Distinctive Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly at rest.

Once considered rare, it varies locally and is found in damp meadows over about two weeks (one brood) during late Spring.

A DISTINCTIVE and noisy wader, the Oystercatcher is easily recognized by its striking black and white plumage, and its loud alarm call. It uses its powerful bill to feed on mollusks and other invertebrates. Seen locally from the sea defense walls near Birchington Kent UK.

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THANK YOU for being a friend, it means a lot in this crazy Covid lock downtimes,.

Please stay safe and well, keep your chins up...God bless.......Tomx.

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JESUS shed his blood and died for YOU and ME, you only have to Ask. Believe and Receive him into your Life !!!!

, DISTINCTIVE wader with a spiky crest, guess which way the wind is blowing?. So good to see them performing a noisy display flight over its territory last Wednesday, ready for breeding. OBSERVATION tips There can be few sights and sounds more evocative of the countryside than a lapwing doing this flight display.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment and I will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting. Enjoy the weekend, stay safe..............God bless.

...................................Tomx

DISTINCTIVE and noisy wader, easily recognized, generally solitary, feeds on molluscs and other invertebrates. A breeding pair seen on the Isalnd of Skomer.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, am enjoying your amazing images so much, well done.

Keep safe and well, God bless you ..............Tomx

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AM NOT ABLE TO GET TO ANYBODY IMAGES, AND I

AM RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS FROM HUNDREDS OF FLICKR USERS THAT ARE NOT FOR ME.

PLEASE BARE WITH ME, FLICKR HELP NOT RESPONDING !!!

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DISTINCTIVE 'silvered' black head, coming out of thick undergrowth to drink. This bird has a remarkable and very characteristic call, and is so often heard but not seen. Love seeing them.

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THANK YOU for your friendship and comments.

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COULD THERE BE MORE TO EASTER THAN EGGS, CHICKS, AND BUNNIES ??

Let your heart be glad, shout with joy and celebrate this great day.

EASTER is here, and so is new life, hope , and forgiveness of sins.

Christ gave his life willingly and unconditionally, all you have to do is believe and ask him into your life.

================= Tomx====================

A distinctive call, to protect her only surviving youngster, the others have been predated, so good to see her on constant alert at the Restharrow scrape Sandwich bay Kent.

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THANK YOU for being a friend and leaving a comment, will look forward to seeing your often amazing images. Stay safe and well my dear friends, God bless you...............................Tomx

DISTINCTIVE dabbling duck, the males in particular of which are colorful and attractive,.Seen on Rottingdean village pond, East Sussex. A real joy to see.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, please leave a comment, and I will get back to do the same to your latest posting. Keep well and safe, God bless you ..............Tomx

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Please PRAY that the peace talks will succeed in Ukraine.

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DISTINCTIVE and noisy wader, the Oystercatcher is easily recognized by its striking black and white plumage and by its loud alarm call. It uses its powerful bill to feed on mollusks and other invertebrates. The image was taken at the Elmley Nature Reserve, Sheppey.

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THANK YOU, for your visit friendship, and comments will look forward to commenting on your latest Posting.

Keep a smile on your face, and love in your hearts for everyone. God bless..............................Tomx

A DISTINCTIVE wader that is easily recognized by its dumpy rounded body, waited a long time for it to move momentarily into an open space at the Restharrow scrape at Sandwich Bay Kent. But worth the wait, hope you agree.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, trust you are all well, God bless you..................Tomx

DISTINCTIVE and very noisy wader, it is easily recognized by its striking black and white plumage, and by its loud alarm call. It uses its powerful bill to feed on molluscs and other invertebrates. Seen at Minnis Bay, Birchington Kent.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to also seeing and commenting on your latest posting..

Please take great care in these crazy COVID times, Gob bless..

.........................................Tomx....................................................

"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !"

VERY WET DISTINCTIVE wader, that is easily recognised by its striking black an white plumage, and by its loud alarm call. It uses its powerful bill to feed on molluscs and other invertebrates .Love seeing them at Elmley Marshes Sheppey Kent,

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THANK YOU, for being a friend, love reading your kind comments, which are very appricated.

