Category Archives: Birds

A Vole Rescue and other bits and pieces

May 14, 2015 by Words | 5 Comments

I’ve been busy with other parts of life recently, hence the intermittent blogging. There are a few things to report though, about hte local wildlife, starting with a rescue of a baby vole. It happened at work where there is some building/digging going on. One of the site workers discovered a baby vole. It’s likely the nest had been disturbed by heavy digging, but he rescued one and passed it to a colleague of mine who found me in the main building, and from there it was a quick visit to my local animal rescue centre. Nothing very dramatic there, but it was a very tiny, very cute little thing. Sorry that the photo (taken on an iPod Touch) is so poor.

baby vole

Baby vole wrapped in toilet tissue

Other new babies on the block include these ducklings at Falmer pond.

Ducklings

Ducklings

Ducklings

Ducklings

There seem to be two broods, and hopefully they will survive and avoid the predators, one of which – unfortunately – is still lurking in the shallows.

terrapin

Terrapin at Falmer Pond

Predators are also a risk from above, and I was pleased to see a fine peregrine falcon fly over Falmer.

Peregrine falcon over Falmer

Peregrine falcon over Falmer

Meanwhile the badgers and foxes are still making good use of the garden. I’ve not seen any tonight, but will try again in a few minutes.

All for now…

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (baby vole taken on an iPod Touch).

Also posted in Bird of Prey, terrapin, Vole, water birds, Wildlife Tagged , , , |

Flying Over Seven Sisters

May 6, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

I was fortunate to be over near Seven Sisters Country Park early this morning, while the bright weather was still holding. It was windy (on my return journey trees were down and one was partially blocking the road outside Newhaven), and the Canada geese and little egrets were active.

I’ll start with the egrets, which are now essentially naturalized native birds.

Little egret at Seven Sisters Country Park

Little egret at Seven Sisters Country Park

Little egret at Seven Sisters Country Park

Little egret at Seven Sisters Country Park

Little egret over the South Downs at Seven Sisters Country Park

A small group of Canada geese were patrolling the fields, in ones and twos.

Canada geese

Canada goose

I can’t leave out the common mallard…

Mallard in flight

Or my first swift of the year. Few in number at the moment, but great to see them and a sure of improving weather.

Swift in flight

Swift in flight

No badgers or foxes tonight, but I’ve some good clips of both from the trail camera to put together (hopefully over the next few days).

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 , , , |

More Goslings, plus a New Badger

May 2, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

The young goslings were still doing well on Friday, and still attracting plenty of attention around Falmer Pond. Here are a few more shots which come with a ‘high cuteness’ warning attached.

gosling

Two-day old greylag gosling contemplating a daisy

gosling

Greylag goslings grazing on grass bank at Falmer

gosling

Greylag goslings wading in Falmer Pond

The goslings are still tiny, but they’ll eventually grow to be a mighty goose, like this adult greylag.

greylag adult

Greylag goose rising up from the water

That’s another slow-shutter shot. I’m gathering plenty of them at the moment as part of a FotoBuzz project on action photography. It’s a great place for learning from real experts at wildlife and landscape photography, and with some luck and hard graft it should help me improve and refine what I shoot.

Here’s another couple of shots in the same mode.

ducks in flight

Ducks in flight

duck

Female mallard landing on water

Back in the garden, the badgers have been great fun. Today’s photos are of badger number 2. I don’t think it’s the female in the video I posted, which means there are at least three humbugs visiting. This one is smaller than the male who has featured in most of the recent photos, and I suspect has been in fewer fights and scrapes. It’s not as bold as the big guy, but is becoming more tolerant.

badger

Badger lurking near the apple tree

Badger

Badger Portrait #1

badger

Badger Portrait #2

Camera note: all bird photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. The badger was photographed with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

Also posted in Badger, water birds Tagged , , , , |