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WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
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The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a large, long-legged wading bird widely distributed across temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Known for its remarkable patience and stealthy hunting technique, it is a common and distinctive sight in wetland habitats.
Key Characteristics and Behavior
Appearance:
Grey herons stand up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall with an impressive wingspan of around 1.8 metres (6 ft). They have a largely ash-grey body, a white head and neck with a broad black stripe extending from the eye into a crest, and a long, dagger-shaped yellow bill.
Flight:
In flight, they are easily distinguished from other large birds like cranes and storks by their habit of retracting their long neck into an S-shape against their body, while their long legs trail behind them. Their wingbeats are slow and deliberate.
Hunting:
Herons are solitary hunters and apex predators in their aquatic environments. They often stand motionless as statues in shallow water (fresh or salt) for long periods, patiently waiting for prey to come within striking distance before spearing it with lightning speed.
Diet:
Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they are opportunistic feeders and will also prey on amphibians (frogs, newts), crustaceans, insects, small mammals (voles, rats, young rabbits), and even small birds like ducklings.
Habitat:
Highly adaptable, they can be found wherever there is suitable shallow water, from remote rivers and estuaries to urban garden ponds and canals.
Breeding and Life Cycle:
Grey herons gather during the breeding season to nest in colonies called heronries. These are typically located high in the tops of tall trees, although they will also use cliffs, bushes, or reedbeds in some areas.
Nesting:
Males gather sticks for the nest, a bulky platform that is often reused and enlarged each year, while the female builds it.
Eggs and Chicks:
The female usually lays a clutch of 3-5 bluish-green eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 25 days. The chicks fledge (learn to fly) at around 7-8 weeks old but may remain near the nest for a few more weeks, dependent on their parents for food.
In Culture:
The bird has been associated with patience, contemplation, and nobility in various cultures. In Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu (associated with the sun and creation) was depicted as a heron.
Interactions with Humans:
They have adapted well to human environments, sometimes visiting garden ponds for an easy meal, which can be a nuisance for fish owners. Netting a pond is the only effective preventative measure.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
///trailers.ripen.grownup
The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) is an elegant, large bird native to Sub-Saharan Africa, instantly recognizable by its unique and striking appearance. It is the national bird of Uganda, featured prominently on the country's flag and coat of arms.
Appearance: This crane stands about 1 meter (3.3 feet) tall with a wingspan of up to 2 meters (6.7 feet). Its body plumage is mainly grey, but its most distinctive feature is a crown of stiff, golden-yellow feathers on its head. It also has white cheek patches, a bright red, inflatable throat pouch (gular sac), and a short, grey bill.
Habitat: They are highly adaptable and found in mixed wetland and grassland environments, including marshes, riverbanks, cultivated fields, and open savannahs. They are unique among cranes for their ability to roost in trees, thanks to a long hind toe that can grasp branches.
Diet: They are omnivores, foraging during the day for a variety of items including plants, seeds, grains, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, and small fish. They often stamp their feet while walking to flush out insects, and sometimes follow grazing animals to catch prey disturbed by their movement.
Behavior: Grey Crowned Cranes are known for their elaborate courtship dances, which involve bowing, jumping, and wing flapping. They form strong, monogamous pair bonds that often last for life, and both parents share the duties of building the nest and raising the young. They are gregarious birds outside the breeding season, often forming flocks of 30 to 150 individuals.
Vocalization: Unlike other cranes that trumpet, the Grey Crowned Crane makes a distinct "booming" call by inflating its red throat pouch, and also produces a honking sound.
Naples Botanical Gardens
Southwest Florida
USA
The mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) or mottled mallard is a medium-sized dabbling duck. It is intermediate in appearance between the female mallard and the American black duck. It is closely related to those species, and is sometimes considered a subspecies of the former, but this is inappropriate (see systematics).
There are two distinct populations of mottled ducks. One population, A. fulvigula maculosa (mottled duck), lives on the Gulf of Mexico coast between Alabama and Tamaulipas (Mexico); outside the breeding season individual birds may venture as far south as to Veracruz. The other, A. fulvigula fulvigula (Florida duck), is resident in central and south Florida and occasionally strays north to Georgia. The same disjunct distribution pattern was also historically found in the local sandhill cranes.
Along the Gulf of Mexico coast, the mottled duck is one of the most frequently banded waterfowl. This is due in part to the fact that it is mostly non-migratory. Approximately one out of every twenty mottled ducks is banded, making it an extremely prized and sought after bird among hunters.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
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The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small, common, and noisy gull species widespread across Europe, Asia, and some parts of eastern Canada. Despite its name, its head is actually chocolate-brown during the breeding season and mostly white in winter, with dark spots near the eyes.
Identification
Adult Summer Plumage: Features a dark chocolate-brown head (appears black from a distance), pale grey body, and black wingtips. The bill and legs are dark red.
Adult Winter Plumage:
The dark head color is lost, leaving a white head with a dark smudge or spots behind each eye, often described as looking like the bird is wearing headphones. The bill also appears duller.
Juveniles:
Have mottled brown spots on their upper parts and a distinct black band on the tail, attaining adult plumage after two years.
In Flight:
A distinctive feature in all plumages is the prominent white leading edge to the outer wing.
Habitat and Behavior
Black-headed gulls are highly sociable and noisy birds, often gathering in large flocks. They are extremely adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including coastal areas, inland lakes, marshes, parks, farmland, and even urban environments like garbage dumps. They are not a pelagic species and are rarely seen far out at sea.
They are opportunistic omnivores and scavengers, feeding on insects, earthworms, fish, seeds, fruit, and carrion. They have a unique foraging behavior that includes head-bobbing while walking through shallow water to enhance motion detection of prey.
They nest in large, dense colonies, typically on the ground in low vegetation or on islands in wetlands. Both parents help build the nest, incubate the eggs (which are typically 1-4, green with brown splotches), and raise the chicks.
This Barred Owl was very close to the path at Circle B Bar Reserve, Florida. Yet even with it hooting it still took a while to find him in the Spanish moss hanging from the trees.
Barred owls are highly active during twilight (making them a “crepuscular” predator) and are more likely to be seen during the day than owls with strictly nocturnal habits.
The feet of the owl are more adaptable than that of any other raptor. Their toes can position themselves either two in front, two in back like woodpeckers, or three in front, one in back, like most other birds. This makes perching and grasping prey more fool proof.
-Strix varia
A GHO catching some morning sun.
Wikipedia: The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the tiger owl or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its primary diet is rabbits and hares, rats and mice, and voles, although it freely hunts any animal it can overtake, including rodents and other small mammals, larger mid-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Conservation status: Least Concern
Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean - Paul Simon
Érase una vez un océano, pero ahora es una cordillera. Algo imparable se puso en marcha. Nada es diferente, pero todo ha cambiado. Es un trabajo sin futuro y te cansas de estar sentado. Es como el hábito de la nicotina, siempre estás pensando en dejarlo y yo pienso en dejarlo... todos los días de la semana.
