Category Archives: Birds

Coastal Birds

January 5, 2016 by Words | 4 Comments

This is the slightly overdue second part of my New Year’s Eve blog, and the promised bird life.

The tide was out which is always helpful for spotting the more unusual visitors as the seaweed-laden rocks are excellent feeding grounds. Oystercatchers are among the more regular visitors, though mussels rather than oysters are the mainstay of their diet.

Oystercatcher at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Oystercatcher at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Oystercatcher at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Oystercatcher at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Oystercatcher at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Oystercatcher at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Another fairly common visitor is the little egret. Several were feeding on the rocks, though they remain quite shy and prone to hop along the coast if disturbed.

Little egret at Rottingdean

Little egret at Rottingdean

Little egret at Rottingdean

Little egret at Rottingdean

Little egret with Brighton in the background

Little egret with Brighton in the background

Much harder to spot than the pure white egret are the much smaller ringed plovers. When in among the rocks and pebbles they all but disappear from view (perfect camouflage), but even they can’t remain hidden from view once they take to the air.

Ringed plovers at Rottingdean

Ringed plovers at Rottingdean

Finally, on many levels the pick of the bunch, a curlew. These large birds are very occasional visitors to the Rottingdean coast but make excellent use of their long curved bill to search out the tastiest food.

Curlew at Rottingdean Beach, East Sussex

Curlew at Rottingdean Beach, East Sussex

Curlew at Rottingdean Beach, East Sussex

Curlew at Rottingdean Beach, East Sussex

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 water birds Tagged , , , |

Fulmars at Rottingdean

December 29, 2015 by Words | 6 Comments

I’ve barely touched the camera recently, but the day was clear and I had a chance to get down to Rottingdean for an hour or so. It was windy, and the tide was coming in.

The cliffs at Saltdean (seen from Rottingdean), East Sussex

The cliffs at Saltdean (seen from Rottingdean), East Sussex

The fulmars were nestling in the wintering cliff-side nests, enjoying the relatively mild weather.

Two fulmars and a pigeon on the cliffs at Rottingdean

Two fulmars and a pigeon on the cliffs at Rottingdean

Fulmars in nesting site at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Fulmars in nesting site at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Fulmar flying along the cliffs at Rottingdean

Fulmar flying along the cliffs at Rottingdean

Fulmar (click to enlarge)

Fulmar (click to enlarge)

There weren’t many other birds of note around (herring gulls and a few black-headed gulls) so the final shot is of Brighton given a little bit of a postcard treatment.

Brighton, viewed from Rottingdean with the marina in the mid-ground and the i-sore/i-360 in the distance.

Brighton, viewed from Rottingdean with the marina in the mid-ground and the i-sore/i-360 in the distance.

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

Also posted in Bird of Prey, coastal Tagged , , |

Cormorant at Falmer

December 5, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

On Friday I went up to Falmer Village with a group of colleagues on a Nature Photography session, part of our department’s festive activities. I’d volunteered to lead the session and was delighted that Friday proved to be sunny which meant we could get out ‘in the field’ (and I wouldn’t need to do a presentation).

It’s always a bit risky promising wildlife sightings (especially when squeezing a works outing into a lunch hour), and even though I’d seen a cormorant at the pond early morning I didn’t really expect it to still be there. As we were gathering at the edge of the pond on arrival a kestrel flew over, and the sunshine even drew out one of the local terrapins (perched on a tree root). I didn’t get photos of either of those and so was delighted when the absent cormorant flew in over the pond, and landed on the water. It swam around, fished (successfully) and then did the typical cormorant dash as it took to the air once again. That’s when I took this short sequence.

Cormorant at Falmer Pond

Cormorant making a slash at Falmer Pond

Cormorant at Falmer Pond

Cormorant on the verge of take-off

Cormorant at Falmer Pond

Wings Ups!

Cormorant at Falmer Pond

Wings Up #2

Cormorant at Falmer Pond

And away…

Apart from enjoying the sunshine and the surprisingly strong showing of local fauna, we talked about cameras, apertures, settings and some general tips on how to get better photos (e.g. get low to the eye line, check the background for distractions, and don’t be afraid to experiment with camera settings). It made a great change from the usual routine.

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, water birds Tagged |