Pileated Woodpeckers drill distinctive rectangular-shaped holes in rotten wood to get at carpenter ants and other insects. They are loud birds with whinnying calls. They also drum on dead trees in a deep, slow, rolling pattern, and even the heavy chopping sound of foraging carries well. Their flight undulates like other woodpeckers, which helps separate them from a crow’s straight flight path. This one was seen at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida.

Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris

The Eurasian treecreeper or common treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) is a small passerine bird also known in the British Isles, where it is the only living member of its genus, simply as treecreeper. It is similar to other treecreepers, and has a curved bill, patterned brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and long stiff tail feathers which help it creep up tree trunks. It can be most easily distinguished from the similar short-toed treecreeper, which shares much of its European range, by its different song.

The Eurasian treecreeper has nine or more subspecies which breed in different parts of its range in temperate Eurasia. This species is found in woodlands of all kinds, but where it overlaps with the short-toed treecreeper in western Europe it is more likely to be found in coniferous forests or at higher altitudes. It nests in tree crevices or behind bark flakes, and favours introduced giant sequoia as nest sites where they are available. The female typically lays five or six pink-speckled white eggs in the lined nest, but eggs and chicks are vulnerable to attack by woodpeckers and mammals, including squirrels.

The Eurasian treecreeper is insectivorous and climbs up tree trunks like a mouse, to search for insects which it picks from crevices in the bark with its fine curved bill. It then flies to the base of another tree with a distinctive erratic flight. This bird is solitary in winter, but may form communal roosts in cold weather.

Distinctive very dark bird with large feet, most often seen running up and down the sides of trees in dry forest, savanna, and moist lowland forest of northern Australia, where it is the only treecreeper species. Uniformly rich, dark brown, almost black, with white streaks on the throat. In flight. shows bold tan wingbars. The western subspecies (wellsi) has reddish-brown underparts. Call is a slow, repeated "pip pip pip," usually followed by a fast trill of the same note. (eBird)

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Not even closely related to the Treecreepers of North America, Europe and India. These are Australian Treecreepers and are much larger.

This was the one and only time we saw this species, and again, it was on our last day in the Northern Territory. Great way to finish this leg of the trip.

Pine Creek, Northern Territory, Australia. October 2022.

The Red-bellied Grackle is a distinctive rare blackbird of cloud forest in the Colombian Andes. It is large, long-tailed, and heavy-billed with a bright red belly and otherwise glossy black plumage. Red-bellied Grackles moves through the forest in groups, giving a variety of calls. While it has been recorded from all three ranges of the Andes in Colombia, contemporary localities are few.

neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p...

La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.

Piranga rubra

(Summer tanager / Piranga abejera)

The only completely red bird in North America, the strawberry-colored male Summer Tanager is an eye-catching sight against the green leaves of the forest canopy.

The mustard-yellow female is harder to spot, though both sexes have a very distinctive chuckling call note. Fairly common during the summer, these birds migrate as far as the middle of South America each winter.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Summer_Tanager/id

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.

I followed this bird as it flew past, most shots were out of focus, but in this one I fluked an in focus shot of its raised wing. That alone saved this shot from the recycle bin.

Another shot of this small butterfly resting, this time on thistle, with the distinctive silver studs on its hind wings showing clearly. 'Argus' refers to the mythological Greek 100 eyed giant. After he was killed by Hermes his eyes were transferred to the Peacock's tail.

Thank you all for your kind responses.

Bold black-and-white wing patches are distinctive in flight. Nonbreeding birds are overall white below with warm brown and orange tones on head and back. During the breeding season they are white with black or gray on the back. Breeds on tundra at northern latitudes; forms flocks in the winter and moves south, often joining up with other species of field birds. Listen for distinctive tittering rattle and “tew” calls as they fly overhead. Foraging flocks also gives harsher buzzy calls. (eBird)

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From last November. We had several flocks of Snow Buntings fly by while we were duck watching on the Ottawa River. These landed and were foraging in the dry grass for some seeds.

Explored June 28, 2023 at #408.

Explored April 25, 2025 at #425. Surprise Explore for National Go Birding Day.

Shirley's Bay, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. November 2022.

