An unmistakable bird with its black back and white underparts, and distinctive black head with large pale cheeks and a tall, flattened, brightly-coloured bill. Its comical appearance is heightened by its red and black eye-markings and bright orange legs. Used as a symbol for books and other items, this clown among seabirds is one of the world's favourite birds. With half of the UK population at only a few sites it is an Red List species.

yet another frozen waterfall which we encountered in Iceland. Each of them was very unique with its own unmistakable signature :)

The Hoopoe is unmistakable, with a long curved bill and prominent black-tipped crest. The tail and rounded wings are strongly barred black and white. The chief call is a rapid, far-carrying 'hoo-hoo-hoo'.

UNMISTAKABLE vividly-colored bush shrike, usually encountered in pairs, low down in the dense cover of the well-wooded areas. A drinking bowl was used to entice it out, during the midday hot sun, and here is the result. A stunning much loved bird,

========================

THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, keep warm my friends, we have snow in Kent today, a rare sight indeed,

enjoy your day God bless..........Tomx

AN ENDEARING and unmistakable seabird. At many colonies like the Farne Islands, captured above, observers can get a close and excellent view of Puffins. The Puffin is also a true sea bird, and only comes ashore during the breeding season. A tribute to all those I missed on Skomer !!

++++++++++++++++++++++++

THANK YOU for your continued support and comments, and I very much enjoy doing the same on your Flickr site.

Keep safe and well in the knowledge that Jesus is with you,

and wants you into his life if you have not already made that move. God Bless.....................Tomx

Africa's LARGEST KINGFISHER, unmistakable dark with a

massive black bill, and stiff shaggy crest, shown well in the image. Found in coastal inlets, despite its size, can be difficult to see when perched in a leafy tree, but sadly often sits on a telegraph wire, or on man-made things. Have seen them with massive fish in their mouths., all images are from the Kotu Bridge area.

Double click fo a closer look.

======================

THANK YOU for your visit to my Gambian images, can only show a fraction of them, as not enough time.

Stay safe and well my dear friends, God bless.........Tomx

UNMISTAKABLE, sturdy, and the large shaggy crest create an anvil-or hammerhead, hence why named. Chases fish in the shallows or stir the mud using his feet to displace its prey, fairly common in most aquatic habitats.

=================================================

THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, looking forward to some sunny spring days, if it ever stops raining.

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

Gambia tour 2020

==============

Medium sized and unmistakable. Africa's only black and white Kingfisher. Hovers often above its prey, before plunging for the kill, very vocal, often seen in groups. Photographed near the Kotu bridge.

================================================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND BEING A FRIEND, am grateful for any comment, will look forward doing the same with your latest posting.. Keep well and safe, God bless you.. ...................................Tomx

THE MALE above is a colorful and unmistakable bird, the female is just buffish-brown and has a short tail. The male's territorial call is now a familiar sound in the countryside, just like the look of this image, seen at Elmley marshes.

======================

THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, any comment is always very appreciated, please do not fave and run, God, bless you, keep a smile on your face, and love in your hearts for everyone. ....................Tomx

ENDEARING AND UNMISTAKABLE seabird, seen on Skomer Island. South Wales. Where you can see hundreds of them, what a joy. BUT THIS MAY SEEM A LOT, BUT IT REPRESENTS A FRACTION OF THE NUMBERS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT A CENTURY OR SO AGO. Reasons for the decline include overfishing and pollution of the marine environment.

AS well as Skomer, other spectacular spots are those on Hermaness and Noss, both on Shetland, and the best time to visit a colony is in late June and July, when birds like above will be returning to the nest with beaks full of sandeels.

==============================================

THANK YOU, FOR YOUR VISIT, please leave a comment, will return the visit to see your lastest posting and also comment.

ENJOY the weekend, Hot and wet in Kent today, please stay safe, God bless you............................Tomx

YET ANOTHER image of this endearing and unmistakable seabird, see on the Skomer Island colonies, where observers can get close, and have excellent views of Puffins.

========================

THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will love to return to your stream and do the same to your lastest posting.

Enjoy the Lords day, God bless may he keep you safe ......................Tomx

in the Western Corridor of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

this beautiful kingfisher is one of my favorite African birds.

