Bird Food?

You never know what might find lurking at ground level .......

... including this Cranefly, otherwise know as Daddy-long-legs, which could easily become someones quick snack if it sits here for too long.

This pair were doing what comes naturally amongst the lush green grasses.

All these shots were taken with the compact Canon Powershot S95.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I will respond to comments when we return from Cumbria.  FAB.

Adulthood in two years.

Just one of the numerous recently fledged Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) that is starting out on its two year quest to reach maturity.

The juvenile plumage initially develops with the head and upper parts becoming more ginger-brown. Its first moult (post-juvenile moult) usually starts after the bird first flies [check out  this link] when just the head and body feathers will be renewed.

This is a 1st winter bird still showing the retention of some of its juvenile feathers including the dark tail but with the distinctive black tipped yellow bill. Through its first summer it will hold onto some of the faded juvenile plumage but may acquire a partial dark hood, often heavily spotted white, plus the legs and bill base will change to a more orange-red.

Above is an adult in its winter plumage sporting the bold dark ear spot and black tipped red bill. Its spring moult is also a partial moult when only the head and body feathers are renewed.

 

At the end of the its two year moult cycle this years juvenile (image 1) will look much the same as its adult parent showing that distinctive dark chocolate-brown cap plus the red bill and legs.   FAB.

Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) showing off its adult breeding plumage.  FAB.
[ISO 320; 1/400; f/13 @ 300mm and cropped]

Common Tern.

A bit of pointing skywards for this weeks WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY entry.

 

During a recent visit to Stodmarsh, Kent I failed miserably at getting any decent flight shots of a Hobby or a Marsh Harrier but an overflying Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) just managed to get into the frame.

You have to marvel at the distances this species travels from West and South Africa just to find a lake with a floating raft here in the UK so it can breed before its return ticket southwards expires in October.    FAB.

Banded Demoiselle.

Another sign of Spring is the emergence of the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). The metallic sheen of the blue-green body and the formation of its distinctive blue-black wing band glistened as  this male soaked up the filtered sunshine. Taken during a visit to Stodmarsh, Kent today.  FAB.