Category Archives: Birds

More Watts House Wildlife

I’m beginning to enjoy my new location. I’m not getting nearly so many photos, but I’m learning to be patient and it is paying off. These are few more sightings at Watts Bank, to rear of Watts House on the main Lewes Road going into Brighton.

First up is a slow worm. Now this did take some searching out and I only found it because I know the places they are likely to be lurking (clue: look under things).

Slow worm on Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Slow worm on Watts Bank, University of Brighton

That’s not a great shot (I only had the long lens, and the light was dreadful). This isn’t the best either, mainly due to the distance and a bog crop. It’s a female black cap in the wooded fringe to the bank. The location is pretty much inaccessible so I may well not get anything better, but it’s good enough to document the local species.

Female black cap on Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Female black cap on Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Third up is another small bird – a chiffchaff. I’ve already spotted these before. This one was just the other side of my window so was taken through double-glazing.

Chiffchaff on Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Chiffchaff on Watts Bank, University of Brighton

The star sighting though was a buzzard coming in low over the car park. I’ve seen them before, but not had a chance to photograph them here. The gulls soon saw this one off.

Buzzard over Watts House, University of Brighton

Buzzard over Watts House, University of Brighton

Buzzard over Watts House, University of Brighton

Buzzard over Watts House, University of 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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Golden Finches

Goldfinches to be precise, photographed early last Friday morning. The light was beautiful and a small flock of goldfinches was teasel-hopping across Sheepcote Valley. Beautiful! I love days that start like this.

Goldfinch flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinch flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinch flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinch flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinch flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinch flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinches feeding flock at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Goldfinches feeding flock 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.

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Field Birds

More sunshine today (it won’t last, but I’ll enjoy it while it’s there), and a quick walk across Sheepcote Valley this morning where the skylarks were enjoying the dry weather. Skylarks are true birds of the field, nesting on the ground among the long grass and crops. Changes in arable farming have, in recent years, disrupted breeding sites and skylarks are now red-listed, indicating that their numbers are in steep decline.

Skylark resting in grass at Sheepcote Valley

Skylark resting in grass at Sheepcote Valley

Skylark in flight

Skylark in flight

Skylark is flight with wings raised

Skylark is flight with wings raised

The other field bird today is the kestrel. Their interest in fields is for nesting, but for feeding on small mammals (voles) and large insects (crickets). I spotted this one at lunchtime on the downland behind Moulsecoomb in Brighton. It was busy hunting, and I caught this sequence as it dropped low to skim across the fields.

Kestrel (male) at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Kestrel (male) at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

kestrel

kestrel

kestrel

It’s not my best sequence, but the kestrels seem to be a regular feature so if the weather holds I may do better.

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 , |