Category Archives: Bird of Prey

West Pier and other Brighton Sights

May 18, 2014 by Words | 5 Comments

We had to go down into Brighton today and while we were in town we made the most of the beautiful sunshine and went for a stroll along the promenade. The area near the Palace Pier (the lively, fairground pier) was mobbed, as might be expected on what was probably the warmest Sunday of the year so far. We headed west towards the quieter Hove end of the promenade and the West Pier, which for me far outshines its more successful sibling.

More of the West Pier collapsed during the winter storms, but for all that it remains a wonderfully iconic feature. Click on the image to enlarge (it should roughly fill your screen).

West Pier, Brighton

Many years ago I used to live on the sea front in Hove. That was when I was a student (late 1970s). I was in a basement at the far end of Brunswick Terrace. The place was damp, dingy and running with rodents. It was also huge, with an 80 foot corridor running the length of it. The buildings have had something of a face lift since those days and now go for a not so small fortune.

Brunswick Terrace

I didn’t notice when I took this photo, but if you look to the right-hand side at the ice cream van you’ll notice someone standing just in front of it filming with a tripod. And down at ground level, this sign. I’ve no idea whether it is for real or not, but it seems so typically Brighton (or Hove, actually… by about 50 yards).

ice cream for dogs

Brighton (and Hove) is certainly quirky, and is the only place in the country with a Green MP and a Green Council (ironically we also have some of the worst recycling rates in the UK and they’ve got worse under the Green regime). With the Euro elections this week the Green Party Bus was out drumming up support (there was a distinct lack of activity in its vicinity while we were there). The bus, I’m told, runs on bio-fuel (aka re-used cooking oil).

Green Party Bus

As for wildlife you probably expect some gulls, or possibly a cormorant. They were certainly around, though the latter were out of range of my 70-300mm lens. I’ve got something rather better though. These shots were taken as we walked up West Street, just off the seafront.

Peregrine falcon over West Street, Brighton

Peregrine falcon over West Street, Brighton

Peregrine falcon over West Street, Brighton

Unmistakably a peregrine falcon, and almost certainly one of the pair that breed on the roof of Sussex Heights, a towering block of flats in central Brighton.

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

Also posted in coastal, Landscape, Seaside Views Tagged , , , , , |

Buzzards Galore, a Brimstone, a wren and a lively squirrel

April 14, 2014 by Words | Comments Off

Today was one of those days when taking a camera out is like being a child in a sweetshop. Too much to choose from, but all of it nice. It started early with this very pretty female blackbird sitting in woodland at the edge of Falmer Pond.

Blackbird

Everything else is from the middle of the day. I headed out in a different direction, taking in t he woodland and fields behind the rear of the campus. It’s an area I’ve wandered over to occasionally, but not explored to its full potential. Odds are I’ll be heading back in that direction while the weather’s fine.

I started with some shots of blue tits. Nothing spectacular, but catching one in flight is always something of a challenge.

Blue tit in flight

I couldn’t get particularly close to them so explored some more accessible trees. I was attracted by the distinctive and persistent call of a wren. They are strongly territorial and sound a constant warning to other birds to keep away.

Wren

Wren

I couldn’t help but notice the large brimstone butterflies flitting along the edge of the field. They are a brilliant yellow in flight, but much harder to spot when they come to rest (when they mimic a leaf rather well).

Brimstone butterfly

That was down at ground level. High overhead another treat was waiting for me. A small group of buzzards came over. Four of them, though I could only manage three together in frame.

Birds of prey

Three buzzards

The fourth buzzard wasn’t faring so well. A pair of rooks had latched on to it and were intent on a quite persistent mobbing.

Buzzard being mobbed by rooks

Buzzard being mobbed by rooks

Buzzard being mobbed by rooks

The final sequence of a lengthy post was somewhere between ground level and the sky… a lively squirrel negotiating its way through the treetops.

squirrel

squirrel

squirrel

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

Also posted in Birds, Butterfly, squirrel Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Sparrowhawk and Herring Gull

March 23, 2014 by Words | 5 Comments

Just a short sequence from yesterday. I was out in the garden watching the skies when the squawking of the local herring gulls alerted me to this sparrowhawk flying overhead.

Sparrowhawk

Most of the gulls were keeping their distance and just being noisy about the passing intruder over their patch. One gull, however, took matters into its own hands (or wings) and commenced on a solo mobbing. These are hefty crops as the action was a considerable distance away.

Sparrowhawk and herring gull

Sparrowhawk and herring gull

Sparrowhawk and herring gull

Sparrowhawk and herring gull

The sparrowhawk eventually got fed up with the close attentions of the larger bird and dove down across the valley, easily outpacing the gull which was content to return to the main flock.

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

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