Stay well and safe, God bless, enjoy your weekend ...........

.....................................Tom.x..................

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HELP PLEASE !!!!! have lost my spell check, and do I need it !!!!

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Any help would be appricated !!!!!

A DISTINCTIVE WADER, one of my favorites to photograph, attractive, trusting, a distinctive call, and there can be few sights and sounds more evocative of the countryside than a lapwing performing a noisy display flight over its territory in the spring. Seen at Elmley Marshes,NR Sheppey Kent. Taken from my archives !

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THANK YOU for your continued support and kind comments , which is appreciated and find very encouraging, Do hope you are all keeping well, stay safe, God bless.......................Tomx

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Weave JESUS into your life today !

A distinctive dragonfly with dark spots on the wings. Can be found over much Britain and Ireland and be seen on the wing from late spring and summer. This species of dragonfly can wander widely and will often turn up as a migrant on the south coast. Preferred habitat is standing or slow moving waters especially acidic heathland pools.

DISTINCTIVE wader trying to round up its youngsters in the long grasses, giving out its well-known call, "pee wit" They will engage in defending against much larger birds successfully.

Seen at Elmley marshes a working farm where they put nature first on the Isle of Sheppey.

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THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, leaving a comment is always appreciated and find encouraging.

Enjoy the new week, keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone, God bless you...................Tomx

NOISY but distinctive wader, in good numbers and breeding on Skomer Island, easily recognized by its black and white plumage, and long red bill. Outside breeding season, it is generally solitary, often heard before being seen, with its loud alarm call.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT, AND COMMENTS, it is appreciated, please stay safe, God bless................Tomx.

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !!"

The Art Gallery of Ontario's iconic spiral staircase designed by Frank Gehry is one of the most distinctive architectural features in Toronto, his birthplace.

A DISTINCTIVE wader that is easily recognized by its dumpy rounded body, rather short legs and its incredibly long straight bill. The latter is used to probe vetically down-wards in soft mud, in the manner of a sewing machine. The sexes are similar. A long wait for this one to work its way roud the Restharrow Scrape, at Sandwich Bay Kent. for me to reap this reward.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, enjoy the Easter Holiday long weekend, stay safe and well, God bless

....................................Tomx.

CHARMING AND DISTINCTIVE seabird, best known for its large and densely packed breeding colonies. Love its voice, utters nasal, growling calls. Seen at the docking point on Skomer Island, South Wales.

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THANK YOU, for being a friend, please leave a comment, will return the visit as soon as possible.

Enjoy this warm weather, but stay safe, God bless you .

.........................................Tomx

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING"!

A brightly coloured bird, the golden-browed chlorophonia is distinctive within its range. The male is bright green above and yellow below, with a wide golden-yellow eyebrow stripe and a violet-blue cap. It has a narrow blue eye ring and a thin blue line extending from its nape to its breast. The female is similar, but without the golden brown and yellow breast; these are both replaced with green. They average 13 cm (5.1 in) in length.

DISTINCTIVE water bird, the largest in he region, when swimming the neck is held in a elegant curve. FAMILY gruops with parents are often seen. They mate for life.

TRY TO POST all British birds seen, but have not put up a SWAN for years, shame on me. Seen at Stodmarsh nature reserve Kent.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, will return the visit as soon as possible. Enjoy the Lords day, stay safe and well , God bless.......................Tomx.

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

The species is always associated with running water when breeding, although they may use man-made structures near streams for the nest. Outside the breeding season, they may also be seen around lakes, coasts and other watery habitats. Like other wagtails, they frequently wag their tail and fly low with undulations and they have a sharp call that is often given in flight.

This slim wagtail has a narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are grey and the yellow vent contrasting with whitish underparts makes it distinctive. The breeding male has a black throat that is edged by whitish moustachial stripes. They forage singly or in pairs on meadows or on shallow water marshes. They also use rocks in water and will often perch on trees. They have a clear sharp call note and the song consists of trills.

