View allAll Photos Tagged AutumnWatch
Very pleased to have been awarded Birdguides PoTW with my shot of the Red-backed Shrike. Totally unexpected!
www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week-3-9-october...
Christchurch Mill and swans and ducks sheltering by Priory Bridge on a very blustery and cold November Day in Autumn.
- Best Viewed Large -
‘A sight to behold’. The atmosphere is electric as the late evening sky is blackened with thousands of waders as they are ever driven closer to the shoreline by the incoming tide. RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, UK. September 8th 2021.
Catching the Snettisham Spectacular...
It’s vitally important that you check the Snettisham tide timetables for early morning or later afternoon if you want to catch sight of any birds here at RSPB Snettisham. Or better still, visit the RSPB website for excellent article on the dates and times for the Snettisham Spectacular.
The reason that you need to check the tide times is that the tide goes out a long way, and with it go the waders. So if you turn up at low tide, you will be disappointed, to say the least. Having said that, at least at RSPB Snettisham you do have the lagoons behind the sandbanks which always have some other very interesting wildlife.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
'Teetering rock star'. The Common Sandpiper giving out its three-note call, on the shore of Loch Spelve, Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Key information
The common sandpiper is a smallish wader with contrasting brown upperparts and white underparts. It habitually bobs up and down, known as 'teetering', and has a distinctive flight with stiff, bowed wings. Its presence is often betrayed by its three-note call which it gives as it flies off.
What they eat:
Insects and some worms and molluscs.
Measurements:
Length:19-21cm
Wingspan:32-35cm
Weight:40-60gPopulation:
UK breeding:15,000 pairs
UK wintering:73 birds
Identifying features:
Feather colour: Brown White
Leg colour: Green Yellow
Beak: Black Brown Medium length Thin
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Upland Wetland
Where and when to see them
In summer the common sandpiper breeds along fast rivers and by lakes, lochs and reservoirs in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the north of England. In winter it may be seen along the south coast. On its spring and autumn passage.
The common sandpiper can be found elsewhere in the UK, near any freshwater areas and on some estuaries. RSPB Notes.
Taken at RSPB Greylake in Somerset, UK.
Happy New Year everyone! :)
Here are my favourite 100 photos of 2017 in my new blog post;
carlbovisnaturephotography.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/my-favo...
End of November and Castle Street Bridge over the still water of the River Avon. Christchurch Dorset.
'Flat headed Loon'. In summer plumage...The Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer with its catch of a Dab flat-fish on the Sound of Ulva, Mull. Thought to be the oldest bird species on the planet, The Great Northern Diver or Common Loon or Great Northern Loon.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Great Northern Diver Notes...
This hefty diving bird is a winter visitor to the UK, where it can be seen around the coast or occasionally on large inland lakes.
Species information
Category: Grebes and divers
Statistics
Length: around 80cm
Wingspan: 122-148cm
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015).
When to see: Most likely to be seen in winter, or on migration in autumn and spring.
About
The great northern diver is a large water bird, which is mostly a winter visitor to the UK. Great northern divers breed in Greenland, Iceland and North America, where they're called common loons. There have been occasional records of them breeding in Scotland, but these are very rare.
They breed on large woodland lakes or pools on tundra, with the male and female working together to build the nest on an island or shoreline.. They are excellent swimmers, using their large feet to chase after small fish under the water.
Great northern divers usually spend the winter on the sea, favouring shallow areas close to shore. They can sometimes be seen migrating along the coast singly or in small flocks.
How to identify
Divers look a little bit like cormorants, swimming with their large bodies low in the water and their long neck held upright. The great northern diver is a hefty bird, with a thick neck and a large, heavy bill. They often look as if they have a big bump on the forehead.
In their winter plumage, adults have a plain black back, neck and head, with a white throat and belly, and a darker half-collar at the base of the neck. In their summer breeding plumage, they have a dark black head and neck with a black-and-white-striped patch on the side of the neck, and a black back with a white chequered pattern.
Distribution
In winter, great northern divers can most often be found off the coast of Scotland, northern, eastern and south-west England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They can sometimes be found on inland lakes and reservoirs.
Habitats
CoastalWetlands
Did you know?
