Σάββατο, 21 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Ξεφτέρι–Accipiter nisus- Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Ετικέτες Ξεφτέρι–Accipiter nisus- Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Κυριακή, 15 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος-Phylloscopus trochilus-Willow Warbler
Ετικέτες Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος-Phylloscopus trochilus-Willow Warbler
Σάββατο, 14 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Καλαμόκιρκος-Circus aeruginosus-Marsh Harrier
Ετικέτες Καλαμόκιρκος-Circus aeruginosus-Marsh Harrier
The Western Marsh-harrier is 42 to 56 cm in length, and has a wingspan of 115 to 140 cm. It is a large, bulky harrier with fairly broad wings, and has a strong and peculiar sexual dichromatism. The male's plumage is mostly a cryptic reddish-brown with lighter yellowish streaks, which are particularly prominent on the breast. The head and shoulders are mostly pale greyish-yellowish. The rectrices and the secondary and tertiary remiges are pure grey, the latter contrasting with the brown forewing and the black primary remiges at the wingtips. The upperside and underside of the wing look similar, though the brown is lighter on the underwing. Whether from the side or below, flying males appear characteristically three-colored brown-grey-black. The legs, feet, irides and the cere of the black bill are yellow.
The female is almost entirely chocolate-brown. The top of the head, the throat and the shoulders have of a conspicuously lighter yellowish colour; this can be clearly delimited and very contrasting, or (particularly in worn plumage) be more washed-out, resembling the male's head colors. But the eye area of the female is always darker, making the light eye stand out, while the male's head is altogether not very contrastingly colored and the female lacks the grey wing-patch and tail. Juveniles are similar to females, but usually have less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.
There is a rare hypermelanic morph with largely dark plumage. It is most often found in the east of the species' range. Juveniles of this morph may look entirely black in flight.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Marsh_Harrier
The female is almost entirely chocolate-brown. The top of the head, the throat and the shoulders have of a conspicuously lighter yellowish colour; this can be clearly delimited and very contrasting, or (particularly in worn plumage) be more washed-out, resembling the male's head colors. But the eye area of the female is always darker, making the light eye stand out, while the male's head is altogether not very contrastingly colored and the female lacks the grey wing-patch and tail. Juveniles are similar to females, but usually have less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.
There is a rare hypermelanic morph with largely dark plumage. It is most often found in the east of the species' range. Juveniles of this morph may look entirely black in flight.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Marsh_Harrier
Κυριακή, 08 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Αετομάχος-Lanius collurio-Red backed Shrike
Ετικέτες Αετομάχος-Lanius collurio-Red backed Shrike
The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.
This bird breeds in most of Europe and western Asia and winters in tropical Africa. Its range is contracting, and it is now probably extinct in Great Britain as a breeding bird, although it is frequent on migration. It is named as a protected bird in Britain under a Biodiversity Action Plan. It breeds in open cultivated country with hawthorn and dog rose.
This 16-18 cm (approx. 6.3-7.1 inches) long migratory bird eats large insects, small birds, frogs, rodents and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a "larder".
The general colour of the male’s upper parts is reddish. It has a grey head and a typical shrike black stripe through the eye. Underparts are tinged pink, and the tail has a black and white pattern similar to that of a wheatear. In the female and young birds the upperparts are brown and vermiculated. Underparts are buff and also vermiculated.
English common names for the red-backed shrike include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-backed_Shrike
Τετάρτη, 28 Οκτωβρίου 2009
Γερακίνα-Buteo buteo-Common Buzzard
Ετικέτες Γερακίνα-Buteo buteo-Common Buzzard
The mobing bird in the second photo is a European Magpie
Mobbing is a term referring to a type of animal behaviour. A newer use refers to a group behavioural phenomenon in workplaces.
Main article: Mobbing behavior
A longer-established technical use of mobbing is in the study of animal behaviour, especially in ornithology, where it refers to the antipredatory mobbing behavior harassing something that represents a threat to them.
From the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, RSPB, website [1]:
Mobbing is a noisy, obvious form of behaviour that birds engage in to defend themselves or their offspring from predators. When a predator is discovered, the birds start to emit alarm calls and fly at the predator, diverting its attention and harassing it. Sometimes they make physical contact. Mobbing usually starts with just one or two birds, but may attract a large number of birds, often of many species. For example, a chorus of different alarm calls coming from the same tree is often a good sign of a roosting owl or a cat.
