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.

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.

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.

Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve

What3Words

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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.

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.

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

What3Words

///trailers.ripen.grownup

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.

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

What3Words

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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.

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.

Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve

What3Words

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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.

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

What3Words

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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.

Urban fragments

Community agency

Adaptable capacity

Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve

What3Words

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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)

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

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

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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.

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.

many-sided abstract

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

>> www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/v/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

Cambacica (Coereba flaveola)

The cambacica is one of the most common birds in Brazil. Due to its adaptability, it can be found in various types of environments, including forests, urban areas, and gardens, where it is frequently seen visiting flowers and feeders in search of nectar, fruits, or insects.

Characteristics

It is a small bird, about 10 to 11 cm long. Its coloration is quite striking: the back is dark olive, the underparts are yellow, and it has a distinctive white eyebrow (supercilium). The beak is slightly curved, adapted for feeding on nectar.

Behavior

The cambacica is very active and fast-moving, constantly flying from flower to flower or chasing insects. It is known for its curious and bold behavior, often not fearing human presence. It is also very vocal, with a series of high-pitched and sharp calls.

Feeding

Its diet is primarily composed of nectar, fruits, and insects. Because of this, it is often found in gardens and places with flowering plants or feeders offering sugary water or fruit.

The Red Squirrel used to be a common sight in the UK. However it has now disappeared from large areas of Britain and its place has been taken by the grey squirrel. The larger grey squirrel was introduced to this country in the mid-19th century. Research has shown that grey squirrels put on a lot more body fat than red squirrels which gives them a better chance of surviving. The larger, more robust grey wins in the competition for food and space and it is now widespread in England and Wales. It is more adaptable than the red squirrel and lives happily in hedgerow trees, parks and gardens as well as large woods and forests. Grey squirrels also carry the squirrelpox virus, to which they are immune, but which is deadly to red squirrels.

We are asked to report any sightings of Red Squirrels in Scotland in an effort to protect them.

I really appreciate any Views, Faves and Comments and I will try to visit your sites in due course. Thank you so much.

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.

In some cultures the Steller’s Jay symbolizes adaptability and fearlessness-this one symbolized begging for food as it seems to be without fear of my presence and more curious about what I was eating (sorry Jay you can’t have a piece of my ham sandwich).

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.

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

What3Words

///trailers.ripen.grownup

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.

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

What3Words

///trailers.ripen.grownup

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.

Masai Mara National Park

Kenya

East Africa

The common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), also known as the gray duiker or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the only member of the genus Sylvicapra.

This species is found everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the Horn of Africa and the rainforests of the central and western parts of the continent. Generally, they are found in habitats with sufficient vegetation cover to allow them to hide—savannah and hilly areas, including the fringes of human settlements.

Colouration of this species varies widely over its vast geographic range. There are 14 subspecies described, ranging from chestnut in forested areas of Angola to grizzled gray in northern savannas and light brown shades in arid regions.

It grows to about 50 cm (20 in) in height and generally weighs 12 to 25 kg (26 to 55 lb); females are generally larger and heavier than the males. Only the male has horns and these can grow to 11 cm (4.3 in) long.

The common duiker has a wide diet; beyond browsing for leaves, flowers, fruits and tubers, they will also eat insects, frogs, small birds and mammals, and even carrion. As long as they have vegetation to eat (from which they get some water), they can go without drinking for very long periods.

They are active both day and night, but become more nocturnal near human settlements, presumably due to the presence of feral dogs and humans.

Males are territorial and smear gland secretions on rocks and branches to mark their territories; their preferred resting places are generally on elevated ground, where they can observe their territory. Females, by contrast, prefer deeper cover. The overall success of this species stems from its ability to inhabit a wide variety of habitats, as well as from its adaptable, generalist diet. – Wikipedia

SN/NC: Hemerocallis Fulva, Asphodelaceae Family

The Tawny Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) is a vigorous and recognizable perennial. Despite its common name, it is not a true lily and belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. Each striking, orange trumpet-shaped flower lasts for just a single day, but numerous buds provide a long-lasting summer display. This adaptable plant thrives in a variety of conditions and has naturalized widely. While its tubers and buds are edible, it is important to note that the plant is highly toxic to cats.

A Hemerocale-fulva (Hemerocallis fulva) é uma perene vigorosa e reconhecível. Apesar do nome comum, não é um lírio verdadeiro e pertence à família Asphodelaceae. Cada flor impressionante, em forma de trombeta laranja, dura apenas um dia, mas vários botões garantem uma exibição duradoura no verão. Esta planta adaptável prospera em várias condições e naturalizou-se amplamente. Embora os seus tubérculos e botões sejam comestíveis, é importante notar que a planta é altamente tóxica para gatos.

