Category Archives: Wildlife

Samples of wildlife photography

I’m Just a Moody Owl

April 18, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I am photographing other subjects, but for the moment the owls have it! These two shots were taken this morning (early).

short-eared owl

Moody looking short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

short-eared owl

Very moody looking short-eared owl

Still trying and failing with the garden foxes, but I’ve been doing a little better with the badgers. This is from a few days ago.

Badger

Badger

Camera note: owl photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Badger was taken with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

Also posted in Badger, Bird of Prey, owl Tagged , |

A Furtive Fox

March 31, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I was feeling lazy today and rather than go hiking into the Downs stayed put at lunchtime and explored the area behind my office. It’s basically scrub, but important as part of the local green corridor. It home to various butterflies and insects (I saw a couple of brimstones today), kestrels, buzzards (overhead), lizards (I’ve yet to photograph them) and… so it seems… a fox.

A furtive fox at the top of Watts Bank, University of Brighton

A furtive fox at the top of Watts Bank, University of Brighton

The fox was probably as surprised to see me as I was to see him. The top of the scrub area is somewhat inaccessible, an even though an attempt has been made to clear the dense brambles it is heavily overgrown. Anyway, he watched me watching him for a minute of so before wandering off. The shots were all taken through the undergrowth and it was impossible to get a clear view.

fox

A closer shot (cropped)

fox

One last look…

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

Also posted in Foxes Tagged |

Jackdaw Silhouettes

March 23, 2016 by Words | 8 Comments

I took these on Tuesday morning at Falmer Pond. Yes, I had to be up that way in the morning so it was a chance to look around the pond again. The rats are long gone from what I could see (plenty of ‘do not feed rats’ signs all over the place), but the ducks and geese were doing fine. I photographed a few for old times sake, but my favourite sequence was of some of the jackdaws who were busy gathering in nest material and taking it back to the church roof. These three shots are taken as the jackdaw was coming in to land, and putting on the brakes.

They have all been converted to black and white to emphasize the form over the detail, but hopefully I’ve left just enough tone in the feathers to keep them lively.

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

Jackdaw with nest material

I’ve had a second encounter with the garden badger. He really doesn’t seem to mind me at all, and I’m looking forward to another good year with them. Here’s one from last night as a taster (again converted to black and white).

Black and White Badger

Black and White Badger

Camera note: jackdaw photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. The badger was photographed with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Also posted in Badger, Birds Tagged , |