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Huge thanks to Jess & Josh Chajet, who were so kind as to let a perfect stranger walk up out of nowhere and use their lovely beach for a photo. 💕
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Male Pied Kingfisher flies off with his latest catch.
Species: Pied Kingfisher ♂ / Ceryle rudis / 斑魚狗 (雄鳥)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A Chinese Pond Heron in eclipse plumage catches a mudskipper, one of its favourite types of prey.
Pond Herons are kleptoparasitic (stealing the food of others), meaning it isn’t uncommon to see a pond heron that has caught a mudskipper being chased by many other herons (and even little egrets). The success of these chases is low however, although I have witnessed a few instances where a chased pond heron did drop its prey.
Species: Chinese Pond Heron / Ardeola bacchus / 中國池鷺
Species: Great Blue Spotted Mudskipper / Boleophthalmus pectinirostris / 大彈塗魚
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Reflection of an approx. 2-day old Black-winged Stilt chick searching for tiny critters to eat.
Stilt chicks are precocious, and can start feeding themselves immediately after hatching. Both parents usually stand guard nearby ready to sound the alert to any potential dangers (including annoying photographers).
Species: Black-winged Stilt / Himantopus himantopus / 黑翅長腳鷸
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
“Smile for the camera.” (An older photo of mine edited and updated with new software.)
Note: Back after a short break, thank you for your patience.
Species: Northern Pintail ♂ / Anas acuta / 尖尾鴨 (雄鳥)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Great Cormorant’s primary flight feather scrape against the water surface as the bird banks left to take off.
Species: Great Cormorant / Phalacrocorax carbo / 普通鸕鶿
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Reflection of a Little Egret hunting for small fish while hovering just above the river surface.
Species: Little Egret / Egretta garzetta / 小白鷺
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Showing off his plumage and impressive wingspread in the bright winter sunshine.
Species: Eurasian Teal ♂ / Anas crecca / 綠翅鴨 (雄鳥)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A female Common Kingfisher (Subspecies: A. a. bengalensis) poses for the camera.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A Great Cormorant catches a wild fish, most likely a species of tilapia.
(At least that’s what I believe this particular fish species to be anyway.)
Tilapia is an introduced and invasive fish species in many of Hong Kong’s larger waterways. Every winter, hordes of Great Cormorants fly to Hong Kong and feast on them, helping to control their population numbers.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
The Grey-Headed Swamphen’s natural geographic range extends into Southern China, although it is considered a rare bird in Hong Kong. This particular individual was only the 9th time since 1988 that a Grey-Headed Swamphen has been sighted here.
Used to be considered a subspecies of the Purple Swamphen, but was elevated to full species status in 2015, as were all the other five subspecies of the Purple Swamphen.
Species: Grey-Headed Swamphen / Porphyrio poliocephalus / 灰頭紫水雞
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Great Cormorant takes-off against the backdrop of an autumn background and reflection.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Didn't have to venture too far to capture this shot, and that's because this 'eye-catching' bird was perched on an aloe plant in the lobby of our hotel.
Also known as the Black-fronted Bulbul.
“Common, near-endemic resident and local nomad in arid savanna, riverine bush and gardens. Occurs singly, in pairs or in flocks; sometimes hawks insects.”
Source: Birds of Southern Africa, Sinclair et al
(Location: Just outside Windhoek, Namibia)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Namibia 納米比亞. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
What's over there?
Species: Common Kingfisher ♀ / Alcedo atthis / 小翠鳥 (雌鳥)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A male Pied Kingfisher (subspecies: C. r. insignis) catches a fish and flies off to his partner.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A Male Eurasian Teal shows-off his flashy wing and startling speculum feathers.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Common winter visitor to Hong Kong.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
We will not Eavesdrop such an Angel Soul and so Entire Loving again
HMM vibrant Minimalism Macro week challenge
A mischievous male Pied Kingfisher (subspecies: C. r. insignis) flaunts his stunning pied plumage.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A Black-faced Spoonbill shows off its beautiful white plumage.
This is the only species of spoonbill that is endangered, although overall population numbers have been rising after intense conservation efforts by many countries and territories throughout East Asia.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Captured this image last summer in the Scottish Highlands.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Scotland 蘇格蘭. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Glossy Ibis / Plegadis falcinellus / 彩䴉
A Glossy Ibis shows off its iridescent (eclipse) plumage.
If you look closely, you can see a tiny whelk mid-air between its bill. This particular Glossy Ibis would spend hours probing its long bill into the mud searching for these tiny whelks (as well as various other submerged and burrowed critters).
Once it had located a whelk, the ibis would swiftly pull it out of the mud, launch the whelk into the air, and then swallow it whole.
The winter of 2024 / 25 is only the 6th time since 1978 that a Glossy Ibis has been seen in Hong Kong.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Native to Hong Kong and found in abundance throughout the entire territory, this particular Spotted Dove was perched in front of a sprawling mass of brightly-coloured pink bougainvillea flowers.
The subspecies found in Hong Kong consists of the nominate race Spilopelia chinensis chinensis. Birds that live in urban parks here can be quite tame and relatively unafraid of humans.
Species: Spotted Dove / Spilopelia chinensis / 珠頸斑鳩
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Showing off his iridescent plumage in the midday sun.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Another common winter visitor to Hong Kong.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A pair of Black-winged Stilts enjoy the festive season.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone at Flickr !
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
This image of a handsome Mandarin Duck was captured in an urban park somewhere in London. Although this particular duck was free-living, his relative fearlessness probably meant he interacted regularly with humans.
This species of duck is native to Eastern Asia (China, Japan and Russia), where they are now rare, although a large and thriving introduced population can be found in the British Isles and Western Europe, with additional smaller introductions in North America.