The breeding season is April to July and the nest is placed near fast running streams or rivers on an embankment between stones and roots. The male in display, makes short flights up into the air and descends slowly with fluttering flight accompanied by a rapid series of chipping high notes. In Europe the nests are often made in holes in manmade structures. The clutch consists of 3–6 speckled eggs and multiple broods may be raised with declining numbers in the clutch in subsequent broods. The usual clutch size is five in Ireland and the breeding success is about 80% with predation of eggs or chicks being the main cause of breeding failure. The Canary Islands population typically have smaller clutches and the breeding season is not as short and well marked as in populations at higher latitudes. The incubation period is about two weeks with chicks fledging within a fortnight. They live for a maximum of 8 years in the wild.

In some parts of the its range the white-throated dipper nests in the same habitats as the grey wagtail and there are some records of interspecific feeding of dipper chicks by adult wagtails.

Population:

UK breeding:

38,000 pairs

Maple.

The distinctive fruits are called samaras, "maple keys", "helicopters", "whirlybirds" or "polynoses". These seeds occur in distinctive pairs each containing one seed enclosed in a "nutlet" attached to a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue.

~It's A-Peeling To Me~

DISTINCTIVE well marked wetland warbler, seen on Skomer Island, it has a lively and distinctive song that is a useful aid to identification. A widespread summer visitor, and a real joy to find.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated, God bless you and keep you safe .......... ....................Tomx.........

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"Weave Jesus into your life today !"

A colourful and distinctive long-tailed bird with a loud call. This parakeet's natural range is in Asia and Africa and now established in Britain with the suburban western fringes of London being the stronghold. There are several theories of how these birds got to be here in the UK and one being that the music legend Jimi Hendrix while living in London released some, more likely he just released great rock music instead of Ring-Necked Parakeets. The most probable explanation is that these were kept as pets and escaped out in to the wild where they gradually became naturalised in the wild and helped by our warmer winters. This birds can also be known as the Rose-Ringed Parakeet and its is the male that has the thin black and pink collar and a black throat, while the female is mainly all green.

Breeding male is distinctive with black body, white rump, and creamy nape. Females and nonbreeders are drastically different, yellow-brown with fine streaking on breast sides, and stripes on head. Smaller than Red-winged Blackbird with shorter bill. Spiky tail feathers. In the blackbird family, although often mistaken as a sparrow. Breeds in open fields. Listen for male's bubbly song. Often in flocks during fall migration; departs early for wintering grounds in South America. (eBird)

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I just love the bubbling, happy song of the Bobolinks as they play hide and seek in the long grass. This male decided to use a high perch for a change giving me a chance of a photo. This photo doesn't really do him justice, though, because his nicest plumage is down his back.

Carden Alvar, Ramara, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.

The Spot-flanked Gallinule is a tiny, distinctive gallinule, with four disjunct populations in South America: it occurs around the pantanal, ibera, and entre rios wetlands northeast Argentina and nearby Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil; extreme eastern Brazil, central Chile, and central Colombia. This species frequents lagoons and marshes. Its small size and cryptic coloration make it especially difficult to see when it is hiding in the reeds, though it will venture into open water regularly. The Spot-flanked Gallinule has a slate-colored head, neck, and underparts, with white spots on the flanks, and a warm brownish-red back and wings. Photographed at Mostardas, RS.

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

My instagram if you like: @thelmag and@thelma_and_cats

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.

Oyster Island, with its distinctive lighthouse and five cottages, lies a short distance across the channel from Rosses Point. The Island derives its name from the profusion of oyster beds, which existed along its shores until the turn of the century. Oyster is separated from Coney Island by Shrunamile; the channel of a thousand currents, a most appropriate name because of its multitude of eddies with their peculiar whispering sound, which changes with the ebb and flow of the tide.

At the turn of the century, there were five families living on the Island, with the heads of these households listed as Lighthouse Keepers, but as the years rolled by the population dwindled.

