Category Archives: South Downs National Park

Pretty Photos

February 7, 2014 by Words | Comments Off

Just three pretty photos, but possibly not what you were expecting from the title.

The first is this pretty group of ducks down at the pond. The sun was just about making its presence known during the day, and though the wind was sharp it was something of a relief to have some temporary respite from the gloom. It won’t last. More rain – and gales – are on the way.

ducks

The second photo is an unusual one for me. A rural landscapewithout any animals in it. This was taken by the fields along Ridge Road, just outside Falmer.

Fields at Falmer

I was watching for buzzards at the time but could only manage a few long range shots.

buzzard

To close, one of the Pretty who usually features. Here she is enjoying a good old stretch along the garden wall.

Fox stretching

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, apart from the fox which was taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, Farming, Foxes, Landscape Tagged , , , , |

Cold and Frosty Morning

December 11, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

It was another beautiful morning, colder with low hanging mists and a slight frost on the ground. This is the scene at Seven Sisters, shortly after the sun topped the Downs.

Seven Sisters Country Park

I missed out on a beautiful shot of a little egret (it flew off before I could reach for the camera), but I did manage a couple of shots of a redshank flying over the water.

Redshank

Redshank

The Canada geese are still around, happy to take short hops across the fields to find new grazing.

Canada geese

Canada geese

And always more sheep!

Sheep

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

Also posted in Landscape, Sheep, water birds Tagged , , , , |

Water Rat plus some time on the farm

November 15, 2013 by Words | 2 Comments

The rats are becoming ever more elusive as the water level rises, but they are nothing if not adaptable and I spotted this one today perched on a thick branch overhanging the water. I had to struggle to gain a clear line of sight to it through all the overhanging branches. These are the best I could do.

Rat

Rat

This final shot of the rat gives a better idea of its location. Its taken directly into the sun bouncing of the water’s surface.

rat

Those were this morning. Later in the day I went out to the fields where the sheep were forming an orderly queue as the farmer arrived with their feed.

Sheep

Over head a small flock of fieldfares gave warning of cold weather to come.

Fieldfares

Fieldfare

A pony snuggled down in the weak sunshine…

pony

And somewhere in this photo there’s a fox. Can you find it. I didn’t see it until I was processing the pictures. The animals at the top of the photos are horses… that’s the only clue.

horses and fox

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, Farming, Foxes, horse, Sheep Tagged , , , , |