The distinctive Crested Caracara “combines the raptorial instincts of the eagle with the base carrion-feeding habits of the vulture” (Hudson 1920). Called ignoble, miserable, and aggressive, yet also dashing, stately, and noble, this medium-sized raptor, with its bold black-and-white plumage and bright yellow-orange face and legs, is easily recognizable as it perches conspicuously on a high point in the landscape. In flight it can be distinguished by its regular, powerful wing-beats as it cruises low across the ground or just above the treetops.

The name “caracara” is said to be of Guarani Indian origin, traro-traro, derived from the unusual rattling vocalization that the bird utters when agitated.

The Crested Caracara is a bird of open habitats, typically grassland, prairie, pastures, or desert with scattered taller trees, shrubs, or cacti in which it nests. Adult pairs are generally monogamous and highly territorial and exhibit strong site fidelity. Young remain with their parents for several months after fledging, and at some sites, two broods are raised per year.

I found this adult as a part of a family of three including a juvenile, at Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area in Hendry County, Florida.

DISTINCTIVE wader, looks black and white at a distance, but in certain angles, you can see a green an purple sheen, Found at Elmley Marshes, a working farm, where they put nature first, often amoung grazing cattle, where they feed, breed and nest on the ground. Numbers have declined alarmingly as a result in farming pratices . Always a joy to see, and few sights and sounds more evocative of the countryside than a lapwing performing a noisy display flight over its territory in the spring.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, hpoe you are enjoying the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend, despite it turning quite cold in the U.K again. Stay well and safe, God Bless......

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

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"Ask Jesus into your life today"!

Distinctive warbler with bold black-and-white stripes over entire body. Adult males have black throat and cheek; females and immatures have white throat and paler cheek. Creeps along branches like a nuthatch, searching for insects. Breeds in mature deciduous or mixed forests; winters in a wider variety of wooded habitats as far south as northern South America. Listen for high pitched “squeaky-wheel” song. Breeding male Blackpoll Warbler is potentially confusing, but note different behavior and face pattern. (eBird)

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Another warbler found on our Big Day, and another that I have struggled to photograph well. They are fast and acrobatic, and always a pleasure to see.

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. May 2023.

Arbre particulier

A DISTINCTIVE WADER, of open habitats, and during the breeding season, which is now, it is found on undisturbed grazed grassland, moors , numbers have declined alarmingly as a result to farming practice's.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!! This one seen at the scrape Sandwich Bay, Kent, U.K.

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THANK YOU, for your visit, any comment is very appreciated indeed, Hope your all keeping well, Stay safe and God bless you ..........Tomx.

The Long-tailed Tyrant is a distinctive flycatcher that occurs at the edge of montane evergreen forest and of lowland forest from Honduras south to western Colombia and western Ecuador, and from southeastern Ecuador south to Brazil, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina; there also is a population in northeastern South America. Long-tailed Tyrants are dull black with a white crown and rump, and sport a pair of elongated central tail feathers that extend up to 13 cm beyond the rest of the tail. Long-tailed Tyrants feed exclusively on flying insects, especially stingless bees. Insects are captured by making quick aerial sallies from a high exposed snag or branch. The Long-tailed Tyrant is resident throughout most of its range, although the populations in southern Brazil perhaps are migratory. doi.org/10.2173/bow.lottyr1.01

Wild - at Trilha dos Tucanos.

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

DISTINCTIVE wader that is easily recognized by its dumpy rounded body, rather short legs, and its incredibly long, straight bill. Seen at the scrap Sandwich Bay Kent UK.

Zoom in to get close and personal !!!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT and friendship, this image was taken a month ago, as am still walking around like a very old man, and sitting and lying in bed is the most painful on my lower spine. Keep posting your images to keep me sane, enjoy the Lords day, and the new week, God bless you richly

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

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

The distinctive cry of the Curlew rings around the Northern uplands at this time of year and these wild moors still hold good numbers of breeding pairs.

Sadly in the South they are now a rare breeding bird.

Taken in the Yorkshire Dales.

