Category Archives: Wildlife

Samples of wildlife photography

A New Location

September 16, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

The recent quiet spell on the blog is partly the result of the dreadful weather, but also because we’ve been moving office at work to a more central location. I’ll still get up to Falmer on occasion, but I’ve been scouting new surroundings in a much more urban setting (a main road). There are green spaces, and being me I’ll make the most of them. Some better weather would certainly help, though the light drizzle today wasn’t enough to keep me from exploring.

And there are some interesting spots, including a ‘secret’ garden behind one of the main university buildings. It’s ‘secret’ in that it’s away from the main thoroughfares, at the rear of the buildings, so nobody goes there; but it has several sculptures including this tired easy chair made of stone.

Stone Chair in the Cockcroft secret garden, University of Brighton

Stone Chair in the Cockcroft secret garden, University of Brighton

There are insect boxes scattered around as well, so a focus on ecology is strong.

Insect house in Cockcroft garden

Insect house in Cockcroft garden

And squirrels… plenty of squirrels 🙂

Squirrel running

Squirrel running

Squirrel posing

Squirrel posing

Squirrel hiding

Squirrel hiding

I’ll miss being on the edge of the Downs, but I’m sure I’ll find plenty to keep me focused.

More soon…

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II. Squirrels with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; sculptures with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.

Also posted in squirrel, Uncategorized Tagged , , |

Invaders!

September 10, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

Well not really, but I was trying to link three very different photos for today’s blog. The first ‘invader’ was a surprise sighting yesterday of a Soviet warplane (World War II vintage) flying near Falmer. It’s a Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter, i.d. number D-FLAK and dates back to 1944. I know very little about these planes, but by all accounts they were sensational fighters and as influential as the Spitfire. More here.

Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK at Falmer, East Sussex

Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK at Falmer, East Sussex

Now the next subject might not generally be thought of as an invader, and to be fair there have been sheep in England for several thousand years. But they are not true natives, with some suggestion of neolithic farmers introducing sheep, and a much greater influence being played by the Romans who effectively established sheep farming in Britain. I took these two shots at Seven Sisters. A fine looking animal.

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Sheep at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

The final invader is a true invasive species. It’s the terrapin and my excuse for another photo of them is that this one shows three of them together at the edge of Falmer Pond. The shot was taken through undergrowth. Any attempt to get closer would have (and in fact, did) result in two of them sliding into the water for safety.

Three terrapins at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Three terrapins at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Also posted in Aircraft, Sheep, terrapin Tagged , , , |

Lazy Badger Pix

September 8, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

I’m still playing around with a black and white theme, but these are more conventional colour photos of something that just happens to be black and white. And quite lazy too… but that’s badgers and peanuts for you!

Badger in garden

Badger in garden

Badger in garden

Meanwhile, the UK government has re-started the badger culls in three areas of the country. This is despite all the scientific evidence, the proven inhumane method of culling (killing) reported last year, and the fact that in one of the initial pilot areas the incidence of bovine TB in cattle actually rose (it fell slightly in the other area, but improved bio-security on farms will also have had an impact). All the evidence points to the need for a vaccination programme, not a cull. Please support the campaign against the cull by popping over to Team Badger for more information and following #stopthecull

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Also posted in Badger Tagged |