Monday, 27. July 2009, 23:41:05
fox, geese, duck
Tuesday, 28. April 2009, 22:20:56
landscape, blossom, duck
It's been one of those days where the weather hasn't quite been sure what it's doing. And neither has the wildlife. This morning, early, I went to one of my local haunts near work. The yellowhammers were being difficult and successfully evaded the camera. A robin was singing high in a tree. A distant rock in a field turned out, on closer inspection, to be a female pheasant. And a cat sat calmly in the middle of the road.
By lunchtime the rain had arrived, but it was moving through quickly and I avoided most of it. The light had that strange hyper reality when the sky is blue in one corner, and deep grey in the other. Colours were unusually vibrant where the light fell.
A few gulls and pigeons were about, and a selection of local corvids, but it was quiet. I photographed the spring blossom.
The walk was pleasant, and it wasn't until I was back at my office that I photographed any wildlife. She was sitting in the pond right outside my window.
Female Mallard
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Saturday, 31. January 2009, 00:06:13
surrey, magpie, coot, squirrel
...
I had to make another of what seem to have become regular trips to Surrey. And for once the sun was out, though it faded soon after my arrival into a low winter light. I had a short while to spare before heading off to a meeting, and headed for the lake.
Lake at University of SurreyIt was lunchtime, and the local water fowl were feasting on local delicacies.
The ducks were making do with bread
But this coot took the biscuitAmong the local birds there was a particularly splendid magpie.
MagpieThe squirrels were on form too. Much bolder than the ones I usually see at Sussex, and more than happy to pose for a photo or two. I'll just include a couple here. The rest are in the front of the
Squirrel album.
Squirrel
SquirrelAnd in case you were wondering... the mystery fox is still around and still utterly evasive.
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Tuesday, 27. January 2009, 00:15:26
duck, coot, gulls
It's a while since I've spent any time at Falmer Pond. It's a large 'village green' pond, and is home to a variety of water fowl. Today the black-headed gulls were dominating. There are a lot of them around at the moment, and they were all too willing to flock for a few crumbs of bread that a young family were throwing to them.
Black headed gulls
As well as the gulls, there were several coots around.
CootAnd of course no visit to a pond is complete without the ubiquitous mallards.
Mr & MrsStill no fox updates, other than a discarded egg shell in the garden. So they are around, but still being evasive. I spent the best part of an hour outside tonight, standing motionless with the camera pre-focused (I won't even risk using a torch for fear of startling them). No luck though, and I eventually gave up as the frost started forming beneath my feet. There'll be other days, and warmer nights...
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Wednesday, 14. January 2009, 23:54:22
gulls, sheep, geese, coot
...
The south of England was covered in a layer of mist for most of today. And the temperature dropped back down to around freezing again. Not ideal weather for driving, but I made good time and I'd arrived in Surrey with 20 minutes or so to spare. Enough time to attempt some photos. There were some gulls dicing with the frozen lake.
Black headed gulls on partially frozen lakeThe ducks, on the other hand, had congregated in a slightly less barren spot.
MallardsWhile the coots and the geese were remaining firmly on dry land.
Coot
Canada GooseIt was still misty when I left Surrey at lunchtime, but the southern end of the Downs seemed to have escaped the poor weather, and I got back to find Sussex enjoying a weak wintry sun.
Sheep on the South Downs
The rams were joustingOn garden matters, the nicked-ear vixen showed up tonight, saw me... and vanished in a flash! But not the flash of a camera. She was far too quick for that. So her sudden intolerance of humans continues, which is possibly no bad thing if she's pregnant. It will be interesting to see if things change around March which is when cubs are likely to be born. We'll have to wait and see.
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
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