Tag Archives: rat

Chiffchaff (mainly)

March 24, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

There a couple of other creatures featured today, but the main bird of the day is this pretty little chiffchaff… if indeed it is a chiffchaff. It could easily be a willow warbler. It would have been easier to i.d. if it had been singing, but it wasn’t so I’m relying on the fact that it has dark legs. Either way, they are very cute little birds and this one was playing hard to get by flitting between several trees and usually perching just behind a hefty branch.

Chiffchaff (or possibly willow warbler)

Chiffchaff (or possibly willow warbler)

Chiffchaff (or possibly willow warbler)

I keep promising ducks, and if I don’t post some now these will get lost on the hard drive. First up is a female mallard, perched on the stone wall that runs along the churchyard at Falmer. As you can see, it was raining slightly (and obviously a touch overcast).

Female mallard duck on stone wall

Here’s a male, landing on the pond. This one was taken in the middle of the day.

duck landing on pond

Last shot is from the morning again… another local rat, looking pretty in the undergrowth.

Rats

No badgers tonight. I’ve spent some time outside, but it was quiet (and cold). Maybe more soon. We’ll see.

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 , , |

Tree Rat, Rabbit and More Badgers

March 23, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

A couple from the day, and then to the main event. I wasn’t really going to post yet more photos of rats, but this one caught my eye. The rat was in a tree that overhangs a rubbish bin and was considering making the dash across on that very narrow twig. It didn’t this time, but I’ve seen one make the reverse journey.

rat in tree

Altogether higher on the cuteness stakes is this young rabbit in the corner of a field. A bit overgrown (the undergrowth that is), which mars the shot slightly; but young rabbits are always worth a quick pic.

young rabbit

Now for the main event. I went outside relatively early (around 10pm) and waited quietly to see who would show up. Sure enough one of the badgers put in an appearance. Initially it retreated when it noticed me, but soon came back and settled down for a peanut feast.

Badger

Badger

Badger

Badger

Camera note: rabbit and rat photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Badger photographed with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Badger, rabbit, rats Also tagged , |

Rat Population at Falmer Pond

March 21, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

It seems the rats have been breeding down by Falmer Pond. The young ones were out in force today, closely monitored by the adults (which may explain why they’ve become bolder recently in hunting down the food left for the ducks and geese).

Family of rats

The two adults, with three young rats. I’m sure there are more.

Two young rats

Two of the young rats exploring.

There were more rats just along from where I took those shots. These ones were down by the edge of the water.

rat by the water

rat by the water

Swimming rat

rat by the water

Others had taken to the heights 😉

rat in tree

Rat in a tree.

The young ones are also learning to climb (just a little bit).

young rats in tree

Young rats on tree roots.

The local population of rats fluctuates through the year, and I have seen them in these numbers before; but clearly too many rats can be a problem which is not helped by the continual duck feeding that goes on several times a day. That’s something that ultimately may need to be controlled. Meanwhile, I’ll photograph them. They do make great subjects and I do find them very entertaining to watch.

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 rats, Wildlife