A bird with a distinctive crest on its head, the color is light brown, and its crest is brown, spotted from its edges with black feathers, and the lower half is black speckled with white feathers in beautiful arrangements. It has a distinctive way of flying, and it feeds on insects and sees individuals in agricultural areas. Worms, larvae and pests. Its presence and sighting is a sign of the purity of the environment from pesticides, and it is forbidden to hunt it (as is the case with Abu Qardan and Abu Fasada, as it is not eaten. It lives in the southern and central regions of Asia and Europe and is largely found in Africa, and lives in the terrain, vineyards and meadows, in particular The meadows of the savannah and in the scattered trees, and it is not stable in one place, but it is constantly moving and migrating from one place to another in search of food.

طير له عرف مميز على رأسه، اللون بني فاتح وعرفه البني مرقط من أطرافه بالريش الأسود ونصفه الأسفل أسود مرقط بالريش الأبيض في نظم جميل، له طريقة مميزة في الطيران، ويتغذى على الحشرات ويشاهد أفراداً في المناطق الزراعية، وهو من أصدقاء الفلاحين فهو ينظف الأرض من الديدان واليرقات والآفات. يعد وجوده ومشاهدته علامة على نقاء البيئة من المبيدات الحشرية، وممنوع صيده (كما هو الحال بالنسبة لأبو قردان وأبو فصادة، حيث أنه لا يؤكل. وهو يعيش في المناطق الجنوبية والوسطى من آسيا وأوروبا ويتواجد في إفريقيا بشكل كبير، ويعيش في التضاريس وكروم العنب والمروج وبالذات مروج السافانا وفي الأشجار المتفرقة وهو غير مستقر في مكان واحد، بل هو دائم التنقل والترحال من مكان لآخر بحثا عن الغذاء

An adult male Painted Bunting is arguably the most distinctive songbird in North America, with the combination of a deep blue head, red underparts, a green back, and a red rump. Females and immature birds are a uniform, bright yellow-green overall, with a pale eye ring. Though they are basically un-patterned, their overall color is greener and brighter than similar songbirds.

Although both males and females have a metallic "chip" call, only male birds sing. Its sweet rambling song is easily heard and very distinctive.

Habitat

Painted Buntings breed in semi-open habitats with scattered shrubs or trees. Breeding birds prefer scrub communities, palmetto thickets, and the edges of maritime hammocks. The two breeding populations (eastern and western) have separate wintering grounds, though both gravitate toward high grass, shrubby overgrown pasture, and thickets. Eastern breeders winter in shrubby or grassy habitats in Florida and the northern Caribbean. Birds from the south-central U.S. winter in similar habitats in southern Mexico and Central America.

Found this male in my backyard. Thought it makes a perfect "Christmas Bird".

"Merry Christmas Everyone"

A large duck, generally common and familiar within its extensive range. Males are distinctive with iridescent green head, yellow bill, chestnut breast, and gray body. Females are mottled brown with orange and black splotches on the bill. Found anywhere with water, including city parks, backyard creeks, and various wetland habitats. Often in flocks, and frequently mixes with other duck species. In North America, females can be tricky to distinguish from American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, and Mexican Duck where ranges overlap. Those species are all darker-bodied than Mallard. A good view of the wing can be helpful, too: white wingbars on the leading and trailing edges of the blue wing patch are bolder on Mallard. Frequently hybridizes with those species, which can be even more confusing. Any bird with extensive white in the tail or curled feathers above the tail has some Mallard genes. (eBird)

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I just had to include the Alberta Mallard. He was too beautiful to ignore :-)

John E. Poole Wetland, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. June 2022.

The distinctively marked and aptly named collared kingfisher of Asia. This bird was photographed amongst mangroves in Thalen Bay, Thailand. More at "Colin Pacitti Wildlife Photography & Fishing Travels" - www.colin-pacitti.com.

THE MALE COLOURFUL AND DISTINCTIVE, a delightful bird of wayside habitats, a real joy to behold.

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HAVE A BROKEN TOE, with a deep cut, which has become affected, am now on antibiotics, quite painful, so this may keep me indoors for a few hours! hence a old image, That's my moan for the day over with.

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THANK YOU for your visit, it means a lot, please leave a comment, and will return the visit soon as possible, bless you all .......................Tomx.