Mobbing behaviour has been recorded in a wide range of species, but it is particularly well developed in gulls and terns, while crows are amongst the most frequent mobbers. In addition to flying at the predator and emitting alarm calls, some birds, such as fieldfares and gulls, add to the effectiveness by defaecating or even vomiting on the predator with amazing accuracy...
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobbing
Σάββατο, 03 Οκτωβρίου 2009
Μαυροκιρκίνεζο-Red footed Falcon-Falco vespertinus
Ετικέτες Μαυροκιρκίνεζο-Red footed Falcon-Falco vespertinus
The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), formerly Western Red-footed Falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting. It is migratory, wintering in Africa. It is a regular wanderer to western Europe.It is a medium-small, long-winged species. The adult male is all blue-grey, except for his red undertail and legs; its underwings are uniformly grey. The female has a grey back and wings, orange head and underparts, and a white face with black eye stripe and moustaches.
Young birds are brown above and buff below with dark streaks, and a face pattern like the female. Red-footed Falcons are 28-34 centimetres (11-13½ in) in length with a wingspan of 65-75 centimetres (25½-29½ in).
This is a diurnal bird of open country with some trees, often near water. Its distinctive method of hunting is shared by the Common Kestrel. It regularly hovers, searching the ground below, then makes a short steep dive towards the target. The Red-footed Falcon's main prey is large insects, but it will also take small mammals and birds.
This falcon is a colonial breeder, reusing the old nests of corvids, such as Rooks. It lays two to four eggs.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Young birds are brown above and buff below with dark streaks, and a face pattern like the female. Red-footed Falcons are 28-34 centimetres (11-13½ in) in length with a wingspan of 65-75 centimetres (25½-29½ in).
This is a diurnal bird of open country with some trees, often near water. Its distinctive method of hunting is shared by the Common Kestrel. It regularly hovers, searching the ground below, then makes a short steep dive towards the target. The Red-footed Falcon's main prey is large insects, but it will also take small mammals and birds.
This falcon is a colonial breeder, reusing the old nests of corvids, such as Rooks. It lays two to four eggs.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-footed_Falcon
Γερακίνα-Buteo buteo-Common Buzzard
Ετικέτες Γερακίνα-Buteo buteo-Common Buzzard
The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium to large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is typically between 51-57 cm in length with a 110 to 130 cm (48-60 inch) wingspan, making it a medium-sized raptor. There are around 40,000 breeding pairs in Britain. It is usually resident all year except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case of one subspecies.
It breeds in woodland, usually on the fringes, but favours hunting over open land. It eats mainly small mammals, and will come to carrion. A great opportunist, it adapts well to a varied diet of pheasant, rabbit, other small mammals, snakes and lizards and can often be seen walking over recently ploughed fields looking for worms and insects.
Buzzards do not normally form flocks, but several may be seen together on migration or in good habitat. The Victorian writer on Dartmoor, William Crossing, noted that he had on occasions seen flocks of 15 or more at some places. Though a rare occurrence as many as 20 buzzards can been spotted in one field area, approx 30 meters apart, so cannot be classed as a flock in the general term, consisting of those males (and females) without a mate or territory. They are fiercely territorial, and, though rare, fights do break out if one strays on another pair's territory, but dominant displays of aggression will normally see off the interloper. Pairs mate for life. To attract a mate (or impress his existing mate) the male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of Spring. This spectacular display is known as 'the roller coaster'. He will rise high up in the sky, to turn and plummet downward, in a spiral, twisting and turning as he comes down. To then rise immediately upward to repeat the exercise.
This broad-winged raptor has a wide variety of plumages, and in Europe can be confused with the similar Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) and the only distantly related Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), which mimics the Common Buzzard's plumage for a degree of protection from Goshawks. The plumage can vary in Britain from almost pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown, with a pale 'necklace' of feathers.
The call is a plaintive peea-ay, similar to a cat's meow.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Buzzard
Κυριακή, 27 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009
Πετροτουρλίδα-Burhinus oedicnemus-Stone Curlew
Ετικέτες Πετροτουρλίδα-Burhinus oedicnemus-Stone Curlew
The Stone Curlew or Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus is a northern species of the Burhinidae (stone-curlew) bird family.
