Swift And Deadly Fisher - The Cormorant

30 Oct, 2022

The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a very large water bird, measuring between 77 and 94 cm in length, with a wingspan of 121 to 194 cm. Adult cormorants are almost entirely black, with only pale cheeks. Yellow bare skin can also be seen along the lower jaw.

In summer, the cormorant's feathers are shinier - the black-edged feathers on the wings take on a brownish, almost bronze sheen. The feathers on the body are more bluish-greenish and the cheeks become distinctly white. Young cormorants are paler in color, especially on the neck, and their bellies are mostly pure white.

Cormorants are often seen perched on trees, horns and rocks with their wings spread. This is when they dry their feathers, which have become wet while underwater hunting for fish. They have a poorly developed preen gland, which prevents them from impregnating their feathers well, which is a characteristic of other waterbirds.

The cormorant hunts mainly during the day. It is a fantastic diver and preys mainly on fish while diving. However, it does not shy away from amphibians and other snacks.

The cormorant often falls out of favor with fishermen and fish farmers, who still persecute it in some places. In fact, it also likes to eat in rivers and, if possible, even in fish farms.

In the picture above, you can see it swimming in a small lagoon on the North Adriatic coast, quietly surveying the surroundings and the action.

Birds-in-flight Photography

18 Oct, 2022

Photographing birds in flight is a difficult photographic challenge, but when people manage to get a few good shots, it is a great encouragement.

In the beginning, many people take up bird photography in flight more as a fun challenge. For those who gradually start to thrive and get a few good shots, this sub-species of nature photography can be almost addictive.

Here are some of my birds-in-flight photos. Enjoy.

European herring gull sweeping by

Black-headed gull elegant turn

Black-headed gull preening its feathers during the flight

3rd POTD awarded for "Camargue Pride"

28 Aug, 2022

After two POTDs at Imaging Resource there is the 3rd one. This time my "Camargue Pride" photo was awarded. Good to see.

The Road To LRPS

24 Jul, 2022

When I started in nature photography several years ago, I had one goal in mind: to become a better and better nature photographer. I decided to go the self-taught route, thanks to the information available on the Internet. I participated in a few foreign photography forums, mainly English, and gained knowledge.

Although over the years I have received quite a few compliments on my photographs from some of my forum colleagues, I was looking for a way to have my successful learning acknowledged by a specialized website, or better still, by a specialized institution whose business is to promote quality photography in all genres. So I first sent some images to the Imaging Resource website under their POTD (Photo Of The Day) section. And so I got two POTDs. One for this image:

and one for this one:

These two POTDs boosted my confidence and led me to the RPS, the Royal Photographic Society, the esteemed English institution for the promotion of photography, where I applied for their Licentiate qualification, Natural History genre. To my (minor) surprise, I was successful. Below you can see my presentation panel of 10 images that persuaded the RPS panel to award me the LRPS qualification.

European Bee-eater - A Feast For Eyes

15 Jul, 2022, No comments

The European Bee-eater (scientific name Merops apiaster) has found the Foce dell'Isonzo Regional Nature Reserve by Staranzano (Italy) an ideal environment for its settlement. It is a beautiful, small bird of African origin, which has been breeding at Cona for only a few years.

It is an insect predator, has bright colors, a blue breast, a yellow throat, a reddish-bronze back and a black face mask extending from its beak to its eyes. On the wings there are various shades ranging from orange, green, ochre and dark blue. The beak, curved downwards, is also black while the iris is purplish red. In short, a feast for eyes!

Below you can see a male European Bee-eater while observing the flying insects nearby.

Tiny Cute Birdie - European Penduline Tit

18 Oct, 2021, No comments

The European Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) is a small bird, 10-11 centimetres long and weighing 10 grams. With its grey head, black mask and reddish rump, it makes large, comfortable nests, where females can lay their eggs comfortably. To build it they use animal or vegetable fibres, scraps of cobweb and feathery seeds of plants. The nest has a typical hanging flask shape, with an opening facing downwards. This tiny and cute bird nests mainly in the northern regions of Eurasia, where watercourses and lake environments such as reedbeds and poplar groves abound.

