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Gannets nesting on the cliffs of Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland, June 2025.
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The young have already hatched. The male is removing their droppings from the nest.
The Penduline tit is rather rare species in Finland. We have no more than ten nesting couples.
This picture started out completely different with no nest or owl. Now all that's left is the nest and owl. Another example of a picture taking on a life of it's own.
The bird with the nesting material was prodded, poked and grumbled at by its mate until it eventually went and fetched some grass.
May 2018 in Monfrague, Extramadura Spain.
Having just landed, this female surveys her surroundings before laying down on her eggs. Stately and bearing lovely plumage, these herons are striking in appearance. It was a privilege to experience and capture this female on her nest at sundown.
Please enlarge for a more immersive view...
As we paddled further down this rural section of the city of Cornwall we were amazed by the amount of water on this marsh. Basically a small shallow lake was created by a beaver dam that blocked a creek. Here there are several beaver lodges that geese nest on top. Below a closer view of the goose nesting...
This morning we discovered a Robin building her nest in the Rose of Sharon bush in our front garden. Surprisingly, she chose a spot just 2 feet off the ground. We have a nice view through our living room window which is just above the construction site.
Nesting site of a pair of White-breasted Nuthatch. Watched them for 3 afternoons as they stuffed the hole with small pieces of bark and hair. Very industrious!
An osprey (Pandion haliaetus) carrying what looks like some kind of seaweed back to the nest. They're also commonly known as Fish Hawks because they often fish by hovering motionless many feet above the water scanning for fish. When they spot one they dive down at full speed, straight in to the water, for the catch! Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida.
The American crows in the Varsity Creek ravine are rushing around and diligently collecting nesting material to get ready for upcoming full nests.
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Sony DSLR-A200
0.001 sec (1/1250); f/5.6; 200 mm; ISO 100
Mama-to-be goose keeping her eggs warm on her nest along the shore of Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park near Rockford, IL.
Northern gannet-Morus bassanus
The Northern Gannet is one of three subspecies of Gannet Morus bassanus in the world: the other two occur along the south coast of Africa and in Tasmania and New Zealand.
Adult gannets have dazzling white plumage except for narrow grey spectacles and jet black, tapering wingtips. During the breeding season, the head and neck assume a delicate saffron yellow tinge. The eyes are an icy blue, and the bill is blue to grey-blue.
Young gannets in autumn plumage are brown, with many white flecks. With the passing of each season, they become progressively whiter, reaching the complete adult plumage in their fourth or fifth year.
The Northern Gannet is well equipped by nature for its spectacular plunges for fish from great heights. Unlike most birds, it has binocular vision—that is, its eyes are positioned such that it can see forward with both. This presumably gives it the ability to estimate how far the fish are from the surface of the water. Its strong, streamlined bill is 100 mm long. It has no nostril holes, and its upper and lower bills fit tightly together so that little if any water is forced into the mouth on impact with the surface. Its streamlined body has a system of air cells between the skin of its neck and shoulders and the muscle beneath. As the gannet prepares to dive, its air cells are inflated to cushion its body when it strikes the water.
A Northern Gannet in flight is supremely graceful. The wings of an adult bird may span almost 2 m and are narrow, tapered toward the ends, and swept back slightly, like those of a gull. Its long strong bill extends forward in flight, tapering smoothly into the small head, which merges with a thick neck that in turn joins the body in a clean, smooth contour. The legs are tucked well up under the smoothly tapering tail. The gannet’s shape appears to offer minimum resistance to air flow.
With its strong powerful flight, a gannet can travel far in almost any weather. Or it may glide for hours, just above the wave-tips, seldom moving its wings. Taking advantage of the updrafts of air caused by the upward deflection of the wind off the windward slope of the wave, it skims the wave-tips, rises on the updraft of a wave, and glides in a shallow dive to the updraft of the following wave. Thus it makes headway against a stiff breeze without flapping its wings. Gliding flight across the wind or downwind is also possible for this aerial mariner. This type of "wave-hopping" demands almost perfect control on the part of the flyer—a type of control impossible for even the best designed gliders.
Usually first breeds at age of 5-6 years, and may mate for life. Breeds in tightly packed colonies, with much competition for prime nest sites. Male claims nest territory and displays to attract mate, with exaggerated sideways shaking of head. Mated pairs greet each other by standing face to face, wings out, knocking bills together and bowing. Nest: Site is on ledge or flat ground, often within 2-3 feet of other nesting gannets. Nest (built mostly by male) is pile of grass, seaweed, dirt, feathers, compacted and held together by droppings, used by same pair for years and gradually building up to tall mound.
Gannets, similar to Puffins, are considered climate endangered, because of the disappearance of the arctic sea ice.
For more information, please visit www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-gannet
The purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) is a small sunbird. Like other sunbirds they feed mainly on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. They have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. The males appear all black except in some lighting when the purple iridescence becomes visible. Females are olive above and yellowish below.