Little Tern - Sterna Albifrons

This delightful chattering seabird is the UK's smallest tern. It is short-tailed and has a fast flight. Its bill is a distinctive yellow with a black tip. It is noisy at its breeding colony where courtship starts with an aerial display involving the male calling and carrying a fish to attract a mate, which chases him up high before he descends, gliding with wings in a 'V'.

Its vulnerable nesting sites and its decline in Europe make it an Amber List species. It is also listed as a Schedule 1 species in The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

This bird breeds on the coasts and inland waterways of temperate and tropical Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in the subtropical and tropical oceans as far south as South Africa and Australia.

There are three subspecies, the nominate albifrons occurring in Europe to North Africa and western Asia; guineae of western and central Africa; and sinensis of East Asia and the north and east coasts of Australia.[4]

The little tern breeds in colonies on gravel or shingle coasts and islands. It lays two to four eggs on the ground. Like all white terns, it is defensive of its nest and young and will attack intruders.

Like most other white terns, the little tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, usually from saline environments. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

At the beginning of the 19th century the little tern was a common bird of European shores, rivers and wetlands, but in the 20th century populations of coastal areas decreased because of habitat loss, pollution and human disturbance.

The loss of inland populations has been even more severe, since due to dams, river regulation and sediment extraction it has lost most of its former habitats. The Little Tern population has declined or become extinct in many European countries, and former breeding places on large rivers like the Danube, Elbe and Rhine ceased. Nowadays, only few river systems in Europe possess suitable habitats; the Loire/Allier in France, the Vistula/Odra in Poland, the Po/Ticino in Italy, the Daugava in Latvia, the Nemunas in Lithuania, the Sava in Croatia and the Drava in Hungary and Croatia. The status of the little tern on the rivers Tagus and lower Danube is uncertain.

Male is very distinctively marked with a metallic green head, and rich chestnut flanks, but the female is a plain gray duck with a rounded crown. Female distinguished from Gray Teal by slightly darker neck/throat. White wing panels are distinctive in flight compared to purple/green of Pacific Black Duck. (eBird)

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We had almost given up hope of finding this duck, when lo and behold, there it was! Beautiful teal with rich colours in perfect light. What more could we have hoped for?

Peter Murrell Reserves, Tasmania, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Tasmania.

Kudu, also known as the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), is a magnificent antelope species found in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a large and majestic animal, renowned for its unique and striking appearance.

Physical Characteristics:

The Kudu is one of the largest antelope species, with males, known as bulls, weighing up to 600 kg (1,300 lbs) and standing around 1.5 to 1.7 meters (5 to 5.5 feet) tall at the shoulder. Females, known as cows, are smaller and lighter.

Both males and females have long, spiral-shaped horns. The horns can grow up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length in males, while in females, they are shorter and slimmer.

Appearance:

Kudus have a beautiful coat with distinctive white stripes along their sides. These stripes are believed to act as a form of camouflage in their woodland habitats, helping them blend in among dappled sunlight and shadow.

The coat coloration varies, but they are generally reddish-brown with a tinge of blue-grey in some areas. The undersides are usually pale.

Habitat and Behavior:

Kudus are found in a range of habitats, including woodlands, savannas, and dense bush areas. They are adaptable animals but prefer regions with enough vegetation for cover.

These antelopes are mainly browsers, feeding on leaves, fruits, and shoots. They have the ability to reach high branches to access food that other herbivores might not reach.

Kudus are predominantly nocturnal, which means they are most active during the night, helping them avoid predators and the heat of the day.

Males are typically solitary or found in small bachelor groups, while females form small herds, often accompanied by one dominant male.

Conservation Status:

The Kudu population is generally considered stable, but some local populations face threats due to habitat loss and hunting for their meat, hides, and horns.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving their natural habitats, implementing anti-poaching measures, and promoting responsible tourism to protect this iconic African species.

Kudus are not only remarkable creatures for their physical beauty but also for their role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats. As such, efforts to safeguard their existence are crucial for the overall health of Africa's biodiversity.