Great northern divers have a haunting call that is often used in films and television shows to add a wild or spooky atmosphere to a scene. It's often used in locations where divers aren't even found! WT Notes.
This is a 12 image stack processed in Adobe Photoshop and edited in Lightroom. The little creature is a happy bonus.
I enjoyed a walk around Attenborough Nature Reserve last week and took many images, this is a Long Tailed Tit.
Do not use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © Nigel Stewart
'Over the fence' The beautiful male Hen Harrier taking flight from one of its favourite hunting posts in its protected habitat on The Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The Hen Harrier has been severely persecuted for taking game species and has suffered massive declines in numbers as a result. Thankfully, conservation projects are underway to reduce conflict surrounding its controversial prey.
RSPB note…Of the UK's birds of prey, this is the most intensively persecuted. Once predating free-range fowl, earning its present name, its effect on the number of grouse available to shoot is the cause of modern conflict and threatens its survival in some parts of the UK, particularly on the driven grouse moors of England and Scotland. (RSPB Note)
While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. They fly with wings held in a shallow 'V', gliding low in search of food, which mainly consists of meadow pipits and voles. The Orkney population is famous for being polygynous, with males sometimes mating with multiple females on the island.
They are listed as a Schedule 1 species under The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Hen Harrier information
Category: Birds of prey
Statistics
Length: 48-55cm
Wingspan: 1.1m
Weight: 350-500g
Average lifespan: 7 years
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2021). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
When to see: January to December
About
The Hen Harrier nests on the ground among the heather of upland moorlands. It winters in the lowlands, particularly around the coast, on heathland and on farmland. It is one of the most endangered breeding birds of prey in the country; it sometimes feeds on small grouse and fowl (hence its name), bringing it into conflict with gamekeepers and farmers.
How to identify
The hen harrier is a slim bird. Males are blue-grey with a white rump, pale underside and black wing tips. Females are brown above and streaky below, with a white rump and a banded tail.
Distribution
Found in Scotland and parts of upland Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Only a tiny handful of pairs now nest in parts of upland England. Winters in small numbers throughout the UK.
Habitats
Heathland, Moorland, Farmland, Coastal Wetlands, Woodland
Did you know?
Female Hen Harriers are known as 'ringtails' due to their distinctive tail banding. Both females and males attend the young; the males provide food, which is often passed, mid-air to the female in a spectacular display of 'throw and catch'. NWT Notes.
'Morning has broken'. a beautiful male Siskin, captured at the break of dawn in my local wood. Yorkshire.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Siskin Information...
Notes and Key facts
Scientific name: Carduelis spinus
Status: Resident breeding species and winter visitor
Breeding birds: 410,000 pairs
Conservation status: Green
Length: 11 – 12 cm
Wingspan: 20 – 23 cm
Weight: 12 – 18 g
Description
Siskins are yellow-green finches with dark streets on its belly. They have bright yellow rumps, wing bars and tail edges.
Male siskins have a black cap and black bib. Females have more streaks and juveniles have brown upper parts and more streaks than females.
Nesting
Female siskins build nests usually high up in conifer trees. The nest is small and made from twigs, heather, grass, moss and cobwebs lined with hair, fur and feathers.
Siskins lay 2-6 eggs which are smooth and glossy and pale blue with pink or light purple spots.
The eggs are incubated for 11-14 days by the female and the chicks fledge at 13-15 days.
Feeding
Siskins are seed eaters and are particularly dependent on spruce during breeding season as well as alders and birch. They will supplement their diet with insects.
Siskins will visit gardens in winter for food if seed crops have been poor.
Siskin
Where to see them
Siskins can be seen during breeding season across Scotland and Wales.
During the winter they are also seen in England.
Did you know?
There is a German legend which says that siskins guard a magic stone in their nests that makes them invisible because they become so elusive during breeding season.
Birdspot Notes.
'Silent hunter' The beautiful male Hen Harrier quartering the heather in its protected habitat on The Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The Hen Harrier has been severely persecuted for taking game species and has suffered massive declines in numbers as a result. Thankfully, conservation projects are underway to reduce conflict surrounding its controversial prey.