It is a medium-sized wader with a strong yellow and black beak, large yellow eyes (which give it a "reptilian", or "goggle-eyed" appearance), and cryptic plumage. The scientific name refers to the prominent joints in the long yellow or greenish legs. The bird is striking in flight, with black and white wing markings.Despite being classed as a wader, this species prefers dry open habitats with some bare ground. It is largely nocturnal, particularly when singing its loud wailing songs, which are reminiscent of that of curlews (possibly the cause of the name). Food consists of insects and other small invertebrates. It will also take small reptiles and rodents. It lays 2-3 eggs in a narrow scrape in the ground.
The stone curlew occurs throughout Europe, north Africa and southwestern Asia. It is a summer migrant in the more temperate European and Asian parts of its range, wintering in Africa.
In Egypt, the melodic song of the stone curlew is often heard at night, although the bird is almost never seen. Its song is featured in poetry, songs, and movies, such as Song of the Stone Curlew
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Stone-curlew Leia Mais…
Μαυρολαίμης- Stonechat-Saxicola rubicola
Ετικέτες Μαυρολαίμης- Stonechat-Saxicola rubicola
The genus Saxicola[1], the stonechats or chats, is a genus of 14 species of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. They are insectivores of open scrubland and grassland with scattered small shrubs.
Saxicola torquatus was at one time used for the supposed taxon "Common Stonechat". With addition of mtDNA cytochrome b sequence and nDNA fingerprinting data (Urquhart & Bowley 2002, Wink et al. 2002), it was confirmed that not only the Fuerteventura and Réunion Stonechats are distinct species. In addition, the African, European and Siberian Stonechats needed to be separated too. Due to confusion of subspecies allocation, the name S. torquatus was briefly used for the European species, the African Stonechat being S. axillaris. Some studies suggest that the Madagascar subspecies Saxicola torquatus sibilla may be considered a distinct species.[2]
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxicola Leia Mais…
Σάββατο, 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009
Ωχροκελάδα-Anthus campestris-Tawny Pipit
Ετικέτες Ωχροκελάδα-Anthus campestris-Tawny Pipit
The Tawny Pipit, Anthus campestris, is a medium-large passerine bird which breeds in much of temperate Europe and Asia, and northwest Africa. It is a migrant moving in winter to tropical Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
Tawny PipitThis is a large pipit, 16.5-18 cm long, but is an undistinguished looking species on the ground, mainly sandy brown above and pale below. It is very similar to Richard's Pipit, but is slightly smaller, has shorter legs and a shorter dark bill. It is also less streaked. Its flight is strong and direct, and it gives a characteristic "schip" call, higher pitched than Richard's.
In south Asia, in winter some care must be taken to distinguish this from other large pipits which winter or are resident in the area, including Richard's Pipit, Blyth's Pipit and Paddyfield Pipit. Tawny Pipit is insectivorous, like its relatives.
The breeding habit is dry open country including semi-deserts. The nest is on the ground, with 4-6 eggs being laid.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawny_Pipit Leia Mais…
Τετάρτη, 23 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009
Μαχητής-Philomachus pugnax-Ruff
Ετικέτες Μαχητής-Philomachus pugnax-Ruff
The Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) is a medium-sized wader that breeds on marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. This highly gregarious sandpiper is migratory, and sometimes forms huge flocks in its winter grounds, which include southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia. It is usually considered to be the only member of its genus, and the Broad-billed and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers are its closest relatives.
The Ruff is a long-necked, pot-bellied bird. This species shows marked sexual dimorphism; the male is much larger than the female (the reeve), and has a breeding plumage that includes brightly coloured head tufts, bare orange facial skin, extensive black on the breast, and the large collar of ornamental feathers that that inspired this bird's English name. The female and the non-breeding male have grey-brown upperparts and mainly white underparts. Three differently plumaged types of male, including a rare form that mimics the female, use a variety of strategies to obtain mating opportunities at a lek, and the colourful head and neck feathers are erected as part of the elaborate main courting display. The female has one brood per year and lays four eggs in a well-hidden ground nest, incubating the eggs and rearing the chicks, which are mobile soon after hatching, on her own. Predators of wader chicks and eggs include mammals such as foxes, feral cats and stoats, and birds such as large gulls, corvids and skuas.
