Tag Archives: robin

Christmas Nature Photography Outing

Dec
15
2016
by Words | 4 Comments

I’ve been dealing with other matters recently, but I was back out with the camera today. It was a Nature Photography trip, one of the annual Christmas events arranged at work. A small group of us went up to Falmer Pond… always a relatively safe location for being certain of having something to photograph. And I have to say that the local inhabitants did us proud. As did the weather which started overcast, but gradually brightened up over the hour into a fine winter day.

The star for me is always the cormorant, and while he wasn’t being terribly active he provided a few nice shots as he rested on the small island in the centre of the pond.

Cormorant at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Cormorant at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Cormorant at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Being Sussex there are the inevitable herring gulls. This one is a juvenile coming in to land on the water.

Juvenile herring gull at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Another regular is this greylag goose, one of the small number who remain at the pond all year round (we have quite a lot migrant greylags in the summer).

Greylag goose at Falmer Pond

It can’t really be a Christmas photo shoot without a robin, and sure enough several were around and happy to pose.

Robin

The final sequence is the local heron, who excelled itself by eventually agreeing to perch on the No Fishing sign.

Heron on No Fishing sign at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Heron on No Fishing sign at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

Heron on No Fishing sign at Falmer Pond, East Sussex

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

Starling and Robin Portraits

Apr
19
2015
by Words | 2 Comments

Some very simple shots today, of two very common British birds. I’ll start with the starling. At first glance these birds are very ordinary looking, but up close they disclose a beautiful iridescent plumage, nicely set off by the brilliant yellow beak. I saw this one on a wall during a walk along the cliffs at Rottingdean today.

starling

starling

starling

Robins are also extremely common, and while mainly a ‘small brown bird’ they are of course blessed with stunning red breast plumage. This one came out into the garden yesterday, shortly after we’d been working out there. That’s a common trait: they are very inquisitive and will often go to newly worked soil to investigate and take any easy pickings.

robin

Not much new to report on the foxes. The trail camera indicates there are just two visiting at the moment, and while I’ve had a couple of brief direct sightings they are very shy and won;t allow themselves to be photographed. Unlike the badger (also one of a pair). This is from last night.

badger

Camera note: all bird photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. The badger was photographed with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Five Birds

Mar
02
2015
by Words | 4 Comments

This is something of a return to some of the more regular species that abound at this time of year. Birds are getting ready for nesting and mating, and – common species at least – are very easy to see.

The crows are busy gathering nesting material.

Crow carrying twig

The blackbirds are taking to the rooftops…

Blackbird on roof

The robins are everywhere. This one was in a small wooded area near Falmer Pond. Nice early morning sunshine.

Robin in tree

Possibly my favourite of the early birds, was this male mallard quietly sitting on the church wall. It took me an age to get round to the best angle, but here it is.

Duck on wall

The final shot was taken at lunchtime, when the light was less helpful. It made a change to see a herring gull doing nothing much at all.

herring gull

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