Entrance to Koto-in sub-temple of Diatoku-ji, Kyoto Japan

SMALL and compact bird with a relatively short. dark tail. This male was seen at Sandwich Bay Kent and was the only bird of note seen today, and a bit distant, hope you enjoy it!

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Trust you are staying safe and well, thanks for your visit, please leave a comment, it is always appreciated, and find it encouraging . God bless.........................Tomx

it's kinda like seeing the middle distance...

no focus required.

ACTIVE BIRDS, and not common as the name suggests, are found in dense forests and mangroves, I found them very hard to photograph as to their jerky fast movements, love seeing them.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will soon be looking at your latest posting, which I very much enjoy, being transported around the world from the comfort of my armchair. Keep warm, safe, and well, God bless you ............Tomx

WELL MARKED and distinctive warbler, the Sedge Warbler has a lively and beautiful song that is a useful aid to identification. This one was deep into the reeds but found a small gap to focus through, love seeing them.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, leave a comment, and I will eagerly return the visit to your latest posting.

Enjoy the Lords day, God bless..............................Tomx

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"COUNT your blessings, name them one by one, you be surprised what the good Lord has done !"

AN ELEGANT bird with a strikingly long tail that continually pumps up and down. Invariably associated with flowing fresh water and often perches on mid-stream boulders, seen at Kearsney Abbey Dover Kent UK.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and comments, hope you all have a great weekend, keep praying for peace in Ukraine, God bless you...............Tomx.

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Ask Jesus into your life you will never regret it, he loves you so much!

REDSHANKS favor areas of undisturbed damp grassland, moors, and the margins of marshes. Utters a yelping tiu-uu alarm call, the song is musical and yodeling. Always a pure delight to capture these.

Double click for more detail.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, do so hope you are all well, enjoy the weekend, even if it's gone back a bit wintery again in Kent UK, God bless...............................................Tomx

MIXED MEAT PLATTER, awaits its chicks, but the parent is not going to feed them until I am well out the way, so as not to disclose the nest sights location. Seen at Palm Bay Thanet Kent.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, keep well and safe , keep a smile on your face and love in your heart for everyone. God bless

................................................Tomx.

A GREETING CARD star, one of the nations favourites. Often bold and inquisitive in garden settings, strongly and conspicuously territorial, so how can you not take its picture, I love them, seen at Stodmarsh, Kent, UK.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP in these difficult times, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your latest posting.

Enjoy the rest of the week, stay safe, God bless..............Tomx

RARE SIGHT for me, as kingfishers in Kent, are few and far between, so I have to show this as they are so dazzlingly attractive, and love that dagger-like bill, a favorite among British birders, This perch is used over and over again by this beauty.. and witnessed it catching many very small fish.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND, please leave a comment, and I will eagerly look forward to doing the same on your lastest posting. Stay well and safe in these crazy lockdown times.......................God bless you .......................Tomx

Newhaven, Edinburgh

An elegant bird with a strikingly long tail that it continually pumps up and down. The Grey Wagtail is invariably associated with flowing fresh water and often perches on mid-stream boulders.

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OUR ANNUAL trip to The Gambia in Feb has been cancelled by the agent, the third holiday lost to the Covid epidemic.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2021.

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Mine is. of course, seeing the back of Covid19.

Seeing family and Grandchildren.

Being able to sing and praise the LORD in church

Seeing people smile, not hiding behind a mask.

Going on holiday.

Open nature reserves and hides.

Enjoying a pint in a pub. And a good curry in an Indian Restaurant

WHATEVER you wish, I hope it is so !!!

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Stay safe and well my dear friends, God bless..........Tomx

FAMILIAR black, grey and white bird. The Pied Wagtail has a bounding flight and distinctive habit of pumping its tail up and down. They love locations such as playing fields and supermarket car parks, where this one was captured, but I was willing it to go into a little grass area to get a better image.

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THANK YOU for being a friend, please leave a comment and I will look forward to returning the visit.

We have the road map out of lockdown, just hope the nature reserves and hides will soon open.

Stay safe and well, God bless..........................Tomx.

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JESUS LOVES YOU and died for you, let him into your life today as your savior!

afternoon sighting in Shaba Nature Reserve, Kenya, in 2010.

Gerenuk are also called Giraffe Gazelle or Giraffe-necked Gazelle.