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One of the great mysteries of science and for scientists has been the behavior of migratory animals when they navigate the open sea, where there are no visual reference points. And the greatest mystery has always been the ability of turtles to travel thousands of kilometers and mysteriously return to the beach where they were born. Turtles have feeding grounds and breeding grounds separated by great distances of several thousand kilometers. Sea turtles are possibly one of the living beings with the greatest capacity for navigation and orientation. A few years ago, science rendered its verdict on this astonishing ability. Turtles are able to detect the lines of the Earth's magnetic field and use it as a "map" to navigate and travel within it, covering enormous distances. This allows them to return, many years later when they reach maturity, to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs and give birth to a new generation of baby turtles (on average, it usually takes 20 years to reach this level of development). When they are born, the young turtles memorize the data (or pattern) of the magnetic field of their home beach and store it in their brain, in their memorie. This data they will later use to return across the open ocean. They detect the intensity, inclination, magnetic declination, and other parameters of the magnetic field of the place where they were born, and as they grow, the young turtles learn to distinguish the magnetic field and the different parameters and variations this magnetic field has in the places they encounter along their journey. This allows them to compile a "magnetic map" in their brains that allows them to navigate between specific feeding and nesting areas by reading and using the detected magnetic field lines. This way, they always know their position, longitude, and latitude. To put it more simply, they have and use a map, just like you and I, except it's a magnetic map, through which they travel, or if you prefer, they have built into their brains, something like a compass or GPS to navigate thousands of kilometers. At the end of the last century, a colony of turtles that departed from the beaches of Japan began to be monitored. Approximately two decades later, when they had reached sexual maturity, they returned to the beach where they were born, traveling a great distance, almost 15,000 kilometers. However, migratory movements and the distance traveled are currently being studied in a population of turtles that departed Papua New Guinea heading for North America. (I imagine monitored by satellite.) These turtles have reached sexual maturity and are returning to their native beaches. It is believed that these sea turtles, once they reach their place of origin, will have made a journey of almost 20,000 kilometers. While scientists worked for centuries to invent instruments for maritime navigation, sea turtles moved away from the coasts and into the mysterious oceans unknown to humans, deciding at every moment where they wanted to go. While navigators and sailors clung to the coast, never straying far from land so as not to get lost and be able to return home, sea turtles, thousands of miles away, decided when to change course and return with extreme ease... to the place where they were born.
.....
¿De nuevo en casa?
Noooooo... nunca volveré a casa.
¿Piensas en casa de nuevo?
¡Nunca pienso en casa!
Pero entonces llega una carta de casa. La letra es frágil y extraña. Algo imparable se pone en movimiento. Nada es diferente, pero todo ha cambiado. La luz a través del vitral era cobalto y roja y los puños y cuellos deshilachados fueron remendados por halos de hilo dorado. El coro cantó: ""Érase una vez un océano"" y todos los viejos himnos y apellidos bajaron revoloteando como hojas de emoción...
Nada es diferente... pero todo ha cambiado...
.....
Legend has it that when the dinosaurs exercised their tyranny on Earth, the turtles decided to return to the oceans. But Nature made them pay a price. The eggs from which the next generations of turtles would hatch had to be buried on the beaches for incubation. The turtles had to return to land, even if only for a brief moment, to deposit the eggs as an offering to Nature so that the next generations of turtles would hatch on land, on the beaches, and then return to the ocean. The life of turtles is an odyssey. Throughout their lives, they must overcome many difficulties. When they are born on the beaches, many predators wait to feed on tiny turtles that measure only four centimeters and weigh 20 grams. Only 10% make it to the sea. But their odyssey continues for years, overcoming dangers. They also encounter many predators on their journeys across the sea. Only when they reach maturity and have a strong shell do they live safer and longer. But only one in every thousand turtles reaches maturity. Even with strong shells, they are attacked by sharks and orcas. The life of turtles is a constant struggle. There is no animal species that has such calmness, perseverance, constant, determination, and resilience. In nature, it is not the strong who survive, but those with the ability to adapt to circumstances, to ecosystem changes and fight. It is not the strongest who survive, but the most intelligent, constant and adaptable. The true masters of the oceans aren't the aggressive sharks and orcas. The true masters of the oceans are the intelligent octopus... and the persevering, sage and tenacious turtle.
Surviving Sea Turtles - National Geographic Wild
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The "Caretta caretta" is a large sea turtle and is the most common and widespread species of sea turtle on the coasts of Catalonia and the Mediterranean. It spends most of its time at or near the surface, making it very easy for fishermen to catch. This is why it is commonly known as the "loggerhead" (silly, foolish) turtle. I hope that one day someone will change the vulgar and stupid name used to describe one of the most intelligent species in the oceans and give it a more respectful name. One of the greatest dangers to turtles is precisely the fishing nets that fishermen carelessly abandon on the seabed, just like trawling nets. These nets become a death trap for the turtles.
www.worldanimalprotection.es/siteassets/images/hero/tortu...
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Open your mouth wide. The universal sigh. And while the ocean blooms it's what keeps me alive.
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"Turtle" is a song written by Thomas Newman for the soundtrack of the film "Cinderella Man." I don't know the meaning of the song or what it has to do with a film based on the life of a boxer. Only Newman knows that. But the explanation could be the following, although I'm not sure about it. "Cinderella Man" is a film based on the true story of a boxer, James J. Braddock, who received the nickname "Cinderella Man" for having the ability to win fights, even though he was never the favorite and was infinitely inferior to his rivals technically. Braddock was American but his roots were Irish (perhaps this is why the song "Turtle" has a musical base of Irish Celtic music). He retired from boxing due to frequent injuries to his right hand. Furthermore, when the Great Depression hit in 1929, he had to work for years as a stevedore in the port to earn money and support his family. Given his precarious financial situation, he decided to return to boxing, trying to use his left hand to box. Eventually, he was presented with the opportunity to challenge Max Baer, a very strong and technically gifted boxer, for the world title. Baer was a boastful, arrogant, and brutal boxer who boasted of having killed two boxers in the ring. Baer was infinitely superior to Braddock, both in strength and technique, as the betting odds indicated. In fact, Baer didn't even train or prepare for the fight. During the fight, Baer was all about foolishness and clowning around in the ring. He mocked his opponent, belittled him, and underestimated him, knowing he was better than Braddock and would beat him sooner or later. Braddock took heavy blows from Baer. He endured them with consistency and patience. He withstood all of Baer's heavy right hands as best he could. He never let his opponent knock him down. As the fight progressed, Baer grew exhausted and lost strength, ultimately losing the fight against Braddock "Cinderella Man.". Max Baer underestimated his opponent. He failed to realize that "no one is better than anyone else" and that overconfidence can lead to failure. He failed to see that arrogance, vanity, haughtiness, or feeling superior to others are bad traveling companions that are useless in learning to overcome oneself every day. They distance you from sacrifice and effort, from dignity and honesty, something that Braddock did possess. But having come this far, what does this story have to do with the song "Turtle" on the soundtrack? Perhaps the explanation lies in the fable of the tortoise and the hare, where the two challenge each other to a race. The cunning and confident hare, aware of its speed and the tortoise's slowness, feels far superior to it. The hare mocks the tortoise, belittles and undervalues it. Meanwhile, the tortoise walks at its slow but steady pace, aware of its limitations, never giving up even when everything is against it, and continuing to strive to the maximum and with perseverance. In contrast, the confident and swift hare decides to rest next to a tree and falls asleep. But when it wakes up, it's too late. The slow but steady tortoise, who hasn't given up, reaches the finish line and wins the race. The fable invites us to reflect on the fact that it's not good to belittle or mock anyone. That "no one, absolutely no one, is better than anyone else." That overconfidence, vanity, arrogance, and hubris are bad traveling companions. Fables, nature, our own lives, always find a way and a time to show us that we're not the best, that we're not as strong or as smart as we thought. Life, sooner or later, eventually finds a way to teach us a lesson, learning from that lesson depends solely and exclusively... on you.
PS: I know. I don't like boxing either. I don't approve of it, and I don't find it exemplary. But even in a boxing movie, you can find something that will help you in your life. Even if it's just a song. Anyway in English, the word "turtle" is used for sea turtles and "tortoise" for land turtles. Conclusion... I don't know why Newman composed a song called "Turtle" for the Cinderella Man soundtrack. But it's a song I really like, and I was looking for an excuse to include it in this photo. And I also wanted to remember the other turtles... the land turtles. And I couldn't find a land turtle song I liked.Only Newman knows why he titled it... "Turtle."
