The Seven Sisters are a series of coastal erosions on the daunting cliffs of the south coast of England. Not a likely destination for someone with no head for heights, except for the fact that they can be reached through a wide wetland valley. And that's good enough for me. I'm fine with heights when I'm at the bottom!
I wouldn't be so comfortable up here!
The saline lagoon is home to a variety of wading birds, but the avian pick of the day were the cormorants. This one had nearly picked on a fish too large. It took two lengthy attempts before it managed to swallow its catch.
It was watched from the far shore, by some comrades who were clearly discussing the size of the catch: 'It was this big, I tell you.'
Among the other birds we saw were swans, herons and little egrets. And swallows. Lots of swallows.
This next sequence shows a little of their aerial gymnastics.
You can't visit Seven Sisters without seeing sheep. They are scattered across the meadows and help maintain the trim grassland.
The final pictures for tonight are scarcities, but the first is a plant not an animal. It's a bee orchid. Carefully protected by a wire cage it has appeared near the edge of the visitor centre, just a few yards from the busy main road that cuts through this part of Sussex.
I'll close with the sight that greeted us in the garden when we arrived back home. The species is hardly rare, but this is part of a once a year event… the emergence of flying ants. The gulls were already circling above, ready to feast on easy pickings.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, except fo rthe final two which were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.
Ukwildlife
27 Jun 2011Nice set of photos.
Words
27 Jun 2011Thanks Neil! Had to make good use of the sudden burst of decent weather.
studio41
28 Jun 2011what a cliff that is! WOW!
beautiful pictures, as always.
gdare
28 Jun 2011Is that cliff in Rottingdean? Excellent shots of swallows and cormorant :eyes:
Words
28 Jun 2011Thanks Erwin!
Words
28 Jun 2011Jill, thanks. The cliffs are very impressive along the south coast, but I definitely prefer looking up than down.
Words
28 Jun 2011Darko, no that's not Rottingdean. It's at Cuckmere Haven, near Seaford which is about 20 miles along the coast. From the sea you can make out seven tall figures carved by nature which is where the name 'Seven Sisters' comes from.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
29 Jun 2011So all fishers tell fishermen's tales. 😆
Words
30 Jun 2011Mick, so they do!
studio41
30 Jun 2011Originally posted by Words:
😀 same with me 🙂
SittingFox
2 Jul 2011That cormorant must think that it is a snake :insane:
Words
3 Jul 2011Adele, I think snakes are more efficient, but it is surprising just how big a lunch they'll try to eat.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Nice set of photos