David Element

The Sun, shot (safely) through cloud this morning. The three prominent sunspots are (from right to left) 4378, 4381 and 4384. The contrast has been adjusted to highlight the sunspots, so the blue tint is artificial.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 negotiating a Three
-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus this am #birds. It goes without saying that these fish don't always co-operate with their predators. However, they rarely manage to escape, despite their impressively hostile weaponry!

They are indeed - relatively recent arrivals to the UK where they started to breed in 1996.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7, employing flaps and undercarriage when alighting early this morning in a small London park #birds. High ISO was needed as it was still rather dull at the time.

A really nice capture Simon!

This Grey Heron Ardea cinerea had managed to catch some fallen leaf detritus along with a Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus in a small London park this morning #birds. This happens frequently, and the vegetable matter was typically discarded before the fish was swallowed, head-first.

My gallery of photographs has been significantly expanded since I was promoted by the Avalon agency as 'Photographer of the Month' for January. The entire collection of images may be accessed here: www.avalon.red/editorial?bl....

In both senses! Thanks Rob.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta was in amongst the Common Minnows Phoxinus phoxinus again in a small London park this morning #birds. Once captured, they have little chance of escape.

The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis taking flight from the fallen tree in a small London park earlier today #birds.

This Red Admiral Butterfly Vanessa atalanta added an additional splash of colour to a glorious day. Photographed in a small London park this morning.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 in a reflective mood earlier today #birds. Photographed in a small London park.

I didn't have time to switch from portrait mode when Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 took off in a small London park today when a juvenile Grey Heron Ardea cinerea took exception to his proximity #birds. Nice water reflections underneath the wing.

One from a sequence of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis in the process of consuming an unfortunate Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus that she had just caught in a small London park earlier today #birds. She was perched on the fallen tree, and it was swallowed just seconds later.

The 2023G Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen has returned this evening after having delivered her third litter of cubs, all fathered by the 2023F dog fox. The cubs won't be visible until early April. Three successive litters involving the same partnership is comparatively rare.

Fallen branches seem to stimulate some members of society to take pleasure from dumping them in the nearest water-body #birds. The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis innocently exploited this malevolent behaviour by using this newly discovered perch in a small London park yesterday.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 was making a positive contribution by brightening up a gloomy day yesterday #birds. These stunning birds are great subjects for photography, and some of the subtleties of their plumage are easier to see in dull conditions. Photographed in a small London park.

Three more photographs, taken in disappointingly dull light, of the 2024A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen during her visit early this afternoon.

A rare diurnal sighting of the 2024A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen today, last seen shortly before the end of 2025, and entirely nocturnal in her habits for more than a year. She was two years old on 10th February.

All a matter of scale Rachel!

Oil from the uropygial (preen) gland and feather-dust (dander) are used to maintain the complex plumage of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta in tip-top condition. No. 7 is shown enjoying a languid scratch in a small London park on 14th February. These birds bathe only occasionally.

One of the toe abnormalities that enables Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 (present for a 6th winter) to be identified is visible in this photograph, illustrating the use of the pectinate claw during the long preening process #birds. Photographed in a small London park on 14th Feb.

For Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, preening is a long, drawn-out process, often taking an hour or more to complete #birds. Two of the bird's main tools are illustrated here, the bill and the specially adapted and grooved pectinate claw. Photographed in a small London park on 14th Feb.

Thank you!

Initially, I had thought that the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis had brought up an undigested fish #birds, but in fact it was a fish-shaped pellet of indigestible scales - it can be seen right at the bottom of the second photograph. She did look rather full-up beforehand!

The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis regurgitated comfortably the largest fish-scale pellet that I had seen in a small London park on 14th February #birds...

Thank you!

My favourite portrait from earlier today of the 2024D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen, just returned after a three week hiatus.

Portrait of the now two-year-old 2024D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen from this afternoon. Her dad, the 2023F dog fox, has just put in an appearance.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 in a reflective mood in a small London park earlier today #birds.