Oldt1mer - Keith's photos with the keyword: Flight

Just having a look round when something prompted this group of Greylag Geese – Anser anser – to suddenly take off. I couldn’t catch the take off but I did manage to get them a few seconds later before they rose into the sky and flew away. 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 Greylag Goose – Anser anser – is the largest goose native to Britain with a wingspan of 1.6m (over 5 feet) and weighing 3-4kg (up to 9 pounds). They are very sociable birds except when nesting when they become very territorial until their chicks have hatched. Living up to 8 years they love to graze pastures and fields where cattle or sheep graze but they will also eat potatoes and other root crops, various leaf vegetation and grain. This one was caught just after take off at Martin Mere Wetlands. Explore No 293, Sept 13 2023. 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 amazing European Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus - is a bird of prey also known as the Eurasian Kestrel or Common Kestrel and is the only Kestrel to commonly inhabit the UK. The female is larger than the male weighing around 184 g to the males 155g. Kestrels can be found in a variety of habitats from towns to the open countryside eating voles, mice, shrews and small birds as well as worms and insects with most prey taken from the hover as can be seen here. A little known fact is that Kestrels can see ultraviolet light, meaning that they can detect urine trails left by rodents on the ground enabling the tracking and location of the prey. This female (or possibly a young male), was seen at Martin Mere Wetlands. Explore No 282. 07 March 2023. 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.

These gulls were caught flying around at Newton Lake with the golden leaves of autumn reflecting on the water. My Gull identification skills are not good but I thing the top one is a Lesser Black-Backed Gull - Larus fuscus - and the lower gull is a Black-Headed Gull - Larus ridibundus - in winter plumage. Two Coots - Fulica atra - can be seen swimming, out of focus, in the background. 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.