A medium-sized antelope with a long thin neck and a small head; it often feeds while standing on the hind legs and

lives in arid areas, mainly in Northern Kenya

Litocranius walleri

gerenoek of girafgazelle

gazelle de Waller ou antilope-girafe

Giraffengazellen oder Gerenuk

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Near Threathened

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. ButsFons©2021

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

OFF LINE FOR FIVE DAYS

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THREE FULL DAYS STAYING ON SKOMER ISLAND, with my brother Bob, the forcast looks not very good, but it will be great fun, and you know what to expect with my images, in the next coulpe of weeks, puffins ans more puffins.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, will return to your images to comment as soon as possable.

Look after yourself, stay well and safe, God bless...................Tomx.

Harlequin Duck

Gambia tour 2020.

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JOY OF JOYS, my brother spotted and called HOOPOE, no way I thought !!! But yes it was, our first sighting in the Gambia. Bless its heart, it let us very near, and I have over 100 keeper images, it was completely relaxed, and never stopped grooming itself, a experience I will never forget . Seen in the Kotu area.

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THANK YOU for being a friend and leaving a comment. Will look forward to visiting your photo stream and and doing the same on your latest posting. The weekend is coming on fast, enjoy, say safe, and may God bless you in all you do.

...................................................Tomx

THEY may be widespread and rather nondescript, streaked brown bird, but I have a real affection for them, as a ground-dwelling species, it is quite approachable with care. Feeds on invertebrates as seen, a bit harder in the capture in the winter when they often form loose flocks.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, they are always very appreciated and find encouraging, and will look forward to seeing your latest images......In the UK we are in lockdown again from Thurs, not sure if this means not visiting nature reserves?

Please take great care folks, put your trust in our Lord, and we will get through this................God bless you...............Tomx

FORAGING in low scrub, rather warbler like, picking and hovering from the underside of leaves, Was told of this uncommon bird to the Kotu area, and have to admit to spending more time looking or waiting for an appearance, than any other bird on the trip, but it did put an appearance just for a few seconds, would have loved to have got a side image, to show its full beauty.

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THANK YOU, for your visit to my Gambian images, hope you are still enjoying them, I love reading your kind comments and doing the same to your latest posting. Enjoy the Lord's day, God bless and keep you safe and well..............Tomx.

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UNITE IN PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

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MY WALK WITH BIRDING PHOTOGRAPHY STARTED AS ABOVE

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IN 2003, from our Spanish villa, it overlooked a large area of scrub land and orchards, was amazing. I found a area where BEE-EATERS where nesting in earthly holes in a bank near to water, just a short walk away, and set up a hide. The hide was in dense bushes , put in a chair, and other home comforts, was so well concealed that sometimes one would land on a branch only inches away from my face. I had the birds, but no experience and only a Canon 40D and a stigma 300m lens. Looking back on the images now, they are real rubbish. We had six amazing years in Spain, but Chris never settled, and the arrival of grandchildren, the pull was to great for her, so we returned.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, am going through my Archives starting at the beginning. Please stay safe, some restrictions lifted, but the virus is still there!

God bless..............................Tomx

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"GODs BEAUTY is SIMPLY AMAZING !"

The brimstone is a fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, with distinctive, leaf-shaped wings. Adults hibernate through cold weather, so may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the spring. Usually seen in ones or twos, they are never very common, but are widespread. They can be found in damp woodlands, along sunny, woodland rides and mature hedgerows, and in large gardens. The foodplants of the larvae are buckthorn and alder buckthorn. Both shrubs are found in wet woodland, while buckthorn also occurs on dry chalk and limestone soils.

A forest dwelling butterfly with black-brown wings marked with white spots, streaks and bands. The underwing patterns are repeated but against a pale orange back ground colour.

Durchblick

DISTINCTIVE water bird, the largest in he region, when swimming the neck is held in a elegant curve. FAMILY gruops with parents are often seen. They mate for life.

TRY TO POST all British birds seen, but have not put up a SWAN for years, shame on me. Seen at Stodmarsh nature reserve Kent.

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THANK YOU, for your visit and kind comments, will return the visit as soon as possible. Enjoy the Lords day, stay safe and well , God bless.......................Tomx.

Cutting through the waters at Cheow Lan lake

The journey between Terminals at the Chicago Airport.

A BULKY, broad -winged raptor , medium sized bird of prey, and still not that many in the south-east area of Kent. A pure joy to see coming of the fields at Elmley Nature Reserve, the brown and black blobs on the ground are cows!!

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THANK YOU for your visit, please leave a comment, and I will look forward to doing the same on your lastest posting.

Please stay safe , God bless....Tomx

FAMILIAR SPECIES, but still in heavy decline, familiar because of its affinity for human habitations, found in small groups, can become remarkably tame. A constant source of entertainment on the trees and feeders around the cottage!

