There is one species of nuthatch in the UK, Our species is a woodland bird. It has the unique habit in the UK of plastering mud around the entrance to its nest hole.
Nuthatch.
birds
Little Grebe.
The little grebe, also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. they are a small bird with a weight:100-140g. They eat – Insects, larvae and small fish.
Population:
UK breeding:5,300 pairs
UK wintering:16,000 individuals
Female
Male
Great crested grebe.
This elegant waterbird with ornate head plumes led to its being hunted for its feathers, almost leading to its extermination in the UK. The wintering population increases so I hope to get some closer sightings of this bird as we move into autumn and winter.
Population:
UK breeding:4,600 pairs
UK wintering:19,000 individuals
Duck!
Duck! no “Buzard” in coming straight at our trail cameras – he actually clipped it with his feet knocking it over.
Water Rail.
#wordless Wednesday.
War & Peace.
Extra Avocet pictures from Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. Avocets are a great conservation success story during the 19th century, this beautiful bird was extinct in the UK. During WW2 coastal land and beaches in East Anglia were closed and flooded as a defence against invasion. This enabled Avocets to recolonise the area from war-torn Europe.
The population is now recorded as UK breeding:1,500 pairs UK wintering:7,500 birds in Europe:37-54,000 pairs.
Avocets are the emblem of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and they symbolise the bird protection movement in the UK.
Portrait of a Wheatear.
The wheatear is a small mainly ground-dwelling bird. It hops or runs on the ground popping up onto posts to get a better view. This bird was on the shingle at Meon Beach. They breed mainly in western and northern Britain and western Ireland. Small numbers do breed here in the south their numbers seem to increase locally this time of year. I think this is prior to them migrating to central Africa where they spend the winter.
Avocet views.
#Wordless Wednesday
Reflections on Terns.
Terns at a distance at Titchfield Haven – with hazy light condition giving calming atmosphere.
Heather.
Heather is also known as ‘ling’ and is a common plant on heathland, moorland, and bogs. To do well it requires acidic or peat soils. It has delicate pink flowers that appear from August to October. Plants grow tightly packed together and can live for over 40 years
Walking on paths in the New Forest across Hatchet Moor several Wheatears were keeping just in front of us on the Heather.
These birds are female birds or juveniles. The male bird is a blue-grey above, with black wings and white below with an orange flush to the breast. It has a black cheek.
Continued Reflections from my World. 