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Common Tern - Sterna Hirundo
It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. Breeding adults have light grey upperparts, white to very light grey underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs, and a narrow pointed bill. Depending on the subspecies, the bill may be mostly red with a black tip or all black. There are a number of similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.
Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts. The nest may be a bare scrape in sand or gravel, but it is often lined or edged with whatever debris is available. Up to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.
Population:
UK breeding:
12,000 pairs
Loons are water birds, only going ashore to mate and incubate eggs. Their legs are placed far back on their bodies, allowing efficient swimming but only awkward movement on land.
The European Kingfisher or Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, is widely distributed in Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is resident except in northern areas where the rivers freeze. It will then move to milder regions. In most of its European range it is the only kingfisher.
The general colour of the upper parts of the adult bird is bright metallic blue, cobalt on the back, and showing greenish reflections on the head and wings. The ear coverts and under parts are warm chestnut, the chin and sides of neck white.
The bill is blackish and reddish orange at the base; the legs are bright red with a dark blue stripe. In the young the bill is black. Length averages 19 cm (7.5 inches) and wings average 7.5 cm (2.95 inches).
The flight of the Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It usually flies near the water, but during courtship the male chases the female through and over the trees with loud shrill whistles.
From February onwards the male has a trilling song, a modulated repetition of many whistles. He also signals with a whistle to the female when he is feeding her, this being his share of the nesting duties. This whistle is produced even when his bill is loaded with food, yet is clear and distinct. The female will reply and emerge from the nesting hole, and may fly to meet him, take the fish from him in the air, and return to the nest.
The bird has regular perches or stands from which it fishes. These may be a few inches or many feet above the water. It sits upright, its tail pointed downwards. It drops suddenly with a splash and usually returns at once with a struggling captive.
Large fish are beaten on a bough or rail; small fish and insects are promptly swallowed. A fish is usually lifted and carried by its middle, but its position is changed, sometimes by tossing it into the air, before it is swallowed head downwards.
Common Myna - Kilauea Point NWR, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Bird Species # (619) that I photographed and placed on my Flickr Photostream. Overall goal is 1000.
eBird Report and listing details - macaulaylibrary.org/asset/630806033
Male Common Merganser with poor little fishy !
Lake Parsippany, NJ
Thank you very much for your kind comments, favorites and looking and please stay safe !
Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) male perched on a branch.
Samiec pleszki (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) siedzący na gałęzi.
Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
Our Cotoneaster is in flower and today seemed to be attracting every Drone and Hover Fly in the area along with a gazzilion honey bees!
Common blue (Polyommatus icarus) butterfly male sipping nectar from tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) flowers.
Samiec modraszka ikara (Polyommatus icarus) spijający nektar z kwiatów wrotycza (Tanacetum vulgare).
Common Mergansers are streamlined ducks that float gracefully down small rivers or shallow shorelines. The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill. The elegant gray-bodied females have rich, cinnamon heads with a short crest. In summer, look for them leading ducklings from eddy to eddy along streams or standing on a flat rock in the middle of the current. These large ducks nest in hollow trees; in winter they form flocks on larger bodies of water. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Merganser/overview
Spotted in Porteau Cove, BC, Canada
Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) male perched on a branch.
Samiec pleszki (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) siedzący na gałęzi.
Thanks for the visits, faves and comments its greatly appreciated.
Aqua Bowl Park
Please view as large for better experience
When choosing a mate, females appear to prefer males with larger masks. Can't wait for Halloween. Hmmmmm
My first Common Redpoll shot of the season. Nice to see them back. I hope I get more opportunities.
Strathcona County, Alberta.
Another highlight of last year was doing some work with trying to capture dragonflies in flight. After a lot of hard work and a sore shoulder I think I succeeded
Juvenile common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) perched on a branch.
MÅ‚ody szpak (Sturnus vulgaris) siedzÄ…cy na gÄ…Å‚Ä…zce.
Playing with the light circumstance
Common Linnet (Kneu) [female]
Location: Texel, the Netherlands
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Common Buckeye butterfly on Butterfly Bush. June 23, 2022. Hopefully, this will be one of a few Buckeye photos this year. Their colors tend to be different in the fall. Nature's camouflage at work as they adapt to their surroundings.