Oldt1mer - Keith's photos with the keyword: Common

This is a lovely female Chaffinch – Fringilla coelebs – which is also known as the Eurasian Chaffinch or the Common Chaffinch. The Chaffinch is one of the UK’s most commonest breeding birds (the Wren being the commonest). They breed in a nest, commonly a deep cup in the fork of a tree, and have four or five eggs which hatch in about 13 days with the chicks fledging in around 14 days but still being fed by both parents for several weeks after. 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 Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum - is a small dragonfly that loves to perch on twigs or vegetation, especially in the sunshine, waiting for insects of any kind to fly past then it will suddenly dart out and catch its prey in mid air. They are very common and can be found pretty much anywhere near water. This female had chosen the leaf of a water reed to sit on at Pennington Flash, Leigh, 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 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.

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 Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum - is a dragonfly which is prevalent throughout Europe. They breed in still or slow moving water of all types from lakes to ponds and rivers to ditches and can be seen from June to November. As their name suggests, Common Darters are ambush predators, waiting on a perch such as a fence, a leaf or the top of a stick or reed and then having spotted their insect prey, they will follow it then dart forward suddenly from a hovering position to catch it. They then take their catch to a favoured perch to eat it. This female was seen at a small pond at the Three Sisters Recreational area near Wigan. 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.