PS: In Celtic culture, turtles have a multifaceted symbolism: they symbolize longevity, endurance, protection, security, stability, perseverance, experience, and wisdom. Braddock had Irish roots. An Irish person is considered a person of Celtic descent. And perhaps this is why Newman titled his song "Turtle." But only Thomas Newman knows that.
PS: "No one is better than anyone else". But you believed... that you would win...
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¿Y cuándo cobraré mi billete de lotería y enterraré mi pasado con mis cargas y mis conflictos? Quiero sacudir cada rama del Jardín del Edén y convertir a cada amante... en el amor de mi vida.
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Le grand bleu (Pat)
2nd Movement of the Odyssey... (of the Turtles) - Incubus
4th Movement of the Odyssey... (of the Turtles) - Incubus
PS: Supongo que una vez... fui un océano...
South Staffordshire Railway Walk (Himley)
What3Words
///panels.goals.cards
The Great Tit (Parus major) is a widespread, common, and adaptable songbird known for its bright plumage, distinctive calls, and bold behavior in gardens, parks, and woodlands across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Identification
Great tits are the largest members of the tit family in their range and are easily recognizable.
Plumage:
They have a striking glossy black head and bib, prominent white cheeks, an olive-green back, and yellow underparts with a bold black stripe running down the center of the breast and belly.
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males have a broader and more prominent black stripe down the belly than females, a feature used by females to assess a mate's quality.
Juveniles:
Young birds have a similar pattern to adults but with duller, more subdued colors and yellowish-white cheeks.
Habitat and Behavior:
Originally woodland birds, great tits have successfully adapted to human-modified environments like parks, gardens, and urban areas. They are common garden visitors and readily use garden nest boxes.
Vocalization:
They have a large and varied repertoire of calls, the most familiar being a high-pitched, two-syllable "teacher-teacher" or "tsee-dee" song, often heard in the spring.
Diet:
They are opportunistic omnivores. In spring and summer, their diet primarily consists of protein-rich insects and spiders, especially caterpillars for their young. In autumn and winter, they switch to seeds, nuts (like beechmast and hazelnuts), and berries, and are frequent visitors to bird feeders for suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.
Intelligence:
Great tits are known for their problem-solving abilities and intelligence. Historically, they learned to break the foil caps of milk bottles to get the cream, and in lab settings, they can figure out how to get food from puzzles. In rare instances, they have been recorded preying on hibernating bats in winter when food is scarce.
Nesting
Great tits are monogamous during the breeding season. They are cavity nesters, building a cup-shaped nest of moss, grass, and hair in tree holes, rock crevices, or nest boxes. The female incubates a clutch of 5-12 eggs alone, but both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 16–22 days.
Majorca. Espai protegit Xarxa Natura 2000 “Maristany” Maristany Diseminado Disseminat 9, 1689, 07400 Alcúdia, Balearic Islands, Spain
What3Words
///subjects.defers.checked
The term "blackbird" primarily refers to the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), a widespread and beloved songbird in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. In North America, the term can also refer to various species within the Icteridae family (e.g., Red-winged Blackbird), which are not evolutionarily related to the European blackbird.
Identification
Male:
Adult males are entirely black with a bright orange-yellow bill and a distinctive yellow eye-ring.
Female:
Females are dark brown, often with a paler, mottled or streaked breast and a duller brown or yellowish-brown bill.
Juvenile:
Young birds are ginger-brown with extensive mottling or streaks, resembling the female but generally paler.
Habitat and Behavior:
Blackbirds are highly adaptable and are a common sight in gardens, parks, woodlands, hedgerows, and urban areas. They are primarily ground feeders, hopping along the lawn, cocking their heads to the side to listen for earthworms just below the surface. They also forage for insects, caterpillars, and berries.
They are fiercely territorial, especially the males during the breeding season, but can be more gregarious in winter feeding areas.
Diet:
Blackbirds are omnivorous. Their diet primarily consists of:
Insects and Invertebrates: Earthworms, caterpillars, and other small insects.
Fruit and Berries: They eat a variety of wild and garden berries, as well as windfall apples and other soft fruits, especially in the autumn and winter.
Breeding and Nesting:
The breeding season typically runs from March to July. The female builds a cup-shaped nest using twigs, grass, and mud, usually in a low shrub, bush, or tree.
Eggs:
The female lays a clutch of 3-5 bluish-green eggs with reddish-brown speckles.
Incubation:
The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days.
Fledging:
Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge (leave the nest) after another 10-19 days. The male often continues to feed the fledglings while the female starts the next brood.
Song:
The male blackbird is renowned for its rich, mellow, and fluting song, which is one of the most loved sounds in British gardens. They sing from an elevated perch, typically in the early morning and late evening, and often after rain.
Cultural Significance:
The blackbird is the national bird of Sweden. It has appeared in literature and music, notably in the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence" and the Beatles' song "Blackbird". Spiritually, blackbirds are often associated with mystery, intuition, and transformation in various traditions.
Highgate Common Staffordshire
What3Words
///vertical.ballots.renewals
The Great Tit (Parus major) is a widespread and familiar songbird across Europe and parts of Asia, known for its bright plumage, adaptability, and frequent visits to garden feeders.
Appearance: The Great Tit is the largest of the tits found in the UK, measuring around 14 cm in length. It has a striking, glossy black head with large white cheek patches. The back is an olive-green, wings are bluish-grey with a white bar, and the underparts are bright yellow with a distinctive broad black stripe running down the centre of the breast and belly. Males have a wider, more prominent black stripe than females.
Voice: They have a loud and varied repertoire of calls. Their most recognizable song is a repetitive, high-pitched two-syllable call, often described as sounding like a squeaky bicycle pump or the words "teacher-teacher".
Intelligence: Great Tits are considered highly intelligent and resourceful. They can solve problems, have been observed using conifer needles as tools to extract insect larvae, and famously learned to break the foil caps of doorstep milk bottles to get the cream in 20th-century Britain.
Habitat and Diet: Great Tits are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, parks, gardens, orchards, and farmlands, as long as there are trees or shrubs available. They are common garden visitors and readily use human-provided food sources.
Their diet varies by season:
Breeding Season: They primarily feed on protein-rich insects and other invertebrates, such as caterpillars, spiders, and beetles, which are essential for feeding their chicks.
Winter: When insects are scarce, their diet shifts to seeds (especially from beech and hazel trees), nuts, and berries. They are frequent visitors to bird feeders, where they enjoy sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet.
November 30, 2021, on Black Point Wildlife Drive. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Titusville, Florida, USA.
We were looking for the Bald Eagles at the nest along Wildlife Drive, but instead, we found a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). It was 10 minutes after sunset and getting dark.
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is highly adaptable to various habitats. We find them established from Alaska and northern Canada south to Argentina.
I have already posted one photograph of my amazing dashing Fox encounter but here is my second lucky photograph with four off the floor (but only just!). But this one has the added bonus of the Fox glancing sideways to smile at me as it sped past.
Foxes are pretty widespread throughout Britain, absent only from most of the Scottish islands. They are highly adaptable and can occur in many different habitats feeding on a wide variety of food especially rabbits, voles, birds, beetles, worms and fruit. Foxes living in urban areas tend to scavenge for food scraps just as they do for carrion in rural areas. But they will also take live food in urban situations. Foxes mate in the depths of winter when the Vixen can be heard making that familiar screaming bark. Gestation is just over 50 days and the young are fully weaned at about 10 weeks. The male usually helps provision the young with food. The cubs usually associate with their mother until autumn, when they disperse to find territories of their own. I usually see male Foxes out and about in daytime during winter in search of females, but I think this one might be a vixen, although the diagnostic parts are concealed in all of my photos.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
///thin.spill.bravo
The magpie is an intelligent bird belonging to the Corvidae family, which also includes crows, jays, and ravens. Known for its distinct black-and-white plumage, noisy chattering, and long tail, it is the subject of much folklore and superstition in many parts of the world.