It can be found in different types of woodland, often far from water. Its geographic range is large and the birds living in the north and the south of the range are migratory, i.e. they migrate towards the equator in the dry season.

For instance in the Kruger NP area it occurs only in summer when its unmistakable call is often heard.

halcyon senegalensis

Senegalese ijsvogel

Martin-chasseur du Sénégal

Senegalliest

Alción del Senegal

Martin pescatore di bosco

Guarda-rios-dos-bosques

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2023

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

AN ELEGANT and unmistakable pure white, heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and long neck, seen just catching a small fish at Elmley Marshes, Sheppey Kent, a working farm where they put nature first.

======================

THANK YOU for your visit, love reading your comments and seeing your images from around the world, just simply amazing. Keep safe and well , God bless you Tomx

UNMISTAKABLE, , with a large shaggy crest creating an hamerhead appearence, the crest is raised fully when alarmed or excited. Happy to work with other species of birds , on hunt for small animal and trapped fish, with a harsh rowdy call.

====================

THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments which I find encouraging and very appreciated. Hope you all had a good weekend, may God bless you.....................Tomx

Stunning and unmistakable blackbird of western North America. Males are black with a golden-yellow head and white patch on the wing. Females are all dark brown with messy yellow on the head and breast. Breeds in marshes, where males sing a grating, mechanical song. Winters in large flocks, mainly in Mexico. Often mixes with other species of blackbird. Forages in open areas, sometimes on barren dirt or in fields. (eBird)

-----------------

The male defending his territory.

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

A gorgeous Swallow-tailed Bee-eater in a tree top in Senegal on 23rd January 2023. This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. Its colours and readily visible forked tail make it unmistakable. It is mainly green with a yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. It can reach a length of 20–22 cm, including the long forked green or blue feathers. Sexes are alike.

SEXES SIMILAR. Huge a grotesque and unmistakable bird with a massive tapered bill. please note the prominent pink gular sac hanging down its neck, seen in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

======================

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

Hope you are all keeping warm and well, God bless you

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

The American White Pelican is one bird that is never mistaken for another species. Somehow both odd and elegant, with their 9-foot wingspan and communal habits they are a never-ending treat for the eye.

Great Salt Lake wetlands. The waters here are shrinking, as drought, perhaps part of climate change, and human water use take their toll.

So much nicer to see them in the wild than in a zoo.

Large unmistakable toucan with a huge, rainbow-colored bill. Often seen in pairs. Despite its large size and bright colors, can be difficult to see in leafy canopy, where it moves deliberately in search of food.

Unmistakable. This ridiculous hummingbird has the longest bill in relation to its body size of any bird in the world.

Thank you to all who fave and/or comment on my photos it is much appreciated.

GAMBIA FEB 2019

================

CHEEE-CHEEE CHEE CHEROO , a loud burst of swooping whistles, useful for location, but still a job to find, usually remains in bush cover low to the ground. Once seen its a unmistakable vividly-coloured bush shrike. Do not feel I have visited the Gambia until I see one, what a joy.

===================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND KIND COMMENTS, enjoy the Lords day, may he bless each and every one of you.........

Tomx

The female Common Kingfisher is identical in appearance to the male except that her lower mandible is orange-red with a black tip. Kingfishers are small unmistakable bright blue and orange birds of slow moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface.

ELEGANT and unmistakable pure white heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and a long neck. Seen fishing at the Reed hide, Stodmarsh NR Kent UK.

=======================

THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, love reading your comments, which mean a lot to me.

Keep safe and well, Gad bless.

========================

"JESUS LOVES YOU!" yes you!!!!

Ask him into your life today, he will never let you down !

Unmistakable large black swan with a red bill. When swimming this species is almost entirely black. Wings show extensive white flight feathers when flying. Juveniles are similar but dark-gray. In Australia, compare with Magpie Goose, which has white belly, and white underwing with black tips. Typically found along inland waterways, rivers, sewage ponds, and coastal lagoons and inlets. Sometimes flocks together in enormous numbers on large wetlands. (eBird)

----------------

Our first glimpse of these magnificent birds was in Queensland and so distant that we couldn't be sure what we were seeing. We finally caught up with this pair in the pouring rain on Tasmania.

Granton, Tasmania, Australia. October 2022.

