Category Archives: Wildlife

Samples of wildlife photography

Rats on Friday (plus badger video)

September 27, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

The foxes may be giving me the runaround at the moment, but another local mammal is proving rather easier to capture in the lens. So much so that I’m running out of blog titles for these posts.

There are two sequences here, taken at opposite ends of Falmer Pond. Both feature adult rats. A woman walked past as I was photographing the first sequence. She’d seen something dart into the bushes, paused and then moved closer to look again. I confirmed that, yes it was a rat. She said it looked rather cute! So here’s cute rat number one. It was coming out to snaffle up crumbs of bread left over from duck-feeding on the pond fringe.

rat foraging

rat foraging

rat foraging

The second sequence was taken at the top of the steep bank at the village end of the pond. This particular rat would appear over the side of the bank, dash forward, grab some seeds and dash back under cover.

rat foraging

rat foraging

rat foraging

There are still several foxes visiting, a couple of which are bearing typical fox leg injuries: Nicked Ear has a hind leg injury, and another of the foxes is carrying one of its front legs. We’ve also had badgers come and go.

I’ll close tonight’s post with some footage of the badgers, and good thoughts towards those out in the West Country working to #stopthecull

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

Also posted in Badger, rats Tagged , , |

Time for Feathers (and just a hint of fur)

September 25, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

Once again it was very foggy this morning, but despite the conditions I headed to the pond. As you can see the conditions were – let’s say – sub-optimal.

Grey heron in early morning mist

The skies had cleared by mid-morning. The small flock of greylag geese were in typically rumbustious mood.

Greylag geese

Greylag geese

There was the briefest hint of some sunshine too. The Muscovy ducks (known as ‘ugly ducks’ locally), were enjoying a drink out on the island in the centre of the pond.

Pair of Muscovy ducks

And of course there are always the mallards and the herring gulls…

duck,gull and rat

The gull took off as I edged in for a closer look. The duck and the rat (yes, a hint of fur) were rather more preoccupied with foraging.

duck and rat

duck and rat

duck and rat

Tonight’s final shot is a cute family portrait!

Adult and juvenile brown 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, Birds, rats, water birds Tagged , , , , , |

Just Another Rat Post

September 24, 2013 by Words | 2 Comments

I left home in bright sunshine today. The mists were hanging low in the valleys, which offered some spectacular views of the Downs until I was engulfed by the thick fog. Visibility was next to nothing. Thankfully the mists had cleared by lunchtime, and life at the pond was much as usual. it was warm and sunny, and the rats were at play.

These shots were taken along the bank of the pond, which is now several yards from the water. The roots of the small trees and plants are clearly visible and made an ideal climbing frame for these young rats.

Rats playing by tree roots

Rats playing by tree roots

Rats playing by tree roots

Rats playing by tree roots

Rats playing by tree roots

While I was taking these shots, a substantial flock of swallows was swarming overhead. They’re leaving it late this year for their flight to Africa, but it means they’ll be well fed before they set off. Here’s one sweeping over the water.

Swallow

The closing shot is another rat, standing in the shallow water at the edge of the pond. It was lurking beneath some overhanging branches in a secluded part of the pond, and the light reflecting from the water made it difficult to see among the shadows. The shot was taken blind.

Brown rat in small pool of water

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, Birds, rats Tagged , , |