Of the UK's birds of prey, this is the most intensively persecuted. Once predating free-range fowl, earning its present name, its effect on the number of grouse available to shoot is the cause of modern conflict and threatens its survival in some parts of the UK, particularly on the driven grouse moors of England and Scotland. (RSPB Note)
While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. They fly with wings held in a shallow 'V', gliding low in search of food, which mainly consists of meadow pipits and voles. The Orkney population is famous for being polygynous, with males sometimes mating with multiple females on the island.
They are listed as a Schedule 1 species under The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Hen Harrier Notes and information:
Category: Birds of prey
Statistics
Length: 48-55cm
Wingspan: 1.1m
Weight: 350-500g
Average lifespan: 7 years
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2021). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
When to see: January to December
About
The Hen Harrier nests on the ground among the heather of upland moorlands. It winters in the lowlands, particularly around the coast, on heathland and on farmland. It is one of the most endangered breeding birds of prey in the country; it sometimes feeds on small grouse and fowl (hence its name), bringing it into conflict with gamekeepers and farmers.
How to identify
The hen harrier is a slim bird. Males are blue-grey with a white rump, pale underside and black wing tips. Females are brown above and streaky below, with a white rump and a banded tail.
Distribution
Found in Scotland and parts of upland Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Only a tiny handful of pairs now nest in parts of upland England. Winters in small numbers throughout the UK.
Habitats
Heathland, Moorland, Farmland, Coastal Wetlands, Woodland
Did you know?
Female Hen Harriers are known as 'ringtails' due to their distinctive tail banding. Both females and males attend the young; the males provide food, which is often passed, mid-air to the female in a spectacular display of 'throw and catch'. NWT Notes.
Absolutely thrilled to get this photo today at Steart Marshes in Somerset, UK. :)
My nature blog;
carlbovisnaturephotography.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/the-won...
I enjoyed a walk around Attenborough Nature Reserve last week and took many images, This is of a friendly Robin who was eager for seeds.
Do not use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © Nigel Stewart
Taken on a pond in Richmond Park. I was able to get a low angle with the camera at ground level as the bird swam towards me.
'Early bird'. A beautiful Curlew, foraging on the seashore and pulling Ragworm's out of the sand. Northumberland.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Notes:-
The UK's breeding population of curlews is of international importance, being estimated to represent more than 30 per cent of the west European population.
Declines ...
There have been worrying declines in the breeding population throughout much of the UK, with the Breeding Bird Survey indicating significant declines in Scotland, England and Wales, and an overall UK decline of 42 per cent between 1995 and 2008.
Earlier surveys recorded a 60 per cent decline in breeding numbers in Northern Ireland between 1987 and 1999.
Curlews are also declining more widely across their global breeding range and, consequently, their IUCN status is near threatened. The species is a UK BAP priority, and is Amber listed due to the international importance of both breeding and wintering populations in the UK, its unfavourable conservation status in Europe and the declines in UK breeding numbers.
Within the UK, curlews breed on a range of habitats but are primarily birds of extensively managed rough grasslands, moorlands and bogs. The bulk of the breeding population (around 60 per cent) occurs in Scotland, with the majority of the remaining birds in northern England, RSPB Notes.
Went for a little walk this morning. Thought I'd might as well take my camera with me and luckily I came back with this.
Enjoy!
© All rights reserved
goldfinch ~ carduelis carduelis
RSPB green status list.
Finally on a chilly dull afternoon I managed to take a photo of one of the goldfinch family when they emerged from the brambles. It was still noisy further up the hill so I imagine most of the birds were feeding up for winter. (a risky low light shot!)
‘Double tap and Zoom’
‘Goldfinch in the golden hour'.
A beautiful male Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis captured here in the 'golden hour' of an autumn day, foraging on a bed of Teasels.
A spiders web and silken threads can be seen on the Teasels in the image, glistening in the evening sunlight.
The Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis or to give it one of its ancient names 'The ‘Thisteltuige’ has a specialised pointed beak which it has evolved as a natural work of art for getting into and feeding on teasels, thistles, and seeds.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Notes:
Goldfinches primarily eat seeds. In early summer Goldfinches feed on the seeds of small plants such as dandelions and groundsel, in late summer thistles and teasels become their most important source of food. Their long, slim beaks have evolved to make the Goldfinch a specialist thistle feeder.
