The title refers to the subject matter of today's post as well as to the general issue of 'light'. Early morning is generally a good time for light (the sun is lower and contrasts are less intense), so I'll start with a few taken this morning when the light was indeed 'good'.
Common darter, some distance from the nearest pond
The whitethroats were hyper-active (feeding young?), but weren't willing to hang around to be photographed. it was a matter of watching their perching points, and hoping that they didn't dive behind a stray branch.
This next one is a touch 'dark' in that the harlequin ladybirds are an invasive species and competing heavily with the small native ladybirds. The light was good though! 
Harlequin showing the distinctive white inverted 'm' at the top of the head
Now for a couple of other contrasts: of nature and the other invasive species, humans…
Kestrel and relay mast
The light had all but gone by this afternoon, but I just had time for a shot of another urban/nature contrast.
Egret at Saltdean
Lifeguard post against the darkening skies
I'll close with a short extract from a sequence taken tonight. A spider had caught a large moth and was in the process of wrapping it for 'storage'. It was fascinating to watch (I took about 40 shots in all, as it carefully laid its webbing, spun the moth to wrap it, and then tethered it carefully beneath its web).
The beginning… note the slight spread to the moth's wings
The middle… trapped and wrapped
The end… lardered for later
Camera note: all shots takaen with the Canon 40D. The daytime shots were all taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, with the exception of the ladybird. That, and the spider/moth sequence, was taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.
RobinL
19 Aug 2010Lovely shots of the spider! I can hear the moth saying, help me, help me. I saved a honey bee from a web this morning. Couldn't help it!!
gdare
19 Aug 2010Lifeguard looks lonely there 😛
What does "dean" in Saltdean and/or Rottingdean means?
Words
19 Aug 2010Erwin, thanks!
Words
19 Aug 2010Robin, thanks! I've been known to rescue damselflies from spider webs, but this poor moth was already beyond redemption.
Words
19 Aug 2010Darko, it wasn't very busy but they have to stay there all the time on that part of the beach.
The 'dean' means 'little valley'. It's a very common suffix in this area.
gdare
20 Aug 2010Thanks for explanation!
Vulpes vulpes
20 Aug 2010Great shots! Love the moth sequence…not so sure the moth felt the same! :rolleyes:
SittingFox
20 Aug 2010Interesting hunting sequence. And nice shot of the darter on the blackberries!
Words
21 Aug 2010Vulpes, I'm not sure the moth could feel anything by the time the spider was finished. An amazingly intricate process. At one point it set the moth spinning to speed up the wrapping process. Clever.
Words
21 Aug 2010Adele, thanks. I've not seen many darters this year, but the dreadful weather isn't helping.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012A Great set of Pict