Category Archives: Wildlife

Samples of wildlife photography

Badger’s Back!

March 20, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

The badgers have remained regular visitors this winter, and their absence from these pages (along with foxes) is largely down to the lack of time I’ve had to wait and watch. The spring is inevitably an active time for them (young mouths to feed), and one of the badgers put in a mid-evening appearance tonight and was totally unconcerned by the camera (but very interested in the peanuts).

Looking closely it looks to have been in a scrap or two (a scar by its right eye), and I’ve some trail cam footage (not yet edited) of minor spats between a large dog fox and one of the badgers.

Anyway, it’s always a pleasure to spend some time with these amazing creatures and here are a few photos from this evening.

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Badger eating peanuts in a suburban garden

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

Also posted in Badger Tagged |

Squirrel Binning

March 14, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

Just a very quick sequence grabbed as I left work this evening. A squirrel rummaging in one of the rubbish bins at the edge of the car park.

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Grey squirrel in rubbish bin at University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

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 squirrel Tagged |

Counting Owls

March 3, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I still have photos from earlier in the week to post, but I was back at Sheepcote Valley this morning (it was sunny) and had a very brief but exciting owl encounter. I’d gone down to the east of the valley (yesterday I gone south and seen nothing) and thought I was out of luck once again. I’d forgotten that short-eared owls spend a lot of time on the ground.

I’d crossed the golf course and was tramping through some bramble rough when an owl emerged ahead of me, taking off across the lower valley. Then another, moving towards the race course. And a third… and fourth. Yes, four short-eared owls in a matter of moments! The speed with which they departed meant getting photos was a struggle, but I got a couple of one of the owls as it flew below me.

Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

I caught up with one of the others, perching in a tree.

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Now for a couple from earlier in the week.

Short-eared owl in flight

Short-eared owl in flight

Short-eared owl hunting

Short-eared owl hunting

And success! Here it is with a vole.

And success! Here it is with a vole.

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