The juvenile European Penduline Tit shown below was photographed in a reedbed at Sermin by Koper, Slovenia.

Red-backed shrikes: Butcher Birds Or Just Fantastic Little Predators

22 Jun, 2021, No comments

Red-backed shrikes (Lanius collurio) are very similar to some other birds of prey like hawks and eagles. Especially regarding their beaks which are not only hooked but also toothed like that of a hawk.

Unfortunately, their feet aren't armed with the deadly claws of the larger birds of prey. In reality, Red-backed shrikes' feet seem to be more suited to perching on branches and wires than to killing.

So how do they solve this deficiency in case of some bigger prey such as lizard, bird or even mouse? They skillfully grasp their prey by the neck with their hooked beak, and then powerfully shake it to break the prey's spine.

What about in a case of prey they can't eat at once as it is too big? Well, Red-backed shrikes solve this situation »their way«. They impale their prey on thorns (in some places also on barbed wire) or wedge it between the branches. This way they store it for longer, repeated feeding.

Below you can see a Red-backed shrike perched on top of a vineyard pole in Slovenia. From this high position, it has an excellent view of its surroundings, which helps it to hunt more efficiently and increases the likelihood of its survival.

Stalking The Roe Deer

15 Jun, 2021, No comments

"Hush, there is something in a high grass, looks like a Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) resting, maybe even sleeping. He is facing away from me, but his ears are very active. Can he hear me when I approach him from the direction of the sun? As he is lying relaxed I assume that he does not hear me. Hmm, what about his sense of smell? Does he detect me or not? No, because the wind blows in such a way that he cannot detect me. Good. I'm just about to frame it nicely when I see through the electronic viewfinder of my camera that the zoom of the lens has popped up a slight mist just above the orchard floor. I trigger a short burst of frames anyway."

Soon afterwards, the mist in the orchard cleared and the sun shone on a real beauty, waking groggily from its morning nap. Look at his noble head and already large antlers.

Hoopoe - Simply unique

9 Jun, 2021, No comments

The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a species that is widespread throughout the world. It can raise its black-tipped head feathers to form a true plume, which is unique among Slovenian birds.

In addition to the plume, it can be recognised by its long, downward curved beak and broad, black and white wings. Its broad wings make it look like a butterfly when in flight.

This bird has got the name "hoopoe" after its distinctive "oop-oop-oop" call. In Slovenia we call it »smrdokavra«. The name "smrdokavra" is a compound of the verb »smrdeti« (to stink in English) and the dialect word "kavra" (crow in English), which is related to the Slovenian "gavran" (raven in English) and the dialect Croatian "kavran". Slovenian name also refers to the smelling secretions of the young chicks, which effectively deter potential predators.

Hoopoe nests in large hollows, often in tall trees in old meadow orchards. It is particularly suited to grazing meadows with livestock, as there are many insects on the ground, which it collects with its long beak.

The Hoopoe is a migratory bird, returning to Slovenia in April or May and flying away in September. The species is seriously threatened by disappearance of its most suitable habitat, the tall-trunked grassland orchards. It breeds from the north-eastern Slovenia to the Vipava Valley and is generally scattered around Slovenia.

In the picture below you can see the Hoopoe perching on a irrigation sprinkler.

Common kestrel - Small But Mighty

26 May, 2021, No comments

The Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a smaller bird of prey, measuring 31-37 cm from the tip of its tail to the tip of its bill, and having a wingspan of 68-78 cm. It has long and narrow wings. It is often seen hovering in the air, when it stretches its long tail towards the ground and spreads it out widely.

Its rusty brown back is sprinkled with black spots, which also decorate its light brown belly. Under its eyes it has a dark-coloured band. The tips of the flight feathers are black, as are the sharp claws on its yellow fingers.

