Oldt1mer - Keith's photos with the keyword: Bird

The Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea – is a large and quite shy bird which will usually fly the moment it spots you getting anywhere near to it. Feeding on anything living from insects to small mammals such as ducklings, voles and even young rabbits and large fish like eels and carp they can often be seen wading along in the shallows searching for prey. This one was seen walking along by the side of the water at Pennington Flash. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Great Tit - Parus major - is the largest of the Tit family and is a very common sight in gardens, woodland and many other habitats. They eat insects, seeds, berries and nuts as well as offerings at bird tables etc. This one was seen at Pennington Flash. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Redshank - Tringus totanus - is easily identified by (as its name suggests) its bright orange/red legs and its long bill with an orange base. They hunt for food, molluscs, earthworms, insects and small crustaceans by probing their bill into soil, mud and around rocks in their preferred habitat of marshes, mudflats and coastal wetlands. They are widespread throughout the UK but are more prevalent in Scotland and the north of England. This one was seen at Martin Mere Wetlands. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Dunnock - Prunella modularis - is a small brown and grey bird which is normally seen, on its own or with a mate, moving around on the ground foraging for food in parkland, woodland, and especially under feeders in the garden. Also known as the Hedge Sparrow or Hedge Warbler because of its love for hedgerows, bushes etc. which give them shelter from prey and also food in the form of seeds, worms and insects including spiders. Living throughout temperate Europe they have also been successfully introduced into New Zealand. This one was seen in a large bush at Pennington Flash where it had found, what looked like, some juicy insect eggs or aphids. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

This sleepy looking Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea - was in fact stood on an island in one of the lakes at Pennington Flash having a snooze in the sunshine but kept waking up to have a quick look round then back to sleep again. The Grey Heron stands up to 1 mtr tall with a wingspan of up to 2 mtrs and eats lots of fish but will also take small birds such as Ducklings and other baby water fowl, voles, frogs and other amphibians, and even rodents which they will search for in fields. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago - is a medium sized, very well camouflaged, short legged wading bird which feeds on small insects, crustaceans, snails, spiders and worms and will also eat seeds and plants when available. They can be seen on wetlands and also, during summer months, on moorland. Nesting on dry ground and hidden amongst vegetation they lay 4 eggs which the female incubates and then both parents care and feed the chicks. If the eggs are destroyed by other bigger birds or animals, they will lay replacement clutches. This one was seen at Martin Mere Wetlands, Burscough, Lancashire. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris - is a common bird in the UK, Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia. Greenfinches rely on seeds and, because they have a large and strong beak, they are able to eat a large variety. Because of their colouring, they can be difficult to spot in the foliage of woods and hedges but luckily they are quite at home in gardens and parks where they love to feed on seed mixes and Sunflower seeds and kernels from feeders. This is a juvenile but the male is olive green with a yellow flash on the wings and tail, the female is grey-green with less yellow. This one was seen from a hide at Martin Mere Wetlands, Burscough, Lancashire. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus - is a bird of the Plover family more commonly known as simply the Lapwing or Green Plover. It is also known in some areas as the Peewit (or Pewit), Tuit (or Tew-It) and the Pyewipe on account of its display calls. As a boy, I used to see many of these lovely birds feeding on worms and insects in the fields and farmlands and often coming across their ground scrapes with eggs which they fiercely defend by various tricks and deceits. Unfortunately they have suffered a decline and are now on the red list in the UK. It is a highly migratory bird, wintering as far away as North Africa, northern India, Nepal and even China, flying mainly by day in large flocks. This one was seen from a hide at Martin Mere, Burscough, Lancashire. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The brightly coloured European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis - is native to Europe, North Africa and western and central Asia and has been introduced to other countries including Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay. They can be seen just about anywhere, either solo or in small flocks, looking for small seeds from Ragwort, Teasels, Dandelions etc. (notice the sharp pointy beak for getting at those seeds) and are happy in gardens preferring sunflower kernels or niger (or nyjer) seed to anything else on offer. This one is, I think, just coming into adulthood because, although it has its red face, the white marks on the wings and tail are not yet fully defined. It was seen from a nature hide at Martin Mere, Burscough, Lancashire. