SMALL and compact bird with a relatively short. dark tail. This male was seen at Sandwich Bay Kent and was the only bird of note seen today, and a bit distant, hope you enjoy it!

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Trust you are staying safe and well, thanks for your visit, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it encouraging . God bless.........................Tomx

ACTIVE BIRDS, and not common as the name suggests, are found in dense forests and mangroves, I found them very hard to photograph as to their jerky fast movements, love seeing them.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will soon be looking at your latest posting, which I very much enjoy, being transported around the world from the comfort of my armchair. Keep warm, safe, and well, God bless you ............Tomx

QUICK MARCH !!!

TALL robust plovers with long yellow legs, usually in pairs or small parties of up to ten birds. Favors a variety of fresh and saline aquatic habitats. Difficult to get close to, and very entertaining in their behavior. Seen at Kotu, Banjul, Gambia.

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THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and comments.

Another very wet day in Kent, hope you remembered to put the clocks forward an hour, stay safe and well........ God bless............................. Tomx

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COURTSHIP DISPLAY VERY RARELY SEEN.

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My jaw hit the ground, when two of these beauties started a courtship display, have many images of the entire ferormance, something I will never forget.

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MY LAST GAMBIAN IMAGE. have over 1100 keeper images have posted only 33. Such a joy for me to show them.

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THANK YOU, for your visit, friendship, and comments, enjoy the LORDS day, stay safe and well, God bless you....Tomx

VERY SMALL KINGFISHER

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Have so many images of these beauties, as they grew in confidence, getting closer and closer, typically perches low and in the shade. The fight is extremely rapid and straight. Miss these beauties very much, so entertaining. (one of nine kingfisher species found in the Gambia.)

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship to my Gambia trip images. Hope you have a very enjoyable weekend, God bless you............Tomx

A GREETING CARD star, one of the nations favourites. Often bold and inquisitive in garden settings, strongly and conspicuously territorial, so how can you not take its picture, I love them, seen at Stodmarsh, Kent, UK.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP in these difficult times, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting.

Enjoy the rest of the week, stay safe, God bless..............Tomx

FAMILIAR little finch, a delightful little bird of wayside habitats. In Summer the male as above is colourful and distinctive. Seen at the Reastharrow Scrape lead in path, at Sandwich Bay Kent.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, Keep safe and well,enjoy the weekend my friends, God bless you........ Tomx

ALTHOUGH it's very wary nature ensures that its attractive plumage is seldom viewed to the best effect and the raucous calls are heard more often than the bird itself is seen. A joy to see as I always consider this to be my Neminis bird.

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

DAZZLINGLY ATTRACTIVE bird, not often seen in our corner of Kent UK, and was not expecting to see it in the Grove Ferry Feast Hide, but what a joy when it landed, he caught a couple of tiddlers and was off, leaving me with the biggest grin ever.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it very encouraging

.The weekend is coming on strong, stay safe, may God bless you.............................Tomx

DUMPY and short-tailed woodland bird, the Nuthatch has the habit of descending tree trunks head-downwards in a jerky mannor. The chisel-like bill is used to prise insects from tree bark, and to hammer open acorns wedged into bark crevices. It is also a frequent visitor to garden bird feeders in rural areas, sadly not mine.

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THANK YOU for your visit and comments, will look forward to returning to your photostream, and commenting on your lastest image.

OFFLINE for three days, enjoy the weekend, stay safe, God bless...............................Tomx

A adorable, rather dumpy short tailed woodland bird , which has the habit of descending tree trunks head-downwards in a jerky manner, its chisel-like bill is used to prise insects from tree bark and to hammer open acorns wedged into bark crevices. Love working with these birds.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, enjoy the new week dear friends, Stay safe and well, God bless.......................... ......................................Tomx.

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 !

FAMILIAR black, grey and white bird. The Pied Wagtail has a bounding flight and distinctive habit of pumping its tail up and down. They love locations such as playing fields and supermarket car parks, where this one was captured, but I was willing it to go into a little grass area to get a better image.