Appearance
Distinctive features:
The magpie has a black head, chest, and back, a white belly and white patches on its wings and shoulders.
Iridescent sheen:
When seen up close, the black feathers have an iridescent sheen of blue, green, and purple.
Long tail:
The tail can make up to a third of its body length and also has an iridescent gloss.
Intelligence and behavior
Highly intelligent:
Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent of all bird species. The Eurasian magpie is one of the few non-mammalian species that can recognize itself in a mirror.
Tool use and games:
They can use tools, imitate human speech, play games, and work in teams.
Hoarding:
Magpies often hoard food to eat later, hiding it in the ground and covering it with grass or leaves.
Social:
Outside of breeding season, non-breeding magpies often gather in small flocks.
Nesting:
They build large, domed nests out of sticks and mud, often high in trees or hedges.
Habitat and diet
Widespread habitat:
Magpies are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats across Europe, Asia, and western North America. This includes woodlands, farmland, gardens, and urban areas.
Omnivorous diet:
As omnivores and scavengers, they eat insects, seeds, fruit, carrion, and small vertebrates. In gardens, they'll also eat human food scraps.
Folklore and superstition:
"One for sorrow...": A famous nursery rhyme suggests that the number of magpies you see can predict your fortune.
Bad luck:
In European folklore, a single magpie is often considered an omen of bad luck, while a group of them is seen as good fortune. In some myths, the bird was cursed for not properly mourning Jesus's crucifixion.
Good luck:
In some cultures, such as Korea, the magpie is a symbol of good luck and good news.
"Thieving Magpie" myth:
The idea that magpies compulsively steal shiny objects is largely a myth. Studies show they are generally neophobic (fearful of new things) and will avoid shiny objects.
Adult Golden Eagle, with a Red Squirrel, Gazes Over Shoulder as Another Eagle Approaches in the panish Pyrenees.
In this striking image, a Golden Eagle perches confidently on a branch in the Spanish Pyrenees.
The Spanish Pyrenees offer an ideal habitat for Golden Eagles, providing rugged terrain for hunting and nesting. Renowned for their formidable hunting skills, Golden Eagles primarily target small to medium-sized mammals and birds.
During winter, Golden Eagles employ a unique strategy to endure the cold. They develop a thicker layer of feathers, giving them a robust appearance. In this photo, the eagle's bold, almost plump, appearance is a testament to this seasonal adaptation. Notably, the small head contrasts with the seemingly robust body, showcasing the intricate balance of this predator.
While Golden Eagles play a crucial role in the Pyrenean ecosystem, conservation challenges persist, including habitat fragmentation. Conservation efforts aim to safeguard their expansive territories and ensure the availability of prey species crucial to their survival.
This image captures a moment of stillness and power, emphasizing the resilience and adaptability of the Golden Eagle in the face of changing seasons in the Spanish Pyrenees.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
///trailers.ripen.grownup
The Eurasian Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula, often listed under Corvus monedula) is a small, highly social member of the crow family (Corvidae) known for its intelligence and adaptability. It is a widespread bird found across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.
Appearance:
The jackdaw is identifiable by its glossy black plumage with a contrasting silvery-grey or light grey "shawl" on the back of its head and nape. Adults have distinctive, piercing pale grey or white eyes, which stand out against their dark features. Juveniles are browner with darker eyes.
Size:
It is the smallest of the European crows, measuring around 34–39 cm (13–15 in) in length.
Call:
Its name is onomatopoeic, derived from its common, metallic "tchack" or "chyak-chyak" call, frequently used in flight.
Habitat and Distribution
The Eurasian Jackdaw is a highly adaptable bird, thriving in a variety of open and semi-open habitats. It prefers areas with a mix of large trees, buildings, and open ground.
Range:
Its range extends from Northwest Africa and the British Isles eastward to central Asia and the Himalayas.
Habitat:
Common environments include woodlands, farmland, coastal cliffs, parks, and urban areas. They often nest in human-made structures, such as chimneys and old church towers.
Migration:
Most populations in western and southern Europe are year-round residents, but northern and eastern populations are migratory, moving south in winter.
Behavior and Diet
Jackdaws are notably intelligent and social birds, often seen in large, noisy flocks outside of the breeding season. They exhibit complex social structures and are one of the few bird species known for active food sharing.
Social Life:
They form strong, monogamous pair bonds that often last for life. The pair remains close within larger flocks, even when foraging. They perform impressive acrobatic flights in groups, especially at dusk when gathering at communal roosts.
Diet:
As opportunistic omnivores, their diet is highly varied and includes invertebrates (insects, spiders, snails), seeds, fruits, and carrion. They readily scavenge human food waste in urban settings and will visit garden bird feeders for items like suet and peanuts. They occasionally raid the nests of other birds for eggs or nestlings.
Reproduction
Nesting occurs in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings, with the female incubating around 4-5 eggs. Both parents feed the young, which fledge about a month after hatching.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
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The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread species of dabbling duck, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are highly adaptable and a common sight in urban parks, ponds, rivers, and various wetland habitats.
Size:
They are large, heavy-looking ducks, typically 50-62 cm (20-24 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm (32-39 inches).
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males (drakes) and females (hens) have very different appearances, so much so that they were once thought to be different species.
Male (Drake):
Has a striking, iridescent green head and neck, a bright yellow bill, a white neck ring, a chestnut-brown breast, and grey body plumage. They also have a distinctive curled black feather just above the tail.
Female (Hen):
Has a more muted, mottled brown and tan plumage for camouflage during nesting, with an orange and brown bill.
Both:
Both sexes have a distinctive, white-bordered, iridescent blue or purple patch on their wings called a speculum, which is visible in flight.
Vocalization:
Only the female makes the loud, characteristic "quack" sound commonly associated with ducks. Males have a much quieter, raspier, one or two-note call.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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“Like water off a Ducks back”
(The saying "like water off a duck's back" is an idiom used to describe a situation where criticism, insults, or negative comments have no effect on a person. The individual remains calm, unbothered, and unaffected by the adverse remarks or circumstances, much like a duck's feathers naturally repel water.)
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread species of dabbling duck, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are highly adaptable and a common sight in urban parks, ponds, rivers, and various wetland habitats.
Size:
They are large, heavy-looking ducks, typically 50-62 cm (20-24 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm (32-39 inches).
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males (drakes) and females (hens) have very different appearances, so much so that they were once thought to be different species.
Male (Drake):
Has a striking, iridescent green head and neck, a bright yellow bill, a white neck ring, a chestnut-brown breast, and grey body plumage. They also have a distinctive curled black feather just above the tail.
Female (Hen):
Has a more muted, mottled brown and tan plumage for camouflage during nesting, with an orange and brown bill.
Both:
Both sexes have a distinctive, white-bordered, iridescent blue or purple patch on their wings called a speculum, which is visible in flight.
Vocalization:
Only the female makes the loud, characteristic "quack" sound commonly associated with ducks. Males have a much quieter, raspier, one or two-note call.
The great tit (Parus major) is a common, widespread, and adaptable bird found across Europe and parts of Asia, well known as a frequent visitor to garden bird feeders. It is the largest member of the tit family in the UK.
Key Characteristics
Appearance:
The great tit has a striking appearance with a glossy black head, prominent white cheeks, an olive-green back, and bright yellow underparts with a bold black stripe running down its breast. Males typically have a wider and brighter black stripe than females, which serves as an indicator of their status and reproductive fitness.
Size:
It measures about 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of roughly 24 cm (9.4 inches).
Song/Call:
Great tits are very vocal and have a wide range of calls. Their most familiar and distinctive song is a repetitive, high-pitched two-syllable call, often described as sounding like a bicycle pump or "teacher, teacher".