The Ruff forages in wet grassland and soft mud, probing or searching by sight for edible items. It primarily feeds on insects, especially in the breeding season, but it will consume plant material, including rice and maize, on migration and in winter. Classified as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List criteria, the global conservation concerns are relatively low because of the large numbers that breed in Scandinavia and the Arctic. However, the range in much of Europe is contracting due to land drainage, increased fertiliser use, the loss of mown or grazed breeding sites, and over-hunting. This decline has seen it listed in the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruff
Κυριακή, 13 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009
Καστανολαίμης-Whinchat-Saxicola rubetra
Ετικέτες Καστανολαίμης-Whinchat-Saxicola rubetra
Its scientific name means "reddish rock-dweller", in reference to its habitat and overall coloration. Saxicola derives from Latin saxum ("rock") + incola ("inhabitant", "one who dwells in a certain place"). rubetra is Latin for "colored reddish" or "reddish-hued".
The Whinchat is similar in size to its relative the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula). Both sexes have brownish upperparts, a yellowish rump, a buff throat and breast, a whitish belly, a blackish tail with white bases to the outher rectrices. The male in breeding plumage has blackish head sides almost encircled by a strong white supercilium and malar stripe and white wing patches.
The female is duller overall, in particular having pale brown head sides and a buff supercilium, malar stripe and wing patches. Males in nonbreeding plumage and immatures are similar.
The male has a whistling, crackly but soft song, consisting mainly of the tell-tale phrase fü-chack-chack. Its call is the chack noise typical for chats, or a soft whistle. On the wintering grounds, it often calls but rarely sings.[1]
This species represents a fairly basal divergence of the genus Saxicola. It retains the plesiomorphic[jargon] supercilium found in many Muscicapidae but lost – probably autapomorphically[jargon] – in the more advanced Saxicola species such as the European Stonechat (S. rubicola) or African Stonechat (S. torquatus).[2]
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whinchat Leia Mais…
Κυριακή, 06 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009
Κιρκίρι-Teal-Anas crecca
Ετικέτες Κιρκίρι-Teal-Anas crecca
It nests on the ground, near water and under cover. The pairs form in the winter quarters and arrive on the breeding grounds together, starting about March. The breeding starts some weeks thereafter, not until May in the most northernly locations. The nest is a deep hollow lined with dry leaves and down feathers, built in dense vegetation near water. After the females have started laying, the males leave them and move away for shorter or longer distances, assembling in flocks on particular lakes where they moult into eclipse plumage; they will usually encounter their offspring only in winter quarters. The clutch may consist of 5-16 eggs, but usually numbers 8-11; they are incubated for 21-23 days. The young leave the nest soon after hatching and are attended by the mother for about 25-30 days, after which they fledge. The drakes and the hens with young generally move to the winter quarters separately. After the first winter, the young moult into adult plumage. The maximum recorded lifespan – though it is not clear whether this refers to the Common or the Green-winged Teal – was over 27 years, which is rather high for such a small bird
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Teal
Λιμόζα-Limosa limosa - Black-tailed Godwit
Ετικέτες Λιμόζα-Limosa limosa - Black-tailed Godwit
The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a large wader in the family Scolopacidae, which breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra mainly in the Old World, and winters on coasts in temperate and tropical regions of the Old World.[2] It makes the longest non-stop flight known for any bird and also the longest journey without pausing to feed by any animal, 11,680 kilometres (7,258 mi) along a route from Alaska to New Zealand
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar-tailed_Godwit Leia Mais…
Κυριακή, 23 Αυγούστου 2009
Αετομάχος-Lanius collurio-Red backed Shrike
Ετικέτες Αετομάχος-Lanius collurio- Red backed Shrike
The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.
This bird breeds in most of Europe and western Asia and winters in tropical Africa. Its range is contracting, and it is now probably extinct in Great Britain as a breeding bird, although it is frequent on migration. It is named as a protected bird in Britain under a Biodiversity Action Plan. It breeds in open cultivated country with hawthorn and dog rose.