CRAZY MILD WEATHER ! look at the buds on its perch in December !

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THANK YOU for your visit, and kind comments , much appreciated indeed. Enjoy the weekend my dear friends, Stay safe, God bless .................Tomx

Swallow taken from the out the window of our guesthouse room

THE FIG AND PLUM TREE, in our garden , only feed the birds, rarely do we get to eat of the fruits.. This was taken in the darkest possible spot, and therefore of poor quality, but a bit different. My wife Chris and I have been feeding two families of Blackbirds, and they have become very tame, and even enter the cottage, and has given us so much joy and entertainment during these difficult times of near isolation.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, please leave a comment, I love doing the same to your lastest postings.

Enjoy the Lords day, stay well and safe, God bless..... ......................................Tomx.

A FAMILIAR MIGRANT VISITOR, that can be recognized in flight by its pointed wings and in the adult long tail streamers. But to photograph one is the problem as the adults rarely perch, and then it's on roadside wires, so this had to be taken on something natural !!!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND FRIENDSHIP, hope you all have a great weekend, God bless............... Tomx

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"Jesus loves you, yes you !!"

Ask him into your life today.

GAMBIA FEB 2019

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NORMALLY VERY PLACID HERON, with no neck showing, but something came near, did not see what it was, it reeled out its neck , with a feather duster look, with a loud grunting type call, was quite taken back with its very long neck behaviour. Have shown the normal pose thirty seven images back, if you want to compare

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, they are very appreciated, enjoy your day, stay well and safe, God bless....

.................................................Tomx.

Still venturing through my archives its about time to get my camera out again.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) I was stalking a little egret along the bank of our local reservoir when this heron suddenly burst out from the cover of the reeds in front of me. I just managed to get the camera on him but I don't know who was more surprised!

AN ELEGANT and unmistakable pure white, heron-like bird with a black, dagger-like bill and a long neck. Was very well hidden, when this bird dropped in, it then started working its way towards me, until I could not fit it in the frame, then past me, but who wants a back side view ! What a experience. Classed as a rarity in Britain a while back, but now fairly easy to find.

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THANK YOU for your visit and kind comments, it is always appreciated. Enjoy the weekend dear friends, Stay safe, God bless...................Tomx.

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HELP PLEASE !

Have always cropped my images by 6x4inches, and have tried to get them published, but cannot find anybody that will do this size, for a pictorial type book, any help or advice would be very appreciated. Thank you.

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SORRY once again my posting of this image lost the first couple of comments, very strange !!!

I'm on holiday in Scarborough until Sunday, so my uploads will be hit and miss

"HALLELUJAH !" FIRST TRIP OUT !!! AND THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GOT !!! but so good to see some feathered friends again !!!

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THE TEAL is the smallest duck in Britain and one of the most widespread. Flocks of teals are a familiar sight in winter on estuaries, mudflats and inland wetlands. They are still very attractive, this one seen at the scrape, Sandwich Bay, Kent UK

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THANK YOU for your visit and very kind comments, and standing and supporting me through the most difficult part of my life, God bless you all...................................Tomx

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"I thank God my life has been saved !"

Round Lake, NY

Good Sunday morning everyone, and hoping a great and safe weekend was had by all.

Thank said everyone I have to tell you that this is all we've been seeing of late, Hawks, Hawks and more Hawks, but who am I to complain, not I folks, have a great day.

Thanks to all for everything.

You must seek the land of faith

an eternally cheerful valley blooms

holy beech trees fall through the darkness

so warm and mild the sunbeam.

Georg Philipp Schmidt von Lübeck (1766 - 1849)

The meadow pipit is a common nesting bird of moorland, heathland and rough grassland. In the autumn and winter, it moves out of upland areas to lowlands where it gathers in small flocks and can be found on farmland and saltmarshes. In the spring, it performs a fluttering, 'parachute' display flight. There are 2 million breeding territories in the UK.

On moorlands, meadow pipits are the most common 'foster parents' of young cuckoos. The adult cuckoo will lay a single egg in a meadow pipit's nest. After hatching, the cuckoo chick will push the other eggs or young birds out of the nest, giving its foster parents more time to concentrate on feeding their new, oversized chick.

Eurasian Jay

We haven't had any visit this winter. as yet, that's when they normally pop by

Taken at Bempton Cliffs last summer.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.

Nothing like a fresh fish breakfast folks, and nothing like getting a shot of the moment.

Thanks to all for everything.

13 februari 2021