Breeding males are distinctive with dark reddish-brown cap and sides, along with buffy nape. Two bold white wingbars. Females and fall birds are duller; most show at least some chestnut coloring on sides. Dullest birds are similar to Blackpoll and Pine Warblers; look for streaks on back, well-defined wingbars, and cleaner greenish-yellow head and neck. Prefers conifers during migration, but can be found in any woodland. Breeds in the boreal forest. In most of U.S. , only seen during migration. Winters in Central and South America. Listen carefully for extremely high-pitched, squeaky-wheel song, similar to a fast Black-and-white Warbler. (eBird)

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We came across a couple of this lovely fall warblers hopping about in the trees over the trail. We don't see them often, so a fair amount of discussion and guide checking was needed to confirm its identity. Once I got the photos home, the close-up revealed the buffy wash on the flanks which is a dead give-away :-)

Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. August 2022.

DISTINCTIVE wader with four five-day-old chicks, they feed for themselves from birth, the last one is about to get under its mother to get out of the rather cold wind, blowing across the open marshes at Elmley. The problem they have is protecting the young as they make off in all directions, making an easy meal for gulls, but the lapwing parents swoop at any approaching bird and are very brave.

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THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and any comments, please do not fave and run. Stay safe and well, God bless you.......................... Tomx.

This is one of our favorite, colorful songbirds. This time of year the Western Meadowlarks colors are a deep yellow with a stunning black necklace ! This fellow was singing away as we slowed down, got in position, and took this image. Western Meadowlarks look distinctively different from other members of the blackbird family. They have streaked brown upperparts and solid yellow underparts with a distinct black collar.

Streaked brown above and yellow below with distinctive black "V" on breast. In flight, short wings and spiky tail with white outer feathers are apparent. Breeds in fields and grasslands throughout much of western North America, regularly as far east as Michigan. Winters in a wider range of open habitats, even agricultural fields and roadsides. Extremely similar to Eastern Meadowlark and best distinguished by voice: listen for musical gurgling song and "chuk" calls. In winter, plumage looks paler and more washed-out than Eastern Meadowlark, with a less contrasting head pattern. Western is also more likely to be in flocks and areas with shorter grass (less pristine, extensive grasslands). (eBird)

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Beautiful views of this meadowlark singing loud and proud. Very different song to his Eastern counterpart. After first appearing on a distant power line, he eventually came quite to us.

Cawston, British Columbia, Canada. June 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Ultimate British Columbia.

DISTINCTIVE FINCH, and a familiar garden resident, in many parts of the region, but will often dominate bird-feeders, keeping away smaller species. It is also very prone to disease, and there is a line off thought that this maybe down to poor hygiene with the feeders, so a lesson for me, and everybody, that feeders need sterilizing and washing often. They are still a joy to watch, and a privilege to have visit the garden, love sun flower hearts!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT, AND KIND COMMENTS, they are very appreciated, Weekend is coming on strong, enjoy, stay safe, God bless you............. ..................Tomx

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GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !

Distinctive, with big black mask, white patch behind eye, black upperparts with narrow white bars, and big white rump patch. Male has full red crown. Female has grayish forecrown and red hindcrown.

Wryneck - Jynx Torquilla

Wells, Norfolk

The wrynecks (genus Jynx) are a small but distinctive group of small Old World woodpeckers. Jynx is from the Ancient Greek iunx, the Eurasian wryneck.

Like the true woodpeckers, wrynecks have large heads, long tongues which they use to extract their insect prey and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backwards. However, they lack the stiff tail feathers that the true woodpeckers use when climbing trees, so they are more likely than their relatives to perch on a branch rather than an upright trunk.

Their bills are shorter and less dagger-like than in the true woodpeckers, but their chief prey are ants and other insects, which they find in decaying wood or almost bare soil. They re-use woodpecker holes for nesting, rather than making their own holes. The eggs are white, as with many hole nesters.

The two species have cryptic plumage, with intricate patterning of greys and browns. The adult moults rapidly between July and September, although some moult continues in its winter quarters. The voice is a nasal woodpecker-like call.