This 16-18 cm (approx. 6.3-7.1 inches) long migratory bird eats large insects, small birds, frogs, rodents and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a "larder".
The general colour of the male’s upper parts is reddish. It has a grey head and a typical shrike black stripe through the eye. Underparts are tinged pink, and the tail has a black and white pattern similar to that of a wheatear. In the female and young birds the upperparts are brown and vermiculated. Underparts are buff and also vermiculated.
English common names for the red-backed shrike include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-backed_Shrike
Σάββατο, 22 Αυγούστου 2009
Βραχοκιρκίνεζο-Common Kestrel-Falco tinnunculus
Ετικέτες Βραχοκιρκίνεζο-Common Kestrel-Falco tinnunculus
The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called "the kestrel".
When hunting, the Common Kestrel characteristically hovers about 10-20 m (c.30-70 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift. Like most birds of prey, Common Kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. It can often be found hunting along the sides of roads and motorways.
When hunting, the Common Kestrel characteristically hovers about 10-20 m (c.30-70 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift. Like most birds of prey, Common Kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. It can often be found hunting along the sides of roads and motorways.
This species is able to see near ultraviolet light, allowing the birds to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows as they shine in an ultraviolet colour in the sunlight[6]. Another favourite (but less conspicuous) hunting technique is to perch a bit above the ground cover, surveying the area. When the birds spot prey animals moving by, they will pounce on them. They also prowl a patch of hunting ground in a ground-hugging flight, ambushing prey as they happen across itPhotos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Kestrel
Κυριακή, 02 Αυγούστου 2009
Σταχτομυγοχάφτης - Spotted Flycatcher-Muscicapa striata
Ετικέτες Σταχτομυγοχάφτης - Spotted Flycatcher-Muscicapa striata
Καμποδενδροβάτης-Certhia brachydactyla-Short-toed Treecreeper
Ετικέτες Καμποδενδροβάτης-Certhia brachydactyla-Short-toed Treecreeper
Σάββατο, 01 Αυγούστου 2009
Σάββατο, 25 Ιουλίου 2009
Ιερή Ίβιδα-Sacred Ibis-Threskiornis aethiopicus
Ετικέτες Ιερή Ίβιδα-Sacred Ibis-Threskiornis aethiopicus
Τρίτη, 14 Ιουλίου 2009
Δευτέρα, 13 Ιουλίου 2009
Βραχοκιρκίνεζο-Common Kestrel-Falco tinnunculus
Ετικέτες Βραχοκιρκίνεζο-Common Kestrel-Falco tinnunculus
Σάββατο, 23 Μαΐου 2009
Τσιχλοποταμίδα-Acrocephalus arundinaceus-Great Reed
Ετικέτες Τσιχλοποταμίδα-Acrocephalus arundinaceus-Great Reed
Σάββατο, 16 Μαΐου 2009
Κυριακή, 03 Μαΐου 2009
Νερόκοτα - Gallinula chloropus-Common Moorhen
Ετικέτες Νερόκοτα - Gallinula chloropus-Common Moorhen
Παρασκευή, 01 Μαΐου 2009
Κρυπτοτσικνιάς -Ardeola ralloides-Squacco Heron
Ετικέτες Κρυπτοτσικνιάς -Ardeola ralloides-Squacco Heron
Δευτέρα, 27 Απριλίου 2009
Καλαμοκανάς-Himantopus himantopus - Black-winged Stilt
Ετικέτες Καλαμοκανάς-Himantopus himantopus - Black-winged Stilt
The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family (Recurvirostridae). Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize. Most sources today accept 2--4 species
The breeding habitat of all these stilts is marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. Some populations are migratory and move to the ocean coasts in winter; those in warmer regions are generally resident or short-range vagrants. In Europe, the Black-winged Stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrants north of its normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries, for example in Britain in 1987.[3]
Nestling of himantopus. The other taxa look the same at this age.These birds pick up their food from sand or water. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans.