The Mandarin Duck is a very rare winter visitor to Hong Kong. Over the last five years of constant searching, I’ve only ever managed to see a single wild pair in Hong Kong.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in London, UK 英國倫敦. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
South Canadian River Arm, Eufaula lake.... I caught some great light down on the river this evening..... Thanks for stopping by and happy holidays to you all!!!
A wild Lesser Flamingo takes to the skies in the stunning coastal wetlands that can be found around Walvis Bay in Namibia.
Walvis Bay is Namibia's main seaport and located between the mouths of the Swakop and Kuiseb rivers on the Atlantic Ocean.
On the south side of Walvis Bay is a tidal lagoon consisting of adjacent intertidal areas, Pelican Point, mudflats exposed at low tide, and sandbars serving as roosting sites.
The lagoon, salt pans and the bird sanctuary which form the Walvis Bay Wetlands are one of the most important coastal wetlands of southern Africa.
The site supports varying numbers of wetland birds (37,000 to 79,000 individuals); some species such as flamingos (both Lesser and Greater) occur in impressive numbers.
Eleven endangered bird species are regularly observed. Ramsar site no. 742. Area: 12,600 hectares.
Source: Ramsar Sites Information Service
Website: rsis.ramsar.org/ris/742
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Namibia 納米比亞. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A Great Cormorant takes off from the river surface.
(More photos from Namibia coming soon .....)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Best viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
“El Classico”
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Sígueme en mi página de Facebook (Follow me on facebook): www.facebook.com/JavierGirbesFotografiadePaisaje
Por favor, no use esta imagen en webs, blogs o cualquier otro medio sin mi explícito permiso . © Todos los derechos reservados.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved.
A female Oriental Magpie-Robin poses for the photographer.
The Oriental Magpie-Robin is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher.
This species of bird is found throughout Hong Kong, especially in mangrove environments, and is highly commensal with man.
In fact, it is frequently found in cultivated or suburban areas very close to human habitations.
Oriental Magpie-Robins are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds, although this practice has declined in recent years.
This particular female seemed as curious about the photographer as vice versa.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
This female shoveler and I are both heading for greener pastures, temporarily ….
NOTE: Taking a summer break starting 22 Jul -- OFF for approx. 2 weeks; wishing everyone a great summer …
Species: Northern Shoveler ♀ / Spatula clypeata / 琵嘴鴨 (雌鳥)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
A Glossy Ibis flies to the opposite bank of the river in search of its favourite food, tiny whelks.
The Glossy Ibis is a very rare vagrant to Hong Kong. Since 1978, there have been only six instances of a Glossy Ibis being recorded in Hong Kong, inclusive of this particular winter season (2024/25).
As a result, this solitary Glossy Ibis has become a bit of a local celebrity amongst the birdwatching public here, and its exact location is constantly being disseminated via social media.
Therefore, wherever it goes, a horde of bird photographers is bound to follow, including me on this particular day.
Source: Hong Kong Birdwatching Society
Weblink: avifauna.hkbws.org.hk/species/0160/021700
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
“He who wants to catch fish must not mind getting wet.”
-- Ancient Kingfisher proverb
Kingfisher chicks are usually taught this important life lesson above a few weeks after hatching.
Flying over the mangrove mudflats, this particular male Pied Kingfisher had evidently learnt the lesson well.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Best viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
NOTE: Back from my summer break. Thank you for your patience.
An Atlantic Puffin flies up towards its nest located almost 110 metres (360 feet) atop a sheer cliff face.
1st stop this summer: Scotland, specifically the Scottish Highlands.
It rained continuously for 7 out of 8 days while I was there. On the sole day the rain stopped and the clouds finally parted, I was able to capture this image of a flying puffin. Despite the rain, the Scottish highlands are everything they’re portrayed to be, stunning unspoilt nature with rugged mountains, spectacular lochs and majestic glens.
(Species: Atlantic Puffin / Fratercula arctica / 北極海鸚)
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Scotland 蘇格蘭. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Anti-greenhouse effect: The anti-greenhouse effect is a mechanism similar and symmetrical to the
greenhouse effect: in the greenhouse effect, the atmosphere lets radiation in while not letting
thermal radiation out, thus warming the body surface; in the anti-greenhouse effect, the atmosphere
keeps radiation out while letting thermal radiation out, which lowers the equilibrium surface
temperature. Such an effect has been proposed for Saturn's moon Titan.
A male Pied Kingfisher flies back to its partner with his freshly-caught lunch .… a Valentine’s Day gift perhaps?
Whereas this species of kingfisher will typically fly high-in-the-air above open bodies of water and in a manner that can only be described as haphazard while searching for prey, they will instead sometimes fly in a straight line just above the water surface directly back to their partner after having caught a fish.
Perhaps it is simply a case of the birds taking the easiest and most direct route home.
In any case, it does provide an opportunity to capture the bird’s reflection while in flight.
Although it still took me 4 years of trying to capture an image of a reflection of a Pied Kingfisher with a fish in its beak that was worthy of uploading / sharing ….
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
The Peneda-Gerês National Park (Portuguese: Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpaɾkɨ nɐsjuˈnaɫ ðɐ pɨˈneðɐ ʒɨˈɾeʃ]), also known simply as Gerês, is a national park located in northern Portugal. Created in May 1971, it is the oldest protected area and the only national park in Portugal. It covers an area of 695.9 km2 (268.7 sq mi), occupying the Districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, and Vila Real and bordering the Spanish Baixa Limia – Serra do Xurés natural park to the north, with which forms the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Gerês-Xurés.