Well I’m slowly getting settled into a new routine, following the relocation at work. It’s a different route in, but it takes me past Sheepcote Valley where late skylarks were enjoying an unseasonably sunny morning.

Skylark at Sheepcote Valley

I’ve been making my enquiries about the local area (Moulsecoomb) and discovered that there are good walks up on the surrounding Downs. And I do mean ‘up’. It was a steep climb, but I was rewarded with this: a local dew pond. It took me a solid 20 minutes to get there in fine, dry conditions. It’s a fair weather location; but good to know about.

Dew Pond at Moulsecoomb

I even saw a couple of buzzards up there. 🙂

Buzzard at Moulsecoomb

Not much other wildlife (apart from numerous magpies), but the pond was being used to cool down by this very elegant poodle (not so elegant after a soaking!)

Black poodle in dew pond

Black poodle in dew pond

Just beyond the dew pond I was surprised to get a view of my old stomping ground at Falmer. This shot shows the Brighton and Hove albion football stadium (the ‘Amex’) with the University campus on the right.

Brighton and Hove Albion Amex Community Stadium and the University of Brighton, Falmer campus

Last shot for today is a large white butterfly.

Large white butterfly

So overall, the new location has some great views and some interesting areas to explore. It’s going to be harder work than Falmer (climbing hills, and no semi-domesticated water fowl to watch), but while the weather is fine it could be good.

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