Category Archives: Birds

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.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, Kestrel, owl Tagged , , , , , |

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.

Also posted in Bird of Prey Tagged |

Easter Owl

March 29, 2016 by Words | 3 Comments

After Good Friday’s fulmars, I headed to Sheepcote Valley on Easter Monday in search of the short-eared owls. It took me a while to find them, but I eventually spotted one, and then another. This is a small selection of shots.

Short-eared owl ruffling its feathers

Short-eared owl ruffling its feathers

Short-eared owl in flight

Short-eared owl in flight

Coming straight at you!

Coming straight at you!

Now three similar shots but with different colour variants. Seriously, I work hard to vary the background colour by changing my position (it’s difficult to get an owl to pose).

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, 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.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, owl Tagged |