Eagle-Eye Tours - Tasmania.

WORKING the rock pools at Grenham Bay Birchington Kent, catching only tiddlers, a joy to see this elegant and unmistakable pure white heron-like bird, with black legs and dagger-like bill, they can be found almost anywhere but they do favor coastal waters.

======================================================

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, it is always very appreciated, and I will look forward to doing the same on your lastest posting.

Hope your all bearing up under this crazy Covid world we live in. Stay well and safe, God bless you.............................Tomx.

A FAMILIAR and unmistakable black and white, long-tailed bird, spotted these in Richmond Park, London, no quality, in terrible weather, just liked it.

========================

THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, look forward to viewing your latest posting.

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

the black-collared barbet (lybius torquatus) is an unmistakable bird.

barbets are mainly frugivorous but can catch insects too.

the big and strong beak is perfect to open the fruits.

generally seen in pairs and i love to see them!

"unmistakable"

victoria falls , Zimbabwe.

canon 1D4+500f4is2+tc1.4x III

original file here:

www.flickr.com/photos/187458160@N06/51238726652/sizes/o/

The male Blue Rock Thrush is one of my favourite European birds… This medium-sized thrush-like bird is often seen on mountainsides, sea cliffs, quarries, ruins, and even in towns. Male birds are dark blue all over, and are usually unmistakable. This example was one of several I saw on a trip to Spain, although a long-staying male caused quite a flap among birders when it was found on a housing estate in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, in 2017.

AN ELEGANT and unmistakable pure white heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and a long neck. The legs, which are long and black, contrast with the bright yellow toes,, taken in an uncharacteristic position out of the water, and stretching upwards not hunched over. Zoom in for more detail. Hope you enjoy!

=================================================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, in these lock-down times, it means a lot, to be able to travel the world with some amazing images, while being imprisoned at home.

The weekend is almost here, enjoy, stay safe.

God bless you.........................Tomx

This female Pileated Woodpecker was seen at Stony Creek Metropark.

Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest North American woodpecker with an average length of 16.5 inches (42cm), about the size of a crow. Their loud call and very loud drumming are distinctive and unmistakable.

The male is similar in appearance, but his red crest extends farther on his forehead to the bill, and he has a red "mustache."

A bird this big, flashy and noisy should be easy to find, but they are very wary, and they will fiy off when approached. Their favorite food is black ants found in decaying wood.

An unmistakable 'black-tipped' male on scabious on a damp July morning on Lindrick Common in South Yorkshire (UK) (6912)

RECALLING GAMBIA 2013

======================

HUGE GROTESQUE and unmistakable bird with massive bill Seen once only in all my trips, and from a dugout canoe, hence not a very good quality capture. Usually gregarious and often in association with vultures with which they share carrion, and are high in the pecking order. Hope you love him more than I do.

========================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT, faves and comments, am already looking forward to seeing your latest image and doing the same. ENJOY the weekend the best you can, stay safe and well............God bless............Tomx.

GAMBIA FEB 2019

===============

UNMISTAKABLY LARGE, CLUMSY bird, spends a considerable amount of its time on the ground creeping amongst low tangled undergrowth. Favours damper areas. perches at medium height , calls from it with body inflated and the head bowed into its chest, a bit like a pigeon. This is my adopted bird of the Gambia, am not happy until I have seen one.

========================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND KIND COMMENTS!

it is very appreciated, hope your all fighting fit. Enjoy the day, stay safe................God bless.........................Tomx.

So much nicer to see them in the wild than in a zoo.

Large unmistakable toucan with a huge, rainbow-colored bill. Often seen in pairs. Despite its large size and bright colors, can be difficult to see in leafy canopy, where it moves deliberately in search of food.

Among my favourite birds are the odd-looking thick-knees…

The genus name Burhinus comes from the Greek bous, ox, and rhis, nose. The Burhinus are commonly called thick-knee, stone-curlew or dikkop. They are medium-sized, terrestrial waders, though they are generally found in semi-arid to arid, open areas. Only some species of Burhinus are associated with water.

This Peruvian Thick-knee was seen in desert scrub in Paracas National Park, Peru. It has an unmistakable strong eyeline and large eyes. This species is mostly nocturnal, but this was one of a group of birds seen close to a road in daylight.

