Category Archives: water birds

Pretty Wren and Some New Herring Gull Chicks

June 4, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

Well we seem to have something resembling summer at the moment, and there is plenty to see in the skies around the South Downs, including a peregrine circling overhead as I arrived at work this morning. That’s not what I’m going post though (too far off for a decent photo). Instead here’s a short sequence of a pretty wren I spotted earlier in the week.

wren

Wren with insects in its beak at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Wren

Wren

The new arrivals were taken today, just at the edge of the car park at work. It’s an annual event, and the adult herring gulls jealously guard this spot. They breed here every year, and usually there are two or three chicks. I haven’t been able to get an accurate count yet as they are still in that handy nesting box, but it won’t be long before they venture out to the main roof.

Herring gull chicks

Herring gull chicks

The last shot for today is one of my attempts at motion blur, this time of a collared dove (and again taken today).

Collared dove (motion blur)

Collared dove

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 Birds Tagged , , |

Tufted Ducks at Falmer

May 16, 2015 by Words | 6 Comments

Another day, another surprise. There were four of them… three males and a female tufted duck enjoying the early morning sunshine on Falmer Pond. Clearly passing through (they were gone by lunchtime, but they were a delight to see.

Tufted ducks

Tufted ducks

Tufted ducks

At the edge of the pond a pair of the local rats had found some seed scattered on a rock.

rats

rats

And later in the day, the eight little greylag goslings feasted on plant matter growing on a submerged rock.

greylag goslings

greylag goslings

And then up on to the bank for a well-earned rest.

greylag goslings

greylag goslings

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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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, Wildlife Tagged , , , |