This selection of photos is drawn from yesterday (Sunday) out on the downs, and today (Monday) at Falmer Pond.
On Sunday I'd gone in search of raptors. This is hardly surprising given the previous day's success, but in fact there were none (apart from a lone kestrel perched on a barren tree) to be seen. There was plenty else though. The pheasants were calling across the hillsides, butterflies were skipping along the undergrowth, and a stonechat was singing loudly from a small thicket along the edge of the field. 
He was a busy little bird, flitting between perches as I tracked along the path.
Busy, and bold.
I sat for a while by a small dew pond down in the valley. It was unseasonably warm yesterday, and a pair of male mallards were keeping cool.
Today I was back at Falmer Pond. No ducklings, and the moorhen chicks are yet to hatch. Gulls were plentiful, but the ducks gave the best display as a group of four circled the pond.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
cakkleberrylane
12 Apr 2011Tremendous shots of the flying ducks! Lovely field birds too!
RobinL
12 Apr 2011Words, great shots! I really like the last one, where you are above them!
gdare
12 Apr 2011I`ve seen another pheasant, this time in more urban area in New Belgrade :left:
Words
12 Apr 2011Lois, thanks!
Words
12 Apr 2011Robin, I'm never quite sure how views like that last one happen. It's really distance rather than height. The birds were definitely higher than me, but nicely tilted in my direction. The land does sweep away into the distance which creates the illusion.
Words
12 Apr 2011Darko, it sounds like you may soon be overrun with pheasants! A nice treat in the city.
SittingFox
14 Apr 2011Very nice to see the stonechat :up:
Words
16 Apr 2011Adele, the stonechat was a bit of a star on an otherwise fairly quiet walk.
Words
16 Apr 2011Erwin, thanks!
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Beautiful Photos