Hoopoes are colourful birds found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, notable for their distinctive "crown" of feathers. Three living and one extinct species are recognized, though for many years all of the extant species were lumped as a single species—Upupa epops

Small falcon with distinctive male plumage; gray head, rusty back, gray tail with broad black tip. Female is brownish above, barred on back, wings, and tail. Note rather pointed wingtips (unlike rounded wings of sparrowhawks and Shikra), and distinct dark spotting on breast. Fairly common in open and lightly wooded country, farmland, heathland; often seen over rough grassland beside roads and at airports. Perches on wires and posts, and typically hunts by hovering, at times fairly high overhead.​ Very similar to Lesser Kestrel. (Courtesy e.bird)

Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍

Small falcon with distinctive male plumage; gray head, rusty back, gray tail with broad black tip. Female is brownish above, barred on back, wings, and tail. Note rather pointed wingtips (unlike rounded wings of sparrowhawks and Shikra), and distinct dark spotting on breast. Fairly common in open and lightly wooded country, farmland, heathland; often seen over rough grassland beside roads and at airports. Perches on wires and posts, and typically hunts by hovering, at times fairly high overhead.​ Very similar to Lesser Kestrel. (Courtesy e.bird)

Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍

Hey guys,

This is my 2nd entry for The Shambles photo contest. It is difficult to describe this place in a few words, as it contains a lot: a country beach nestled against a small charming town with a part to spend time as well as a fisherman's part. The town itself unfolds at the foot of a rocky rugged coastline. The transition from its distinctive zones is unnoticeable. Everything is in the atmosphere of late humid summer, favoring the growth of nature, which dominates the human influence here. The impact of the atmosphere of the southern coasts of Europe and the coasts of the British Isles can be seen here. Lots of astonishing photospots. You should visit it.

🌐visit The Shambles 🌐

_____________________________________

Into the night

I cry out

I cry out your name.

Into the night

I search out

I swearch out your love.

Night so dark

Where are you?

Come back in my heart

So dark

🎵"Into the night" Angelo Badalamenti🎵

DISTINCTIVE WADER is easily recognized by its dumpy, rounded body, rather short legs, and its incredibly long, straight bill. The latter is used to probe vertically downwards in soft mud, in the manner of a sewing machine. Seen at the scrap Sandwich Bay, and only for a brief few seconds before disappearing into the long grasses again.

Zoom in for more detail.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND FRIENDSHIP, love reading your comments which I find very encouraging and always appreciated.

Keep well and safe dear friends...God bless.....................Tomx

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"Ask JESUS into your life today, you will never look back !"

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The most distinctive feature of Grotto Geyser is its cone, which is over six feet high , has one section missing and includes several calcified trees, giving the appearance of a ring of pinnacles surrounding the vent, all usually partly obscured by steam. The geyser was one of the first seven in the basin to be given an official name, in 1870. Eruptions of Grotto Geyser last between one hour and one day, separated by around eight hours. The height is usually not great, around ten feet, but the spectacle is made more impressive by the elegant cone. The vent is surrounded by shallow pools and intricate sinter formations.

Hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park.

The spider species Argiope aurantia is commonly known as the yellow garden spider, black and yellow garden spider, golden garden spider, writing spider, zigzag spider, zipper spider, black and yellow argiope, corn spider, Steeler spider, or McKinley spider. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1833. It is common to the contiguous United States, Hawaii, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America. It has distinctive yellow and black markings on the abdomen and a mostly white cephalothorax. Its scientific Latin name translates to "gilded silver-face". The body length of males range from 5–9 mm; females range from 19–28 mm. These spiders may bite if disturbed or harassed, but the venom is harmless to non-allergic humans, roughly equivalent to a bumblebee sting in intensity.

Scientific name: Argiope aurantia

Genus: Argiope

Order: Spider

Family: Orb-weaver Spider

Suborder: Opisthothelae

Class: Arachnid

Biological rank: Species

Shot with my A6300 and Sony 90mm F/2.8 OSS.

© All Rights Reserved

Egyptian Goose - Alopochen Aegyptiacus

Once common along the entire Nile valley and regarded as sacred in ancient times, the Egyptian Goose is no longer an easy bird to see in the country from which it takes its name, as it is largely confined to upper Egypt. It is, however, widespread and common throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with introduced populations firmly established in England, Holland, Belgium and France. Concerns over conflict with native species has led to restrictions on keeping them in Britain and Europe.

