Tag Archives: fox

A Cormorant Takes Off, and a little fox treat

August 8, 2013 by Words | 4 Comments

The decent weather continues. Today was sunny once again, and I was out at Seven Sisters early this morning. It was quiet, and the sheep were grazing along the banks of the water.

Sheep grazing at the water side with reflections. East Sussex

A heron was stalking the shallows in the distance, and swallows were overhead as they prepare for their winter migration.

Lurking under the cover of the bank was a cormorant. I didn’t notice it at first, but I heard – and then saw – it as it took to the wing. I’ve not seen many cormorants this year, but I’ve not really been looking.

Taking off…

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) taking off from the water and flying over farmland at Seven Sisters country park, East Sussex

Flying low over the fields…

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) taking off from the water and flying over farmland at Seven Sisters country park, East Sussex

Sweeping up and away across the valley…

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) taking off from the water and flying over farmland at Seven Sisters country park, East Sussex

The foxes are still doing fine. Their behaviour is changing, and the young foxes are becoming much more independent of each other. Bully Boy is in and out of the garden quite a lot in the day, and Pretty – although slightly more erratic – is still visiting most days. I’ve not seen Red for a little while, but I’m fairly sure he has appeared on the trail cam. These are Pretty from this evening.

Fox cub walking directly to camera on grass

Fox cub in shade

Close up head shot of fox cub showing eye

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

Posted in Behaviour, Foxes, Wildlife Also tagged , , , , |

More from the Seaside

August 6, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

Something of a follow-up to yesterday’s post, but this time from further along the seafront in what is most definitely Hove. This part of the beach is much quieter than the busy Brighton end, and much more relaxing. This is looking back along the front towards Brighton.

View from Hove to Brighton beach

And this shot is looking even further west, towards Shoreham which you can see in the distance.

View of Hove beach

Being the beach there are gulls. Herring gulls mainly. Unlike the ‘Brighton’ gulls these ones tended not to dive bomb every passer-by in the hope of grabbing food; but given the chance the Hove birds do know how scavenge. This mini-flock has just descended on some discarded fish and chips.

Flock of greedy herring gulls, Hove, East Sussex

Flock of greedy herring gulls, Hove, East Sussex

And now for a fox. This is Bully Boy.

Portrait of a fox cub

Portrait of a fox cub

Camera note: all beach shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens. The fox cub photographed with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

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Painted Lady, a Peacock and more foxes

August 5, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

Painted Ladies have arrived in Sussex. These pretty butterflies are regular migrants to the south coast, though it is some years since we saw a genuinely large influx. This year seems good, but not on the scale of 2009 when around 11 million painted ladies arrived in the UK. Still, there seem to be more than last year (which was dire), and they are well worth a few images.

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

The peacock butterflies are also arriving in the garden. They are slightly less cooperative with the camera, but this is a nice wing detail.

Wing detail of peacock butterfly (Inachis io) on buddleia shrub

As for the foxes, Bully Boy has been hanging around today, along with Pretty. They seem to be getting on much better now (no fights). Bully Boy even decided to help out with our household chores.

Fox cub next to washing basket in suburban garden

I think I’ve mentioned that he has a long snout (possibly related to Shy Boy). Anyway, these shots illustrate the point rather well.

Portrait of a fox cub's head

Close up of fox nose and eyes

Camera note: all butterfly shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens. The first shot of Bully Boy taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens; the two close-up with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Foxes, Wildlife Also tagged , , , |