Tag Archives: cormorant

Cormorant and Fulmars

May
10
2018
by Words | 6 Comments

You may start to notice a subtle change of location over the coming weeks. Nothing too outlandish, but I have finally packed in working for good and am enjoying an early retirement. At the moment it feels like a holiday… I like it!

I headed down to Rottingdean this morning to see what was going on. The tide was out, as were a couple of cormorants. Not that they did very much other. The first one flew off while I was trying to gain a better vantage point. The second simply perched on a yellow warning sign for the better part of an hour. I gave up first.

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Cormorant number 1 at Rottingdean Beach.

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This is the second cormorant. It shifted position very occasionally, and defecated twice. Other than that, it did just about nothing!

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The most exciting move of the day!

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And in close up…

Between some of those shots I did wander along the cliffs to see what the fulmars were up to. There are still some about, and they are still playing their usual game of endlessly trying to land on the sheer cliff face.

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Fulmar failing to land at Rottingdean cliffs, East Sussex

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Fulmar at Rottingdean cliffs, East Sussex

And finally a quick shot of a rock pipit digging out a grub from the cliff walls.

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Rock pipit catching bugs at Rottingdean cliffs, East Sussex

More fox cubs soon (and regular shots over on Fox of the Day).

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Falmer Pond and a Blue Moon

Jan
31
2018
by Words | 4 Comments

That’s bit of a grand title, for what is simply my post this year about Falmer Pond. I was up there briefly this morning (early light, dull with a hint of rain) and then again at lunchtime when a little bit of sunshine appeared.

Although nothing especially unusual happens there, I like the peace and quiet and that occasionally there are one or two more interesting birds. Today was good day: a cormorant and a heron.

heron in tree

The heron was perched on the willow sited on the island in the centre of the pond.

Heron in flight

Heron in flight

Cormorant swimming

Cormorant swimming on Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Cormorant hanging itself out to dry

Cormorant hanging itself out to dry

And to mark the occasion, it’s what’s known as a blue moon today (the second full moon in the same calendar month). It’s also a super moon (at the closest point in its orbit). To be honest, it looks just like does every other time of the year, but I took a photo anyway.

Super Blue Moon

Super Blue Moon

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Winter Birds

Nov
29
2017
by Words | 3 Comments

With the temperatures hovering around freezing, it feels like winter has finally arrived. It’s certainly cold, but today the skies were clear and the winds low. I like winter days like this. I needed to take a rare trip over to Eastbourne, stopping briefly at Seven Sisters to see what birds were about. There were a few distant curlews, numerous little egrets, some swans and cormorants. Worth the early start.

little egret

Little egret at Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex

swan

Mute swan on rippling blue

cormorant

Cormorant cruising

Back home the foxes are still around. At least three of them are putting in an appearance on the trail camera (along with an occasional badger), though Pretty Vixen is the only one venturing out for photo shoots. She seems to be becoming a permanent fixture. It’s good that so many are still around and that bodes well for next spring.

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Pretty Vixen peering down from the wall

Camera note: all bird photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens. Pretty Vixen taken with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.