El Lirio de día fulvo (Hemerocallis fulva) es una planta perenne vigorosa y reconocible. A pesar de su nombre común, no es un lirio verdadero y pertenece a la familia Asphodelaceae. Cada llamativa flor naranja en forma de trompetas dura un solo día, pero numerosos capullos proporcionan una exhibición veraniega prolongada. Esta planta adaptable prospera en diversas condiciones y se ha naturalizado ampliamente. Aunque sus tubérculos y capullos son comestibles, es importante señalar que la planta es altamente tóxica para los gatos.

L'Emèrocale fulva (Hemerocallis fulva) è una perenne vigorosa e riconoscibile. Nonostante il suo nome comune, non è un vero giglio e appartiene alla famiglia delle Asphodelaceae. Ogni appariscente fiore arancione a forma di trombetta dura un solo giorno, ma numerose gemme assicurano una lunga esposizione estiva. Questa pianta adattabile prospera in varie condizioni e si è ampiamente naturalizzata. Sebbene i suoi tuberi e boccioli siano commestibili, è importante notare che la pianta è altamente tossica per i gatti.

L'Hémérocalle fauve (Hemerocallis fulva) est une plante vivace vigoureuse et reconnaissable. Malgré son nom commun, ce n'est pas un vrai lys et elle appartient à la famille des Asphodelacées. Chaque fleur orange saisissante en forme de trompette ne dure qu'une seule journée, mais de nombreux bourgeons offrent un spectacle estival durable. Cette plante adaptable prospère dans diverses conditions et s'est largement naturalisée. Bien que ses tubercules et ses bourgeons soient comestibles, il est important de noter que la plante est hautement toxique pour les chats.

De Bruine daglelie (Hemerocallis fulva) is een krachtige en herkenbare vaste plant. Ondanks zijn gebruikelijke naam is het geen echte lelie en behoort het tot de Asphodelaceae familie. Elke opvallende, oranje trompetvormige bloem bloeit slechts één dag, maar talrijke knoppen zorgen voor een langdurige zomerse vertoning. Deze aanpasbare plant gedijt in verschillende omstandigheden en heeft zich wijdverspreid genaturaliseerd. Hoewel de knollen en knoppen eetbaar zijn, is het belangrijk om te weten dat de plant zeer giftig is voor katten.

Die Gelbrote Taglilie (Hemerocallis fulva) ist eine robuste und wiedererkennbare Staude. Trotz ihres gebräuchlichen Namens ist sie keine echte Lilie und gehört zur Familie der Asphodelaceae. Jede auffällige, orangefarbene, trompetenförmige Blüte hält nur einen einzigen Tag, aber zahlreiche Knospen sorgen für eine langanhaltende Sommerpracht. Diese anpassungsfähige Pflanze gedeiht unter verschiedenen Bedingungen und hat sich weitläufig naturalisiert. Obwohl ihre Knollen und Knospen essbar sind, ist es wichtig zu wissen, dass die Pflanze für Katzen hochgiftig ist.

زنبقة النهار البُنّية (Hemerocallis fulva) هي نبات معمر قوي ومعرّف. على الرغم من اسمها الشائع، فهي ليست زنبقة حقيقية وتنتمي إلى الفصيلة الزنبقية الوهجية (Asphodelaceae). كل زهرة برتقالية مبهرجة على شكل بوق تدوم ليوم واحد فقط، لكن البراعم العديدة توفر عرضًا صيفيًا طويل الأمد. هذا النبات القابل للتكيف يزدهر في ظروف مختلفة وقد انتشر بشكل واسع في البرية. بينما يمكن أكل درناتها وبراعمها، من المهم ملاحظة أن النبات سام للغاية للقطط.

キスゲ (Hemerocallis fulva) は、繁殖力が強くよく知られた多年草です。一般的な名前に反して、本当のユリではなく、ススキノキ科（Asphodelaceae）に属します。目を引くオレンジ色のトランペット型の花は1日しかもちませんが、多数のつぼみが長く続く夏の景色を提供します。この適応力のある植物は様々な環境で繁茂し、広く帰化しています。塊茎とつぼみは食用できますが、猫にとっては猛毒であることに注意することが重要です。

萱草 (Hemerocallis fulva) 是一种生命力旺盛且辨识度很高的多年生植物。尽管俗名中有"百合"，它并非真正的百合，而是属于阿福花科。每一朵引人注目的橙色喇叭状花朵只绽放一天，但大量的花苞能提供持久的夏日花景。这种适应性强的植物在各种环境中都能茁壮成长，并已广泛归化。虽然其块茎和花苞可食用，但务必注意该植物对猫有剧毒。

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.

Still trying to breed.

Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve

What3Words

///thin.spill.bravo

While wild mallards primarily breed during a specific season, typically spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere, some populations in urban areas or with stable, year-round food sources (like in the UK) may breed outside of the typical season, sometimes even during winter.

