Falmer pond

It's a while since I've spent any time at Falmer Pond. It's a large 'village green' pond, and is home to a variety of water fowl. Today the black-headed gulls were dominating. There are a lot of them around at the moment, and they were all too willing to flock for a few crumbs of bread that a young family were throwing to them.

black headed gullsBlack headed gulls

black headed gulls

black headed gulls

As well as the gulls, there were several coots around.

cootCoot

And of course no visit to a pond is complete without the ubiquitous mallards.

mallard ducksMr & Mrs

Still no fox updates, other than a discarded egg shell in the garden. So they are around, but still being evasive. I spent the best part of an hour outside tonight, standing motionless with the camera pre-focused (I won't even risk using a torch for fear of startling them). No luck though, and I eventually gave up as the frost started forming beneath my feet. There'll be other days, and warmer nights…
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Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in water birds and tagged , , .

17 Comments

  1. gdare January 27, 2009 at 5:01 am #

    Excellent shots :up: I could almost hear them:
    "This is mine, mine, mine…." 😆

  2. Flying Red Fox Blog January 27, 2009 at 2:01 pm #

    Lovelly photos. 😀 When its warmer i will visit Arundel wildfowl, havent been there for a while.

    Hope you do spot the Fox soon!

  3. Ukwildlife January 27, 2009 at 8:01 pm #

    great photos. I read the title as 'Fulmar' Pond to satrt with lol

  4. Words January 27, 2009 at 8:01 pm #

    Neil, LOL! No fulmars at Falmer though.

  5. Words January 27, 2009 at 8:01 pm #

    Mark, thanks! Yes, it is a bit cold at the moment, as I'll probably find out in a minute when I go and look for the foxes. Wish me luck :smurf:

  6. Words January 27, 2009 at 8:01 pm #

    Darko, thanks. They were certainly noisy, and very greedy!

  7. Flying Red Fox Blog January 27, 2009 at 9:01 pm #

    Good luck Words! 😛 dont get too cold…. ask Mrs Words for an extra hug and warm flask of tea/coffee. 😛

  8. Vulpes vulpes January 27, 2009 at 11:01 pm #

    Better luck with the fox vigil! :left: :right: LOL at "Mr & Mrs"! :happy:

  9. Words January 27, 2009 at 11:01 pm #

    No luck, and we got cold… 🙁

  10. cakkleberrylane January 28, 2009 at 12:01 am #

    Great shots. The gulls look so active!!

  11. Words January 28, 2009 at 12:01 am #

    Vulpes, the foxes are becoming frustrating but not much I can do to change that. It means that I'm working harder at finding good locations in the day.

  12. Words January 28, 2009 at 12:01 am #

    Lois, I really should go over to that pond more often. It's only a few minutes away (well 15 minutes on foot) and it's more or less guaranteed to have some activity. If I get a decent day I may set up properly. These were very hit and miss.

  13. SittingFox January 28, 2009 at 8:01 pm #

    I think gulls and magpies are really secret relations of vultures 😉

    I'm not seeing too many foxes in my garden right now; just the sandy male and the Chipped Vixen from time to time. I'm looking forward to longer days and the chance to go for walks before work.

  14. Words January 28, 2009 at 10:01 pm #

    Adele, LOL at the vultures. 😆 And yes, very quiet with the foxes. Not unexpected at this time of year, but quieter than I recall.

  15. studio41 January 30, 2009 at 7:01 am #

    This is such an enjoyable spread, love it. Picture #3 is so pristine. Just great. — oops– I thought I was on Adele's blog for a minute there… :doh:

    enjoyed your pictures!!

  16. Words January 30, 2009 at 7:01 am #

    I'm glad you enjoyed the photos! And no worries about hte confusion over whose blog it is. Easily done, though Adele has been having rather more luck with foxes at the moment.

  17. studio41 January 30, 2009 at 8:01 am #

    🙂 I'll try not to call you Adele again 😆 but I deleted it right away!!