This distinctive small goose is a member of the shelduck family. In the wild it is invariably found in pairs or family parties, while flocks of 50 or more can be found after the breeding season. The sexes are similar: both have a conspicuous chestnut patch encircling the eyes, giving them a somewhat piratical appearance, while the brilliant white forewing is obvious when they fly.

The UK Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 came into force on Sunday 1st December. The Order implements requirements contained in EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species, which sets out rules to prevent and minimise the impact of the introduction and spread of non-native animals and plants across the EU. The Order makes it an offence, amongst other things, to import, keep, sell, transport, breed or release into the environment, any of the listed plants and animals. Invasive alien waterfowl currently covered by this Order are Egyptian Geese and Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis.

DISTINCTIVE WARBLER, that is well marked, male above, the female has a brown cap. Overwintering birds are usually only encountered by chance, although some individuals become faithful visitors to garden bird-feeders as this one has !

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT, AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated, and find encouraging, Please do stay safe, God bless you my dear friends........................Tomx

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THE ESSENCE of life as a CHRISTIAN is not GODS distance from us, but GODS presence with us, by his spirit, so we can enjoy his forgiveness and reach out to others in forgiveness.

"Ask him into your life today!"

I discovered my neighbor had some giant milkweed spilling onto the sidewalk in front of her house. What a surprise!

"Members of the genus produce some of the most complex flowers in the plant kingdom, comparable to orchids in complexity. Five petals reflex backwards revealing a gynostegium surrounded by a five-membrane corona. The corona is composed of a five-paired hood-and-horn structure with the hood acting as a sheath for the inner horn. Glands holding pollinia are found between the hoods. The size, shape and color of the horns and hoods are often important identifying characteristics for species in the genus Asclepias.

More can be found at....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias

COLOURFUL AND DISTINCTIVE bird, although its wary nature ensures that its attractive plumage is seldom viewed. This was a rare chance of a capture, which I took. Utters a loud and harsh scream when disturbed, a woodland bird that buries acorns in the autumn, for winter months, and a fact that this bird is rather shy nature because they are still persecuted in many parts. Zoom in to see that beautiful plumage!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated. Please stay safe, keep well, God bless................. ...............Tomx

The secretive Gray Catbird, with its distinctive cat-like

mewing note, is a common winter resident in Florida.

Many pass through the state during migration.

Gray Catbirds are one of the most common species that non-birders in their range are likely to have never seen nor identified. The catbird’s rather bland coloration – slate gray with a black cap and chestnut under the tail – doesn’t attract attention, and unlike their cousins, the mockingbirds, that often sing from exposed perches, catbirds prefer to sing their jumbled songs from cover. And it is the sounds that catbirds make that give them their name and makes it at all likely that their presence will be noted.

Gray Catbirds, to put it simply, have a call note that sounds like a cat with a scratchy and short meow. This sound emanating from a tangle of brush can easily fool those not in the know. The song of the Gray Catbird, however, is nothing like a cat meowing: like the mockingbird and thrasher the catbird often mimics other birds and sounds but it tends not to repeat itself. The rule of thumb is that if a phrase is repeated three times in a row it is a mockingbird, it it is repeated twice a thrasher is singing, and if each phrase of the song is sang just once one is dealing with a catbird.

I found this one in my backyard in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida.

The eastern lubber grasshopper is limited to the southeastern and south central portion of the United States The northern boundary is central North Carolina west through southern Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, to Texas. It occurs throughout Florida.

The lubber is surely the most distinctive grasshopper species within the southeastern United States. It is well known both for its size and its unique coloration. The wings offer little help with mobility for they are rarely more than half the length of the abdomen. This species is incapable of flight and can jump only short distances. Mostly the lubber is quite clumsy and slow in movement and travels by walking and crawling feebly over the substrate.