Habitat:
While their natural habitat is mature deciduous woodland, they have adapted well to human-modified environments like parks, gardens, and urban areas. They are cavity nesters, using holes in trees or readily available nest boxes.
Diet and Behavior
Great tits are opportunistic and intelligent feeders. Their diet varies seasonally:
Summer:
They primarily eat insects, spiders, caterpillars, and other invertebrates, which provide essential protein for their chicks.
Winter:
When insects are scarce, they switch to seeds, nuts (such as sunflower seeds and peanuts), and berries, often visiting bird tables and feeders. They use a "hold-hammering" method, holding large food items with their feet and striking them with their bill to break them open.
Their intelligence has led to interesting behaviors, such as learning to break the foil caps of doorstep milk bottles to access the cream in the early 20th century. In winter, when food is extremely scarce, they have even been recorded preying on hibernating bats.
Population and Study:
The great tit population is widespread and currently categorized as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. The species is a significant subject in ornithology, with the Wytham Woods Great Tit project at the University of Oxford being one of the longest continuous studies of an individually-marked animal population in the world, running for over 75 years.
A long-time favorite of those with a green-thumb and even those without, Spathiphyllum, commonly known as the peace lily, is an adaptable and low-maintenance houseplant. Peace lilies are not true lilies (Lilium spp.) at all, but rather a member of the Araceae family. Its flowers resemble those of the calla lily (both plants belong to the same family) and is the reason for its name. The showy part of the flower features a white, hoodlike sheath (known as a spathe) which resembles a white flag of surrender.
There are a wide variety of sizes and types of peace lilies. Most serve as floor plants since they can reach three feet tall and grow wide with big, bold leaves. Mauna loa supreme (a Spathiphyllum hybrid) is the standard midsize type. It grows up to four feet tall and features bronze-green foliage with an abundance of large, cupped spathes.
It finally got the recognition it deserves from the general public after NASA put it on its list of “Top Ten Household Air Cleaning Plants.” This tropical shade-loving plant helps cleanse the air we breathe. While we all appreciate cleaner, oxygenated air, it’s also the easy peace lily care, resiliency and forgiving nature that makes them such popular houseplants.
The common crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a large, graceful, migratory bird with a distinctive trumpeting call that is widespread across Europe and Asia. Known for its elaborate courtship dances and conservation success story in areas where it had previously become extinct, it is classified as a species of Least Concern globally.
Key Characteristics and Appearance:
Size:
As the UK's tallest bird, the common crane stands around 110–120 cm (about 4 feet) tall, with a large wingspan of 220–250 cm (7-8 feet).
Plumage:
It is mostly slate-grey, with a black and white head and upper neck, and a notable bare red patch on its crown.
Distinctive Feature: Adults have elegant, drooping, curved tail feathers (actually elongated inner wing feathers or tertials) that form a "bustle".
In Flight:
Unlike herons, cranes fly with their long necks and legs fully outstretched. They often travel in large, V-shaped formations and can reach astonishing altitudes of up to 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) during migration.
Habitat and Diet
Common cranes are highly adaptable, inhabiting a variety of wetlands, including bogs, marshes, and swampy forest clearings during the breeding season. During migration and winter, they often gather in large flocks in open areas, such as agricultural fields and floodplains, where they can forage for food and roost in shallow water for safety.
They are omnivorous, with their diet changing seasonally. They primarily eat plant matter like roots, seeds, and grains, supplementing this with animal prey such as insects, snails, amphibians, and small rodents, especially when breeding and feeding their young.
Behavior and Life Cycle
Sociality:
Common cranes are territorial during the breeding season but become very social, forming large flocks during migration and wintering.
Courtship:
They are famous for their elaborate "dances," which involve bobs, bows, pirouettes, and throwing vegetation in the air. This behavior serves to reinforce lifelong monogamous pair bonds and can occur at almost any time of year.
Reproduction:
Pairs typically lay one or two eggs in a large nest built on the ground in shallow water. Both parents incubate the eggs for about a month, and the chicks fledge around 9-10 weeks of age, remaining with their parents through their first winter.
Lifespan:
In the wild, they typically live for about 13 years on average, though they can reach up to 26 years.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small, common, and noisy gull species widespread across Europe, Asia, and some parts of eastern Canada. Despite its name, its head is actually chocolate-brown during the breeding season and mostly white in winter, with dark spots near the eyes.
Identification:
Adult Summer Plumage: Features a dark chocolate-brown head (appears black from a distance), pale grey body, and black wingtips. The bill and legs are dark red.
Adult Winter Plumage:
The dark head color is lost, leaving a white head with a dark smudge or spots behind each eye, often described as looking like the bird is wearing headphones. The bill also appears duller.
Juveniles:
Have mottled brown spots on their upper parts and a distinct black band on the tail, attaining adult plumage after two years.
In Flight:
A distinctive feature in all plumages is the prominent white leading edge to the outer wing.
Habitat and Behavior:
Black-headed gulls are highly sociable and noisy birds, often gathering in large flocks. They are extremely adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including coastal areas, inland lakes, marshes, parks, farmland, and even urban environments like garbage dumps. They are not a pelagic species and are rarely seen far out at sea.
They are opportunistic omnivores and scavengers, feeding on insects, earthworms, fish, seeds, fruit, and carrion. They have a unique foraging behavior that includes head-bobbing while walking through shallow water to enhance motion detection of prey.
They nest in large, dense colonies, typically on the ground in low vegetation or on islands in wetlands. Both parents help build the nest, incubate the eggs (which are typically 1-4, green with brown splotches), and raise the chicks.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
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The Common Crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a large, graceful, migratory bird with a distinctive trumpeting call that is widespread across Europe and Asia. Known for its elaborate courtship dances and conservation success story in areas where it had previously become extinct, it is classified as a species of Least Concern globally.
Key Characteristics and Appearance:
Size:
As the UK's tallest bird, the common crane stands around 110–120 cm (about 4 feet) tall, with a large wingspan of 220–250 cm (7-8 feet).
Plumage:
It is mostly slate-grey, with a black and white head and upper neck, and a notable bare red patch on its crown.
Distinctive Feature:
Adults have elegant, drooping, curved tail feathers (actually elongated inner wing feathers or tertials) that form a "bustle".
In Flight:
Unlike herons, cranes fly with their long necks and legs fully outstretched. They often travel in large, V-shaped formations and can reach astonishing altitudes of up to 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) during migration.
Habitat and Diet:
Common cranes are highly adaptable, inhabiting a variety of wetlands, including bogs, marshes, and swampy forest clearings during the breeding season. During migration and winter, they often gather in large flocks in open areas, such as agricultural fields and floodplains, where they can forage for food and roost in shallow water for safety.
They are omnivorous, with their diet changing seasonally. They primarily eat plant matter like roots, seeds, and grains, supplementing this with animal prey such as insects, snails, amphibians, and small rodents, especially when breeding and feeding their young.
Behavior and Life Cycle
Sociality:
Common cranes are territorial during the breeding season but become very social, forming large flocks during migration and wintering.
Courtship:
They are famous for their elaborate "dances," which involve bobs, bows, pirouettes, and throwing vegetation in the air. This behavior serves to reinforce lifelong monogamous pair bonds and can occur at almost any time of year.
Reproduction:
Pairs typically lay one or two eggs in a large nest built on the ground in shallow water. Both parents incubate the eggs for about a month, and the chicks fledge around 9-10 weeks of age, remaining with their parents through their first winter.
Lifespan:
In the wild, they typically live for about 13 years on average, though they can reach up to 26 years.
