We took advantage of the sunshine today to head over to Wakehurst Place, the Sussex home of Kew Garden. It's still early in the year, and the gardens have not yet burst into colour but there is still plenty to see. More photos from today in the Wakehurst Place 2009 album.
There were ducks…
And there were pheasants…
And there were robins…
But the stars of today's visit were the moorhens which swam, preened, clambered and prowled…
The one unrecorded sighting I should mention was a kingfisher which flew just over the trees while we were watching the moorhen by the lake. It was gone in a flash, but was the nearest and clearest view I've yet had of one.
Still no more on the foxes… still watching and still and waiting… Update: just after posting this I saw the fox in the garden through the window. It tolerated a torch being shone for a number of seconds, and then retreated slightly and continued watching. No photo though.
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Vulpes vulpes
22 Feb 2009Lovely array of photos..pity about the Kingfisher that got away, as would have added a nice rainbow feel! 😉 :up:
Words
22 Feb 2009Thanks Andy!
Dudley
22 Feb 2009Some mighty fine photos :yes:
gdare
22 Feb 2009Beautiful reflection on a first moorhen photo. It looks like early spring has come to England 🙂
Ukwildlife
22 Feb 2009great photos – moorhens are often ignored but in the right light they are quite pretty
cakkleberrylane
22 Feb 2009Wonderful photos! The pheasant is unusual – to me anyway, very colorful! I have had the same experience with the kingfisher. We have one who waits for me to raise the camera and has his exit timed perfectly. Someday……. perhaps I'll catch him!
SittingFox
22 Feb 2009I like the striding pheasant but the reflection in the first moorhen picture is great! Good luck with catching the kingfisher…very tricky little birds.
Words
22 Feb 2009Lois, pheasants are common parkland birds here. But yes, very colourful. Kingsishers though! Exquisite birds, if only they'd keep still for the camera :insane:
Words
22 Feb 2009Vulpes, I fear the local foxes are pretending to be kingfishers… well at least in their camera-evasion technique. It was great to see it fly so close though. I got an excellent view of the underside of it as it zipped over.
Words
22 Feb 2009Neil, thanks. They're cute birds but do need the right light (all that black plumage!)
Words
22 Feb 2009Darko, I hope we get a decent spring, and a decent summer this year. Our seasons tend to drift in and out of each other. I was pleased with that first shot of the moorhen.
Words
22 Feb 2009Adele, the pheasants tend to lurk near the front of Wakehurst, nipping in and out of the cultivated beds. The moorhens excelled themselves though. One day I'll get the kingfisher. I just need to plan it better, plant myself in a suitable spot (with picnic) and not move all day. And then repeat for a week. Or something like that.
RobinL
23 Feb 2009Tremendous bird shots. I really like the Robin shot! The Pheasant and Moorhen are unbelievable. You have a new Fan.
Words
23 Feb 2009Hi Robin, thanks for popping by. The moorhen are my favourites in this set, but pheasants always look good.
Flying Red Fox Blog
23 Feb 2009Very good photos. 😀 I think Spring is finally on its way, i took photos of many crocuses and miniture daffodils in Hotham Park yesterday.
Words
23 Feb 2009Mark, well it's on it's way, but the grey skies today suggest it hasn't yet made up its mind to arrive! Not too many flowers round our way yet, but I have to say its an improvement on a few weeks ago 🙂