Where there are Sparrows - there will be Sparrowhawks.

on a grey, cold and foggy day.

A King Penguin in all its fury trying to scare away a predator that was circulating above.

The Northern Pike, a ferocious predatory fish, became the prey.

The low water level in the Sturgeon River means that it is easy to spot the Great Blue Herons out and about catching fish in the shallow water.

Bright and early one morning in July, I met up with my birding friend, Ivan D. and we were privileged to be able to observe and photograph this heron fishing for breakfast at fairly close range. This heron's fishing skills were amazingly impressive. Within a span of one hour, it caught three pikes. Each time, it promptly swallowed the unfortunate fish head first - all in one go.

Nikon D500 w/ 500mmf4G + 1.4X

(Taken on: July 31, 2021, Sturgeon River, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada.)

Copyrighted. All rights reserved. No unauthorized use.

Thank you all very much for the visits and comments.

This ringlet butterfly had unfortunately landed in this garden spiders web

Sparrowhawk [Accipiter nisus] f.

This little beauty appeared at The Pixies just after I had re-filled all the bird feeders...All the usual little songbirds, blue-, great-, and coaltits, nuthatches and chaffinches, were having a feast when, suddenly, they all disappeared into the trees.

I was thrilled to have caught this image but the implications of her presence here are really quite chilling...Of course, she has to eat, too, but the wee birdies have absolutely no chance against these lethal talons and beak.

She left this perch very soon after arriving and the wee birdies soon resumed their eating and seed- and nut-gathering.

The Circle Of Life? Ambivalence and cognitive dissonance...

(I know it’s not a great shot - she was very high up in this tree )

At The Pixies

South Carrick Hills

SW Scotland

(edited)

I've struggled with the idea of posting this one

A beautiful bird but an unwelcome visitor to our garden

This was the aftermath we witnessed taking place a few days ago.

Sadly one of our little sparrows lost it's life before we witnessed this scene.

I understand we eat meat, so in theory I'm no different from this Sparrowhawk hunting it's prey

It's just so difficult to watch when for months on end the little sparrows who nested in our bushes, brought up what seemed like a multitude of offspring, fledged and continue to return to our feeders

We have grown so attached to their playful, funny characters

I'd certainly never make a wildlife photographer. Im in tears watching Frozen Planet 2

I'd want to try and save them all

Well, I also thought although not in flight I can capture images of birds (not the blurry variety)

Not crystal clear, taken through the kitchen window, which may have needed cleaning

It tells a story, if nothing else

We just hope he doesn't chose to do a return visit

youtu.be/E-sX2Y0W8l0

A 3.175cm (1 .25") Praying Mantis eating a fly on a Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy' in my garden. These insects are notorious predators and their name is sometime mistakenly spelled ‘Preying Mantis’ which is incorrect.

means it has a larger influence on its environment than its abundance. It plays key role in maintaining the population of other animals in an ecological community.

texture by ipiccy.com

Dartmoor Tree on a wet & windy morning. :-)

bird:[Rezz Room] Box Eagle Adult Animesh @EQUAL10 maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/equal10/233/127/95

outfit:Art&Ko - Elizabeth Set @Enchantment

gloves:[ContraptioN] Dapper Dandy's Gloves

skin:.MILA. Stefy Skin @ TRES CHIC nov 17 - dec 10 maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tres%20Chic/153/162/74

blush add ons: Heaux

head:LeLUTKA Briannon Head 3.1 @Mainstore

hair:Magika - Hair - Let It Snow

_DSF1473

Phoenix Zoo, AZ

Waiting for prey...

Vulpes Vulpes - Red Fox

P1000142-1

ISO 200 1/160th @ f/5.6 Focal length 186.42mm (equivalent to

1041mm in 35mm format)

But who actually captured who?

Few months old but eh! Finally got around to uploading!

Yellow Dung Fly, Nantwich, Cheshire.

Created for TMI's January contest: "Marine Biology"

Three source photos all public domain via Pixabay.

This was my shot of the year for a reason. The goal for 2017 was to enter a contest and finish up high...and this photo did that for me.

Phoenix Zoo, Arizona

You decide

The Dragonfly season has begun. Hit "L" for a view on her face. I just love them.

Herbstmess' Karlsruhe

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Sweni hide , Kruger National Park , South Africa

I have luckily managed to capture an incredible fish-hunt and fight this river otter has performed, in the calm waters of Alouette river. This was the first time for me to have witnessed such an amazing spectacle and I truly hope it won't be the last.

Otters are masterful fish predators, while in the water. On land, they can become prey for larger mammals.

Despite the apparent fearful expression in my photo, I think most of us love otters. They are cute and make funny poses and grimaces.