The Great Kiskadee inhabits a broad range across Central and South America, stretching from southern Texas to northern Argentina. As an opportunistic feeder, it thrives on a diverse diet that includes insects, small vertebrates, fruit, seeds, and even fish—an adaptability that sets it apart among flycatchers. Its bold, assertive nature is mirrored in its striking plumage. Renowned for its loud and distinctive "kis-ka-dee" call, from which it takes its name.
Neotropic Photo Tours. www.neotropicphototours.com
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread species of dabbling duck, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are highly adaptable and a common sight in urban parks, ponds, rivers, and various wetland habitats.
Size: They are large, heavy-looking ducks, typically 50-62 cm (20-24 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm (32-39 inches).
Sexual Dimorphism: Males (drakes) and females (hens) have very different appearances, so much so that they were once thought to be different species.
Male (Drake): Has a striking, iridescent green head and neck, a bright yellow bill, a white neck ring, a chestnut-brown breast, and grey body plumage. They also have a distinctive curled black feather just above the tail.
Female (Hen): Has a more muted, mottled brown and tan plumage for camouflage during nesting, with an orange and brown bill.
Both: Both sexes have a distinctive, white-bordered, iridescent blue or purple patch on their wings called a speculum, which is visible in flight.
Vocalization: Only the female makes the loud, characteristic "quack" sound commonly associated with ducks. Males have a much quieter, raspier, one or two-note call.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
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The Common Crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a large, graceful, migratory bird with a distinctive trumpeting call that is widespread across Europe and Asia. Known for its elaborate courtship dances and conservation success story in areas where it had previously become extinct, it is classified as a species of Least Concern globally.
Key Characteristics and Appearance:
Size:
As the UK's tallest bird, the common crane stands around 110–120 cm (about 4 feet) tall, with a large wingspan of 220–250 cm (7-8 feet).
Plumage:
It is mostly slate-grey, with a black and white head and upper neck, and a notable bare red patch on its crown.
Distinctive Feature:
Adults have elegant, drooping, curved tail feathers (actually elongated inner wing feathers or tertials) that form a "bustle".
In Flight:
Unlike herons, cranes fly with their long necks and legs fully outstretched. They often travel in large, V-shaped formations and can reach astonishing altitudes of up to 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) during migration.
Habitat and Diet:
Common cranes are highly adaptable, inhabiting a variety of wetlands, including bogs, marshes, and swampy forest clearings during the breeding season. During migration and winter, they often gather in large flocks in open areas, such as agricultural fields and floodplains, where they can forage for food and roost in shallow water for safety.
They are omnivorous, with their diet changing seasonally. They primarily eat plant matter like roots, seeds, and grains, supplementing this with animal prey such as insects, snails, amphibians, and small rodents, especially when breeding and feeding their young.
Behavior and Life Cycle
Sociality:
Common cranes are territorial during the breeding season but become very social, forming large flocks during migration and wintering.
Courtship:
They are famous for their elaborate "dances," which involve bobs, bows, pirouettes, and throwing vegetation in the air. This behavior serves to reinforce lifelong monogamous pair bonds and can occur at almost any time of year.
Reproduction:
Pairs typically lay one or two eggs in a large nest built on the ground in shallow water. Both parents incubate the eggs for about a month, and the chicks fledge around 9-10 weeks of age, remaining with their parents through their first winter.
Lifespan:
In the wild, they typically live for about 13 years on average, though they can reach up to 26 years.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
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The Common Crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a large, graceful, migratory bird with a distinctive trumpeting call that is widespread across Europe and Asia. Known for its elaborate courtship dances and conservation success story in areas where it had previously become extinct, it is classified as a species of Least Concern globally.
Key Characteristics and Appearance:
Size:
As the UK's tallest bird, the common crane stands around 110–120 cm (about 4 feet) tall, with a large wingspan of 220–250 cm (7-8 feet).
Plumage:
It is mostly slate-grey, with a black and white head and upper neck, and a notable bare red patch on its crown.
Distinctive Feature: Adults have elegant, drooping, curved tail feathers (actually elongated inner wing feathers or tertials) that form a "bustle".
In Flight:
Unlike herons, cranes fly with their long necks and legs fully outstretched. They often travel in large, V-shaped formations and can reach astonishing altitudes of up to 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) during migration.
Habitat and Diet:
Common cranes are highly adaptable, inhabiting a variety of wetlands, including bogs, marshes, and swampy forest clearings during the breeding season. During migration and winter, they often gather in large flocks in open areas, such as agricultural fields and floodplains, where they can forage for food and roost in shallow water for safety.
They are omnivorous, with their diet changing seasonally. They primarily eat plant matter like roots, seeds, and grains, supplementing this with animal prey such as insects, snails, amphibians, and small rodents, especially when breeding and feeding their young.
Behavior and Life Cycle
Sociality:
Common cranes are territorial during the breeding season but become very social, forming large flocks during migration and wintering.
Courtship:
They are famous for their elaborate "dances," which involve bobs, bows, pirouettes, and throwing vegetation in the air. This behavior serves to reinforce lifelong monogamous pair bonds and can occur at almost any time of year.
Reproduction:
Pairs typically lay one or two eggs in a large nest built on the ground in shallow water. Both parents incubate the eggs for about a month, and the chicks fledge around 9-10 weeks of age, remaining with their parents through their first winter.
Lifespan:
In the wild, they typically live for about 13 years on average, though they can reach up to 26 years.
It is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. The original habitats of the raccoon are deciduous and mixed forests, but due to their adaptability they have extended their range to mountainous areas, coastal marshes, and urban areas, where some homeowners consider them to be pests. Their life expectancy in the wild is only 1.8 to 3.1 years.
Parque, Playa de las Américas, Tenerife
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The term "blackbird" primarily refers to the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), a widespread and beloved songbird in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. In North America, the term can also refer to various species within the Icteridae family (e.g., Red-winged Blackbird), which are not evolutionarily related to the European blackbird.
Identification
Male: Adult males are entirely black with a bright orange-yellow bill and a distinctive yellow eye-ring.
Female:
Females are dark brown, often with a paler, mottled or streaked breast and a duller brown or yellowish-brown bill.
Juvenile:
Young birds are ginger-brown with extensive mottling or streaks, resembling the female but generally paler.
Habitat and Behavior
Blackbirds are highly adaptable and are a common sight in gardens, parks, woodlands, hedgerows, and urban areas. They are primarily ground feeders, hopping along the lawn, cocking their heads to the side to listen for earthworms just below the surface. They also forage for insects, caterpillars, and berries.
They are fiercely territorial, especially the males during the breeding season, but can be more gregarious in winter feeding areas.
Diet
Blackbirds are omnivorous. Their diet primarily consists of: Insects and Invertebrates: Earthworms, caterpillars, and other small insects.
Fruit and Berries: They eat a variety of wild and garden berries, as well as windfall apples and other soft fruits, especially in the autumn and winter.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season typically runs from March to July. The female builds a cup-shaped nest using twigs, grass, and mud, usually in a low shrub, bush, or tree.
Eggs:
The female lays a clutch of 3-5 bluish-green eggs with reddish-brown speckles.
Incubation:
The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days.
Fledging:
Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge (leave the nest) after another 10-19 days. The male often continues to feed the fledglings while the female starts the next brood.
Song
The male blackbird is renowned for its rich, mellow, and fluting song, which is one of the most loved sounds in British gardens. They sing from an elevated perch, typically in the early morning and late evening, and often after rain.
Cultural Significance
The blackbird is the national bird of Sweden. It has appeared in literature and music, notably in the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence" and the Beatles' song "Blackbird". Spiritually, blackbirds are often associated with mystery, intuition, and transformation in various traditions.
Thanksgiving marked one year without Ella and I've been incredibly grateful for two things: 18 years with Ellie Belly and George discovering Pippi and making sure we adopted her when I was thinking I wasn't ready for a new cat.
