David Element
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davidelement.bsky.social
David Element
@davidelement.bsky.social
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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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.
A first 2026 sighting today of one of last year's Red Fox Vulpes vulpes litter when the 2025D vixen, now just over 11 months old, showed up. She was the last of the youngsters to move on, and she may now have returned, after sensibly keeping her distance from mum and dad during the mating season.
January 26, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Too dull for decent photos this morning, but proof that the 2023G Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen is pregnant for the third successive year. Mating will have occurred between Xmas and the New Year....
January 25, 2026 at 11:35 AM
A couple of side-lit shots of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis from yesterday #birds. Photographed in a small London park.
January 25, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 appeared to be hungry yesterday morning #birds, as per usual early in the day. Any attempts by these unfortunate (presumed) Stone Loaches Barbatula barbatula to avoid being swallowed inevitably failed! Photographed in a small London park.
January 25, 2026 at 12:53 AM
David Element: Avalon's Photographer of the Month
We are pleased to showcase David Element as our Photographer of the Month (January 2026): www.avalon.red (scroll down web page). A committed naturalist, he specialises in British wildlife photography, a pursuit he now focuses on full-time...
Avalon Licensing Ltd | Photos, news, video
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January 25, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Some further images of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis from this morning #birds. Photographed in a small London park.
January 22, 2026 at 8:07 PM
The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis added a welcome splash of colour to the gloom in a small London park this morning #birds.
January 22, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 bathing in a large puddle this morning. These #birds tend to preen rather than bathe, and it was only the second time that I had seen this behaviour. Photographed in a small London park this morning.
January 22, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7, bathing in a large, shallow puddle #birds. Photographed this morning in a small London park. The bird's legs were folded underneath him.
January 22, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 then carried the Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus to the bank where it could be stunned, disabled and then swallowed #birds. This happened, off-camera, shortly after these images were captured in a small London park on 18th January.
January 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM
On this occasion, the attempt by Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 to swallow the Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus auleatus failed - it often does #birds. Note the display plume that is beginning to grow on the Egret's head, one of (usually) a pair...
January 21, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Firstly, an attempt was made to swallow the Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus head-first by Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 #birds...
January 21, 2026 at 10:19 AM
The reason why Three-spined Sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus need to be eaten with care is all too evident in this photograph of Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 #birds. However, this bird is an expert at dealing with them...
January 21, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Common Sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus possess rigid spines that can be erected when the fish is threatened #birds. Little Egrets Egretta garzetta are well aware of this, and the fish are manipulated so that they can be swallowed 'with the grain' - i.e. head-first, and once stunned...
January 21, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 was also actively fishing in a small London park on 18th January #birds. This time, the prey was a Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus. These need to be eaten using a strategic approach, as they are well protected...
January 21, 2026 at 10:04 AM
A tell-tale bulge betrayed the position of the recently eaten Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus as the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis began the rather less energetic process of digesting her catch #birds! Photographed in a small London park on 18th January.
January 21, 2026 at 9:59 AM
And this was the final moment during which the Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus was still visible #birds, as the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis completed her meal in a small London park on 18th January...
January 21, 2026 at 9:52 AM
It had been no more than 1 - 2 minutes since the Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus had been caught by the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis before it was swallowed #birds. Taken in a small London park on 18th January...
January 21, 2026 at 9:48 AM
By now the Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus was beginning to disappear and it was just about to join an equally large Common Dace Leuciscus leuciscus that had been consumed by the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis a short while earlier #birds...
January 21, 2026 at 9:39 AM
The Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus was by now upside-down, but ready to be swallowed by the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis #birds. If you see a male Kingfisher carrying a fish facing away from its body during courtship, this will be presented to his mate head-first, ready to be swallowed!
January 21, 2026 at 9:29 AM
The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis caught the Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus again, and positioned the fish in the correct position for it to be swallowed #birds. Taken in a small London park on 18th January...
January 21, 2026 at 9:23 AM
This is the most dramatic photograph from the sequence of images captured in a small London park on 18th January of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, taken as she tossed the Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus in the air so that she could swallow it head-first #birds...
January 21, 2026 at 9:13 AM
A continuation of the sequence from 18th January of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis eating a Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus in a small London park #birds. The fish needed to be manipulated so that it could be swallowed head-first.
January 21, 2026 at 9:08 AM
A continuation of the series of photographs from 18th January, showing the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis with a freshly caught Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus that she was just about to swallow #birds. Taken in a small London park.
January 20, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Taken in dull conditions, the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis was perched low down on one of the branches of the fallen tree in a small London park this morning #birds. Kingfishers tend to use low perches for fishing in windy weather as they are more sheltered.
January 20, 2026 at 5:27 PM