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Perhaps the most extraordinary fact is that European Robins may use, is quantum entanglement to navigate....
Research suggests they have a "quantum compass" in their eyes supremely sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field—that allows them to "see" magnetic lines for long-distance migration.
Despite their "cute" appearance, robins are notoriously aggressive and will fight other robins to the death.
Territorial disputes account for up to 10% of adult robin deaths in some areas.
They are even known to attack inanimate objects like red feathers or their own reflection in mirrors.
Robins are famous for choosing highly unconventional locations for their nests. Documented sites include:
Discarded boots and hats.
Barbecue grills and old kettles.
Human skulls and unmade beds.
Bicycle handlebars and garden machinery.
Cultural and Historical Oddities
The "Red" Breast is Orange: The robin’s breast is technically orange, but it was named "redbreast" because the word "orange" did not exist in the English language until the 16th century when the fruit was introduced.
Victorian Hat Decor: In the 19th century, it was a popular (and gruesome) fashion trend to use real robin skins as decorations for ladies' hats!
Christmas Connection: The association with Christmas cards began in the Victorian era because postmen wore red uniforms and were nicknamed "robins"; the bird on the card originally symbolised the postman.
Unique Behaviours
Nocturnal Singing: Robins are among the few birds that sing at night, often triggered by urban streetlights or to avoid daytime noise pollution.
Chemical Defence: They practice "anting," where they rub ants or millipedes onto their feathers to use the insects' defensive chemicals as a natural pesticide against mites.
The gardener’s shadow:
In the UK, they are uniquely tame and follow gardeners to eat worms turned up by digging—a behaviour evolved from following wild boar and aurochs in ancient woodlands.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_redstart
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.
Taxonomy and systematics
The first formal description of the black redstart was by the German naturalist Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin in 1774 under the binomial name Mottacilla ochruros.[3][4] The genus Phoenicurus was introduced by the English naturalist Thomas Forster in 1817.[5] Both parts of the scientific name are from Ancient Greek and refer to the colour of the tail. The genus name Phoenicurus is from phoinix, "red", and -ouros -"tailed", and the specific ochruros is from okhros, "pale yellow" and -ouros.[6]
The black redstart is a member of a Eurasian clade which also includes the Daurian redstart, Hodgson's redstart, the white-winged redstart, and maybe Przevalski's redstart. The present species' ancestors diverged from about 3 million years ago (mya) (Late Pliocene) onwards and spread throughout much of Eurasia from 1.5 mya onward.[7] It is not very closely related to the common redstart. As these are separated by different behaviour and ecological requirements and have not evolved fertilisation barriers, the two European species can nonetheless produce apparently fertile and viable hybrids.[8][9]
There are a number of subspecies which differ mainly in underpart colours of the adult males; different authorities accept between five and seven subspecies. They can be separated into three major groups, according to morphology, biogeography, and mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data.[7][9][10][11]
P. o. phoenicuroides group. Basal central and eastern Asian forms which diverged from the ancestral stock as the species slowly spread west (c. 3-1.5 mya). Females and juveniles light grey brown.
•Phoenicurus ochruros phoenicuroides. Tian Shan eastwards to Mongolia. Small; adult males have lower breast, belly and flanks deep rufous, pale wing-patch absent, sometimes white forehead. Overall quite similar to a much darker common redstart with black chest. Females and juveniles are similar to common redstart but have an overall sandier, paler colour and often a distinct buff eye-ring.
•Phoenicurus ochruros murinus. Altai, Tuva, northern China and western Mongolia. Distinguished from the previous Turkestan subspecies by the absence of any contrast in the colour of the head, nape and back, all of which are concolorous dark grey.[12]
•Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris. Turkmenistan eastwards through Pamir and Alay Mountains to Himalaya. Usually large; adult males like P. o. phoenicuroides, but darker overall, with black back and rufous-chestnut underside. Females with rufous tinge to underside. Exact limits with P. o. phoenicuroides unresolved.
oPhoenicurus ochruros xerophilus. China east of and between ranges of preceding two. Large; colour pattern like P. o. phoenicuroides but paler. Included in P. o. rufiventris by many authorities.[10]
P. o. ochruros group. Western Asian forms, whose lineage separated from the gibraltariensis group c. 1.5–0.5 mya. Females and juveniles intermediate.
•Phoenicurus ochruros ochruros. Eastern Turkey, Alborz, and Caucasus. Small, somewhat intermediate between P. o. phoenicuroides and P. o. gibraltariensis. Generally like latter, but rufous underside, pale wing patch weakly developed.
•Phoenicurus ochruros semirufus. Levant. Small; adult males somewhat similar to rufiventris except in size. Black areas extensive.
P. o. gibraltariensis group. European population, which formed as a distinct subspecies probably during the last ice age. Females and juveniles dark grey.
•Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis. Western Europe east to the Crimea and western Turkey. Neck, upper back and shoulders dark slate grey to black in adult males, lighter than face and neck, pale wing patch strongly developed.
oPhoenicurus ochruros aterrimus. Iberia and Morocco. Neck, upper back and shoulders black in adult males. Wide intergradation with P. o. gibraltariensis and treated as a synonym of it by many authorities.[10]
Description
The black redstart is 13–14.5 cm (5.1–5.7 in) in length and 12–20 g (0.42–0.71 oz) in weight, similar to the common redstart. The adult male is overall dark grey to black on the upperparts and with a black breast; the lower rump and tail are orange-red, with the two central tail feathers dark red-brown. The belly and undertail are either blackish-grey (western subspecies; see Taxonomy and systematics, above) or orange-red (eastern subspecies); the wings are blackish-grey with pale fringes on the secondaries forming a whitish panel (western subspecies) or all blackish (eastern subspecies). The female is grey (western subspecies) to grey-brown (eastern subspecies) overall except for the orange-red lower rump and tail, greyer than the common redstart; at any age the grey axillaries and underwing coverts are also distinctive (in the common redstart these are buff to orange-red). One-year-old males are similar to females but blacker; the whitish wing panel of the western subspecies does not develop until the second year.[10][11]
Distribution and habitat
It is a widespread breeder in south and central Europe and Asia and north-west 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 north-eastern birds migrate to winter in southern and western Europe and Asia, and north Africa. It nests in crevices or holes in buildings.[10][11]
In Britain, it is most common as a passage and winter visitor, with only 20–50 pairs breeding.[13] 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.[11]
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. It will catch passing insects in flight, and migrants often hunt in coastal tide-wrack for flies or tiny crustaceans. Its quick ducks of head and body are robin-like, and its tail is often flicked. The male has a rattling song and a tick call.
Eastern race birds are very rare vagrants in western Europe.
Went today to this park so beautiful just between Beckenham & Bromley with its park area and its amazing 2 square miles of woodland and its wild walks. Got this shot of the 2 robins just before a hot brew and cake its a cracker mum feeding its mature chick, they must be early this year.
Police behaviour in the 80's... When I traveled to France for the first time as a young high school student, one of the things I noticed was how different the relationship between law enforcement and the people was. In Denmark, the police were like the friendly parent who nicely told you that now you had become too drunk and had to find a bus home. Street musicians got a long string, and were often considered something positive in the shopping district. In Paris, on the other hand, there was no eye contact, and the musicians I followed were not only thrown away from Pompidou Square, but subsequently also thrown away from the nearby neighborhood. And I who thought that Paris was all about art and love ...
Strøget, Copenhagen, 1980's.
I never actually said I was a Quester.
I thought I was going to Book Club.
There were maps. There were dragons. There was talk of the Mire of Misery and the Chasm of Despair, and somewhere around “unfathomable map” I realized I may have seriously misunderstood the invitation.
Still, our résumé isn't entirely hopeless.
We recently outran a giant.
I ate my vegetables.
And apparently, while I was busy trying to understand Quest jargon, Ruckus had been off getting acquainted with the boys.
Rather successfully, as it turned out.
Perhaps a little too successfully.
“Ruckus... is that his watch?”
Silence.
“Give it back.”
More silence.
Eventually one small paw stretched reluctantly across the table.
The watch was returned.
The redheaded gentleman seemed remarkably good-natured about the whole thing.
I smiled apologetically.
Ruckus did not.
And so began our first day on The Quest.
I have absolutely no idea where we're going.
But I have started checking Ruckus's pockets.
Frequently. 😂❤️
Whilst photographing the solitary Southern Black-Backed Gull a few days ago that was sitting on the side of the Hutt River, dozens upon dozens of Black-Backed Gulls swooped over-head and landed a little up-river from the loan bird.
It wasn't difficult to find them. They numbered in their hundreds and were sitting on a rock bank in the middle of the river! And this was obviously a very big catch-up session - one which even included Juveniles...!
After watching them from a discreet distance for about 10 minutes, one of the birds suddenly sounded an alarm (though I didn't hear anything unusual!), and the whole flock swarmed into the air, screaming in panic..! They circled once, and then all swooped back to exactly where they'd been a few seconds earlier, and carried on their respective conversations!
What interesting behaviour...!
(You'll have to view this in "Extra Large" format (Double-click the photo) to see this big flock in better detail).
Continue to keep well everyone, and a big "Thank You" for taking the time and the trouble to leave a Comment...! It's always nice to hear from you, and your comments are always greatly appreciated...!
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world.
It is a stocky white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season which nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Unlike most other herons, it feeds in relatively dry grassy habitats, often accompanying cattle or other large mammals, since it catches insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the Cattle Egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.
The adult Cattle Egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species removes ticks and flies from cattle, but it can be a safety hazard at airfields, and has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases. (wikipedia)
A flock of about 80-100 Cattle Egret flew over our apartment every morning and evening, like clockwork. They roosted on a number of small islands just off the coast near Sagres.
(P2013: 38,39,40,41,42,43/52)
Halloween 2013
It's been over month since my last photo. Way too much for me. Hope now, when I'm ok with situation, things will go better. Happy Halloween, Guys!
Scientific name : indopadilla sp
Family : Salticidae
📷Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark III
📷M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f2.8
⚡Olympus Fl36r + Wayfuser
🇲🇾 Malaysia
This mallard carried this dead frog and dropped it near the waters edge.
After a little research it seems Mallards do eat frogs with females hunting them and the drakes often stealing there catch, the meat helps sustain them during nesting.
American Coot AMCO (Fulica americana)
Adult with 2 chicks
"'Greater' Edmonton Area"
St Albert's Riel Wetlands:
Big Lake and John E. Poole boardwalk
Location: west side of St Albert
St. Albert,
Alberta, Canada
DSCN0011
Interestingly(bizarre) the Parent fed one constantly and persistently ignored constant begging of the other
PS
i like the feet detail visible in this shot
Over-sized Juvenile feet still appear chicken-like - while parent bird shows fully developed lobed features
Click on Image for Enlarged View
Bald head won't win the chicks any cutie-beauty pageants
click on image for more detail