Category Archives: water birds

No Fishing (Heron)

An old favourite from Falmer Pond was back. The grey heron was enjoying some late autumn sunshine this morning, perching proudly on one of the No Fishing signs at Falmer Pond.

Heron on No Fishing sign

That was from a distance, but for this next one I approached through the trees. It was impossible to gain an entirely clear line to the heron, but with a little effort I managed a couple more shots. The first is the perch from another view.

Heron on No Fishing sign

And then a final image as it crossed from the sign to the central island.

Grey heron - motion blur

It had gone by lunchtime, or perhaps was sheltering out of sight. On the other hand, the rats were out and about.

rat

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

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Cormorant (plus a few of the usual)

It’s been some time since I’ve seen a cormorant at Falmer Pond, and I nearly missed today’s flying visitor. Literally flying, as it circled but then headed off to the south (i.e. to the coast). There was just enough time to get these photos.

Cormorant over Falmer

Cormorant over Falmer

The light was just about at its peak for richness when I took this photo a rat down by the water’s edge.

rat

Rat in the glow of the early morning light

The good reddish light is fleeting, and it had already softened by the time I took these next two shots at the opposite end of the pond.

rat

rat

Move on 5 hours and the colour has washed away, but it was bright and the rats were still curious.

rat

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

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Farewell White Goose

Sad to report that one of the longest-standing members of the Falmer Pond community of wildlife is no more. The old White Goose, who has kept a watchful eye over many broods of greylag goslings, met his end last night. All that remained this morning was a pile of feathers scattered in an adjacent field. A fox possibly. He’ll be missed, and to mark the moment two photos of him from earlier in the year.

white goose

white goose

Camera note: first photo taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens; the second was with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

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