Tag Archives: cormorant

Can’t You Read the Sign?

January 15, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

It’s clear enough. “No Fishing”, by order of the local council. The herring gulls seem to understand. but one local inhabitant takes such things as bit of a challenge.

Here he is, lurking in the shadows, trying to keep out of sight.

Cormorant

Cormorant lurking in the shadows of the island in the centre of Falmer Pond

I didn’t see him emerge, but I did see him dive and come up with a pale carp (?) firmly in his grip.

Cormorant with fish

Cormorant struggling with a fish

Cormorant with fish

Stretch those jaws!

Lunch sorted, he swam off with just a hint of bulge in his neck to give the game away.

cormorant

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

Posted in water birds Also tagged , , |

Cormorants and other things

January 14, 2015 by Words | 4 Comments

Although it’s only about a week since I last posted, it feels a long time. The weather has conspired against all but the most feeble attempts to photograph anything, though things looked up slightly today (and even more slightly yesterday). In between the good stuff (sunshine) we’ve had rain, hail and gales.

This shot of a buzzard was taken on Monday. Within literally 5 minutes of taking it, the skies had turned black and a torrent of hail swept down.

Buzzard

Today was more stable (in terms of the weather). Dark early on (not unexpected), but sunny through most of the day. (Right now the rain and near gale force winds are back). I’d seen a couple of cormorants turn up at Falmer Pond during my early visit, and headed back at lunchtime to see if they were still around. One was.

Cormorant

That was taken more of less into the sun. I waited for it to swim towards some shade which made for a much easier shot.

Cormorant

I also popped into Westlain Plantation, the local (muddy) wood adjacent to the car park at work. I had vague hopes of a buzzard or a woodpecker, but instead stumbled on some mushrooms. I have no idea what they are.

Mushrooms

The final shot is something of an experiment. The light was odd (as it can be at this time of year) and I zoomed in to the woodland fringe of Stanmer Park, across the valley. I have played around with this a little, mainly to warm the colours and accentuate the contrasts. A bit arty, but I like it.

stanmer park

The weather is going to be variable (and generally variable on the bad side of good) over the next few days, so I’ll have to see if I get anything worth posting.

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

Posted in Bird of Prey, fungi, Landscape, water birds Also tagged , , |

Rat, Robin and a Cormorant

December 16, 2014 by Words | 2 Comments

I’m still getting to know the new lens, so the first couple of shots here are by way of demonstrating just how good the 100-400 Mk II is in what are undoubtedly poor conditions. It’s sharp at maximum aperture, and the stabilization is extremely solid. Both these shots were taken before the sun had risen over the South Downs. ISO is 1600, and the aperture f5/6 (i.e. wide open). The lens is at a full 400mm extension. Shutter speed is 1/80 (rat) and 1/100 (robin).

Rat

Rat in tree at Falmer, 1/80, f5.6, 1600 ISO

Robin

Robin at Falmer Village, 1/100, f5.6, 1600 ISO

The rest of the days shots were is slightly less poor conditions. A cormorant was the morning highlight, circling Falmer several times.

Cormorant over Falmer

Cormorant over Falmer

The final shots were taken in the afternoon, at the edge of the car park at Mithras House (on one of the main roads into Brighton). The robin was happily and boldly chirruping away.

robin

robin

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

Posted in Birds, rats, water birds Also tagged , |