Eastern lubber grasshoppers possess a variety of abilities to defend themselves. Their bright color pattern is a warning to predators that the lubber contains toxic substances. Indeed, there are several records attributing the demise of individual birds to failure to exercise caution when selecting prey items. Also small mammals such as opossums have been known to vomit violently after ingesting a lubber, and to remain ill for several hours. If the red, yellow, and black coloration fails to keep a predator at bay, then the lubber may secrete a foamy spray from the thoracic region (the portion of the body where the legs and wings are attached.) This spray consists of a number of compounds, some of which, are irritants. This bubbly froth is accompanied by a relatively loud, frightful hissing sound. The insect contracts the abdomen to force air out of the spiracles along with the defensive secretion. The sound is produced as the spray is being forced out of these tiny holes in the thorax called spiracles. Eastern lubbers, like most all grasshoppers, can also regurgitate recently consumed plant material. This regurgitant is mostly liquid and has a dark brown color. This is commonly referred to as 'tobacco spit.' The tobacco spit is partially digested food material along with some semi-toxic compounds from the insect's crop region. This substance can easily stain clothing.

I found this nasty but colorful beast at Coleman Landing County Park, in Polk County, Florida.

Dark woodpecker, inconspicuous and uncommon. Found in coniferous forests, often in recently burned areas or bogs with many dead trees. Distinctive habit of flaking bark off trees in search of grubs; behavior shared only with American Three-toed Woodpecker. Back entirely glossy black with faint white markings only on flight feathers. Head mostly black with white mustache stripe and throat. Barred flanks. Males show yellow cap; sexes otherwise alike. "Pick" call is short and has unique clicking tone unlike other woodpeckers. Drum is slow, speeding up at end. Does not visit bird feeders. (eBird)

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Usually, we travel north to Algonquin Park to try and find our yearly Black-backed Woodpecker. They can be incredibly difficult to find. This year, this female decided to make Ottawa her home and has visited many of the trails within the Stony Swamp Conservation Area We finally caught up with her today.

Funny story - just as we were starting to be interested in birds, we saw a strange dark woodpecker with a little yellow cap. After chasing it around a tree with the bird guide, we id'd it as a Black-backed Woodpecker. it wasn't until years later that we realized it had a been a rare bird in Ottawa. Alas, no photos to prove our sighting.

Jack Pine Trail, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. March 2023.

La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.

Stilpnia heinei

(Black-capped Tanager / Tangara capirotada)

Black-capped Tanagers are vividly-colored tropical birds that occur in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. They often occur in pairs foraging in bushes and trees for insects and fruit.

It is one of the few species in the genus that shows obvious sexual dichromatism, with males primarily gray-blue in color with a distinctive black cap, and females yellow-green without a black cap.

neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/identificati...

The little grebe is a small, dumpy grebe which often appears to have a 'fluffy' rear end. It readily dives when disturbed, surfacing unseen some distance away. In summer it has a bright chestnut throat and cheeks and a pale gape patch at the base of the bill. It can be noisy, with a distinctive whinnying trill. (RSPB)

A distinctive long-tailed shrike of open woodland and acacia scrub.

Image taken in the Mara North Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya.

Many thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.

Similarly built to Mercat Crosses found across Scotland, the Culross iteration dates back to the 17th century. Though rebuilt in 1902 to preserve its integrity, the cross marks the heart of the town. Its cubical head has four distinctive sides, including the Culross coat of arms, the initials and coat of arms of its restorer, and a monogram for King James VI, alongside a unicorn – Scotland’s national animal.

Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.[1][2] Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington today is as much a legend as a district. The (partly) outdoor market has probably been photographed more often than any other site in Toronto."[3]

Kensington Market is a walkable bohemian neighbourhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. Students and families populate Victorian houses along tree-lined streets.

Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015.[1] These species come in a range of colors, and many species have the ability to change colors. Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet; their very extensive, highly modified, rapidly extrudable tongues; their swaying gait;[2] and crests or horns on their brow and snout. Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensile tail. Chameleons' eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision. Chameleons are adapted for climbing and visual hunting. They live in warm habitats that range from rain forest to desert conditions, various species occurring in Africa, Madagascar, southern Europe, and across southern Asia as far as Sri Lanka.

Named for its distinctively marked breast, the Pectoral Sandpiper is seen only in the U.S. in transit between its breeding grounds in the very high arctic and its wintering grounds in South America. Here, transiting through northern New York State, it was found foraging in lakeside meadow, said to be a preference over mudflats or sandy shorelines. This bird was not shy, perhaps because this species does not much encounter man.

