springwatch photos on Flickr

Wild Stoat juvenile (Mustela erminea) by Sonia Johnson

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Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales

JWL9845 Avocet... by Jeff Lack Wildlife&Nature

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Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta

Featured on BBC Springwatch Social Media Pages 13/01.2020

The avocet is a distinctively-patterned black and white wader with a long up-curved beak. This Schedule 1 species is the emblem of the RSPB and symbolises the bird protection movement in the UK more than any other species. Its return in the 1940s and subsequent increase in numbers represents one of the most successful conservation and protection projects.

Population:

UK breeding:

1,500 pairs

UK wintering:

7,500 birds

Europe:

37-54,000 pairs

Thanks to all who take the time to Comment/fav, Always appreciated.

Robin - Erithacus rubecula by Ray

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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 !!!!!!

Kingfisher by eric niven

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He was at Morton lochs.

Puffin with a Big Catch ! by eric niven

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On the Isle of May this afternoon.

Common Blue Butterfly by eric niven

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At Morton lochs this afternoon.

Is it safe to come out? by Sonia Johnson

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Red Grouse female (Lagopus lagopus) in a purple haze (heather), Yorkshire Dales

Go! by Paul Chambers

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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 :)

Polney Tarn by eric niven

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This tiny lochan or Tarn shows up during the Winter time every year.

Mine's the biggest! by Sonia Johnson

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Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Loch of the Lowes by eric niven

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Reflections on this famous(for Ospreys) Loch near Dunkeld this afternoon.

Yellowhammer. by eric niven

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Near Newtyle in Angus this afternoon.

DSC_0415 Springwatch! by Jeff Lack Wildlife&Nature

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As seen/used on BBC Springwatch Unsprung Episode 12 2015.

Orange Tip - Antharis Cadamines

DSC1201 Song Thrush.. by Jeff Lack Wildlife&Nature

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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.

Back In The Bay by David Hall

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As the summer crowds filter away the herons return once more.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Oban Bay - Scotland

Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on my photos. It is truly appreciated.

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A jewel in the long grass by Pete Quinn

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Roosting Marsh Fritillary, Breney Common, Cornwall.

DSC7109 Little Tern.. by Jeff Lack Wildlife&Nature

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Little Tern - Sterna Albifrons

Norfolk

As seen on BBC Springwatch Ep 7 08/06/2022

This delightful chattering seabird is the UK's smallest tern. It is short-tailed and has a fast flight. Its bill is a distinctive yellow with a black tip. It is noisy at its breeding colony where courtship starts with an aerial display involving the male calling and carrying a fish to attract a mate, which chases him up high before he descends, gliding with wings in a 'V'.

Its vulnerable nesting sites and its decline in Europe make it an Amber List species. It is also listed as a Schedule 1 species in The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

This bird breeds on the coasts and inland waterways of temperate and tropical Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in the subtropical and tropical oceans as far south as South Africa and Australia.

There are three subspecies, the nominate albifrons occurring in Europe to North Africa and western Asia; guineae of western and central Africa; and sinensis of East Asia and the north and east coasts of Australia.[4]

The little tern breeds in colonies on gravel or shingle coasts and islands. It lays two to four eggs on the ground. Like all white terns, it is defensive of its nest and young and will attack intruders.

Like most other white terns, the little tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, usually from saline environments. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

At the beginning of the 19th century the little tern was a common bird of European shores, rivers and wetlands, but in the 20th century populations of coastal areas decreased because of habitat loss, pollution and human disturbance.

The loss of inland populations has been even more severe, since due to dams, river regulation and sediment extraction it has lost most of its former habitats. The Little Tern population has declined or become extinct in many European countries, and former breeding places on large rivers like the Danube, Elbe and Rhine ceased. Nowadays, only few river systems in Europe possess suitable habitats; the Loire/Allier in France, the Vistula/Odra in Poland, the Po/Ticino in Italy, the Daugava in Latvia, the Nemunas in Lithuania, the Sava in Croatia and the Drava in Hungary and Croatia. The status of the little tern on the rivers Tagus and lower Danube is uncertain.

Red Squirrel by eric niven

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This wee one was in Tentsmuir forest this afternoon.

Springwatch presenters card ..x by Lisa Wood

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Iolo William's has my Sundew picture on his presenter card 😁👍 Every little helps, as they say.

Juvenile Greater Spotted Woodpecker by Jordan Yates

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Winter Sunset by eric niven

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At Kingoodie bay this afternoon.

Evening Beauty by David Hall

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This was the second shot taken when she returned after a quick hunt in the nearby field.

On this occasion she was happy to pose for quite some time. As I was now further away from the fence I was able to capture her in her entirety.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Yorkshire Dales - Lower Barn/ Embankment Female

Many thanks to all those who take the time to comment on and fave my photos. It is truly appreciated and welcome.

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Speckled Wood Butterfly by eric niven

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This lovely Butterfly was on the path to Newtyle hill this afternoon.

Oystercatcher in the rain... by Catherine Cochrane Photography

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First Damselfly of the year by neiljamesbrain

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#waxwing by sarah hastilow

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Heather Crab Spider ~ Thomisus onustus ( BBC Springwatch Watch out ! Quiz: WHAT the F!OR@ or FA#NA is THAT!?) by Graham Hall

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Went back for another go at these little fellas. Met up with Lucy and Steve near Arne and spent rather a long time browsing the heather tops. I eventually found one shortly followed by Steve. Still very small but much bigger than last week. :@)

Update: Used for the BBC Springwatch Watch out ! Quiz: WHAT the F!OR@ or FA#NA is THAT!?

The Beauty To Come by David Hall

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Soon he will transform into his exotic form but for now he's difficult to tell apart from the ladies.

Mandarin Duck male eclipse - (Aix Galericulata)

Golden Acre Park - Leeds

As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.

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Love is the air by Mandy Hedley

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Twinkle in his Eye by Dave Brotherton

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