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THANK YOU for being a friend, please leave a comment and I will look forward to returning the visit.

We have the road map out of lockdown, just hope the nature reserves and hides will soon open.

Stay safe and well, God bless..........................Tomx.

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JESUS LOVES YOU and died for you, let him into your life today as your savior!

afternoon sighting in Shaba Nature Reserve, Kenya, in 2010.

Gerenuk are also called Giraffe Gazelle or Giraffe-necked Gazelle.

A medium-sized antelope with a long thin neck and a small head; it often feeds while standing on the hind legs and

lives in arid areas, mainly in Northern Kenya

Litocranius walleri

gerenoek of girafgazelle

gazelle de Waller ou antilope-girafe

Giraffengazellen oder Gerenuk

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Near Threathened

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. ButsFons©2021

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

TRIP TO GAMBIA CANCELLED

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Have been going every year since 2013 about now, with my brother Bob, so am going to post a few images from that year as I had very few followers then, hope you enjoy my then rubbish photography.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, it will always be appreciated and I find encouraging.

Please stay safe and well.... ......God bless............Tomx.

URBAN and RURAL bird, extremely vocal, and a proficient mimic , it forms sizable flocks out-side breeding season, The starling walks with a characteristic swagger, and a joy to see .

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comment, will return to see and comment on your latest images. please stay safe, God bless. ........................................Tomx.

A BULKY, broad -winged raptor , medium sized bird of prey, and still not that many in the south-east area of Kent. A pure joy to see coming of the fields at Elmley Nature Reserve, the brown and black blobs on the ground are cows!!

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THANK YOU for your visit, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your lastest posting.

Please stay safe , God bless....Tomx

The brimstone is a fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, with distinctive, leaf-shaped wings. Adults hibernate through cold weather, so may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the spring. Usually seen in ones or twos, they are never very common, but are widespread. They can be found in damp woodlands, along sunny, woodland rides and mature hedgerows, and in large gardens. The foodplants of the larvae are buckthorn and alder buckthorn. Both shrubs are found in wet woodland, while buckthorn also occurs on dry chalk and limestone soils.

Gambia tour 2020.

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JOY OF JOYS, my brother spotted and called HOOPOE, no way I thought !!! But yes it was, our first sighting in the Gambia. Bless its heart, it let us very near, and I have over 100 keeper images, it was completely relaxed, and never stopped grooming itself, a experience I will never forget . Seen in the Kotu area.

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THANK YOU for being a friend and leaving a comment. Will look forward to visiting your photo stream and and doing the same on your latest posting. The weekend is coming on fast, enjoy, say safe, and may God bless you in all you do.

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

ENJOYING the wet weather, as it brings up the worms, not so good for photographers, it was the best image to a bad day.

Seen Ancient highway Sandwich bay Kent.

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THANKING YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, hope your all well and making the most out of life, in these crazy days....God bless you.................................Tomx

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !"

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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NORMALLY VERY PLACID HERON, with no neck showing, but something came near, did not see what it was, it reeled out its neck , with a feather duster look, with a loud grunting type call, was quite taken back with its very long neck behaviour. Have shown the normal pose thirty seven images back, if you want to compare

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, they are very appreciated, enjoy your day, stay well and safe, God bless....

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

THE FIG AND PLUM TREE, in our garden , only feed the birds, rarely do we get to eat of the fruits.. This was taken in the darkest possible spot, and therefore of poor quality, but a bit different. My wife Chris and I have been feeding two families of Blackbirds, and they have become very tame, and even enter the cottage, and has given us so much joy and entertainment during these difficult times of near isolation.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, I love doing the same to your lastest postings.

Enjoy the Lords day, stay well and safe, God bless..... ......................................Tomx.

A FAMILIAR MIGRANT VISITOR, that can be recognized in flight by its pointed wings and in the adult long tail streamers. But to photograph one is the problem as the adults rarely perch, and then it's on roadside wires, so this had to be taken on something natural !!!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND FRIENDSHIP, hope you all have a great weekend, God bless............... Tomx

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"Jesus loves you, yes you !!"

