Tag Archives: rottingdean

Brent Geese and Fulmars at Rottingdean

Apr
03
2018
by Words | 2 Comments

These are a few shots taken at Rottingdean cliffs this morning. The weather was threatening – but never delivering – some sunshine, so the light was imperfect. There are still some fulmars nesting in the cliffs. I’ve not been there frequently enough to judge whether the small numbers are a real reduction on previous years as the time of day and weather (and sea) can make a difference to how many hug the cliffs.

fulmar

Fulmar nesting at Rottingdean Cliffs, East Sussex

fulmar and jackdaws

Fulmar with two jackdaws in the background. Jackdaws are possibly the most dominant cliff dwellers.

fulmar

Fulmar in flight

The tide was out so I kept my eye open for waders (we see lots of oystercatchers along the coast). I was out of luck with them, but a very distant flock caught my eye as it skimmed the sea between Brighton Marina and Saltdean. I think these are Brent Geese. They are winter visitors and probably just beginning their summer migration away from the UK.

Brent geese

Flock of Brent Geese off the coastline at Rottingdean, 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.

Proper Gull Gets Proper Fish

Aug
03
2016
by Words | 2 Comments

Ok, the title is a little unfair on the herring gull featured in this post, but a goldfish is not really how one imagines the tooth and claw of nature. And the herring gull in the earlier is more than likely very acclimatized to human interaction. Unlike today’s subject, a fine great black-backed gull fishing off the shore at Rottingdean.

rottingdean shoreline

View along from Rottingdean to Brighton

The black-backed gull was out during late afternoon when the tide was out. At first I thought it was attacking a plastic bag (far too many of them litter the shoreline), but on closer inspection it was clear it had found itself a proper flatfish (dab? flounder? I’m not sure).

Great black-backed gull

Great black-backed gull and fish at Rottingdean

Great black-backed gull

Great black-backed gull

Great black-backed gull moving the fish to a better spot

Great black-backed gull

It’s a bit rubbery, as they say…

Camera note: all gull photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Landscape taken with the EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens and 10 point filter.

Fulmars at Rottingdean

Dec
29
2015
by Words | 6 Comments

I’ve barely touched the camera recently, but the day was clear and I had a chance to get down to Rottingdean for an hour or so. It was windy, and the tide was coming in.

The cliffs at Saltdean (seen from Rottingdean), East Sussex

The cliffs at Saltdean (seen from Rottingdean), East Sussex

The fulmars were nestling in the wintering cliff-side nests, enjoying the relatively mild weather.

Two fulmars and a pigeon on the cliffs at Rottingdean

Two fulmars and a pigeon on the cliffs at Rottingdean

Fulmars in nesting site at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Fulmars in nesting site at Rottingdean, East Sussex

Fulmar flying along the cliffs at Rottingdean

Fulmar flying along the cliffs at Rottingdean

Fulmar (click to enlarge)

Fulmar (click to enlarge)

There weren’t many other birds of note around (herring gulls and a few black-headed gulls) so the final shot is of Brighton given a little bit of a postcard treatment.

Brighton, viewed from Rottingdean with the marina in the mid-ground and the i-sore/i-360 in the distance.

Brighton, viewed from Rottingdean with the marina in the mid-ground and the i-sore/i-360 in the distance.

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.