Category Archives: Wildlife

Samples of wildlife photography

A Vole Rescue and other bits and pieces

May 14, 2015 by Words | 5 Comments

I’ve been busy with other parts of life recently, hence the intermittent blogging. There are a few things to report though, about hte local wildlife, starting with a rescue of a baby vole. It happened at work where there is some building/digging going on. One of the site workers discovered a baby vole. It’s likely the nest had been disturbed by heavy digging, but he rescued one and passed it to a colleague of mine who found me in the main building, and from there it was a quick visit to my local animal rescue centre. Nothing very dramatic there, but it was a very tiny, very cute little thing. Sorry that the photo (taken on an iPod Touch) is so poor.

baby vole

Baby vole wrapped in toilet tissue

Other new babies on the block include these ducklings at Falmer pond.

Ducklings

Ducklings

Ducklings

Ducklings

There seem to be two broods, and hopefully they will survive and avoid the predators, one of which – unfortunately – is still lurking in the shallows.

terrapin

Terrapin at Falmer Pond

Predators are also a risk from above, and I was pleased to see a fine peregrine falcon fly over Falmer.

Peregrine falcon over Falmer

Peregrine falcon over Falmer

Meanwhile the badgers and foxes are still making good use of the garden. I’ve not seen any tonight, but will try again in a few minutes.

All for now…

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (baby vole taken on an iPod Touch).

Also posted in Bird of Prey, terrapin, Vole, water birds Tagged , , , |

Badger Photo Special

May 10, 2015 by Words | 6 Comments

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted any photos of our garden badgers, so I’m going to make up for it tonight. These were all taken on election day (I needed something to cheer me up).

badger

This is the large male badger, the tough guy on the block.

badger drinking

All those peanuts make a badger thirsty.

badger portrait

He may be tough, but he likes a nice portrait.

While I was watching him, the second badger appeared at the back of the garden. I haven’t sexed this one (there is a third, female, but she has only appeared on the trail camera), but it’s undoubtedly younger that the big guy; and a little more cautious.

badger

Young badger at the rear of the garden.

badger

Badger on the steps.

badger sniffing

Sniffing the air.

badger and peanuts

Those peanuts look good!

Badger

I mentioned the third badger, and she appears in the following series of video clips (she’s nearest the camera in the sequence starting at 1m 6s). The flash of light at around 42s is me, with the stills camera. There are also a couple of clips of foxes, including a fox-badger encounter.

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

Also posted in Badger, Foxes Tagged , |

More Goslings, plus a New Badger

May 2, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

The young goslings were still doing well on Friday, and still attracting plenty of attention around Falmer Pond. Here are a few more shots which come with a ‘high cuteness’ warning attached.

gosling

Two-day old greylag gosling contemplating a daisy

gosling

Greylag goslings grazing on grass bank at Falmer

gosling

Greylag goslings wading in Falmer Pond

The goslings are still tiny, but they’ll eventually grow to be a mighty goose, like this adult greylag.

greylag adult

Greylag goose rising up from the water

That’s another slow-shutter shot. I’m gathering plenty of them at the moment as part of a FotoBuzz project on action photography. It’s a great place for learning from real experts at wildlife and landscape photography, and with some luck and hard graft it should help me improve and refine what I shoot.

Here’s another couple of shots in the same mode.

ducks in flight

Ducks in flight

duck

Female mallard landing on water

Back in the garden, the badgers have been great fun. Today’s photos are of badger number 2. I don’t think it’s the female in the video I posted, which means there are at least three humbugs visiting. This one is smaller than the male who has featured in most of the recent photos, and I suspect has been in fewer fights and scrapes. It’s not as bold as the big guy, but is becoming more tolerant.

badger

Badger lurking near the apple tree

Badger

Badger Portrait #1

badger

Badger Portrait #2

Camera note: all bird 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 EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

Also posted in Badger, water birds Tagged , , , , |