Category Archives: Bird of Prey

Springtime Owls

April 12, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I nearly didn’t stop at Sheepcote Valley this morning. It was overcast, but there was just sufficient hint of the sunshine to come to keep me there. I trekked down into the valley in search of the short-eared owls, and wasn’t disappointed. I saw three of them (I’m sure the fourth wasn’t far away).

Two short-eared owls flying over Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Two short-eared owls flying over Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

short-eared owl

One of the owls with ploughed fields in the background

Short-eared owl with small building in the background

Short-eared owl with small building in the background

short-eared owl

Another flight shot

short-eared owl perching

And finally, another shot of one of the owls perching.

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

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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.

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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.

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