Everything is Permuted

We took a short break away over the Christmas period. Not too far, just over to Chichester. The city is known for its cathedral, but the main attraction was the marina which is a haven for water fowl. I'm still sorting through the photos, so this post is something of a taster. We arrived on Christmas Eve, too late to go in search of wildlife, but with time to wander over to the Cathedral in tourist mode.
Chichester Cathedral on Christmas Eve

Statue of Saint Richard at the Cathedral

On Christmas Day we headed to the water, but the most exciting sighting of the day proved to be a raptor. More specifically a buzzard perched on a fence along the edge of a field. Other than in wildlife centres, this is the first time I've seen a buzzard perching. It was difficult to get a decent shot (it was in the shade and had the sun behind it), but too good an opportunity to let pass.
Buzzard

Like the buzzards that I often see nearer to home this one seemed to be in a constant territorial dispute with the local crows. I've never seen these minor skirmishes come to anything more than one or other bird (usually the buzzard) heading for its own nest, which in this case was in the trees just above the fence where it had been perching a little earlier.
Crow and buzzard

But we were there for the water birds, and we weren't disappointed. Out on the marina itself, a black swan was gliding between the boats.
Black Swan



We followed the path that runs along the canal at the edge of the marina, and reached an area where the water opens out into a large expanse. A perfect site for the wading birds and water fowl which come in to feed at low tide.


A redshank

Shelducks

Coots - click to enlarge

The last photo for today is a taster of what will follow. The cormorants were the undoubted highlight of the visit and I'll be posting many more shots in the next couple of posts. Meanwhile, this lone cormorant was sitting out on a jetty.
Cormorant


Camera note: All shots were taken with the Canon 40D. The photos of the cathedral were with the EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens. All the others were with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

Grey skies today. In the distance, just to the north west of the garden, a lone sparrowhawk hovered, watching.
Sparrowhawk

The garden birds spooked, and took to the wing.
Starlings swirling

Pigeons heading south

And turning eastward

Tonight, all is calm again...

click to enlarge

Camera note: all the bird shots were taken with the Canon 40D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. The night shot was taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM at f/5.6, ISO 1000 with a 20 second exposure.