Green Woodpecker, Herring Gulls, and a Fox Update

A quiet day, with some sunshine and several downpours. It was moderately light this morning, which is when I spotted this fine woodpecker. He flew across the local pond, and settled on a telegraph pole just behind Falmer Church. The background is the 13th century barn mentioned in a previous post.

The young herring gulls are doing well, and putting on weight. That's as it should be since they are but a stone's throw from here:

That's the logo of our local football (soccer) team, Brighton & Hove Albion. Their new stadium (which is a matter of yards from where I work) opens in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile it's nice and quiet for the chicks.

On the home front, more dragonflies have appeared. This one was still at the edge of the pond early this evening.

And soon after, Shutterbug paid one of his occasional visits. He's still looking quite skinny (which I'm putting down to a heavy moult), but his brush which had looked exceedingly tatty of late is beginning to recover. He should look fine by the autumn.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: first five shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The final two shots were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. Ukwildlife

    6 Jul 2011

    Nice set. The darter dragonflies are starting to appear in numbers now. And kudos on the green woodpecker. Not an easy bird to get

  2. RobinL

    7 Jul 2011

    Words, great shots! The Woodpecker is a cracker!
    Love the detail on the Dragon's eyes!
    Shutterbugs bush does look rather dismal!

  3. Words

    8 Jul 2011

    Robin, thanks! It was a nice classic pose by the woodpecker. Shutterbug's brush should recover over the next couple of months. Early October is often when they are at their finest.

  4. Words

    8 Jul 2011

    Neil, thanks! No new dragonflies today, so that may be it unless we see more emerge at the weekend (when the sun will – i hope – be back). I see the woodpecker quite frequently, but usually disappearing at speed into the trees. It was kind of him to pause in the open like that.

  5. Words

    9 Jul 2011

    Thanks Erwin!

  6. SittingFox

    16 Jul 2011

    Oooh, very nice woodpecker! 😀

  7. Words

    16 Jul 2011

    Adele, thanks!

  8. Cynthia23

    16 Jul 2011

    You're dragonfly photos are always so amazing.

  9. Words

    17 Jul 2011

    Cynthia, thanks! It's so much easier when you know that the dragonfly isn't about to fly off as you get close.

  10. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Very nice set

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