Ask him into your life today.

A freshly emerged female Marbled white opens her wings for the first time.

Good Friday morning everyone and wishing everyone a great day, a great and safe weekend. As I found this guy it started to rain, but I and he did not mind a bit.

Thanks to everyone for everything.

"HALLELUJAH !" FIRST TRIP OUT !!! AND THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GOT !!! but so good to see some feathered friends again !!!

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THE TEAL is the smallest duck in Britain and one of the most widespread. Flocks of teals are a familiar sight in winter on estuaries, mudflats and inland wetlands. They are still very attractive, this one seen at the scrape, Sandwich Bay, Kent UK

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THANK YOU for your visit and very kind comments, and standing and supporting me through the most difficult part of my life, God bless you all...................................Tomx

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"I thank God my life has been saved !"

DELIGHTFUL PLUMP-BODIED WADER, not often seen, and taken in very dark conditions, the best of a bad bunch, but just enjoy catching up with this pair every-year at the sea side defense wall, from Jan to about April. Seen a Hampton near Herne Bay, Kent, U.K.

WETLAND BIRD, widespread and familiar, swims with jerky movements and constantly flicks its tail. Looks rather labored in flight, with its legs dangling. Moorhens are usually rather wary and disappear into cover when alarmed, and by contrast this one is a regular visitor to our garden, and quite tame, it comes from a pond over the road the size of a football pitch.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, always try to return any visit made. Please stay safe, God bless you!.........

------------------------------- Tomx

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"Ask Jesus into your life today! say this simple prayer "

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LORD JESUS CHRIST, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life, please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever. Thank you, Lord Jesus.......

....................AMEN.

I'm on holiday in Scarborough until Sunday, so my uploads will be hit and miss

SMALL dumpy wader that is associated with coastal habitats. Feeds by running along sand, gravel or estuarine mud as if powered by clockwork and then standing still for a second, to pick up food from the ground. Seen from the sea wall Reculvers, where their was a flock of about 20.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, and leaving a comment, will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting!

Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone

May God bless and keep you...........................................Tomx.

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COUNT your blessings, name them one by one, and you will be surprised what the good LORDs done.!

The meadow pipit is a common nesting bird of moorland, heathland and rough grassland. In the autumn and winter, it moves out of upland areas to lowlands where it gathers in small flocks and can be found on farmland and saltmarshes. In the spring, it performs a fluttering, 'parachute' display flight. There are 2 million breeding territories in the UK.

On moorlands, meadow pipits are the most common 'foster parents' of young cuckoos. The adult cuckoo will lay a single egg in a meadow pipit's nest. After hatching, the cuckoo chick will push the other eggs or young birds out of the nest, giving its foster parents more time to concentrate on feeding their new, oversized chick.

at a large pool in a farmland area

Ardea cinerea

blauwe reiger

héron cendré

Graureiher

Garza Real

Airone cenerino

Garça-real

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

A familiar bird of our wetlands, the Coot is often seen on park lakes, ponds and rivers. It spends more of its time on the water than its relative, the Moorhen, and will dive to catch small invertebrates. Unlike ducks, Coots will bring their catch to the surface before eating it, leading to squabbles over food. Coots breed in spring, laying between six and nine eggs in nests made among emergent vegetation. Coot chicks are black with orange fluff around the face and body; they are independent within two months of hatching.

The Coot can be distinguished from the similar-looking Moorhen by its larger size, entirely black body (with no white patches), and bright white bill. Coots spend much of their time away from the bankside, diving for food.

DELIGHTFUL and often confiding little bird with a proportionately very long tail and seemingly an almost spherical body. The long-tailed Tit is often seen in rather animated flocks; it moves in a rather jerky fashion and has acrobatic feeding habits, which is so entertaining to watch, one of my favorite birds, captured through the kitchen window on a very wet day, hence the 1/30 shutter speed on a I.S.O of 1250.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to returning the visit.

