MINUTE WOODLAND kingfisher, the size of a blue tit,

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=========================================================Perched near fresh water to drink, but hunts insects around damp grassy margins, or picks them off on the surface of the water.. Africa's smallest kingfisher., and it made my day, as have got seen one for several years !!

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THANK YOU for your visit and comments, will enjoy visiting your photostream and commenting on your latest captures.

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

SMALL and compact bird with a relatively short. dark tail. This male was seen at Sandwich Bay Kent and was the only bird of note seen today, and a bit distant, hope you enjoy it!

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Trust you are staying safe and well, thanks for your visit, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it encouraging . God bless.........................Tomx

STONECHATS are easy to find if you visit a suitable habitat, birds often perch conspicuously and announce their presence with harsh, agitated calls. Seen at the ancient highway at Sandwich Kent.

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THANKING YOU, for your visit and friendship, its so good seeing your images, being transported around the world from the comfort of my home.

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

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"JESUS loves you, YES YOU !"

Let him into your life !!!!

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COURTSHIP DISPLAY VERY RARELY SEEN.

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My jaw hit the ground, when two of these beauties started a courtship display, have many images of the entire ferormance, something I will never forget.

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MY LAST GAMBIAN IMAGE. have over 1100 keeper images have posted only 33. Such a joy for me to show them.

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THANK YOU, for your visit, friendship, and comments, enjoy the LORDS day, stay safe and well, God bless you....Tomx

FAVOURS woodlands and fallow farmland with trees and shrubs to provide look-outs posts for larger insect prey. Almost always in territorial groups of six or more, moving in follow-my-leader flights, between a series of vantage points. Difficult to spot sometimes, but love them to bits..

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THANK YOU, for your visit, friendship and comments, it means a lot, and to be transported around the world, looking at your often amazing images, from the comfort of my armchair is my escape from the troubles of this world.

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

REDSHANKS favor areas of undisturbed damp grassland, moors, and the margins of marshes. Utters a yelping tiu-uu alarm call, the song is musical and yodeling. Always a pure delight to capture these.

Double click for more detail.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, do so hope you are all well, enjoy the weekend, even if it's gone back a bit wintery again in Kent UK, God bless...............................................Tomx

REMARKABLY bold and inquisitive, and walks with a acteristic swagger, a opportunistic feeder, and comes in mob handed at Briar Cottage, A real villian seeing off the smaller birds!!! This one is saying "Do I look like a villan ?"

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THANK YOU for your friendship and visit and comments will do my best to return the visit, if not now then in a few days, my life is a bit hectic still. Keep safe and well, God bless you all..........................Tomx

A GREETING CARD star, one of the nations favourites. Often bold and inquisitive in garden settings, strongly and conspicuously territorial, so how can you not take its picture, I love them, seen at Stodmarsh, Kent, UK.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP in these difficult times, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting.

Enjoy the rest of the week, stay safe, God bless..............Tomx

FAMILIAR little finch, a delightful little bird of wayside habitats. In Summer the male as above is colourful and distinctive. Seen at the Reastharrow Scrape lead in path, at Sandwich Bay Kent.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, Keep safe and well,enjoy the weekend my friends, God bless you........ Tomx

ALTHOUGH it's very wary nature ensures that its attractive plumage is seldom viewed to the best effect and the raucous calls are heard more often than the bird itself is seen. A joy to see as I always consider this to be my Neminis bird.

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THANK YOU for your visit, friendship, and comments, hope you are all keeping well, God bless.................Tomx

DAZZLINGLY ATTRACTIVE bird, not often seen in our corner of Kent UK, and was not expecting to see it in the Grove Ferry Feast Hide, but what a joy when it landed, he caught a couple of tiddlers and was off, leaving me with the biggest grin ever.

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THANK YOU for your visit and friendship, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it very encouraging

.The weekend is coming on strong, stay safe, may God bless you.............................Tomx

WORKING the shoreline near Herne Bay Kent, using its powerful bill to feed on mollusks and other invertebrates. A very distinctive and noisy wader.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, it's one thing that is helping me from going stir crazy. In our household, you can tell when things are beginning to take their toll when the Jigsaws puzzles come out. Hope your all well and staying safe .........................God bless.............................Tomx.

A adorable, rather dumpy short tailed woodland bird , which has the habit of descending tree trunks head-downwards in a jerky manner, its chisel-like bill is used to prise insects from tree bark and to hammer open acorns wedged into bark crevices. Love working with these birds.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, enjoy the new week dear friends, Stay safe and well, God bless.......................... ......................................Tomx.

A DISTINCTIVE WADER, one of my favorites to photograph, attractive, trusting, a distinctive call, and there can be few sights and sounds more evocative of the countryside than a lapwing performing a noisy display flight over its territory in the spring. Seen at Elmley Marshes,NR Sheppey Kent. Taken from my archives !

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THANK YOU for your continued support and kind comments , which is appreciated and find very encouraging, Do hope you are all keeping well, stay safe, God bless.......................Tomx

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Weave JESUS into your life today !

