A few photos from my visit to Belvide today.
Drake Gadwall in the sun: how could I resist?
And a pair asleep. She does not show up too well – but then that is the idea. As a ground-nesting species she needs to be well camouflaged.
A handsome drake Mallard catching the sun.
What a magnificent beast this male (Ring-necked) Pheasant is. I have no idea how anyone could shoot such a creature.
Great light on this Lapwing. Shows the violet shoulder patch as well as the (white-fringed) green back. Also the wispy crest is at full breeding length.
The long crest tends to catch the wind.
I’ve said it before – and I’ll probably say it again: what a sweetie. Note the ring just showing on this Blue Tit’s right leg.
A Nuthatch typically alert and looking about.
Often worth looking hard at common birds. This male Blackbird has the yellow bill and eye-ring of a breeding adult, yet the pale edging to many of the feathers belies this. Note the rictal bristles at the base of the bill – these help birds keep track of prey items when they are hard to see so close.
And here is another – this one sporting a ring as well.
And a female Blackbird here. Beginners find separation of Blackbirds like this from Song Thrushes tricky. Remember that however spotty a Blackbird is they show white spots on a dark ground colour whereas a Song Thrush shows dark spots on a pale ground colour.
More photo ops for the Tree Sparrows.
Note the grey shoulder-patch on this bird. No idea why.
And here two birds. On the lower bird, slightly out of focus, the base of the bill is paler. My books say “ages and sexes alike” but then illustrates a juvenile with a pale bill-base – but also with a grey area at the front of the crown. Your guess is as good as mine.
(Ed Wilson)