The nest site is a bare spot on the ground near water. These birds often nest in small groups, sometimes with Avocets
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_Stilt Leia Mais…
Πέμπτη, 16 Απριλίου 2009
Νανοβουτηχτάρι -Τachybaptus ruficollis - Little Grebe
Ετικέτες Νανοβουτηχτάρι -Τachybaptus ruficollis - Little Grebe
Τρίτη, 14 Απριλίου 2009
Σταχτοπετρόκλης-Oenanthe oenanthe- Northern Wheatear
Ετικέτες Σταχτοπετρόκλης-Oenanthe oenanthe- Northern Wheatear
Καλαμόκιρκος-Circus aeruginosus-Marsh Harrier
Ετικέτες Καλαμόκιρκος-Circus aeruginosus-Marsh Harrier
The Western Marsh-harrier is 42 to 56 cm in length, and has a wingspan of 115 to 140 cm. It is a large, bulky harrier with fairly broad wings, and has a strong and peculiar sexual dichromatism. The male's plumage is mostly a cryptic reddish-brown with lighter yellowish streaks, which are particularly prominent on the breast. The head and shoulders are mostly pale greyish-yellowish. The rectrices and the secondary and tertiary remiges are pure grey, the latter contrasting with the brown forewing and the black primary remiges at the wingtips. The upperside and underside of the wing look similar, though the brown is lighter on the underwing. Whether from the side or below, flying males appear characteristically three-colored brown-grey-black. The legs, feet, irides and the cere of the black bill are yellow.
The female is almost entirely chocolate-brown. The top of the head, the throat and the shoulders have of a conspicuously lighter yellowish colour; this can be clearly delimited and very contrasting, or (particularly in worn plumage) be more washed-out, resembling the male's head colors. But the eye area of the female is always darker, making the light eye stand out, while the male's head is altogether not very contrastingly colored and the female lacks the grey wing-patch and tail. Juveniles are similar to females, but usually have less yellow, particularly on the shoulders.
There is a rare hypermelanic morph with largely dark plumage. It is most often found in the east of the species' range. Juveniles of this morph may look entirely black in flight.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Marsh_Harrier Leia Mais…
Σάββατο, 11 Απριλίου 2009
Καρδερίνα-Carduelis carduelis-European Goldfinch
Ετικέτες Καρδερίνα-Carduelis carduelis-European Goldfinch
Δευτέρα, 06 Απριλίου 2009
Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος-Phylloscopus trochilus-Willow Warbler
Ετικέτες Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος-Phylloscopus trochilus-Willow Warbler
Τρυποφράχτης-Winter Wren -Troglodytes Troglodytes
Ετικέτες Τρυποφράχτης-Winter Wren -Troglodytes Troglodytes
Σάββατο, 28 Μαρτίου 2009
Κοκκινοτσιροβάκος-Subalpine Warbler-Sylvia cantilans
Ετικέτες Κοκκινοτσιροβάκος-Subalpine Warbler-Sylvia cantilans
Τετάρτη, 25 Μαρτίου 2009
Μαυροτσιροβάκος-Sardinian Warbler-Sylvia melanocephala
Ετικέτες Μαυροτσιροβάκος-Sardinian Warbler-Sylvia melanocephala
Φλώρος-Greenfinch-carduelis chloris
Ετικέτες Φλώρος-Greenfinch-carduelis chloris
The European Greenfinch, or just Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. The genus Carduelis might be split up and in this case, the greenfinches would be separated in their old genus Chloris again.
This bird is widespread throughout Europe, north Africa and south west Asia. It is mainly resident, but some northernmost populations migrate further south. The Greenfinch has also been introduced into both Australia and New Zealand.
Woodland edges, farmland hedges and gardens with relatively thick vegetation are favoured for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes, laying 3-8 eggs.
This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other finches and buntings. They feed largely on seeds, but also take berries and seeds.
The Greenfinch is 14-16 cm in length and is similar in size and shape to a Chaffinch, but is mainly green, with yellow in the wings and tail. The female and young birds are duller and have brown tones on the back. The bill is thick and conical. The song contains wheezes and twitters, and the male has a "butterfly" display flight.
