Category Archives: Landscape

It’s Black and White at Seven Sisters

April 1, 2014 by Words | 5 Comments

It was a glorious morning as I headed out of town, pausing for a short while at Seven Sisters Country Park near Eastbourne. The mists were rising as I arrived, and the sheep (there’s a black sheep in among them) were playing follow-the-leader across a distant field.

Sheep on South Downs

Down at water level, the mists had cleared. The water was still, and the swans were looking their puffed and preened best.

swan

Swan

Swan

Further along the bank, some Canada geese were idling away the morning.

Canada geese

An egret flew over in the distance, and a grey heron came in somewhat closer.

Grey heron

The final sequence is a cormorant coming in to land on the water, looking for an easy breakfast.

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

That was a very nice start to the day!

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

Also posted in Sheep, South Downs National Park, water birds Tagged , , , , |

Lake Wood

March 29, 2014 by Words | 7 Comments

I was away from my usual haunts this morning, visiting the Lake Wood woodland nature reserve near Uckfield. It was the first time I’ve been there, but it’s an absolute gem of a place. Today’s post is something of a scene setter.

These are the views around the lake. There’s relatively little bird life on the lake itself (it is home to large pike), but the surrounding woodland is home to a great many species.

Lake at Lake Wood

Lake at Lake Wood

Lake at Lake Wood

Lake at Lake Wood

Lake at Lake Wood

Lake at Lake Wood

As for the birds, there were plenty of blue tits around.

Blue tit

Several long-tailed tits were also flitting among the trees nearby.

Long tailed tit

Long tailed tit

And a pretty little treecreeper. It’s always a pleasure to see them.

Treecreeper

I’ll be going back there over the coming months (the reason for that will eventually become clear). I’m looking forward to it.

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

Also posted in Birds, South Downs National Park Tagged , , , , |

Little White Duck

March 24, 2014 by Words | Comments Off

That’s the second time I’ve used that particular blog title, though it might seem a touch misleading since I’m going to start today’s entry with a grey collared dove.

Collared dove

Collared dove

Those shots were taken this morning when it was bright out, but cold. It stayed cold all day, and there’s little prospect of it warming up during the week. We may even lose the weak sunshine that helped brighten the middle of the day when I headed out to the fields around north Falmer. The farmers are still busy preparing the fields, and the gulls continue to flock in the tractor’s wake.

Ploughed field and herring gull

Ploughed field and herring gulls

The sharp breeze up on the ridge encouraged me to return to the relative shelter of the village. Plenty of ducks around, taking it in turns to fly circuits of the pond.

flying ducks

And yes, among those three there is indeed a little white duck.

White duck in flight

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

Also posted in Farming, water birds Tagged , , |