View allAll Photos Tagged Springwatch
CONFUSED?
Mr. and Mrs. Robin are nest building already!
in our Letter/Newspaper box.
Middle of winter...unbelievable.
I'll keep you posted.
A huge commotion just out of sight and then briefly a pheasant mother trying frantically to save her chick, alerted me to the action.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Barcaldine Castle - Argyll Scotland
Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on my photos. It is truly appreciated.
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Not as exotic as her male counterpart perhaps, but still a fine looking duck.
Eider - Somateria Mollissima
Seahouses - Northumberland
Many thanks as always to those who view and in particular take time to comment on,or fave my photos.
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As the rut approaches I thought I would reflect on more tranquil times.
It's also a good excuse to put a non bird pic into my feed.
Red Deer Stag - Cervus Elaphus
Glen Coe Village - Glen Coe
As always I am grateful to all those who kindly take time to comment on and fave my photographs.
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'Over the fence' The beautiful male Hen Harrier taking flight from one of its favourite hunting posts in its protected habitat on The Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The Hen Harrier has been severely persecuted for taking game species and has suffered massive declines in numbers as a result. Thankfully, conservation projects are underway to reduce conflict surrounding its controversial prey.
RSPB note…Of the UK's birds of prey, this is the most intensively persecuted. Once predating free-range fowl, earning its present name, its effect on the number of grouse available to shoot is the cause of modern conflict and threatens its survival in some parts of the UK, particularly on the driven grouse moors of England and Scotland. (RSPB Note)
While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. They fly with wings held in a shallow 'V', gliding low in search of food, which mainly consists of meadow pipits and voles. The Orkney population is famous for being polygynous, with males sometimes mating with multiple females on the island.
They are listed as a Schedule 1 species under The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Hen Harrier information
Category: Birds of prey
Statistics
Length: 48-55cm
Wingspan: 1.1m
Weight: 350-500g
Average lifespan: 7 years
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2021). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
When to see: January to December
About
The Hen Harrier nests on the ground among the heather of upland moorlands. It winters in the lowlands, particularly around the coast, on heathland and on farmland. It is one of the most endangered breeding birds of prey in the country; it sometimes feeds on small grouse and fowl (hence its name), bringing it into conflict with gamekeepers and farmers.
How to identify
The hen harrier is a slim bird. Males are blue-grey with a white rump, pale underside and black wing tips. Females are brown above and streaky below, with a white rump and a banded tail.
Distribution
Found in Scotland and parts of upland Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Only a tiny handful of pairs now nest in parts of upland England. Winters in small numbers throughout the UK.
Habitats
Heathland, Moorland, Farmland, Coastal Wetlands, Woodland
Did you know?
Female Hen Harriers are known as 'ringtails' due to their distinctive tail banding. Both females and males attend the young; the males provide food, which is often passed, mid-air to the female in a spectacular display of 'throw and catch'. NWT Notes.
A Marbled White with a parasitic red mite attached to its thorax, which apparently doesn't do any harm to the butterfly!
Ring Necked Pheasant - Phasianus Colchicus
Fountains Abbey - Yorkshire
As always I extend my sincere gratitude to all who are kind enough to comment and fave my photos or even stop by and just have a look. It is very much appreciated.
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A female Redstart in woodland beneath the Betws mountain, Amman valley.
I saw the first Redstart (male) on April 21st so it was lovely to visit my favourite Redstart spot yesterday and see one male plus at least two, possibly three females.
The male seemed disinterested in the females but the females were chasing each other about relentlessly! Is there a reason for this anyone?
A female Kingfisher flips a fish around, ready to swallow head first as they always do. The image was taken in the Teifi Marshes in Ceredigion.
Spent the afternoon up on the Mendips chasing bugs...
Priddy
As seen on BBC SpringWatch Digital Grand finally 2020 !!
This was the first time I have seen one of these guys so far north.
I have however seen evidence previously of interbreeding with his northern cousins the hoodies.
Carrion Crow - (Corvus Corone)
Our Decking - Scotland
As always I am grateful to all those who take the time to drop by and view my photos. Your comments and faves are all very much appreciated and welcome.
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I took this photo of a Dotterel last September, they migrate from North Africa to their breeding grounds in the Scottish Highlands. One of their stop off points for 'refuelling' is the Black mountain in the Breacon Beacons. Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams actually recorded one of his TV shows about Dotterel on the very same mountain. Sadly I have not been able to see any Dotterel migrating this year during the Spring or on their return this Autumn. I hope it's not a sign of things to come and hope next year will be better.