Phil's photos with the keyword: Fauna

A snapshot of a pigeon sitting on my neighbour's TV antenna which is close to my bedroom window. Although I was only about 6 feet / 2 metres away the bird didn't seem at all bothered and stayed for about 5 minutes while I took a few photos. Camera: Sony RX100 Processed with Nikon Capture NX2. Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae and the order Columbiformes which includes about 42 genera and 310 species. The related word "columbine" refers to pigeons and doves. Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that, in some species, feature fleshy ceres. They primarily feed on seeds, fruits, and plants. Pigeons and doves are likely the most common birds in the world. (Wikipedia).

One of the many pigeons seen in this area, photographed in my neighbour's garden where she leaves a bowl of water for the birds to drink and / or bathe in. This one was "checking out" the area for any lurking cats before taking a quick bath. Camera: Nikon D300s. Lens: Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto.

One of the many grey squirrels photographed in Victoria Park near Nelson, North-West England. These animals, although wild, are used to humans and many of them will let you hand-feed them. Camera: Nikon D300s Processing: Nikon Capture NX2.

A close-up portrait photographed from a distance of approximately 1 foot / 0.3 mtrs using a Samyang "super-wide" 10mm manual-focus lens. Camera Nikon D300s and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Another view (see previous photo) of a miniature Shetland pony photographed on a small farm near Burnley, Lancashire, in the North-West of England. These animals are not much bigger than a large dog such as an Alsatian (A.K.A. "German shepherd"). Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software.

A miniature Shetland pony photographed on a small farm near Burnley, Lancashire, in the North-West of England. These animals are not much bigger than a large dog such as an Alsatian / German shepherd.....the fence here, for comparison, was only about 4 feet high (1.2 metres). Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software.

A young swan on the Leeds-Liverpool canal near Brierfield, Lancashire, in the North-West of England. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software.

A miniature Shetland pony photographed at a small farm near Burnley, Lancashire, in the North-West of England. As we walked past, he / she was standing motionless, staring into his / her empty food bucket and turning alternatively between us and the bucket as if to say "Please feed me". Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software.

A young swan "lifting off" from the Leeds-Liverpool canal near the town of Brierfield in Lancashire, North-West England. He / she flew very low over the nearby M65 Motorway bridge, narrowly missing a number of cars and disappeared into the distance. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software.

Horses photographed near Burnley in the North-West of England using a Sony RX100 compact camera. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Photographed between Brierfield and Burnley in Lancashire, North-West England. I was actually trying to photograph some other horses (see next photo) in the same field but this one kept following me along the fence and obscuring my view of them. Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

The domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the family Bovidae and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat; they are one of the oldest domesticated species and have been used for their milk, meat, hair, and skins over much of the world. Goats are among the earliest animals domesticated by humans. The most recent genetic analysis confirms the archaeological evidence that the wild Bezoar ibex of the Zagros Mountains (Iran) are the likely origin of almost all domestic goats today. Neolithic farmers began to herd wild goats for easy access to milk and meat, primarily, as well as for their dung which was used as fuel and their bones, hair, and sinew for clothing, building, and tools. The earliest remnants of domesticated goats dating 10,000 years before present are found in Ganj Dareh in Iran. Goat remains have been found at archaeological sites in Jericho, Djeitun and Çayönü, dating the domestication of goats in Western Asia at between 8000 and 9000 years ago. Studies of DNA evidence suggests 10,000 years ago as the domestication date. Historically, goat hide has been used for water and wine bottles in both travelling and transporting wine for sale. It has also been used to produce parchment. (Wikipedia). Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software.

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven to nine recognized families, though many are undescribed and the actual number is probably higher. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants. Bees are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, the former primarily as an energy source and the latter primarily for protein and other nutrients. Most pollen is used as food for larvae. Bees have a long proboscis (a complex "tongue") that enables them to obtain the nectar from flowers. They have antennae almost universally made up of 13 segments in males and 12 in females. Bees all have two pairs of wings, the hind pair being the smaller of the two; in a very few species, one sex or caste has relatively short wings that make flight difficult or impossible, but none are wingless. The best-known bee species is the European honey bee, which, as its name suggests, produces honey, as do a few other types of bee. Human management of this species is known as beekeeping or apiculture. (Wikipedia). Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Unidentified ducks, possibly Mallards crossed with some other breed as I haven't seen them in these colours before, photographed by the Leeds-Liverpool canal at Burnley, North-West England. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Photographed in a field near Brierfield, North-West England, using a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. This was taken from close range and I think she was trying to decide whether or not my camera was edible. Goats will eat (or try to eat) almost anything !!

We found this "nanny" goat (and 3 others) tethered on a long chain in a field during a walk to Raven's Clough Wood yesterday. She was very nervous at first but I managed to "bribe" her with some juicy grass which was out of her reach and eventually I was able to get within touching distance and take a few close-up photos. The "bleep" of the camera focussing startled her at first but the fresh grass proved too good to resist ! Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

A pair of carrion crows (Corvus corone) photographed in Brierfield, North-West England, using a Nikon D90 camera fitted with a Nikkor 70-300mm lens. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Photographed by the Leeds-Liverpool canal between Brierfield and Burnley in Lancashire, England. Camera Sony RX100 compact. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.