So much nicer to see them in the wild than in a zoo.

Large unmistakable toucan with a huge, rainbow-colored bill. Often seen in pairs. Despite its large size and bright colors, can be difficult to see in leafy canopy, where it moves deliberately in search of food.

Small duck with chalky-blue patches on the upperwing (visible in flight). Breeding males unmistakable with bold white crescent in front of eye and polka-dotted sides. Females are cold brown overall and intricately patterned. Look for a hint of a pale crescent on the face, as well as a dark eyeline and pale eye-arcs. Usually found in shallow wetlands or marshes, where it can occur in pairs or flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of ducks. Compare with other teal species: female Cinnamon Teal is warmer-toned overall and has a duller face pattern, while female Green-winged Teal is more compact, darker, and has a different wing pattern in flight. (eBird)

-----------------

Just three of these lovely ducks were inhabiting the wetland. Of course, it could also be that the local 4th graders were out in hordes doing a project on wetlands and so most ducks took shelter deep in the reeds.

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

SMELL AND SOUND, of a large PUFFIN colony combine so that a visit to one is an unforgettable birding experience!!! An endearing and unmistakable seabird, am leaving Skomer now, hope you enjoyed them as much as me, have dragged them out a bit, as so little about in Kent at the moment.

======================

THANK YOU for your support and kind comments, it is very appreciated. Keep a smile on your face, and love in your heart, God bless .....................Tomx.

=======================

YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, GODs BEAUTY IS SIMPLY AMAZING !

======================

>>>> TOMB>>>>RAIDER>>>

======================

Familiar and unmistakable bird, an opportunistic omnivore, its diet including fruit, insects, animal road kills and the eggs and young of birds, it will also happily scavenge discarded leftover food scraps in towns. Seen at Margate Cemetary Kent.

====================

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, they are always very appreciated and find encouraging.

Keep your chins up folks, that light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger, God bless........................................Tomx

So much nicer to see them in the wild than in a zoo.

Large unmistakable toucan with a huge, rainbow-colored bill. Often seen in pairs. Despite its large size and bright colors, can be difficult to see in leafy canopy, where it moves deliberately in search of food.

Peacock Butterfly - Aglais io

The Peacock is a familiar sight in gardens across the British Isles and is unmistakable, with quite spectacular eyes on the upperside of the hindwings that give this butterfly its name. These eyes must appear very threatening to predators, such as mice, that confront this butterfly head-on, where the body forming a beak.

The underside is a different matter altogether, being almost black, providing perfect camouflage when the butterfly is at rest on a tree trunk, or when hibernating. In addition to camouflage and large eyes, the butterfly is able to make a hissing sound by rubbing its wings together that is audible to human ears. All in all, this butterfly must appear very threatening to any predator that might come across it. This is a highly mobile butterfly that occurs throughout the British Isles, including Orkney and Shetland, although it is not found in parts of northern Scotland. However, its range does seem to be increasing, with sightings from new areas being recorded every year.

Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata

The beautiful mandarin duck was introduced from the Far East, where it can still be found in China, Japan, Korea and parts of Russia. It escaped, or was deliberately released, from captivity in the UK. Mandarin ducks are actually quite shy birds, often hiding beneath overhanging willows and usually only forming small flocks.

A beautiful, unmistakable duck: male mandarins have elaborate plumage with orange plumes on their cheeks, orange 'sails' on their back, and pale orange sides; females are dull in comparison, with grey heads, brown backs and white eyestripe.

Introduced from China and now found on park lakes and other wetlands with overhanging trees, mainly in South East England, but also in North England, Wales and Scotland.

The mandarin duck nests in holes in trees, sometimes high up and a long way from the water. Shortly after the ducklings hatch, the female flies down and tries to coax the young to jump from the nest. Once they have left the tree and made their way back to water, the father will return to the family and help to protect the ducklings.

GAMBIA FEB 2019

================

UNMISTAKABLE, the largest of the nine kingfisher species in the Gambia, and the largest in the Africa Continent as well, with its massive black bill, and often stiff shaggy crest, laying flat in this image, found local coastal inlets, streams and ponds, this one at Kotu bridge. Zoom in for close detail !

