Category Archives: water birds

Variety Pack #234

June 22, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

All sorts of bits and pieces today. It’s probably not quite #234 in a series, but it’s the kind of post I haven’t done for a while. I’ll start with an old friend from Falmer Pond, taken yesterday. It’s a duck (not a rat in case you were hoping.)

Duck reflected in Falmer pond

Duck reflected in Falmer pond

Also from yesterday a shy lizard (the green one again)

Common lizard campus

Common lizard campus

And a rude lizard!

Common lizard showing forked tongue

Common lizard showing forked tongue

This morning took me down to Brighton seafront (I’m all over the place at the moment for work). These were taken around 8.30am in foggy conditions. The first is the latest iconic Brighton structure, the incomparably dreadful i360.

i360 (i-Sore) tower in the mist on Brighton seafront

i360 (i-Sore) tower in the mist on Brighton seafront

Much more to my taste are the stunning ruins of the old West Pier. I never tire of them.

The ruins of the iconic West Pier, Brighton

The ruins of the iconic West Pier, Brighton

Lastly, something from the garden… one of the badgers.

Badger in the garden at night

Badger in the garden at night

Camera note: pier and i-Sore taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens; the duck with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; lizards with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens; and the badger with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Also posted in Badger, coastal, Landscape, lizard, Wildlife Tagged , , , , |

White on White (little egret)

April 25, 2016 by Words | 4 Comments

I took this short sequence at Seven Sisters Country Park, just outside Eastbourne today. The little egret is a non-native species that has colonized very successfully, and is now a quite stunning addition to the avian population.

Little egret in flight over the South Downs, Sussex

Little egret in flight over the South Downs, Sussex

Little egret in flight over the South Downs, Sussex

Little egret in flight over the South Downs, Sussex

Little egret in flight over the South Downs, Sussex

Little egret in flight over the South Downs, Sussex

Back in the garden the foxes are showing up (but proving as tricky to photograph as ever). Badgers? Yes, they’re here as well, and more than happy to pose for a quick photo!

Badger in garden

Badger in garden

Camera note: egrets taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. I used the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM for the badger.

Also posted in Birds Tagged |

Fighting Fulmars at Rottingdean

March 28, 2016 by Words | 4 Comments

Regular readers will have seen me post about the fulmar colony at Rottingdean many times before. Fulmars are often mistaken for gulls (when I was taking these shots several people pointed out the ‘nesting gulls’ to their partners/parents/children). All mistaken: Fulmars are ‘petrels’, related to the albatross (not gulls at all). Anyway, Friday was good and the fulmars got into full swing by mid-afternoon.

Their main activity is flying along the cliffs and attempting to land…

Fulmar at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Fulmar flying along at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Their other main activity is guarding their small rocky roost.

Fulmar nesting at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Fulmar nesting at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Combined, this means a lot of this…

Fulmar at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Fulmar attempting to land but being seen off by the cackling incumbents.

I could have taken those three shots any time over the past few years (I have so many exactly like them). What made Friday special was a genuine on-the-wing spat between two of the birds.

Fulmar sparring at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Fulmar sparring at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

Fulmars sparring - not the very flimsy legs (part of what makes landing so difficult)

Fulmars sparring – note the very flimsy legs (part of what makes landing so difficult)

Fulmar sparring

It’s more noise than serious fighting

Fulmars at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

And one of them finally dives away

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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