LARGEST SEABIRD in the region. Very distinctive, easily recognized in flight by its cigar-shaped body and long narrow wings it was a real l delight to see so many at Bemton cliffs.

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THANK YOU, for your visit friendship and comments, love seeing your images and being transported around the world from the comfort of y armchair. Keep safe and well...........

God bless you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Tomx

CHARMING little reedbed specialist has a rather compact, rounded body and a proportionately very long tail. The distinctive call has earned the species the affectionate nickname of "pinger" which utters a diagnostic, high-pitched ping call.. Was overjoyed to get this chance encounter at Oare Marshes in Kent of a male, as I normally only see the female or juveniles, a bit of a nemesis bird for me.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, its a joy seeing your images and being transported around the world without leaving my armchair. Beautiful sunshine in the U.K at last, enjoy but stay safe............God bless......................Tomx

A FAMILIAR SPECIES, in part because of its affinity for human habitation. Widespread in Britain, and still the most numerous bird , despite its falling numbers. We have 30-40 visiting our feeders, a constant delight to see.

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THANK YOU, for all your support, amazing comments , it is appreciated very much. Please do stay safe, God bless you.

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

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For GOD loved the world so much that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. ( Ask him into your life today, so simple !)

FAMILIAR black, grey and white bird. The Pied Wagtail has a bounding flight and distinctive habit of pumping its tail up and down. They love locations such as playing fields and supermarket car parks, where this one was captured, but I was willing it to go into a little grass area to get a better image.

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THANK YOU for being a friend, please leave a comment and I will look forward to returning the visit.

We have the road map out of lockdown, just hope the nature reserves and hides will soon open.

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

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JESUS LOVES YOU and died for you, let him into your life today as your savior!

SMALL AND DUMPY wader that is associated mainly with coastal habitats. Feeds by running along sand or estuarine mud, as if powered by clockwork and then standing still for a few seconds before picking a food item from the ground. My last is the series of birds from Minnis Bay area of Birchington Kent, which was one of my most productive mornings I can remember in a long time.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please stay safe and well, enjoy the weekend, God bless you........................Tomx

URBAN and RURAL bird, extremely vocal, and a proficient mimic , it forms sizable flocks out-side breeding season, The starling walks with a characteristic swagger, and a joy to see .

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comment, will return to see and comment on your latest images. please stay safe, God bless. ........................................Tomx.

A freshly emerged female Marbled white opens her wings for the first time.

A FAMILIAR MIGRANT VISITOR, that can be recognized in flight by its pointed wings and in the adult long tail streamers. But to photograph one is the problem as the adults rarely perch, and then it's on roadside wires, so this had to be taken on something natural !!!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND FRIENDSHIP, hope you all have a great weekend, God bless............... Tomx

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"Jesus loves you, yes you !!"

Ask him into your life today.

GAMBIA TOUR feb. 2020

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U.K WADERS SEEN IN THE GAMBIA

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4th In the series, a real beauty, you can approach these birds much more than in the U.K, but you may not want to with this one, because that sludge is sewage, found at the local treatment plant, as do many other birds.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, it means such a lot. Am hoping the Government will allow nature reserves and parks to open soon, as I think this would still be safe, maybe keep the hides and information buildings locked up.

Stay strong and safe my friends, you are in my prayers.............

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

Swallow taken from the out the window of our guesthouse room

"HALLELUJAH !" FIRST TRIP OUT !!! AND THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GOT !!! but so good to see some feathered friends again !!!

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THE TEAL is the smallest duck in Britain and one of the most widespread. Flocks of teals are a familiar sight in winter on estuaries, mudflats and inland wetlands. They are still very attractive, this one seen at the scrape, Sandwich Bay, Kent UK

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THANK YOU for your visit and very kind comments, and standing and supporting me through the most difficult part of my life, God bless you all...................................Tomx

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"I thank God my life has been saved !"

DELIGHTFUL PLUMP-BODIED WADER, not often seen, and taken in very dark conditions, the best of a bad bunch, but just enjoy catching up with this pair every-year at the sea side defense wall, from Jan to about April. Seen a Hampton near Herne Bay, Kent, U.K.

SUNNY DAY GARDEN CAPTURE.

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ENJOYED a couple of hours away from wood staining in the garden, we are lucky to be so well positioned to the edge of the village, have many feeders, bird boxes, and a fairly large garden. The most numerous of birds coming into the garden in order are as follows.

House sparrow

Goldfinch

Blue tits

Jackdaw

Long tailed Tits.

Chaffinch

Ring-necked Parakeet

Great Tits

Tomorrow will list the rarest birds and unusual seen in our garden.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP !!!!

Love reading your comments, and look forward to seeing your latest posting, being transported around the UK and the world, from the prison of Briar Cott.

Stay very well and safe, my prayers go out to you all.............

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

Taken at Bempton Cliffs last summer.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.

AN ELEGANT and unmistakable pure white, heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and a long neck. Was very well hidden, when this bird dropped in, it then started working its way towards me, until I could not fit it in the frame, then past me, but who wants a back side view ! What a experience. Classed as a rarity in Britain a while back, but now fairly easy to find.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, it is always appreciated. Enjoy the weekend dear friends, Stay safe, God bless...................Tomx.

