Springwatch-SWAT-Autumnwatch
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Looking a little bit tacky here but this Robin is over two years old now which is a good age for a Robin. Always hanging around in the same area in one of my nature reserves I often go to visit. Ever since I first spotted this as a juvenile there has always been a dark patch below the right eye that is still there to this day. My little friend here has become very tame and always so very photogenic and hopefully will be around a bit longer yet. In the 1400's when the Robin was named the colour orange had not been classified and this is why we say that the Robin has a red breast and not orange. America has an eagle so it's about time the UK had the Robin as its national bird !!!!!!
This is a Scottish Wild Cat Kitten, not many of these cats left in the wild and the ones in captivity are very important for the breeding program so a lot rests on this little ones shoulders.
There are three kittens eyes are open and mum Kendra is very attentive to her children.
Taken at the British Wildlife Centre camera at full stretch so mum was not bothered.
Got loads more shots to look through but this one caught my eye.
BBC Springwatch fav.
Kingfisher about to dive for its lunch. Thanks again for any favourites and comments. I hope everyone had a good new year and has a pleasant weekend :)
Another juvenile in our local bay
White/Pied Wagtail - Motacilla Alba
Ardmucknish Bay - Argyll Scotland
Many thanks to everyone who takes the time to view and fave my photos and in particular to those kind enough to comment. It is very much appreciated.
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Song Thrush - Turdus Philomelos
Featured on BBC Springwatch Social Media sites Dec 29 2019
The song thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a thrush that breeds across much of Eurasia. It has brown upperparts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has three recognised subspecies. Its distinctive song, which has repeated musical phrases, has frequently been referred to in poetry.
The song thrush breeds in forests, gardens and parks, and is partially migratory with many birds wintering in southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East; it has also been introduced into New Zealand and Australia. Although it is not threatened globally, there have been serious population declines in parts of Europe, possibly due to changes in farming practices.
The song thrush builds a neat mud-lined cup nest in a bush or tree and lays four to five dark-spotted blue eggs. It is omnivorous and has the habit of using a favourite stone as an "anvil" on which to break open the shells of snails. Like other perching birds (passerines), it is affected by external and internal parasites and is vulnerable to predation by cats and birds of prey.
The song thrush has an extensive range, estimated at 10 million square kilometres (3.8 million square miles), and a large population, with an estimated 40 to 71 million individuals in Europe alone.
In the western Palaearctic, there is evidence of population decline, but at a level below the threshold required for global conservation concern (i.e., a reduction in numbers of more than 30% in ten years or three generations) and the IUCN Red List categorises this species as of "Least Concern". In Great Britain and the Netherlands, there has been a more than 50% decline in population, and the song thrush is included in regional Red Lists. The decreases are greatest in farmlands (73% since the mid-1970s) and believed to be due to changes in agricultural practices in recent decades.
The precise reasons for the decline are not known but may be related to the loss of hedgerows, a move to sowing crops in autumn rather than spring, and possibly the increased use of pesticides. These changes may have reduced the availability of food and of nest sites. In gardens, the use of poison bait to control slugs and snails may pose a threat. In urban areas, some thrushes are killed while using the hard surface of roads to smash snails.
Many Poets and Writers have referenced the Song Thrush, here is one example:
In The Tables Turned, Romantic poet William Wordsworth references the song thrush, writing
Hark, how blithe the throstle sings
And he is no mean preacher
Come forth into the light of things
Let Nature be your teacher
The song thrush is the emblem of West Bromwich Albion Football Club, chosen because the public house in which the team used to change kept a pet thrush in a cage. It also gave rise to Albion's early nickname, The Throstles.
Basking in the golden light of a spring morning.
When you get the combination of a beautiful morning and a barnie, what could be better.
Barn owl (Tyto alba)
Yorkshire Dales - Lower Barn/ Embankment male
Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on my photos. It is truly appreciated.
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Stonechat - Saxicola Rubicola
Otley Chevin Surprise View - Yorkshire Dales
Many thanks as always to all those who take the time to comment on, fave or simply browse my photos. It is as always very welcome and appreciated. Many thanks for your visit.
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When I took this shot I was so excited. I have been taking shots of this pair for several years, but this was the closest I had managed to get.
Little did I know that the pair down the road, minutes later, would provide me with, not only better, but my best owl pics to date.
This female was out hunting without her other half and was for once fairly relaxed about me.
Mr Barnie from down the lane will feature soon. He's well worth the wait.
Barn owl (Tyto alba)
Yorkshire Dales - Upper Barn female
Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on my photos. It is truly appreciated.
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Two of three siblings that were borned in May.
Thank you for viewing. If you like please fav and leave a nice comment. Hope to see you here again. Have a wonderful day 😊
Brighton 🇬🇧
June, 2020