Tag Archives: heron

Another Look at the Pond

October 14, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

The start of the week means an early morning pre-work visit to Falmer Pond. It’s just at the time of year when it can be quite gloomy there unless we are really lucky with the cloud cover. Today was grey, although the sun teased occasionally with fleeting displays through narrow breaks in the clouds.

The herring gulls were dominating when I arrived, gliding around the still water, but their (relatively) peaceful start to the day was disturbed by a heron flying in.

gulls

A couple of circuits on the wing and the heron finally found a suitable perch.

heron in tree

The middle of the day was brighter, and several people were out ‘feeding the ducks’. I put that in quotes because whatever their intention, inevitably other birds muscle their way in. The herring gulls are the main bullies, but the local jackdaws are quite self-assured in taking their share.

Jackdaw and duck

And when everyone has gone, these little fellows come out to scavenge what they can.

Rat

Rat

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

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

Time for Feathers (and just a hint of fur)

September 25, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

Once again it was very foggy this morning, but despite the conditions I headed to the pond. As you can see the conditions were – let’s say – sub-optimal.

Grey heron in early morning mist

The skies had cleared by mid-morning. The small flock of greylag geese were in typically rumbustious mood.

Greylag geese

Greylag geese

There was the briefest hint of some sunshine too. The Muscovy ducks (known as ‘ugly ducks’ locally), were enjoying a drink out on the island in the centre of the pond.

Pair of Muscovy ducks

And of course there are always the mallards and the herring gulls…

duck,gull and rat

The gull took off as I edged in for a closer look. The duck and the rat (yes, a hint of fur) were rather more preoccupied with foraging.

duck and rat

duck and rat

duck and rat

Tonight’s final shot is a cute family portrait!

Adult and juvenile brown rats

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

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

Differences: House Martins and Heron

September 11, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

A very short post tonight, with the theme of ‘differences’: of size, and of focus! The shots were all taken at Seven Sisters, near Eastbourne.

The first pair of images are of house martins. The conditions were poor, and I was struggling to get anything in focus as a small flock swirled overhead, feeding. Among the numerous in-and-out of focus shots I collected, were these snatched images of what looks like an adult feeding a fledgling on the wing. The photo is rubbish, but it’s a nice moment to capture.

House martins feeding on the wing

House martins feeding on the wing

The second paring takes us to the opposite end of the size scale, and the shots are at least reasonably in focus. The light conditions were better (it was one of those ‘variable’ days). It’s a heron, which is nothing unusual but I liked the open mouth in the first shot, and the watery foreground in the second.

Heron in flight

Heron standing in shallow water

And that’s that for the day.

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

Posted in Birds, water birds Also tagged |