Saturday, January 28, 2012 11:50:49 PM
meadow pipit, sunset, crow, magpie
Earlier in the week I posted some shots of a
jackdaw and rook. Today I'm posting two more of the corvid family: the crow and the magpie. The crow was photographed from our garden.
The magpie was spotted down at Sheepcote Valley, towards the end of the day.
The next shot was also taken at Sheepcote. It's a small flock (tentatively identified, but I could be wrong) of meadow pipits. They're related to the
rock pipits I more frequently see at Rottingdean along the undercliff walk.
And now to the sunset...
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Saturday, October 15, 2011 11:27:05 PM
red, butterfly, sunset, crow
Three photos today, all linked by the colour red (or perhaps, orange).
First, a red admiral butterfly.
Next, a red crow. This was taken as the sun was very low in the sky, hence the unusual cast of colour across its wing and beak.
Finally, a red sky...
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
Thursday, October 6, 2011 10:37:30 PM
Green Woodpecker, cormorant, sunset, squirrel
The temperature isn't actually that low, and I suspect it's at around average for the time of year. It feels cold though, partly because of the wind factor (which is roughly northerly) but also due to the extreme contrast with last weekend. I'm certainly feeling the difference.
Out by the pond, the squirrels are getting ready for winter. Unlike the bold London squirrels I photographed
last autumn, the local squirrels are cautious rural creatures. They tend to remain in close proximity to the trees, ready for a rapid escape if anyone intrudes too much on their space. Still, it's nut-gathering time and they do have to venture down to ground level occasionally.
While the squirrels are foraging, just a short distance away another shy creature is out feeding. Green woodpeckers are mainly ground feeders, foraging for insect with their powerful bill. They have a particular fondness for ants (they are experts at identifying hidden ant hills), but their diet can be varied and include fruits.
The local cormorant is still around. It seems to have developed a habit of early morning visits to the pond for breakfast before disappearing inland over the Downs, possibly to other secluded watering holes.
Cold it may be, but we're also enjoying some beautiful, richly coloured sunsets.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
My Opera