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Greenfinch Leia Mais…
Κιτρινοσουσουράδα-motacilla flava-Yellow Wagtail
Ετικέτες Κιτρινοσουσουράδα-motacilla flava-Yellow Wagtail
Κυριακή, 22 Μαρτίου 2009
March 22
Ετικέτες Βαρβάρες (tadorna tadorna)Βαρβάρες (tadorna tadorna)
Κορμοράνος (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Μαυρολαίμης (Saxicola torcuata)
Κοκκινοσκέλης (Tringa totanus)
Σάββατο, 21 Μαρτίου 2009
Rainy day_March_Oropos
Ετικέτες Rainy day_March_Oropos
Λευκοτσικνιάς(Egretta garzetta)
Φοινικόπτερο(Phoenicopterus ruber)
Φοινικόπτερο(Phoenicopterus ruber)
Θαλασσοσφυριχτής(Charadrius Alexandrinus)
Σταχτοτσικνιάς(Ardea cinerea)
Κοκκινοσκέληδες & Μαχητές(Tringa totanus & Philomachus Pugnax)
Leia Mais…
Τρίτη, 03 Μαρτίου 2009
Κυριακή, 22 Φεβρουαρίου 2009
κοκκινολαίμης-European Robin-Erithacus rubecula
Ετικέτες κοκκινολαίμης-European Robin-Erithacus rubecula
Σάββατο, 14 Φεβρουαρίου 2009
Κυριακή, 08 Φεβρουαρίου 2009
Σάββατο, 07 Φεβρουαρίου 2009
Κυριακή, 25 Ιανουαρίου 2009
Καλαμόκιρκος-Circus aeruginosus-Marsh Harrier
Ετικέτες Καλαμόκιρκος-Circus aeruginosus-Marsh Harrier
The Western Marsh-harrier is a mid-sized bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It is also known as the Eurasian Marsh-harrier. A species of the harrier genus Circus, its scientific name is Circus aeruginosus.
Formerly, a number of relatives were included in C. aeruginosus, which was then known as "Marsh Harrier". The related taxa are now generally considered to be separate species: the Eastern Marsh-harrier (C. spilonotus) and the possibly distinct Papuan Harrier (C. (s.) spilothorax) of eastern Asia and the Wallacea, the Swamp Harrier (C. approximans) of Australasia and the Madagascar Marsh-harrier (C. maillardi) of the western Indian Ocean islands.
The Western Marsh-harrier is often divided into two subspecies, the widely migratory C. a. aeruginosus which is found across most of its range, and C. a. harterti which is resident all-year in north-west Africa
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Marsh_Harrier
Βουβόκυκνος-Mute Swan-Cygnus olor
Ετικέτες Βουβόκυκνος-Mute Swan-Cygnus olor
Mute Swans nest on large mounds that they build with waterside vegetation in shallow water on islands in the middle or at the very edge of a lake. They are monogamous and often reuse the same nest each year, restoring or rebuilding it as needed. Male and female swans share the care of the nest, and once the cygnets are fledged it is not uncommon to see whole families looking for food. They feed on a wide range of vegetation, both submerged aquatic plants which they reach with their long necks, and by grazing on land. The food commonly includes agricultural crop plants such as oilseed rape and wheat, and feeding flocks in the winter may cause significant crop damage, often as much through trampling with their large webbed feet, as through direct consumption.[12] Unlike Black Swans, Mute Swans are usually strongly territorial with just a single pair on smaller lakes, though in a few locations where a large area of sutiable feeding habitat is found they can be colonial. The largest colonies have over 100 pairs, such as at the colony at Abbotsbury Swannery in southern England, and at the southern tip of Öland Island, Ottenby Preserve, in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, and can have nests spaced as little as 2 m apart.[11][13] Non-mated juveniles up to 3-4 years old also commonly form larger flocks, which can total several hundred birds, often at regular traditional sites.[14] A notable flock of non-breeding birds is found on the River Tweed estuary at Berwick-upon-Tweed in northeastern England, with a maximum count of 787 birds.[15] Once the adults are mated they seek out their own territories and often live close to ducks and gulls, which may take advantage of the swan's ability to reach deep water weeds, which tend to spread out on the water surface.
The Mute Swan is less vocal than the noisy Whooper and Bewick's Swans; the most familiar sound associated with Mute Swan is the vibrant throbbing of the wings in flight once this bird has taken off from the water. This sound is unique to the species, and can be heard from a range of 1-2 km, indicating its value as a contact sound between birds in flight.[11] They do however make a variety of grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting noises, especially in communicating with their cygnets, and usually hiss at predators trying to enter their territory
Photos by Walking and Clicking
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_Swan Leia Mais…
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