As always, I am grateful for the Cornell website (www.allaboutbirds.org/news/), and the generous leadership of Audubon Society colleagues and trip leaders for nurturing my acquaintance with birds, and helping me to find willing, and not so willing subjects for photography.

La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.

The only completely red bird in North America, the strawberry-colored male Summer Tanager is an eye-catching sight against the green leaves of the forest canopy.

The mustard-yellow female is harder to spot, though both sexes have a very distinctive chuckling call note. Fairly common during the summer, these birds migrate as far as the middle of South America each winter.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Summer_Tanager/id

Small falcon with distinctive male plumage; gray head, rusty back, gray tail with broad black tip. Female is brownish above, barred on back, wings, and tail. Note rather pointed wingtips (unlike rounded wings of sparrowhawks and Shikra), and distinct dark spotting on breast. Fairly common in open and lightly wooded country, farmland, heathland; often seen over rough grassland beside roads and at airports. Perches on wires and posts, and typically hunts by hovering, at times fairly high overhead.​ Very similar to Lesser Kestrel. (Courtesy e.bird)

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This major building is a very distinctive white Assembly Hall topped with small gold tipped spires. Around the sides of the temple are a number of interesting Buddha statues including a replica of the famous Emerald Buddha.

This is a small temple in the Northern Thai town of Phrae. Wat Phong Sunan is a lesser known temple which receives few visitors which is unfortunate because it’s one of the most interesting and beautiful temples in Thailand.

The origins of Wat Phong Sunan are mysterious, as are how its important artefacts came to the temple. Wat Phong Sunan lay derelict for an unknown period of time before local nobility, relatives of the Chao Luang (the last King of Phrae) restored the temple in 1929.

Wat Phong Sunan has two main temple buildings. The larger of the two buildings is the Ordination Hall where new monks are ordained. This building has a traditional Central Thai style design.

Inside Wat Phong Sunan is a shrine with several Buddha statues. The statue in the centre is the Phra Chao San Suk which is believed to be over 500 years old and to have brought to Phrae from India.

Thanks for your visits and you kind comments. Wish you a nice week-end dear friends❤️

Medium-sized, stocky shorebird found almost exclusively on coastal mudflats during migration, seldom inland. Distinctive adult in breeding plumage has a brick-orange upperwing patch, blackish back, and chest with black mottling. Duller nonbreeding and juvenile plumages are grayish brown above, white below, with grayish mottling in neck and upper breast. Smaller Red Knot much paler in nonbreeding plumage and has shorter bill. Flight call a sharp, whistled “kweet-kweet.”

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Thrilled to see this endangered wader out on the mudflats at Cairns. Huge crop, but it is a lifer!

Cairns Esplanade, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.

Distinctive warbler with bold black-and-white stripes over entire body. Adult males have black throat and cheek; females and immatures have white throat and paler cheek. Creeps along branches like a nuthatch, searching for insects. Breeds in mature deciduous or mixed forests; winters in a wider variety of wooded habitats as far south as northern South America. Listen for high pitched “squeaky-wheel” song. Breeding male Blackpoll Warbler is potentially confusing, but note different behavior and face pattern. (eBird)

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This active little bird was chasing bugs along the branches, but I finally got the lens on him!

Peace Island Park, Taylor, British Columbia, Canada. May 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours Ultimate British Columbia.

This weeks-old puppy is one of the eight children of a mixed-breed dog. While it's siblings either have a pure white or light brown fur, or a white body coloring with some brown patches, none of them has a distinguishing facial feature like this predominantly white puppy - which has a black mask-like design on its head.

Taken in Subic, Zambales, Philippines.

The distinctive wing pattern and shape of Emesis make them instantly recognisable as a genus. Emesis mandana, in common with several other Emesis species, is quite variable in colour, ranging from dull reddish to bright orange-yellow. This butterfly is common and widespread throughout much of central and South America.

This species apparently occurs in primary and secondary forest habitats at altitudes between sea level and at least 2000m, but is most frequently encountered below 800m.

(The specimen in this photo was taken in La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level. It was a very hot day, and it is the second time I encounter this butterfly here).

www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Amazon%20-%20Emesis%20manda...