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The lovely little Pied Wagtail - Motacilla alba - is also known as the Water Wagtail. It is a smallish bird with a long tail which, when not standing and wagging its tail frantically up and down, can be found dashing about car parks, pavements, lawns and by waterside looking for food, mainly insects but they will also eat seeds and other scraps in winter. The species is known as the White Wagtail but there are nine recognised subspecies of Wagtail. In the UK they are 'M. a .yarrellii' and have a much darker/blacker back than the nominal race and the black of the throat continues onto the side of the neck, these are known as the Pied or Water Wagtail. I was lucky enough to catch this one as it walked through a little patch of sunlight at Carr Mill Dam, St Helens. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Eurasian Nuthatch - Sitta europaea - is also known as the Wood Nuthatch. It is a smallish, short tailed bird which eats mainly insects like caterpillars and beetles but is also happy to eat acorns, hazelnuts and other nuts and seeds. Nesting in tree holes, they will often use mud to close the entrance if it is too big to help protect the eggs. It is often seen foraging whilst descending trees head first and is more than happy to visit bird tables. This one was seen at Pennington Flash enjoying a ready made lunch. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus - is also known as the 'Common Pied Oystercatcher', the 'Palaearctic Oystercatcher' or just the 'Oystercatcher'. Contrary to its name, oysters are not a large part of their diet, preferring mussels, cockles and other molluscs which they smash or prise open with their strong beaks, they are very partial to earth worms when inland or when molluscs are in short supply. They are so named because they are actually capable of opening oysters which few, if any, other wading birds can. This one was spotted at Pennington Flash. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The beautiful Common Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus - is also known as the Ring-Necked Pheasant. Although native to Asia and parts of Europe like the Balkans, it has been introduced to many parts of the world as a game bird where it has become one of the world's most hunted birds, much of this commercially at farms and hunting lodges etc. etc. This rather wet male was a rare visitor to the wall behind our house, only spotted when I went to close a window because of rain. I got some shots through the rain streaked window which were not good, I then went downstairs, carefully slid open the patio door a few inches and managed to get a couple of shots before he spotted me and walked away along the wall. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Mute Swan - Cygnus olor - is the second largest of all waterfowl species (after the Trumpeter Swan) but it has been known to equal or exceed a male trumpeter in mass. Its name is derived because it is the least vocal of all swans but it can give out a fierce hiss when threatened and does have a repertoire of other sounds. Its closes relative is the Black Swan and the Black Necked Swan. This one was seen at Pennington Flash, Leigh. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis - although the smallest of the Pelican species is still a large seabird measuring approx 1 to 1.5m (3 to 5ft) long with a wingspan of 2 to 2.8m (6ft to 7ft 6in). It feeds by plunging into the sea from high up, using that force to stun small fish before scooping them up in its very large bill. Often gulls will sit on a pelicans head ready to steal fish as the Pelican drains its beak pouch. The oldest known Pelican was 43 years of age. This one was seen soaring over the ocean near Baby Beach, Aruba a few years ago. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Indian Pond Heron - Ardeola grayii - also known as the Paddybird, is widespread and common in southern Iran and throughout Pakistan, India, Burma, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Feeding mainly on fish, tadpoles, leeches and other aquatic tid bits, its dull colours and appearance is transformed when it takes flight owing to the bright white wing feathers. In breeding season, this elegant bird's legs are known to change colour from green to bright yellow, some have even been seen with red legs. Its habit of standing quite still whilst danger is near, allowing its excellent camouflage to work until the very last minute, has given rise to folk beliefs that they are semi blind and their name in many languages and dialects does suggest that, they do, in fact, have excellent eyesight. Normally a very quiet bird, it can emit a harsh croak, especially when disturbed. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The beautiful Red-Whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus - is also known as the Crested Bulbul. It is a medium sized songbird generally found in pairs or small groups in gardens, orchards and open forests. Native to tropical Asia it has also been introduced to many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves including Florida, California, and Hawaii. They eat fruits, nectar and insects. They are also a popular cagebird in parts of Southeast Asia. This one was seen in Goa, India. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.