Category Archives: Wildlife

Samples of wildlife photography

Rats High and Low

October 31, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

I think I’ve previously mentioned that the recent rains have filled Falmer Pond to its banks, creating new challenges for the population of rats that I’ve been watching these past few months. To be exact, there is still a narrow beach along parts of the pond, though these are receding quickly with each passing day. It was here that I spotted my first rat of the day, peering out of a narrow run.

rat

Having seen one rat, I kept my eyes open for more. I scouted around the usual haunts (those remnants of beach), and then cut through the small wood on the far side of the pond. To my surprise (because the rats really do tend to hug the pond fringes) a rat scurried away through the undergrowth. I kept sight of it, and then watched as it emerged from the leaf cover and proceeded to climb up into the bough of a tree. There were too many branches and foliage to catch the climb, but it came to rest about 7 feet above ground level. That was my chance.

rat in tree

rat in tree

rat in tree

rat in tree

The tree rat – of course – is the ‘high’ of the title. You may think I’ve already shown the low in the first image. Possibly, but this next rat managed to get even lower. It was further around the pond. The water was more or less lapping the bank and a couple of rats were scurrying around the exposed tree roots as a means of navigating their way along the pond edge. They were difficult to photograph because of the tight angles, but I was doing my best when some movement a few feet away grabbed my eye. Another rat had found a better way of getting around. It was swimming.

rat swimming

And as I lined up that shot and was tightening the focus, it dived underneath.

rat diving under water

I lost track of its movement under the water, but imagine it emerged just a few yards further along the bank where more trees provide plenty of cover. It seems that a full pond is not going to stop the rats for a while yet.

(p.s. I was once again asked if I’d seen the local water voles! People really don’t want to admit to themselves that they’re fascinated by rats.)

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

Also posted in Behaviour, rats Tagged , , |

The Incredible Levitating Newt

October 27, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

If I hadn’t seen this with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it’s real, and I have the photographic evidence to prove it. Apart from a minor bit of cropping, I have done absolutely nothing to this image. It’s as shot from the camera and – as you can see – it shows a newt standing in mid-air.

levitating newt

I spotted it last night out in the garden. The wall behind it is near our back door, and the newt was quite literally standing in empty space. It was there for several minutes… long enough for me to go and get the camera, take a few shots and then investigate what was really going on.

On closer inspection what seems incredible becomes rather more prosaic. The newt is hanging in space in an area between a large rubbish bag and the garden wall; an area not only frequented by newts, but also by spiders. Somehow the newt had managed to clamber up the bag and was attempting to traverse the gap to the wall by walking along a mass of very fine spider webbing. Its progress was slow, and after watching for a few minutes I intervened with a piece of card and gently lifted it away. There were tangled remnants of sticky webbing around its tail and legs. I removed what I could and placed the newt back on the ground. It stayed motionless for a few minutes, and then started to move away, slowly at first and then with greater freedom as the final fragments of webbing around its leg broke away. Later we watched it scurrying around happily with a couple of other newts.

While all this was going on, Pretty was pacing around as only a fox can. Here she is standing just above the part of the wall where the newt was hanging.

fox on wall

Newt saved, Pretty retreated to the rear of the garden.

fox and apples

She’s been back again several times today, but we had nothing quite as exciting as last night’s rescue to hold her attention.

fox yawning

A big storm is heading our way on Sunday night. Much of the south of England will be hit, as well as more northern parts as it progresses up the country during Monday. Take care if you are out and about.

Camera note: shots 1-3 taken with the Canon 7D and EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens. The big yawn was taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

Also posted in Amphibians, Behaviour, Foxes, Newt Tagged , , |

Rat Crossing the Water

October 24, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

Yesterday I mentioned how the rat runs down at the edge of Falmer Pond were gradually being eroded by the rising water level. I also mentioned how this forced the rats to venture out into the water to negotiate their way around the fringe of the pond.

Today I can show you what I meant, courtesy of a large adult rat. it’s doing little more than wading, but rats are strong swimmers and will quite happily cross deeper water if they need to.

rat

rat wading through water

rat wading through water

rat wading through water

rat

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

Also posted in Behaviour, rats Tagged , |