Invaders!

September 10, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

Well not really, but I was trying to link three very different photos for today’s blog. The first ‘invader’ was a surprise sighting yesterday of a Soviet warplane (World War II vintage) flying near Falmer. It’s a Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter, i.d. number D-FLAK and dates back to 1944. I know very little about these planes, but by all accounts they were sensational fighters and as influential as the Spitfire. More here.

Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK at Falmer, East Sussex

Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK at Falmer, East Sussex

Now the next subject might not generally be thought of as an invader, and to be fair there have been sheep in England for several thousand years. But they are not true natives, with some suggestion of neolithic farmers introducing sheep, and a much greater influence being played by the Romans who effectively established sheep farming in Britain. I took these two shots at Seven Sisters. A fine looking animal.

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

The final invader is a true invasive species. It’s the terrapin and my excuse for another photo of them is that this one shows three of them together at the edge of Falmer Pond. The shot was taken through undergrowth. Any attempt to get closer would have (and in fact, did) result in two of them sliding into the water for safety.

Three terrapins at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Three terrapins at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Aircraft, Sheep, terrapin Tagged , , , |

Lazy Badger Pix

September 8, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

I’m still playing around with a black and white theme, but these are more conventional colour photos of something that just happens to be black and white. And quite lazy too… but that’s badgers and peanuts for you!

Badger in garden

Badger in garden

Badger in garden

Meanwhile, the UK government has re-started the badger culls in three areas of the country. This is despite all the scientific evidence, the proven inhumane method of culling (killing) reported last year, and the fact that in one of the initial pilot areas the incidence of bovine TB in cattle actually rose (it fell slightly in the other area, but improved bio-security on farms will also have had an impact). All the evidence points to the need for a vaccination programme, not a cull. Please support the campaign against the cull by popping over to Team Badger for more information and following #stopthecull

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Badger Tagged |

More Terrapins at Falmer

September 7, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

It’s about a week since I posted some photos of the local terrapins, and another sunny day brought three of them out into the open. Two of them are yellow-bellied sliders, but this first one is a different species (though I’ve no idea what). It’s larger than the other ones, and seemed to have broader rear legs/feet.

Terrapin basking at Falmer Pond

Terrapin basking at Falmer Pond

The yellow-bellieds stayed in the water most of the time, but one of them kept close to the shore (obviously tempted by the warm weather). Much as I don’t like seeing them in the pond for ecological reasons (they are voracious predators), they do make good photographic subjects especially when they stay close to the surface.

Terrapin in Falmer Pond

Yellow-bellied slider terrapin in Falmer Pond

Terrapin in Falmer Pond

Terrapin in Falmer Pond

Terrapin in Falmer Pond

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 terrapin Tagged |