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HELP PLEASE !

Have always cropped my images by 6x4inches, and have tried to get them published, but cannot find anybody that will do this size, for a pictorial type book, any help or advice would be very appreciated. Thank you.

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SORRY once again my posting of this image lost the first couple of comments, very strange !!!

MISSION ALMOST IMPOSIBBLE, please image this situation, about 300 hundred of these Geese feeding on the wide-open sea shore mud flats, but too far to achieve a decent photograph , as I approach them in the wide-open, they walk away at the same speed, If I move to quick, they will all take flight. Walking along the water edge, I could see one on its own, and it was walking towards me, and was completely fearless, so I filled up a complete camera card, and went away smiling like a Cheshire |Cat., and thanking God I believe this must be a Juvenile,

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THANKING YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, as I will enjoy doing the same to your lastest image.

Keep a smile on your face and love in your hearts for everyone, keep safe and well, God bless............................Tomx.

I love these guys folks but do not photograph nearly enough, but that will change here of late, staying local

to to personal and medical issues.

Thanks to all for everything.

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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LARGEST Senegambian barbet, thickset black, red and white bird with enormous yellow-horn bill, which is both grooved and double-toothed, love the bare eye-patches.Close up views show a thick tuft of bristles on each side of bill base. Favors well wooded areas, this was taken from my apartment balcony about 25yds away,, and it was the only place we saw them.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will always return the visit to your photo-stream. Stay safe God bless.. ......................................Tom.

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Yellow Black or White, all are precious in Gods Sight !!

SMALL dumpy wader that is associated with coastal habitats. Feeds by running along sand, gravel or estuarine mud as if powered by clockwork and then standing still for a second, to pick up food from the ground. Seen from the sea wall Reculvers, where their was a flock of about 20.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, and leaving a comment, will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting!

Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone

May God bless and keep you...........................................Tomx.

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COUNT your blessings, name them one by one, and you will be surprised what the good LORDs done.!

The meadow pipit is a common nesting bird of moorland, heathland and rough grassland. In the autumn and winter, it moves out of upland areas to lowlands where it gathers in small flocks and can be found on farmland and saltmarshes. In the spring, it performs a fluttering, 'parachute' display flight. There are 2 million breeding territories in the UK.

On moorlands, meadow pipits are the most common 'foster parents' of young cuckoos. The adult cuckoo will lay a single egg in a meadow pipit's nest. After hatching, the cuckoo chick will push the other eggs or young birds out of the nest, giving its foster parents more time to concentrate on feeding their new, oversized chick.

at a large pool in a farmland area

Ardea cinerea

blauwe reiger

héron cendré

Graureiher

Garza Real

Airone cenerino

Garça-real

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

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

A familiar bird of our wetlands, the Coot is often seen on park lakes, ponds and rivers. It spends more of its time on the water than its relative, the Moorhen, and will dive to catch small invertebrates. Unlike ducks, Coots will bring their catch to the surface before eating it, leading to squabbles over food. Coots breed in spring, laying between six and nine eggs in nests made among emergent vegetation. Coot chicks are black with orange fluff around the face and body; they are independent within two months of hatching.

The Coot can be distinguished from the similar-looking Moorhen by its larger size, entirely black body (with no white patches), and bright white bill. Coots spend much of their time away from the bankside, diving for food.

Well folks soon after he posed and danced and we said out good-bye's he left, literally left and missed the shot only to have the wings clipped and for that I apologize, but I tried.

Thanks to all for everything.

I don't know how many I took of this guy folks, and mostly half body and feet, and that's at 30-f.p.s. timing all wrong and camera work needs some touching up, sad but unfortunate.

Thanks to all for everything.

This guy was strolling the berm in the very early morning, so who could pass him up, I know I couldn't.

Thanks for stopping by, and thank you all for everything.

A RATHER SECRETIVE SUMMER BIRD, The male Cuckoos familiar, onomatopoeic call is heard far more than the bird itself is seen. (34cm in length) Captured at Thursley Common. Surrey, U.K.

Have been waiting for the chance to get my first half decent capture of this bird, which has held me up for ten months, so can now proceed with the book. This would not have been possible without the very kind location details from Dave Carlsson, "THANKS MATE!" hope I can return the favour one day!

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THANK YOU for your visit, any comment is very appreciated indeed,, will return the visit, if already not done so

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So good to meet you today Sara, hope all goes well.

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Stay safe, God bless you my friends

Tomx.

Had a wonderful day today folks and started to edit when I came home and lost all track of time, so a late post here, so sorry. Many of this guy which I've never seen before but am sure this is it, many flight images and one's I really wanted of the Barny and others, living in paradise is a plus.

Thank to all for everything.

Red Squirrel

Lens Sigma 150-500

This guy folks was the biggest surprise of the day, very fast and very quick and luck was with me, not to many of this guy but a few I'm happy with.

Have a great Friday, a great weekend and stay safe and well.

Lens used: TTArtisan 40mm F2.8 Macro