. To get away from the urban sprawl is a solid 15 minute uphill hike, but it’s worth it once you arrive.

These shots were taken on Tuesday, and are of three of the four buzzards that circled the fields. I also saw a kestrel and have had several sightings of a green woodpecker. But the buzzards were the standout sighting.

Pair of buzzards circling over the South Downs at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Pair of buzzards circling over the South Downs at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

They came in surprisingly low...

They came in surprisingly low…

Buzzard over the South Downs at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Buzzard over the South Downs at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

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

Posted in Bird of Prey Tagged |