Category Archives: Birds

Frozen Falmer

January 20, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

Well we had the first snow of winter this morning. Just a thin layer which didn’t affect local travel arrangements, but enough to put a nice wintry glow on Falmer Village early this morning.

Falmer Pond, frozen

The pond was partially frozen over, the ice more than sufficient to hold these black-headed gulls.

Black-headed gulls on frozen pond

The light was poor (as ever), but I was quite pleased with this slow-pan sequence of a greylag carefully picking its landing site.

slow pan shot of greylag goose

slow pan shot of greylag goose

slow pan shot of greylag goose

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 Landscape, snow, water birds, Weather Tagged , , , |

Blackbird and Berry

January 16, 2015 by Words | 5 Comments

The blackbirds are busy berry-picking at this time of year. I spent several minutes watching this female today as she quietly gorged on a bush in the corner of the churchyard at Falmer.

Blackbird eating a berry

Blackbird eating a berry

Blackbird eating a berry

Blackbird

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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Can’t You Read the Sign?

January 15, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

It’s clear enough. “No Fishing”, by order of the local council. The herring gulls seem to understand. but one local inhabitant takes such things as bit of a challenge.

Here he is, lurking in the shadows, trying to keep out of sight.

Cormorant

Cormorant lurking in the shadows of the island in the centre of Falmer Pond

I didn’t see him emerge, but I did see him dive and come up with a pale carp (?) firmly in his grip.

Cormorant with fish

Cormorant struggling with a fish

Cormorant with fish

Stretch those jaws!

Lunch sorted, he swam off with just a hint of bulge in his neck to give the game away.

cormorant

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 , , , |