Pippi has been a very social, confident, friendly and adaptable cat and I just had to accept that she was not a lap cat... until this fall! Once the cold weather hit, she learned that sitting on someone's lap can be warm and cozy. Here she is sitting on my lap early Thanksgiving morning before all the festivities started.
I am very thankful for the feline friendships, past and present, that I've had in my life.
Happy Caturday: Grateful
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as the waterhen or common gallinule, is a widespread and adaptable water bird in the rail family (Rallidae). It is commonly found around well-vegetated freshwater habitats across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and is a familiar sight in urban parks, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
Size: Moorhens are medium-sized birds, typically 32–35 cm (12–14 inches) in length, with a wingspan of around 50–55 cm (20–22 inches).
Plumage: Adults have a dark, slate-grey to olive-brown body with a blue-black belly. A distinguishing feature is the white stripe along their flanks and bold white patches under their short tail, which they flick nervously while walking or swimming.
Head and Beak: They have a striking bright red beak with a yellow tip, which extends upwards into a red frontal shield on the forehead.
Legs and Feet: They have long, yellowish-green legs and feet with long, chicken-like toes that allow them to walk easily on soft mud and floating vegetation.
Tigers will allow this bird to pick its teeth clean, hence its nickname.
—from Wikipedia
The Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) is a treepie, native to the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining parts of Southeast Asia. It is a member of the crow family, Corvidae. It is long tailed and has loud musical calls making it very conspicuous. It is found commonly in open scrub, agricultural areas, forests as well as urban gardens. Like other corvids it is very adaptable, omnivorous and opportunistic in feeding.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread species of dabbling duck, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are highly adaptable and a common sight in urban parks, ponds, rivers, and various wetland habitats.
Size:
They are large, heavy-looking ducks, typically 50-62 cm (20-24 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm (32-39 inches).
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males (drakes) and females (hens) have very different appearances, so much so that they were once thought to be different species.
Male (Drake): Has a striking, iridescent green head and neck, a bright yellow bill, a white neck ring, a chestnut-brown breast, and grey body plumage. They also have a distinctive curled black feather just above the tail.
Female (Hen):
Has a more muted, mottled brown and tan plumage for camouflage during nesting, with an orange and brown bill.
Both:
Both sexes have a distinctive, white-bordered, iridescent blue or purple patch on their wings called a speculum, which is visible in flight.
Vocalization:
Only the female makes the loud, characteristic "quack" sound commonly associated with ducks. Males have a much quieter, raspier, one or two-note call.
The distinctive red-brown fur and long bushy tail of the fox are a familiar sight almost everywhere in the British Isles. Foxes are intelligent, adaptable mammals, opportunistic, with unfussy palates, and they make use of a wide range of habitats, including those of towns and cities. They are social animals, living in family groups of a breeding pair, together with cubs in the spring, and sometimes other subordinate juveniles and adults. The latter are usually young born the previous year and help with the rearing of cubs, feeding, grooming and playing with them. Each group occupies a territory, which is marked with urine and scats. Dens (called ‘earths’) may be dug in banks or make use of (disused or occupied) badger setts or old rabbit burrows. In urban areas, favoured sites for dens are under buildings or sheds, and in overgrown gardens and cemeteries.
Foxes hunt and scavenge with keen senses of smell and hearing, and probably use the latter to locate earthworms, which can make up a large part of their diet.
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated.
The masked lapwing (Vanellus miles), also known as the masked plover and often called the spur-winged plover or just plover in its native range, is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia, particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent, New Zealand and New Guinea. It spends most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms and has several distinctive calls. There are two subspecies; the southern novaehollandiae has distinctive black markings on the shoulder and side of the chest, and is sometimes recognized as a separate species, the black-shouldered lapwing (Vanellus novaehollandiae). These brown-black, white and yellow plovers are common in Australian fields and open land. The masked lapwing is the largest representative of the family Charadriidae. It measures from 30 to 37 cm in length and has a wingspan of 75–85 cm. The nominate subspecies (V. m. miles) weighs 191–300 g, while the southern race (V. m. novaehollandiae) is larger and weighs 296–412 g. The birds have a wide range of calls which can be heard at any time of the day or night: the warning call, a loud defending call, courtship calls, calls to its young, and others. Since this bird lives on the ground it is always alert and even though it rests it never sleeps properly. Masked lapwings are most common around the edges of wetlands and in other moist, open environments, but are adaptable and can often be found in surprisingly arid areas. They can also be found on beaches and coastlines. 54518
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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The cormorant is a family of medium-to-large aquatic birds found worldwide that are expert fishers known for their characteristic posture of standing with wings outstretched to dry.
Appearance:
Cormorants are generally large, dark-plumaged birds with a long, thick, and flexible neck, giving them a somewhat "prehistoric" or "reptilian" appearance. They have a long, thin bill that ends in a sharp hook, perfectly suited for catching fish. Most species have webbed feet with all four toes joined.
Size:
Size varies by species, but the Great Cormorant, a widespread species, typically measures 80-100 cm (31-39 in) in length with a wingspan of 130-160 cm (51-63 in).
Habitat and Distribution: They are highly adaptable and found in a wide variety of aquatic environments, including ocean coasts, estuaries, large rivers, and freshwater lakes and reservoirs across the world, except for the central Pacific islands.
Diet and Hunting: Cormorants are carnivorous, feeding primarily on fish, but also amphibians, crustaceans, and eels. They hunt by diving from the water's surface and propelling themselves underwater using their powerful webbed feet. They can dive to impressive depths, sometimes up to 45 meters (150 feet), and use their hooked bills to seize prey.
Unique Behaviors and Facts
Wing-Drying Posture:
One of the most recognizable cormorant behaviors is perching with their wings spread wide in the sun. This is because their feathers are not fully waterproof (which helps them reduce buoyancy for diving more efficiently), so they need to dry them afterwards.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
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The magpie is an intelligent bird belonging to the Corvidae family, which also includes crows, jays, and ravens. Known for its distinct black-and-white plumage, noisy chattering, and long tail, it is the subject of much folklore and superstition in many parts of the world.
Appearance
Distinctive features:
The magpie has a black head, chest, and back, a white belly and white patches on its wings and shoulders.
Iridescent sheen:
When seen up close, the black feathers have an iridescent sheen of blue, green, and purple.
Long tail:
The tail can make up to a third of its body length and also has an iridescent gloss.
Intelligence and behavior
Highly intelligent:
Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent of all bird species. The Eurasian magpie is one of the few non-mammalian species that can recognize itself in a mirror.
Tool use and games:
They can use tools, imitate human speech, play games, and work in teams.
Hoarding:
Magpies often hoard food to eat later, hiding it in the ground and covering it with grass or leaves.
Social:
Outside of breeding season, non-breeding magpies often gather in small flocks.
Nesting:
They build large, domed nests out of sticks and mud, often high in trees or hedges.
Habitat and diet
Widespread habitat:
Magpies are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats across Europe, Asia, and western North America. This includes woodlands, farmland, gardens, and urban areas.
Omnivorous diet:
As omnivores and scavengers, they eat insects, seeds, fruit, carrion, and small vertebrates. In gardens, they'll also eat human food scraps.
Folklore and superstition:
"One for sorrow...": A famous nursery rhyme suggests that the number of magpies you see can predict your fortune.
Bad luck:
In European folklore, a single magpie is often considered an omen of bad luck, while a group of them is seen as good fortune. In some myths, the bird was cursed for not properly mourning Jesus's crucifixion.
Good luck:
In some cultures, such as Korea, the magpie is a symbol of good luck and good news.
"Thieving Magpie" myth:
The idea that magpies compulsively steal shiny objects is largely a myth. Studies show they are generally neophobic (fearful of new things) and will avoid shiny objects.
Please, no invitations to award groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.
