Category Archives: Birds

Peregrine at Moulsecoomb

January 30, 2018 by Words | 1 Comment

Well I’ve finally kicked off the 2018 blog, with entry just squeezing into January. Other than the foxes I’ve not been taking too many pictures but I did get out briefly today in the sunshine. ‘Out’ being standing between some of the buildings at work, which just goes to prove that you really don’t need to go far to see wildlife.

It started with a buzzard…

buzzard

Buzzard over Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Nothing very fancy about that. There were two of them, gliding high overhead while the gulls circled.

Next up came a sparrowhawk. This one was on its own…

sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk over Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Again, a very basic shot; but if there are buzzards and sparrowhawks about I keep looking. And sure enough, high among the gulls another bird appeared: a peregrine falcon (actually a pair). Being mobbed by a gull!

Peregrine falcon and gull

Peregrine falcon and gull

Peregrine falcon and gull

Peregrine falcon and gull

Peregrine falcon and gull

Peregrine falcon and gull

Peregrine falcon

Peregrine falcon over Moulsecoomb, Brighton

On the home front Pretty is still visiting regularly, and we can hear other foxes nearby. This is a recent shot of her to close.

Pretty Vixen finds a 'markie'

Pretty Vixen finds a ‘markie’

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 fox photographed with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, Foxes, Wildlife Tagged , , , |

Winter Birds

November 29, 2017 by Words | 3 Comments

With the temperatures hovering around freezing, it feels like winter has finally arrived. It’s certainly cold, but today the skies were clear and the winds low. I like winter days like this. I needed to take a rare trip over to Eastbourne, stopping briefly at Seven Sisters to see what birds were about. There were a few distant curlews, numerous little egrets, some swans and cormorants. Worth the early start.

little egret

Little egret at Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex

swan

Mute swan on rippling blue

cormorant

Cormorant cruising

Back home the foxes are still around. At least three of them are putting in an appearance on the trail camera (along with an occasional badger), though Pretty Vixen is the only one venturing out for photo shoots. She seems to be becoming a permanent fixture. It’s good that so many are still around and that bodes well for next spring.

fox

Pretty Vixen peering down from the wall

Camera note: all bird photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens. Pretty Vixen taken with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.

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

October Ducklings!

October 5, 2017 by Words | 5 Comments

About a month since my last post and I really wouldn’t have guessed that I’d be writing about ducklings in October, but I am.

It was at my old haunt at Falmer Pond. I was there this morning before work. The heron was about, some greylags were congregating on the water, gulls were circling… and a female duck was taking four tiny ducklings out for a swim. So far as I know this is wildly out of season. Ducklings normally hatch in late spring to early summer, but these are no more than a few days old. They are either a very late 2017 brood… or possibly an early 2018 clutch! Either way, they were an unexpected delight!

These are Indian Runner ducks (or a hybrid variety). They are permanent residents at the pond (the first adults arrived a few years ago, and I think the mother may be a second generation pond inhabitant). The original adults were quite possibly domestic birds that were ‘relocated’ to the pond. With luck the youngster will survive and put on weight before winter.

Ducklings in October at Falmer Pond

Foraging at the edge of the pond

ducklings

Three Ducklings in a row

Duckling making a splash

And lastly a portrait of the local heron

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 , |