Out-of-Season Breeding Factors:

Some circumstances can lead to breeding outside the typical March to July window:

Urban Environments:

In urban areas with consistent, human-provided food and safe nesting sites (like roof gardens or enclosed courtyards), mallards may breed at different times and in some cases, even raise two broods a year.

Geographic Location:

In some regions, like the UK, mallards may be resident breeders and can be found breeding in summer and winter where suitable wetland habitats exist.

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

What3Words

///thin.spill.bravo

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a common and widespread small gull species found across Europe and Asia, known for its adaptability and "laughing" call.

Appearance: Despite its name, the breeding adult has a dark chocolate-brown hood in the summer, which often appears black from a distance. For the rest of the year (winter plumage), the head is white with just a dark smudge or spot near the ear coverts, which can look like it is wearing headphones. The body is pale grey above and white below, with black wingtips, and a distinctive white leading edge on the outer wing, especially visible in flight. Adults have dark red legs and a dark red bill.

Size: It is a relatively small gull, measuring about 34–39 cm (13.5–15.5 in) in length with a wingspan of 100–110 cm (39–43.5 in).

Great Horned Owl

Sonoran Desert

Tucson, Arizona

Nikon Z9

This is one of my favourite birds to photograph. They have the most amazing feathers. This one is a perfect avian model.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air"), 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.

The Squirrel Spirit Animal is a Symbol of Ingenuity, Adaptability, Playfulness and Preparation.

Its Characteristics and cultural Significance offer valuable lessons for those who encounter it.

Lieblicher Nussknacker…

Das Krafttier Eichhörnchen ist ein Symbol für Einfallsreichtum, Anpassungsfähigkeit, Verspieltheit und Vorbereitung. Seine Eigenschaften und seine kulturelle Bedeutung bieten wertvolle Lehren für diejenigen, die ihm begegnen.

Eurasian squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) Sciurus.

Eurasisches Eichhörnchen.

Thanks for your Visit Views Faves and Comments, have all a Nice Weekend. 🌞✌

Wikipedia: The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known commonly as the whitetail and the Virginia deer, is a medium-sized species of deer native to North, Central and South America. It is the most widely-distributed mainland ungulate herbivore in the Americas; coupled with its natural predator, the mountain lion (Puma concolor), it is one of the most widely-distributed terrestrial mammal species in the Americas and the world. Highly adaptable, the various subspecies of white-tailed deer inhabit many different ecosystems, from arid grasslands to the Amazon and Orinoco basins; from the Pantanal and the Llanos to the high-elevation terrain of the Andes. Globally, the white-tailed deer has been introduced (primarily for sport hunting) to New Zealand, the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico), and some countries in Europe (mainly the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Romania and Serbia).

Conservation status: Least Concern

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer

The Cattle Egret is a small, white heron that is native to Africa but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, including the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. It is often seen near grazing animals, such as cattle, horses, and goats, and is known to feed on insects and other small animals that are disturbed by the grazing activity.

The Cattle Egret has a compact body and short, thick bill that it uses to capture its prey. It has white plumage and yellow legs, and during the breeding season, it develops a distinctive orange-brown patch of feathers on its head, neck, and back.

Cattle Egrets are social birds and often nest in large colonies, building their nests out of sticks and other materials in trees, bushes, or on the ground. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks, which are born with downy feathers and open eyes.

Cattle Egrets are found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural fields. They are known for their adaptability and have successfully expanded their range to many new areas, where they have become a common sight near farms and ranches.

Cattle Egrets play an important ecological role by feeding on insects and other small animals that can damage crops and pastures. They are also a popular species among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts due to their distinctive appearance and interesting behavior.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air")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.[5] 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.

In ornithological study, the great horned owl is often compared to the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), a closely related species, which occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia despite its notably larger size. The great horned owl is also compared to the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), with which it often shares similar habitat, prey, and nesting habits by day; thus the red-tailed hawk is something of a diurnal ecological equivalent. The great horned owl is one of the earliest nesting birds in North America, often laying eggs weeks or even months before other raptorial birds.

Los Angeles. California.

These little birds are not at all common where we live in Suffolk, and so I always love to see one when we head back to Essex. We spotted this handsome fella at Colchester Zoo!

The House Sparrow, (Passer domesticus) is adaptable and can live in urban and rural settings, being found from the centre of cities to the farmland of the countryside. They feed and breed near to people, living off seed and scraps. The House Sparrow is a species vanishing from the centre of many cities, but is not uncommon in most towns and villages. It is absent from parts of the Scottish Highlands and is thinly distributed in most upland areas.

Breeding males have a black bill, and black around their eyes, under their bill and in a rounded “bib” on their chest. Their belly and top of the head is gray, with white cheeks and chestnut brown neck and wings with black flecks. Non-breeding males look similar but with some yellow on their beak and less black on the chest. Females are a plain light brown all over with grayish underparts and striped backs.

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The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air"), or the hoot owl,[2] 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.[3] 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.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horned_owl