Brown hawk-like owl with large, unsettling yellow eyes. Note solid brown back, patchily brown-spotted white breast, and pale triangle above the bill. Adaptable, found in a wide range of forested habitats from primary rainforest to orchards and gardens. Most active at night and dusk; often hunts from an exposed perch. Gives a series of rising hoots: “woo-wuh! woo-wuh! woo-wuh!” (eBird)
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This owl had found himself a very dark corner of the forest to have his daytime nap. It's hard to tell, but his eyes are very slightly open, just to check out the noise of the many visitors to this park.
Hindhede Nature Park, Singapore. March 2024.
Birding Singapore.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
///thin.spill.bravo
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread species of dabbling duck, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are highly adaptable and a common sight in urban parks, ponds, rivers, and various wetland habitats.
Size:
They are large, heavy-looking ducks, typically 50-62 cm (20-24 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm (32-39 inches).
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males (drakes) and females (hens) have very different appearances, so much so that they were once thought to be different species.
Male (Drake):
Has a striking, iridescent green head and neck, a bright yellow bill, a white neck ring, a chestnut-brown breast, and grey body plumage. They also have a distinctive curled black feather just above the tail.
Female (Hen):
Has a more muted, mottled brown and tan plumage for camouflage during nesting, with an orange and brown bill.
Both:
Both sexes have a distinctive, white-bordered, iridescent blue or purple patch on their wings called a speculum, which is visible in flight.
Vocalization:
Only the female makes the loud, characteristic "quack" sound commonly associated with ducks. Males have a much quieter, raspier, one or two-note call.
Discovered at sunset on the cliff along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, in Sydney.
Welcome to Bondi's 'Sculptures By The Sea' for 2025.
See the videos:
sculpturebythesea.com/sculpture-sea-bondi-2025-exhibition...
sculpturebythesea.com/sculpture-sea-bondi-2025-exhibition...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVJbwsWK2i0
This is 'Rustle' (Sculpture 32) by the artist Andrew Cullen. It is a Water Dragon crafted from reclaimed timber.
The Water Dragon embodies adaptability in the face of changing waters. Its poised stance mirrors nature's resilience, urging us to reflect on our uncertain future.
Photographed on Friday, 24th October, 2025.
My Canon EOS 5D Mk IV with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens.
Processed in Adobe Lightroom.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
///thin.spill.bravo
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most familiar and widespread species of dabbling duck, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are highly adaptable and a common sight in urban parks, ponds, rivers, and various wetland habitats.
Size:
They are large, heavy-looking ducks, typically 50-62 cm (20-24 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81-98 cm (32-39 inches).
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males (drakes) and females (hens) have very different appearances, so much so that they were once thought to be different species.
Male (Drake):
Has a striking, iridescent green head and neck, a bright yellow bill, a white neck ring, a chestnut-brown breast, and grey body plumage. They also have a distinctive curled black feather just above the tail.
Female (Hen):
Has a more muted, mottled brown and tan plumage for camouflage during nesting, with an orange and brown bill.
Both:
Both sexes have a distinctive, white-bordered, iridescent blue or purple patch on their wings called a speculum, which is visible in flight.
Vocalization:
Only the female makes the loud, characteristic "quack" sound commonly associated with ducks. Males have a much quieter, raspier, one or two-note call.
The distinctive red-brown fur and long bushy tail of the fox are a familiar sight almost everywhere in the British Isles. Foxes are intelligent, adaptable mammals, opportunistic, with unfussy palates, and they make use of a wide range of habitats, including those of towns and cities. They are social animals, living in family groups of a breeding pair, together with cubs in the spring, and sometimes other subordinate juveniles and adults. The latter are usually young born the previous year and help with the rearing of cubs, feeding, grooming and playing with them. Each group occupies a territory, which is marked with urine and scats. Dens (called ‘earths’) may be dug in banks or make use of (disused or occupied) badger setts or old rabbit burrows. In urban areas, favoured sites for dens are under buildings or sheds, and in overgrown gardens and cemeteries.
Foxes hunt and scavenge with keen senses of smell and hearing, and probably use the latter to locate earthworms, which can make up a large part of their diet.
Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated.
Great Blue Heron in flight on a light blue sky.
From Cornell: In flight, the Great Blue Heron curls its neck into a tight “S” shape; its wings are broad and rounded and its legs trail well beyond the tail.
From Audubon: Often seen standing silently along inland rivers or lakeshores, or flying high overhead, with slow wingbeats, its head hunched back onto its shoulders. Highly adaptable, it thrives around all kinds of waters from subtropical mangrove swamps to desert rivers to the coastline of southern Alaska. With its variable diet it is able to spend the winter farther north than most herons, even in areas where most waters freeze.
This guy showed up in our field behind the house. He was feasting on a dead lamb. We don't know where the lamb came from. This is the first time we have seen him around here and he was just incredible.
From Wikipedia:
The crested caracara (Caracara plancus), also known as the Mexican eagle, is a bird of prey (raptor) in the falcon family, Falconidae. It was formerly placed in the genus Polyborus before being given in its own genus, Caracara. It is native to and found in the southern and southeastern United States, Mexico (where it is present in every state) and the majority of mainland Latin America, as well as some Caribbean islands. The crested caracara is quite adaptable and hardy, for a species found predominantly in the neotropics; it can be found in a range of environments and ecosystems, including semi-arid and desert climates, maritime or coastal areas, subtropical and tropical forests, temperate regions, plains, swamps, and even in urban areas. Documented, albeit rare, sightings have occurred as far north as Minnesota and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Prince Edward Island. The southern extent of the crested caracara's distribution can reach as far as Tierra del Fuego and Magallanes Region, Chile.
Seen in San Felipe, Baja - Mexico on the Sea of Cortez.
Tiny but tough, Verdins are adaptable little birds of hot desert regions. They are usually seen singly or in pairs, flitting about actively in the brush, sometimes giving sharp callnotes. > www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/verdin
The great horned owl, also known as the tiger owl or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Bubo virginianus
What are 5 interesting facts about great horned owls?
The oldest wild great horned owl lived to be 28 years old, but they have been known to live to be 50 years old in captivity.
A great horned owl can fly up to 40 MPH in level flight.
Females are larger than males, but males have a deeper sounding voice.
These raptors have giant cat-like yellow eyes that do not move.
Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal. rjdm
House Finch
Adaptable, colorful, and cheery-voiced, House Finches are common from coast to coast today, familiar visitors to backyard feeders. Native to the Southwest, they are recent arrivals in the East. New York pet shop owners, who had been selling the finches illegally, released their birds in 1940 to escape prosecution; the finches survived, and began to colonize the New York suburbs. By 50 years later they had advanced halfway across the continent, meeting their western kin on the Great Plains.
(Audubon Guide to North American Birds)
Garter snakes are present throughout most of North America. They have a wide distribution due to their varied diets and adaptability to different habitats, with varying proximity to water; however, in the western part of North America, these snakes are more aquatic than in the eastern portion. Garter snakes populate a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, and lawns, but never far away from some form of water, often an adjacent wetland, stream, or pond. This reflects the fact that amphibians are a large part of their diet. Garter snakes are often found near small ponds with tall weeds.
During our drive around Iceland's Ring Road, we saw many horses, either grazing in the early morning or relaxing by a pond.
As we came nearby this scenic view, we stopped the car to take some pictures.
While I was busy taking pictures, a couple of horses came walking over and stood right in front of me. I had a feeling that they wanted to be caressed, so I did not hesitate.
The Icelandic horse has a very individual character. It is patient, adaptable and sometimes very spirited, it has a friendly personality and a special affinity with people.
The horses are a unique breed brought to Iceland by the first settlers from Norway.
Although they are small, at times pony-sized, most Icelanders refer to them as horses.
Thank you for your comments,
Gemma