Kingfisher in the Spring Sunshine

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Kingfisher Latin Name: Alcedo atthis



Kingfishers are on the Amber list. Kingfishers are small unmistakable bright blue and orange birds of slow moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface. They are a vulnerable to hard winters and habitat degradation through pollution or unsympathetic management of watercourses. Kingfishers are amber listed because of their unfavourable conservation status in Europe.

Where to see them

They are widespread, especially in central and southern England, becoming less common further north but following some declines last century, they are currently increasing in their range in Scotland. Kingfishers are found by still or slow flowing water such as lakes, canals and rivers in lowland areas. In winter, some individuals move to estuaries and the coast. Occasionally they may visit garden ponds if of a suitable size.

Ashdown Forest Fire

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We visited Ashdown Forest this afternoon to get some wildlife photographs and early this evening went for a walk in The Old Lodge Nature Reserve. At about 7:00pm it was apparent that there was a fire quite nearby. The most likely cause of fires on Ashdown Forest is either carelessness or arson, which in either case is very sad as it destroys the habitat of many wild animals, and may also cost the lives of many as well. The flames of the fire could be seen rising higher than some tall conifers.

Great Crested Grebe

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A selection of photos of a pair of Great Crested Grebes - photos taken April 24th, 2011

Dunnock

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Dunnock
Prunella modularis

A beautiful Dunnock seen at Pulborough Brooks yesterday.

Dunnock - Nikon 200-400 f4, 1/500th ISO 200

Lesser Whitethroat

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Lesser Whitethroat
Sylvia curruca

On our visit to Pulborough Brooks this week we managed to get a fairly good view of a Lesser Whitethroat and a few glimpses of Whitethroats who are back!

Peregrine Falcon

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Peregrine Falcon

(Falco peregrinus)

Visited Pulborough Brooks this week and while looking for somewhat smaller birs including warblers to photograph, my saw this Peregrine Falcon flying by with its prey tightly gripped. Not the best of photographs technically but my first photograph of a Peregrine of any note.

Peregrine Falcon at Pulborough Brooks April 2011

Firecrest

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Firecrest

Firecrest at Arundel 8th February 2011

Latin name
Regulus ignicapillus

Family
Warblers and allies (Sylviidae)

Overview
This tiny, restless jewel of a bird vies with the goldcrest for the title of the UK's smallest bird. It is now an established breeding species, although only in very small numbers. It differs from a goldcrest in having brighter green upperparts, whiter underparts and a fiery orange crown stripe with broad whitish eyebrow stripe, and below that a short black stripe through the eye. Its small breeding population makes it an Amber List species.

Where to see them
Breeds mainly in south-east England and passage birds are seen largely on the east and south coasts. Best looked for in bushes and trees, especially conifers, often in the company of goldcrests.

When to see them
All year round, but passage birds arrive in September and October, with a return movement in March and April.

What they eat
Insects and spiders