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
Not all of the fish caught by Little Egrets Egretta garzetta will allow themselves to be swallowed without resistance #birds. It is most likely that the (unseen) cause of yesterday's temporary discomfiture would have been an eponymously well-armed Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus.
February 5, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Not all of the fish caught by Little Egrets Egretta garzetta will allow themselves to be swallowed without resistance #birds. It is most likely that the (unseen) cause of yesterday's temporary discomfiture would have been an eponymously well-armed Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus.
Portrait of Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 from yesterday morning #birds. Breeding plumage is beginning to develop, and the long head plumes that will eventually cascade down the bird's back are growing apace. Photographed in a small London park.
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Portrait of Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 from yesterday morning #birds. Breeding plumage is beginning to develop, and the long head plumes that will eventually cascade down the bird's back are growing apace. Photographed in a small London park.
Portrait of the 2025D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen from this morning.
February 2, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Portrait of the 2025D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen from this morning.
Size comparisons are always useful when observing birds in the field, so when species are juxtaposed I try to photograph them #birds. The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and a Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus duly obliged when perching on the fallen tree in a small London park yesterday.
January 30, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Size comparisons are always useful when observing birds in the field, so when species are juxtaposed I try to photograph them #birds. The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and a Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus duly obliged when perching on the fallen tree in a small London park yesterday.
As shot, and cropped photograph of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis #birds, emerging from a successful dive in a small London park on 28th January. Accurate metering is pure guesswork for photos like this.
January 30, 2026 at 3:59 PM
As shot, and cropped photograph of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis #birds, emerging from a successful dive in a small London park on 28th January. Accurate metering is pure guesswork for photos like this.
I often get asked about the differences between male and female Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis #birds. A female (photo from today, left), note orange lower mandible and greenish plumage, and a male (photographed last January) are juxtaposed. Males are brighter blue with black bills.
January 29, 2026 at 7:37 PM
I often get asked about the differences between male and female Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis #birds. A female (photo from today, left), note orange lower mandible and greenish plumage, and a male (photographed last January) are juxtaposed. Males are brighter blue with black bills.
The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis in a small London park was showing really well this morning #birds. The male was elsewhere, so there was no more courtship behaviour seen today, following yesterdays extended session. No cropping was required.
January 29, 2026 at 3:21 PM
The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis in a small London park was showing really well this morning #birds. The male was elsewhere, so there was no more courtship behaviour seen today, following yesterdays extended session. No cropping was required.
Love was definitely in the air earlier today #birds, as the pair of Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis in a small London park indulged in a courtship display that lasted for over 50 minutes. Lots of head-bobbing was involved!
January 28, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Love was definitely in the air earlier today #birds, as the pair of Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis in a small London park indulged in a courtship display that lasted for over 50 minutes. Lots of head-bobbing was involved!
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
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.
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
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....
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
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.
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 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.
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, bathing in a large, shallow puddle #birds. Photographed this morning in a small London park. The bird's legs were folded underneath him.
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
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.
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
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...
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
Firstly, an attempt was made to swallow the Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus head-first by Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 #birds...
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
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...
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
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...
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
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...