Category Archives: Birds

Starling, Blackbird and Blue Tit

January 5, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

Just three quick shots from the garden today, of three of our common species. Although there’s nothing very dramatic about any of these, I was pleased with the two flight shots which are the result of getting better acquainted with some of the AF settings on the 7D Mark II.

Female blackbird

Female blackbird

Starling in flight

Starling in flight

Blue tit in flight

Blue tit in flight

Things will start returning to normal this week. I’ll be back at work (and visiting the local pond). I’ll also re-start the Fox of the Day feature, though mostly by raiding the archive. I almost decided against a re-start but have decided to run it until the summer (which will complete a 10 Year cycle) and see how things are going then. Much depends on whether we get a good crop of confident foxes or not this year, but I will certainly be alert from spring when the new cubs are emerging.

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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Fulmars and Starlings at Rottingdean

January 3, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

So here goes with my first post of 2015. The sun was shining, and with just a light breeze it was perfect for a quick walk along the Undercliff at Rottingdean. Plenty of gulls about, and with the tide out a few distant oystercatchers were hugging the water’s edge. It took me a while to spot the fulmars which were congregating at the Saltdean end of the walk, but once I found them they put on their usual excellent display.

To start things off, just a couple of standard flight shots.

fulmar

fulmar

Fulmars are very social birds, and the best moments are when they are interacting. They nest in the cliff hollows, and it’s common to see one or two settled comfortably in their nook while others approach and try to land. More often than not, they are given short shrift by the incumbents.

fulmars

fulmars

fulmars

This seems to be quite a good year for starlings, and as the light began to fade they started to appear along the top of the cliffs. In starling terms this is a small flock.

Flock of starlings

And a group that flew in a little bit closer…

Flock of starlings

The final couple of shots are two more of starlings, but taken at ground level where they were picking up a scattering of crumbs left on a wall. The sun was quite low by now, hence the rich colours.

Starling

Starling

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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Blackbird, Collared Dove and Coot

December 20, 2014 by Words | 2 Comments

Well I may include something else as well, but I’ll start with the birds. They are all very common, but the light was nice and I’m still enjoying getting to know the new gear. I have to say I am amazed at just how sharp the lens is. Anyway, here’s a fine blackbird (male) who was hanging around Falmer Pond today.

Blackbird (male)

Blackbird (male)

We also have a good colony of collared doves locally. They are naturalized natives (they’ve been around the UK for about 50 years), but they are everywhere now. More delicate than our standard pigeons, they are pretty birds with beautiful red eyes.

Collared dove

Collared dove

Just one shot of the coot, caught as it was descending the bank into the pond. Again, the light was lovely.

Coot

I can’t resist posting at least one rat shot, but the rest of today’s will be added to the December rat album.

rat

rat

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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