These birds get their English name from their ability to turn their heads almost 180 degrees. When disturbed at the nest, they use this snake-like head twisting and hissing as a threat display.

Population:

UK passage:

Approx: 280 birds

White Woodpeckers - it is a distinctive inhabitant of lightly wooded savannas and grasslands and forest edge of central South American. It occurs from extreme southeastern Peru east to northeastern Brazil and south to Argentina. The White Woodpecker has a white head and white underparts, set off with yellow patches on the hindneck and belly; there is a black stripe that extends from the rear of the eye to the mantle; and has black wings and tail. The White Woodpecker typically forages in groups of 5 to 8 individuals, sometimes in mixed species flocks with members of the woodpecker genus Colaptes. An arboreal species, the White Woodpecker feeds predominantly on fruits and seeds, but will also feed on insects. White Woodpeckers occasionally open bee nests to get at the honey and insects within. Picture taken at Pantanal - MT.

Wishing everyone a Peaceful Friday and weekend!

Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!

© All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission. All rights reserved. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

My instagram if you like: @thelmag and@thelma_and_cats

Bryce is distinctive due to geological structures called hoodoos, formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. The red, orange, and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular views for park. Arrived at Bryce Canyon in the afternoon, raining, walked around when raining stopped. The light was nice for taking photos, a little bit sunset on top of this beautiful canyon.

Enjoy the last week of 2020, hope we will have better 2021!

………………

You can also find me at

**500px**

The Buntgarnwerke's distinctive building was constructed between 1887 and 1895 according to plans by the architects Ottomar Jummel and Pfeiffer & Händel. It was built due to the increasing importance of trade in Leipzig. The very first impression of the listed building complex conveys the splendour and prestige of the former industrial palace.

The clinker façade, in particular, is highly recognisable, with its striking red brick architecture and decorative light natural stone structures. The two-storey glass and iron bridge, which connects the buildings on either side of the White Elster, is just as distinctive. Today, the Buntgarnwerke on the banks of the White Elster houses numerous lofts and furnished apartments.

Wryneck - Jynx Torquilla

Ogmore

The wrynecks (genus Jynx) are a small but distinctive group of small Old World woodpeckers. Jynx is from the Ancient Greek iunx, the Eurasian wryneck.

Like the true woodpeckers, wrynecks have large heads, long tongues which they use to extract their insect prey and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backwards. However, they lack the stiff tail feathers that the true woodpeckers use when climbing trees, so they are more likely than their relatives to perch on a branch rather than an upright trunk.

Their bills are shorter and less dagger-like than in the true woodpeckers, but their chief prey are ants and other insects, which they find in decaying wood or almost bare soil. They re-use woodpecker holes for nesting, rather than making their own holes. The eggs are white, as with many hole nesters.

The two species have cryptic plumage, with intricate patterning of greys and browns. The adult moults rapidly between July and September, although some moult continues in its winter quarters. The voice is a nasal woodpecker-like call.

These birds get their English name from their ability to turn their heads almost 180 degrees. When disturbed at the nest, they use this snake-like head twisting and hissing as a threat display.

Population:

UK passage:

Approx: 280 birds

Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

The common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.

It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. It has a number of subspecies, some of which are now treated as full species.

This warbler gets its name from its simple distinctive song, a repetitive cheerful chiff-chaff. This song is one of the first avian signs that spring has returned. Its call is a hweet, less disyllabic than the hooeet of the willow warbler or hu-it of the western Bonelli's warbler.

