Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) singing, Totronald, Coll. Especially given its small size, the Wren has one of the loudest songs of any British bird.
27 April 2014
Male Hen harrier sky dancing
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Dumfriesshire - Langholm Moor
Male Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) sky dancing display flight, Langholm Moor. He flips over to be upside down at the top of the display, showing his white underside instead of the usual grey back.
The display takes place mainly as the pair form or renew their pair bond in March to May. Later on in the season, most of the male's energy is taken up not in display but with hunting to provide for the female (or more than one!) and the rapidly growing youngsters.
This image was created by combining many shots taken in rapid succession to form a composite image, which gives an impression of the sky dancing display.
19 April 2014
Male Hen harrier sky dancing
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Dumfriesshire - Langholm Moor
Male Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) sky dancing display flight, Langholm Moor. He flips over to be upside down at the top of the display, showing his white underside instead of the usual grey back.
The display takes place mainly as the pair form or renew their pair bond in March to May. Later on in the season, most of the male's energy is taken up not in display but with hunting to provide for the female (or more than one!) and the rapidly growing youngsters.
This image was created by combining many shots taken in rapid succession to form a composite image, which gives an impression of the sky dancing display. It is cropped from the full display shot to show where the male flips over at the top of the display.
19 April 2014
Hen harrier food pass
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Dumfriesshire - Langholm Moor
Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) pair in a food pass. The male brings food to the female, who flips upside down to receive it. A food pass can take place either during courtship, as in this case, or during brooding of the chicks later in the season, when the female is mostly on the nest and the male does much of the hunting.
This image was created by combining many shots taken in rapid succession to form a composite image, which gives an impression of the food pass, in which the male Hen harrier (above), carrying food, catches up with the female, who flips over to receive the prey item he drops for her, often a vole or a Meadow pipit, or sometimes a Red grouse chick.
19 April 2014
White tailed eagle in flight, Skye
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Skye - Portree area
White tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in flight, Skye, with a Lesser Black Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) hoping for some remains of a fish
01 July 2011
White tailed eagle in flight, Skye
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Skye - Portree area
White tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in flight, Skye
01 July 2011
Calling Redshank , Tiree
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Tiree
Redshank (Tringa totanus) defending its territory, taken by Rebecca Dickson. When birds are on territory they will call when alerted by predators or due to disturbance. It is important to note that when birds (particularly sensitive species such as waders) are repeatedly calling loudly due to your presence, it is best practice to back off as they will be protecting their nest or chicks. It is critical to avoid disturbance of breeding birds, and know when to back off after a warning call. This photo was taken with a long lens from a vehicle.
12 May 2024
Redshank , Tiree
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Tiree
Redshank (Tringa totanus) on Heather (Calluna vulgaris), taken by Rebecca Dickson.