One of its earliest recorded local names is ‘Thisteltuige’, this Anglo-Saxon name of the eighth century literally means thistle-tweaker. Even the scientific name Carduelis carduelis is derived from the Latin, Carduus, meaning Thistle. The male of the species has a slightly longer beak enabling him to reach the seed of the teasel so the female then monopolises the thistles.
If you can get close to a goldfinch feeding on a teasel you may hear the vibration as the finch shakes its beak in the seed hole presumably to widen the gap or loosen the seed. They need to be deft with their feet and wings to hold tight as the wind blows the teasels around.
Goldfinches have relatively short, stout legs to enable them to hold tight but they often need to use outstretched wings to balance counteract the buffeting of the wind, Saga notes.
‘A fleeting glimpse’.
A habitat shot of a visiting thrush, here for the summer… a male Ring Ouzel, Turdus torquatus showing his beautiful white gorget as he perches on a broken fence post...A rare sight now to see here in Britain.
Between 6,200 and 7,500 pairs of ring ouzels breed annually in the UK but the population is decreasing.
In Britain they are of high conservation concern and are classified as Red Listed due to their 43 per cent population decline in the last 40 years. It is suspected that this decrease is related to ongoing changes to their British habitat.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Ring Ouzel Notes and information:
Summer visitor:
The Ring ouzel is a summer migrant to Britain visiting to breed between March and September. The best time to see them is in April and in October in upland areas such as in Scotland and northern England where they inhabit open moorland and crags at high altitudes.
Varied diet:
An omnivorous bird, the ring ouzel’s main diet consists of insects and berries. In the spring it prefers earthworms, and in the autumn and winter, juniper berries. In fact, the migration route of the ring ouzel follows where juniper berries grow.
Winter migrants:
In the autumn, the ring ouzel migrates to its wintering grounds in the mountains of Morocco and Tunisia in north-western Africa, moving away from its breeding grounds. Globally, they are listed as of ‘Least Concern’ as the ring ouzel is only declining in Britain.
Not a blackbird:
Not to be confused with the Blackbird, the ring ouzel is slightly smaller and is longer-tailed. Particularly distinctive is the male with his pale wing panels and black plumage contrasting with a white gorget (a white crescent on the upper breast). The female’s appearance varies from a very bright breast band to a scarcely visible one. This often depends on the age as the older female birds tend to have a brighter and more defined colour.
What's in a name?
The ring ouzel's scientific name, Turdus torquatus, has Latin origins. The first part, ‘Turdus’, stands for thrush as the bird is a member of the Turdidae (thrush) family. The second part comes from the Latin ‘torquis’, meaning collar, referring to their white breast bands discover wildlife notes.
Storm Angus heading our way and the clouds already looking ominous. Photo taken at the end of Bournemouth Pier.
'Caught out in the rain'. a beautiful male Siskin, caught out on a dull day...with beads of rain on his feathers. West Yorkshire.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Siskin Information...
Notes and Key facts
Scientific name: Carduelis spinus
Status: Resident breeding species and winter visitor
Breeding birds: 410,000 pairs
Conservation status: Green
Length: 11 – 12 cm
Wingspan: 20 – 23 cm
Weight: 12 – 18 g
Description
Siskins are yellow-green finches with dark streets on its belly. They have bright yellow rumps, wing bars and tail edges.
Male siskins have a black cap and black bib. Females have more streaks and juveniles have brown upper parts and more streaks than females.
Nesting
Female siskins build nests usually high up in conifer trees. The nest is small and made from twigs, heather, grass, moss and cobwebs lined with hair, fur and feathers.
Siskins lay 2-6 eggs which are smooth and glossy and pale blue with pink or light purple spots.
The eggs are incubated for 11-14 days by the female and the chicks fledge at 13-15 days.
Feeding
Siskins are seed eaters and are particularly dependent on spruce during breeding season as well as alders and birch. They will supplement their diet with insects.
Siskins will visit gardens in winter for food if seed crops have been poor.
Siskin
Where to see them
Siskins can be seen during breeding season across Scotland and Wales.
During the winter they are also seen in England.
Did you know?
There is a German legend which says that siskins guard a magic stone in their nests that makes them invisible because they become so elusive during breeding season.
Birdspot Notes.