The common chiffchaff breeds across Europe and Asia east to eastern Siberia and north to about 70°N, with isolated populations in northwest Africa, northern and western Turkey and northwestern Iran. It is migratory, but it is one of the first passerine birds to return to its breeding areas in the spring and among the last to leave in late autumn. When breeding, it is a bird of open woodlands with some taller trees and ground cover for nesting purposes. These trees are typically at least 5 metres (16 ft) high, with undergrowth that is an open, poor to medium mix of grasses, bracken, nettles or similar plants. Its breeding habitat is quite specific, and even near relatives do not share it; for example, the willow warbler (P. trochilus) prefers younger trees, while the wood warbler (P. sibilatrix) prefers less undergrowth. In winter, the common chiffchaff uses a wider range of habitats including scrub, and is not so dependent on trees. It is often found near water, unlike the willow warbler which tolerates drier habitats. There is an increasing tendency to winter in western Europe well north of the traditional areas, especially in coastal southern England and the mild urban microclimate of London. These overwintering common chiffchaffs include some visitors of the eastern subspecies abietinus and tristis, so they are certainly not all birds which have bred locally, although some undoubtedly are.

Population:

UK breeding:

1,200,000 territories

UK wintering:

500-1,000 birds

With its distinctive plumage and evocative cry, the African fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is probably the most familiar bird of prey in Africa. Perched majestically on a high branch, the contrast between the white upper-body and tail (not obvious in this shot), the chestnut belly and the black wings is unmistakable.

Aside from fish, this efficient raptor will also take the young of water birds such as the lesser flamingo, and very occasionally will go for monkeys, crocodile hatchlings, frogs and insects.

I took dozens of shots of Fish Eagles in Kanana Nature Reserve before I was satisfied with this one, and a few others. My recycle bin is filled with rejected Fish Eagle shots.

New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

Wikipedia: The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) is the most widespread species of the genus Upupa. It is a distinctive cinnamon colored bird with black and white wings, a tall erectile crest, a broad white band across a black tail, and a long narrow downcurved bill. Its call is a soft "oop-oop-oop". It is native to Europe, Asia and the northern half of Africa. It is migratory in the northern part of its range. It spends most of the time on the ground probing for grubs and insects. The clutch of seven to eight eggs is laid in an existing cavity. The eggs are incubated by the female and hatch asynchronously. Some ornithologists treat the African and Madagascar hoopoes as subspecies of the Eurasian hoopoe.

Nine subspecies of Eurasian hoopoe are recognized by Kristin (in the 2001 Handbook of the Birds of the World). They vary mostly in size and the depth of color in the plumage. A further subspecies has been proposed: U. e. orientalis in northwestern India.

Conservation status: Least Concern

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_hoopoe

Distinctive medium-sized rainforest honeyeater. Underparts are olive with white streaking. Upperparts brown with small white spots on back of neck and larger white spots on back. Black cap on top of head, gray throat. Bare patch of dull pinkish skin around the eye is surrounded by orangish feathers, with a few yellowish feathers behind that. Has a very small range in northern Queensland, where it is found in rainforests and adjacent habitats. Feeds on fruit and insects. (eBird)

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This honeyeater really preferred the deepest, darkest parts of the rainforest that we were exploring. It also liked to visit the banana feeder near our lodge, though not to stay long enough for photos.

Julatten, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.

Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

East Africa

A large, unusual and distinctive weaver with scaly plumage, rufous tail and wing panels, a white-edged shoulder, and pale eyes. Found in moderately moist savanna and woodland at middle elevations, often in small flocks.

Nests in colonies. Similar in shape and size to Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, but separated by many details, such as the lack of a red bill. The vocalizations are harsh nasal “skeeya” and “krrrra” notes, sometimes strung together into a series. -

Wikipedia

Very large and distinctive black-and-white pelican. Enormous bill with characteristic throat pouch. Usually found near water, both marine and inland waterways. Becomes tame around boat-ramps and fishing spots. Perches on lamp-posts. (eBird)

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A bird I was really hoping to see. I had seen photos on Flickr, and now here they were, resting on the mudflats at Cairns. A curious Silver-backed Gull wandered by to see what was happening, but he was totally ignored by the snoozers and the preeners :-)

Cairns Esplanade, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.

With homes nestled around a confined bay and atop wave-washed boulders facing the Atlantic, Peggy's Cove is renowned for its gorgeous and distinctively East Coast profile.

Even though this quaint fishing village has been declared a preservation area, the local fishing community is nevertheless very active.

Thanks for your visit, wishing you a happy new week!