Have been hankering after this image for years, have seen it distant, and on high power lines, or a fleeting glimpse as if fly's away. But to have it perch within 4 mrts, on the very last day and last hour, was a prayer answered, thank God !

====================================================

THANK YOU for your visit, and being a friend, it means a lot to me, love to read your comments, please keep a smile on your face and love in your heart..........God bless, stay safe..........Tomx..

A Brown Pelican patiently waits for the incoming tide to deliver breakfast.

An unmistakable bird of coastal waters. Groups of Brown Pelicans fly low over the waves in single file, flapping and gliding in unison. Their feeding behavior is spectacular, as they plunge headlong into the water in pursuit of fish. The current abundance of this species in the United States represents a success story for conservationists, who succeeded in halting the use of DDT and other persistent pesticides here; as recently as the early 1970s, the Brown Pelican was seriously endangered.

Nikon, Sigma 150-600, 1/1250 @ 6.3, ISO 2500)

COURTSHIP DISPLAY, from this local elegant and unmistakable pure white bird, to three other Little Egrets, seen from the Reed Hide at Stodmarsh. Not so long ago, this bird was classed as a rarity in Britain, then it became a common sight, but have noticed in Kent far fewer of them around, over the last few years. and more Cattle Egrets.

==================================================

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, will return the visit as soon as possible.!!

It was good to see some of the family in the garden yesterday, we burnt some food on the BQ for them, keeping at the two metre rule, was a very special time !!!!

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

The Eurasian Hoopoe is unmistakable, with a long curved bill and prominent black-tipped crest. The tail and rounded wings are strongly barred black and white. The chief call is a rapid, far-carrying 'hoo-hoo-hoo'.

In certain weather conditions, this species from the Mediterranean and southern Europe can find its way to Britain when the Hoopoe is then known as an "overshoot migrant".

Taken at Masirah Island, Oman.

Have a peaceful weekend my dear Flickr friends.

Thank you so much for dropping by my photostream and leaving all the kind comments. They are very much appreciated.

FACTS:

Long, curved bill. Adults mostly dark with iridescent green and reddish tones. Very thin white border surrounding the dark facial skin. Dark eyes. Usually gregarious, it is found mainly in salty marshes and shallow wetlands. Unmistakable in most of its range, though American birds are best distinguished from White-faced Ibis by distribution and facial pattern.

(eBird)

DFD_3355

Oryx in Kalahari desert, Namibia.

This large antelope with its striking appearance of long horns and distinct colouration is the national animal of Namibia. The Oryx, also known as the Gemsbok, occurs in the more arid regions throughout the African continent where it feeds on course grasses and thorny shrubs.

The Oryx was chosen as Namibia’s national animal due to its courage, elegance and pride – with the national coat of arms bearing this unmistakable dweller of the desert.

© www.myplanetexperience.com

AN ELEGANT AND UNMISTAKABLE pure white, heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and a long neck. A local bay called Grenham , not that well known for birding, thought that I may see some Brent Geese with no luck, just about to leave with head hung low in disappointment, when a local man said there was a Little Egret in the opposite direction to what I was looking at, so ran the quarter-mile or so, in sub Usain Bolt time, in time to fire of a few images from the promenade and in full view, working the rock pools, before it took flight away. Job done a big grin restored. and the fifth of November shall be remembered.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STAY SAFE friends, enjoy the weekend the best you can..

...........................God Bless....................................Tomx.

Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata

The beautiful mandarin duck was introduced from the Far East, where it can still be found in China, Japan, Korea and parts of Russia. It escaped, or was deliberately released, from captivity in the UK. Mandarin ducks are actually quite shy birds, often hiding beneath overhanging willows and usually only forming small flocks.

A beautiful, unmistakable duck: male mandarins have elaborate plumage with orange plumes on their cheeks, orange 'sails' on their back, and pale orange sides; females are dull in comparison, with grey heads, brown backs and white eyestripe.

Introduced from China and now found on park lakes and other wetlands with overhanging trees, mainly in South East England, but also in North England, Wales and Scotland.

The mandarin duck nests in holes in trees, sometimes high up and a long way from the water. Shortly after the ducklings hatch, the female flies down and tries to coax the young to jump from the nest. Once they have left the tree and made their way back to water, the father will return to the family and help to protect the ducklings.