Something of a return to normality today. Light drizzle, some brief sunshine and a good gathering of birds at Falmer Pond.
The white ducks seem to be doing well this year and judging by the state of this female, the 'boy' ducks really do need to learn to wipe their feet. Still she doesn't seem to mind too much.
As for 'boy' ducks' this pair of mallards were enjoying a bit of playful fighting.
It was rather more peaceful over in the churchyard.
Last week's churchyard pheasant has found a new place to strut his stuff: the stone wall at the edge of a local farm. I heard his call and went looking.
He went walking…
The biggest poser of the lot today was this black-headed gull who was going through his full mating dance while being almost totally ignored by every other gull in the vicinity. To be honest, he just looked silly!
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
derWandersmann
19 Mar 2013Great shots, Words! And that blackhead is fabulous!
gdare
21 Mar 2013The gull is funny. Was it playing for you or his pals? 😀
ilovemagemama
21 Mar 2013hm hm,
Words
21 Mar 2013Darko, I sincerely hope he was playing for his pals! :yikes:
Words
21 Mar 2013Mala, :cheers:
Words
21 Mar 2013dW, thanks! The black-headed gulls have a great strut and always manage to look ridiculous!
SittingFox
24 Mar 2013Great shots of the gull! And the pheasant – it's always noticeable how much more visible the males are than the females.
derWandersmann
24 Mar 2013Originally posted by SittingFox:
Because one male can .. uh … "service" many females, and is therefore more "expendable". Therefore he is "dressed" to attract the attention of predators more than the female, upon which survival of the species depends.
Words
26 Mar 2013dW, I'd not thought of it like that, but it makes a good deal of sense. Thanks!
Words
26 Mar 2013Adele, thanks. You are so right about the pheasants. Out in the fields the females are almost impossible to spot.