Well not really, but I was trying to link three very different photos for today’s blog. The first ‘invader’ was a surprise sighting yesterday of a Soviet warplane (World War II vintage) flying near Falmer. It’s a Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter, i.d. number D-FLAK and dates back to 1944. I know very little about these planes, but by all accounts they were sensational fighters and as influential as the Spitfire. More here.

Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK at Falmer, East Sussex

Now the next subject might not generally be thought of as an invader, and to be fair there have been sheep in England for several thousand years. But they are not true natives, with some suggestion of neolithic farmers introducing sheep, and a much greater influence being played by the Romans who effectively established sheep farming in Britain. I took these two shots at Seven Sisters. A fine looking animal.

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

The final invader is a true invasive species. It’s the terrapin and my excuse for another photo of them is that this one shows three of them together at the edge of Falmer Pond. The shot was taken through undergrowth. Any attempt to get closer would have (and in fact, did) result in two of them sliding into the water for safety.

Three terrapins at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.