Everything is Permuted

A slight change of early morning scenery. This is Sheepcote Valley, and here are two of the sheep.


Brighton racecourse sits at the edge of the valley, and most mornings the local stables give their thoroughbreds a run out.


But the morning is about bird song as much as anything else, and I don't mean the cackle of the mapgpie...


Or even the bright calling of the robin...


The song that dominated this morning was from the aptly named song thrush. Smaller than the mistle thrush it has suffered a sharp decline in numbers in recent years and is now on our 'red list'. The song thrush has a bright repetitive song. It's simple but with a few small flourishes. You can listen to it here.









Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

I topped and tailed today with treks out on to the Downs. Nothing spectacular to see (apart from one very distant peregrine), but plenty of the more common local birds. Here's a quick selection, starting with a couple of magpie shots. Both are carrying food. I think the first has a piece of apple. The second (a juvenile) seemingly has found a couple of dog biscuits.




Down at ground level, the wheatears were wandering around in small flocks. This one was a little bolder than the rest and let me get close enough for a a proper shot.


There were plenty of crows as well...


...and a fly-by sighting of a kestrel. Just the one, and very fleeting.


The rest are from the end of the day, starting with a duck at Falmer pond. I really like the colours in this shot, and the sense of habitat.


Further out on the Downs the yellowhammers were flitting in small flocks from tree to tree. Occasionally one would pause for breath.


The ubiquitous robin was also an ever-present. This is their time of year. I see them everywhere.


Same location, but this time a blue tit.


Finally, a shot of a small murmuration of starling, their wings catching the late afternoon sun about 20 minutes before sunset.


The uncommonly hot weather will slowly return to something more autumnal over the next few days. It's been glorious though, while it's lasted.


Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.