Last of the summer butterflies at sundown in Bedfordshire chalkhill downs.It was hard to tell which species as it was in golden light, but it would be one of the blue butterfly family, probably the Chalkhill Blue.
This photo has copyright and belongs to me, LizzieDeb. If you wish to use the picture written permission must be obtained. Thank you. Message me on Flickr, or click the link on my profile which will send you to my Alamy images if you wish to buy.
Thank you for all your comments. :))
Now on the October photo montage on BBC Nature. www.photoharvester.co.uk and click on the link on the News page.
As the sun rises at 7am it reflects on all the cobwebs along the River Stour. Iford Bournemouth. #BBCAutumnwatch
A female Kingfisher flips a fish around, ready to swallow head first as they always do. The image was taken in the Teifi Marshes in Ceredigion.
'Prepare to dive'. Eyes down searching and listening...backlit by the bright evening sunset, a Short-eared Owl hunting in a scrub and grass clearing on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Short-eared Owl information...
There is something almost magical about Short-eared Owls, a sense of otherworldliness that comes from their nomadic nature. For many birdwatchers it is the winter months that provide the best opportunities to catch up with this species. Wintering ‘shorties’ make use of lowland grazing marshes, areas of early-stage plantation and rough grassland - habitats that in previous decades might once have supported breeding pairs.
Better up north
The three Breeding Bird Atlases show how the breeding range of the Short-eared Owl has contracted northwards within Britain. The species is becoming increasingly restricted to our northern uplands, the Hebrides and Orkney. Short-eared Owls are nomads, turning up to breed wherever their favoured small mammal prey are abundant. Historically, large numbers turned up to exploit the plagues of Field Voles that once occurred in parts of Scotland and northern England, their populations changing dramatically from one year to the next. The northwards retreat has virtually seen the disappearance of the population that once bred around the East Anglian coast, south to the north shore of Kent, and the loss of the species from the brecklands of the Norfolk/Suffolk borderlands. It is thought that our breeding population now stands at between 750 and 3,500 pairs but, like many things about the species, there is uncertainty around these figures because of our wider lack of knowledge about them.
Small mammal specialist
The Short-eared Owl is a specialist predator of small mammals, predominantly voles and the Field Vole forms c.90% of the prey taken. Short-eared Owls can be seen quartering an area of suitable habitat, hunting on the wing and listening and looking for signs of prey in the grass below. Quartering flight involves a mixture of flapping and gliding, the bird sometimes hovering before dropping down onto an unsuspecting small mammal or bird.
Bird prey can be important at some sites and at some times of the year, with pipits, small waders and other species taken more often during the winter months. It is not unusual to see several Short-eared Owls hunting over the same area, sometimes hunting alongside Barn Owls and even Kestrels. These hunting ‘shorties’ will often roost on the ground using taller cover, typically close to the sites where they have spent time hunting.
On the wing
While many Short-eared Owl populations are nomadic, some live a more settled existence. Information from Short-eared Owls ringed as young at the nest, reveals that our birds undertake long-distance movements, dispersing away from the area in which they were born. A wider examination of movements, looking across Europe, reveals that the average distance moved after ringing has declined since the 1970s. This may reflect the pattern of less pronounced vole cycles and the amelioration of the climate, both of which may see these birds remaining further north than they did just a few decades ago. This would also explain the contraction that we have seen in the UK breeding range. As with a number of other species, there is good evidence that northerly populations are more migratory than southern ones.
The business of breeding
Short-eared Owls are early breeders and many pairs will be back on their breeding territories by late March. Strongly territorial, the birds may be seen advertising ownership of their breeding territory or chasing away intruders. Individuals utilise a number of different display postures and rely more on these than on vocalisations, something that reflects their association with open rather than wooded habitats. These birds have a reputation for defending their nest and young, attacking predators, dogs and human observers with some ferocity.
Increasing our understanding
Researchers based at BTO Scotland have been carrying out work to improve our understanding of this charismatic species. Some of this work has been directed to improving fieldwork methods for detecting and censusing this species, while other work has looked at ranging behaviour and longer distance movements. Knowledge of where Short-eared Owls occur during the winter months comes from periodic atlas surveys and, importantly, from the records of birdwatchers collected through BirdTrack, meaning that anyone can contribute to our knowledge of this enigmatic species. BTO Notes.