Stay safe and well, God loves you, keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone..............................Tomx

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !"

DESPITE being a comparatively recent addition to the British list, the Collared Dove is now a familiar sight in the region. Its distinctive call is also well know, particularly in urban areas, as is its gliding display flight performed on bowed, outstretched wings. (Note the bright yellow is a leaf )

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THANK YOU, love reading your comments, always appreciated, and will pay a return visit Please stay safe, God bless,................Tomx.

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THE TRUE MEANING of CHRISTMAS, often gets lost in the rush of the season: the shopping, the parties, and wrapping of presents. BUT the essence of the season is the greatest gift of all times, GOD gave us JESUS CHRIST, his own son !

Well folks soon after he posed and danced and we said out good-bye's he left, literally left and missed the shot only to have the wings clipped and for that I apologize, but I tried.

Thanks to all for everything.

I don't know how many I took of this guy folks, and mostly half body and feet, and that's at 30-f.p.s. timing all wrong and camera work needs some touching up, sad but unfortunate.

Thanks to all for everything.

These lovely flowers are blooming in my neighbor's garden. Mine will be popping out soon!

Had a wonderful day today folks and started to edit when I came home and lost all track of time, so a late post here, so sorry. Many of this guy which I've never seen before but am sure this is it, many flight images and one's I really wanted of the Barny and others, living in paradise is a plus.

Thank to all for everything.

There were about 6 or 8 of these guys but this guy was the most energetic of all so concentrated my efforts on him, and so glad I did.

Thanks to all for everything.

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

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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LIVELY MALE SUNBIRD, with a broad violet brest-band. Habits coastal scrub, attracted to small flowering bushes, probing for nectar always on the move, flies with rapid wing beats and a dipping flight, am very happy to have nailed this one, because its no easy job. Zoom in to see its amazing plumage !

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND KIND COMMENTS, it is very appreciated, and find encouraging. Stay safe, God bless..........

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

PENTAX K-70 + smcPENTAX-D FA MACRO 100mm F2,8 WR

A very good Sunday morning everyone and hope that a great weekend was had by all.

Here is a Parakeet having breakfast, and think these guys photograph so well, and be sides I really like them in their habitat.

Thanks for everything.

Gambia tour 2020

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BINGO ! seeing these two little beauties, on a bulrush, was a must capture situation , and a joy to do so, the light was all wrong, was fairly pleased with this one.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, AND LEAVING A COMMENT, will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting ..

Stay very safe, God bless.........................................Tomx

EXTREMELY VOCAL, and can be a proficient mimic of both animate and inanimate sounds. Love the way a starling walks with characteristic swagger, and the flight is rather undulating and the wings look pointed and triangular in outline. /// SOMETHING out of the norm. for me, but felt it had something of appeal going for it, so have risked posting it, hope you enjoy it.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, hope you are keeping well and enjoying this hot weather, have a great weekend, stay safe and may God bless you............................Tomx.

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"OUR EARS ARE CLOSED"

Sea and mountains, valleys and streams

Night and day were all in Gods dreams,

The Garden of Eden with its precious tree

The Son He gave to set us free.

The seed He placed in the heart He made

Don't let its flowers wither and fade,

Is the ear closed to His constant plea

For in truth we live to disagree.

Have we not learned a thing from the past?

Why is the blindness we have so vast ?

We've ignored His word since time began

To do as we will has been our plan.

Has the Saviour's death not opened our eyes

When His blood was shed for our demise,

Mocked and beaten, betrayed from within

God's Holy Lamb pierced for our sin.

When the reaper comes and we walk to the gate

Do we all stand in line, to wait and wait,

Or will the one who gives life lead you through

And walk with you to paradise and life anew ?

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POEM by John Wren, a blessed and talented Flickr friend of mine.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Here we have the last of the Meadowlarks, but will return to some more I really like.

Have a great day and a great new week ahead, and thanks for stopping by.