Bird Behaviour in Action
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the horbills are quite large birds used to feed on fruit and mainly insects,arachnids and small vertebrates.
but they are not used to kill aduld birds.
in this case an African Grey Hornbill (tockus nasutus) has cought and killed a social weaver.
"a strange behaviour"
Etosha National Park ,Namibia
original 3K file here:
Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus. Like its relatives, it was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now known to be an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae). Other common names are Tithy's redstart, blackstart and black redtail.
It is not very closely related to the common redstart. As these are separated by different behaviour and ecological requirements.
It is a widespread breeder in south and central Europe and Asia and northwest Africa, from Great Britain and Ireland (where local) south to Morocco, east to central China. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but northeastern birds migrate to winter in southern and western Europe and Asia, and north Africa. It nests in crevices or holes in buildings.
In Britain, it is most common as a passage and winter visitor, with only 20–50 pairs breeding.
On passage it is fairly common on the east and south coasts, and in winter on the coasts of Wales and western and southern England, with a few also at inland sites. Migrant black redstarts arrive in Britain in October or November and either move on or remain to winter, returning eastward in March or April. They also winter on the south and east coasts of Ireland.
The species originally inhabited stony ground in mountains, particularly cliffs, but since about 1900 has expanded to include similar urban habitats including bombed areas during and after World War II, and large industrial complexes that have the bare areas and cliff-like buildings it favours; in Great Britain, most of the small breeding population nests in such industrial areas.
Population:
UK breeding:
19-44 pairs
UK wintering:
400 birds
an african marsh harrier (circus ranivorus) patrolling the chobe riverbanks.
general behaviour and habits similar to european marsh harrier.still locally common in some areas is considered vulnerable in south africa due habitat destruction.
"on patrol"
chobe riverbanks ,botswana
original 3K file here:
A black Swan attacking a Muscovy duck.
Hope you will enjoy this shot.
Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.
©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).
Golden Spangled French Marans: Poule de Marans Cockerel
(I think...)
This grumpy-looking, handsome boy is the only one of about eight young cockerels left to fend for themselves in the hills, about three years ago.
We can only assume that some lovely person dumped the young cockerels as they had no need of them...Such callous behaviour, I feel, and completely unnecessary! Poor wee souls!
We have been trying to coax him into my friends’ farm where they keep hens and geese. Maybe, one day, he will join the gang.
South Carrick Hills
SW Scotland
“Je suis venu comme orphelin
Riche de mes seuls yeux tranquilles
Vers les hommes des grandes villes
Ils ne m'ont pas trouvé malin...”
Gaspard - Georges Moustaki
Dove and Red-headed Finch.
Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.
©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).
From the "senses" series: Vision
If someone sees something, they react. Cause-effect. According to Pavlov, reflexes could be conditioned. If you don't see, you don't react. But if vision is deprived from you and you know and watch that you don't see because someone doesn't want you to see, you react. Cause-effect.
RKO_9069.
Copyright: Robert Kok. All rights reserved! Watermark protected.
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A pair of Northern Gannets at their nest.
The male on the left had just returned and the female started to shake her head from side to side as if saying "Where have you been for all this time?"
The male then started to dart forward excitedly towards the female, beak agape,but never got too close.!
A few days later the female laid her first egg in the nest.
The head shaking is behaviour I have seen before but I have never managed to capture it on camera!.
Taken at RSPB Bempton.
Typical Cormorant pose as it dries out after a dive.
When they dive for a fish, their wings become saturated and heavy which actually helps them to dive quicker. However, they are unable to fly like this so "hang themselves out to dry."
Although they are not the only birds to engage in similar behaviour, gannets are famous for "billing" or “mutual fencing.” While it can happen any time both birds from a mated pair are at their nest site, it is quite routine when one bird returns to the nest after foraging for food or nesting material. The two gannets will face each other, often touching and calling. They then shake their heads side to side with their bills clacking together. They often bow, rub necks, and preen each other’s neck before taking up the more mundane activities of nesting in colonies, such as bickering and fighting with neighbors.
Courtship behaviour of the great crested grebe.
great crested grebe
Haubentaucher
[Podiceps cristatus]
Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.
One of the few species of birds where males and females are both amazingly beautiful. The male has a rich scarlet color plumage while the female is bright yellow as in this picture.
These are predominantly found in the Himalayan belt and much of North East India and a small of part of our neighbouring state. The birds behaviour is quite similar to the other minivets and we sighted them foraging on the upper canopy.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback Much appreciated.
Curious behaviour, the Redshank didn't eat the fish, it just picked it up and dumped it on the edge of the water. It must have been annoying the Redshank!
Another species of the Bee-Eaters which I find very beautiful. These are resident birds in the country, but locally migratory with movements aligned to availability of water.
When the lakes are full, they do come and perch on the tall trees nearby. This perching behaviour easily differentiates the common green bee eater vs this bird. Additionally they have beautiful blue tail from which they get their name.
Thanks in advance for your views and feedback.
A few more to come from this awesome experience!
All from the same session, taken at a public site at a distance so as not to disturb the birds or alter their behaviour.
To me, darters always look happy, and this cheery-looking chappy is no exception.
The farmer helpfully dug a small pond next to our house about two years ago, and the common darters didn't take long to find it (also saw common hawker this year!).
I do find these very tricky subjects, because they are either zipping about and never landing (when it's sunny), or completely hidden (when it's cooler). In my few attempts, I haven't found any willing to pose this year ... so here's a shot from last September of a male resting on a post.
Stag frantically digging up mud at the edge of a lake to cover its antlers before dressing them in vegetation. Not sure if this is to impress the ladies or threaten other males in the rut.
Birds of prey are fascinating and majestic animals. They can generally be defined as birds that feed on animals that they catch alive. Representatives of these two orders can be found almost everywhere in the world. Although these groups are distantly related, the behavioural and anatomical characteristics they share appear to be mainly the result of parallel evolution.
It's interesting watching the pecking order in the bird bath. The two caught here share a similar level, happily warding off finches and thornbills, but deferring to robins. The New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae ) on the left is keeping an eye on me, but the White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis ) is not confident about entering the water, however the NHH soon took a very quick drink and left the bath to the scrubwren.
HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm f4.5-5.6
First is a Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar, next a Soldier Beetle, then a Ladybird and a Hoverfly. Please try viewing large. Thank you....
The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a member of the family Corvidae in the passerine order of birds. It is found in the Palearctic, its range extending from Scandinavia and western Europe to eastern Siberia. It is a large, gregarious, black-feathered bird, distinguished from similar species by the whitish featherless area on the face. Rooks nest collectively in the tops of tall trees, often close to farms or villages, the groups of nests being known as rookeries.
Rooks are mainly resident birds, but the northernmost populations may move southwards to avoid the harshest winter conditions. The birds form flocks in winter, often in the company of other Corvus species or jackdaws. They return to their rookeries and breeding takes place in spring. They forage on arable land and pasture, probing the ground with their strong bills and feeding largely on grubs and soil-based invertebrates, but also consuming cereals and other plant material. Historically, farmers have accused the birds of damaging their crops, and have made efforts to drive them away or kill them. Like other corvids, they are intelligent birds with complex behavioural traits and an ability to solve simple problems.
Just for the record, to keep some of the instinctive feeding behaviour for these birds, their food is hidden in boxes and cups etc. I can't remember the name of this beautiful bird though!