Category Archives: Birds

Young Skylark

June 8, 2018 by Words | 2 Comments

Just a couple of photos today, of a recently fledged skylark that I spotted at Sheepcote Valley today. Skylarks are possibly the distinctive sound of the countryside as they hover high above fields with a constant trilling, before spiralling back down to earth. Recent significant declines in their population mean they are ‘red listed’. The decline is thought to be due to changes in farming practices. Nice then to see a healthy youngster.

young skylark

Young skylark at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

young skylark

Young skylark at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 1DX Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

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Kestrel at Sheepcote

June 5, 2018 by Words | 3 Comments

I stopped off at Sheepcote Valley this morning, my favourite local haunt for kestrel watching. A male was out hunting right at the entrance. And that’s all I really need say. The phoots can speak for themselves.

kestrel

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Kestrel with prey

, which was restored in the early 2000s and briefly owned by Steve Coogan! with prey

Kestrel with prey

Kestrel

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 1DX Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, Kestrel Tagged |

Cygnets at Woods Mill

May 22, 2018 by Words | 2 Comments

I spent part of the day over at Woods Mill, the Sussex Wildlife Trust centre. They currently have some nesting kestrels but the stars of this visit were the young cygnets.

Swan and cygnets

Swan and cygnets

cygnets

On the nest, taken from a safe distance

Swan and cygnets

Swan and cygnets

cygnet

Cygnet

There was also a family of little grebes. The light made photographing them all but impossible, but I did get a couple of nice shots.

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe and chicks

Little Grebe and chicks at Woods Mill, Sussex

I also saw a red kite (plus one on my way there). It seems they may have finally made it to Sussex. I’ll be keeping an eye out for them. That’s three or four sightings this year.

Red kite

Red Kite at Woods Mill. Next time I’ll try to photograph one coming towards me!

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 1DX Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, water birds Tagged , , , , |