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David Element

@davidelement.bsky.social

570 followers 160 following 1K posts

Photographer, naturalist, author, film-maker, webmaster, ex-chartered scientist. All photos and videos © David Element. No AI! https://www.davidelement.net/ https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPElement https://www.avalon.red/editorial?blob=at.DAVID+ELEMENT

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · Sep 4

Another personal favourite photograph, part of a sequence taken on 8th June 2019. This shows a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus tiercel 'passing' a freshly killed Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri to one of his recently fledged youngsters.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 1d

This was the unexpected sight of a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea indulging in gular pouch fluttering (a thermoregulatory mechanism that equates to panting) yesterday - in October #birds!

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 2d

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 has returned to a small London park for the 6th consecutive winter #birds. Although 'he' (gender presumptive, but based on aggression against other Egrets) was only sighted occasionally during the first two winters he has ruled the roost ever since.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 2d

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis - the colour of the feet and slightly faded appearance suggest that this is a juvenile bird, as does the partially orange lower mandible. The bill has not yet been blunted by contact with stones during dives. Taken yesterday in a small London park #birds.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 3d

A rare daytime visit this am from the 2022C Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen, now 43 months old. Her ears were abbreviated during an over-enthusiastic play-fight by a half-sister (the 2021A vixen) that looked after her when she was young. She is unrelated to the current social group.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you - she did!

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you for your kind comment - much appreciated!

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 4d

The 2025A juvenile Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vulpes vixen really likes apples. Here is a photograph of her really liking one yesterday afternoon.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 5d

The anxious expression on the face of the 2025A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes tells you all that you need to know about the strength of the wind today, which must sound like a raging torrent to a fox. She probably got soaked overnight too. Her mum and two of her sisters got very wet!

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 6d

I think that this type of activity might need to happen elsewhere!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 6d

I have just published this new large-scale book illustrating Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis, printed on photographic quality paper #birds. The book may be previewed in full (for free) by using this link: www.bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop/com....

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 6d

There is also a possibility that he might have been showing an interest in the (unrelated) 2022C vixen, two years his senior, as they were seen together without any antagonism earlier this week. She is unrelated, and spent 14 months away before she returned. She is not tolerated by the 2023G vixen.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 6d

Unprecedented - he is the first locally born male to have moved away (as is usually the case) and then returned. He was already over a year old when he moved on. Some young females may stay around as (usually non-breeding) members of a family social group, or sometimes return after moving away.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 7d

Clockwise, the 2025A, 2025D and the (exclusively nocturnal) 2025B Red Fox Vulpes vulpes juvenile vixens, born on 19th Feb, and their recently returned older brother, the 2024B dog fox, born 10/2/24, back after a 7-month hiatus. He also only appears at night, and he is still tolerated by his dad.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 8d

There would be fights!

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 9d

Bureaucracy in a nutshell!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 9d

I have just updated this web page illustrating Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti #birds to include some new photographs of this camera-elusive species: www.davidelement.net/birds228.htm.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 9d

A cropped view of the Sun from this morning as seen (safely) through cloud, with Photoshop auto haze removal adjustment applied to highlight the sunspots.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 10d

A Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti on a branch of the storm-felled Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum in a small London park this morning. Since this tree was toppled by Storm Henk on 2nd January 2024, I have photographed 30 species of #birds on its branches.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 12d

Their parents are still around, so with a bit of luck they will produce another family next February.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 12d

All 8 of the cubs produced in the last two litters (in each case three girls and a boy) are full siblings, and at least 5 of them have been visiting recently. An (unrelated) 2022-born vixen has also been seen, but she will be chased away by their mum.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 12d

I have just published an updated version of my book 'In My Natural Element... The Wildlife of Wandle Park'. This may be previewed in full on-line (for free!) by using this link: bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop/in-...

Bob Books

bobbooks.co.uk

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 12d

Portrait of the 2024A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen from last night, one of last year's litter, and full sister to this year's family. Her habits have been exclusively nocturnal for quite some time. Her brother, the 2024B dog fox was also present, but I couldn't get a picture.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 13d

Always good to see them John. An enduring and very well designed aircraft.

David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 14d

The 2025A juvenile Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen catching some rays in yesterday afternoon's warm sunshine.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 14d

She would be aware of the camera, but unaware of what it was being used for. Some foxes (including her and the 2024A vixen) seem to be able to sense the infra-red autofocussing systems of cameras and mobile 'phones, whereas others ignore it. They perceive the world around them very differently to us