Jackdaw Silhouettes

March 23, 2016 by Words | 8 Comments

I took these on Tuesday morning at Falmer Pond. Yes, I had to be up that way in the morning so it was a chance to look around the pond again. The rats are long gone from what I could see (plenty of ‘do not feed rats’ signs all over the place), but the ducks and geese were doing fine. I photographed a few for old times sake, but my favourite sequence was of some of the jackdaws who were busy gathering in nest material and taking it back to the church roof. These three shots are taken as the jackdaw was coming in to land, and putting on the brakes.

They have all been converted to black and white to emphasize the form over the detail, but hopefully I’ve left just enough tone in the feathers to keep them lively.

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

I’ve had a second encounter with the garden badger. He really doesn’t seem to mind me at all, and I’m looking forward to another good year with them. Here’s one from last night as a taster (again converted to black and white).

Black and White Badger

Black and White Badger

Camera note: jackdaw photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. The badger was photographed with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Badger, Birds Tagged , |

Badger’s Back!

March 20, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

The badgers have remained regular visitors this winter, and their absence from these pages (along with foxes) is largely down to the lack of time I’ve had to wait and watch. The spring is inevitably an active time for them (young mouths to feed), and one of the badgers put in a mid-evening appearance tonight and was totally unconcerned by the camera (but very interested in the peanuts).

Looking closely it looks to have been in a scrap or two (a scar by its right eye), and I’ve some trail cam footage (not yet edited) of minor spats between a large dog fox and one of the badgers.

Anyway, it’s always a pleasure to spend some time with these amazing creatures and here are a few photos from this evening.

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

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

Posted in Badger Tagged |

Squirrel Binning

March 14, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

Just a very quick sequence grabbed as I left work this evening. A squirrel rummaging in one of the rubbish bins at the edge of the car park.

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

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 squirrel Tagged |