The female has a dark brown upper tail stripe, while in the male the upper tail is blue-grey and having no patterns. Both sexes have a black band on the margin of the tail. The head of the male is also grey, while the head of the female is brown with longitudinal stripes.

The Common kestrel is specialising in hunting ground animals, small mammals and insects, but also birds. It mostly hovers in the air and grasps at voles, which are its favourite food. It preys also on other rodents, such as mice.

It prefers open landscapes with intermingling meadows and fields. It also can be seen nesting and hunting in cities. The breeding season lasts from March to June. It is present in Slovenia throughout the year.

In the picture below, you can see the Common Kestrel male sitting on a vine pole, observing the surroundings to detect some prey. Shot was taken at 40m distance.

Do Deer Sleep?

24 Apr, 2021, No comments

Deer are happy with only a few hours of sleep - as animals which rely on their speed to escape predators, they are not granted more. When the deer prepares its bed, it paws a camp and sets into a sidelong position in which it dozes or chews over with its head raised.

In the deep sleep phases, deer have their eyes closed and their head lies on the ground or on their own hind leg. They only sleep for a few minutes at a time. During sleep, deer are vulnerable because they do not sense any smells or soft noises.

A young Roe deer buck you can see in images below has just been set for a rest or maybe even a short nap.

Chiffchaff (called also Siff-Saff, Zilpzalp, Tjiftjaf, Tiuf-teaf or Pettychap)

27 Mar, 2021, No comments

Here are some interesting facts on this bird.

Chiffchaff gets its name in several languages from the sound of its song. For example in Wales it is called Siff-Saff, in Germany Zilpzalp, in Dutch Tjiftjaf, in Irish Tiuf-teaf, and it is known locally also as Pettychap in Britain.

Its scientific name Phylloscopus collybita comes from Gr.: phullion=a leaf + skopos=a watcher and Gr.: kollubistes=money-changer.

Check out these measurements showing how small it is:

Length: 10 cm, Wingspan: 18 cm, Weight: 9 g;

This little feather wonder is a hyper-agile mover and it is restless throughout the day. No wonder then that it needs to eat one-third of its weight in insects daily.

Do you know how we call a group of Chiffchaffs? It can be called either a "wrench", "confusion", or "fall".

Below you can find several images of this little cutie:

European Robin - After Countless Images Still One Of The Favorites

11 Feb, 2021, No comments

The European Robin (Erythacus rubecula) is known also as the unofficial national bird of the United Kingdom. Its widespread familiarity and popularity have spread all over the Europe and beyond. Also in Slovenia it is a very common and popular bird. Robin "The redbreast" is one of my favorite small birds. Below you can see one recent image of it. I hope you'll like it.

POTD At Imaging Resource

8 Feb, 2021, No comments

https://www.imaging-resource.com/ has been one of my favourite webzines dealing with in-depth reviews of the photo gear and reportages of photo news. Their site comprises also the Contest page called POTD (Photo of the Day) where readers enter their photos to be judged.

I was honored for being awarded the 25th January, 2021 POTD for my Heath fritillary close-up image.

Thank you very much Imaging Resource.

Charismatic Climber - Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

20 Dec, 2020, No comments

In my humble opinion, Nuthatches (Sitta Europaea) are birds of terrific charisma. They are master climbers of trees where they run up, down and around the tree trunks and branches. They simply don't mind whether they are right way up or upside down. In addition, they have a characteristic pose in which they are facing downwards on a tree trunk, but looking upwards at the same time.

The plumage of a Nuthatch is nothing but striking. It has a smokey grey back, yellowish-beige belly and reddish-brown under-tail. It sports white cheeks and grey head that contrast nicely with a black eye-stripe.

Check the recently captured »Rascal Nutty« below while playing »Hide&Seek« with me around an old tree trunk.

Rare Migrant: Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

28 Nov, 2020, No comments

A Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a common summer species of open areas. Males have a gray colored back. The cheeks and wings are black and the belly is dirty white. Females are slightly paler in color. During the flight its white tailbone is very noticeable.

The habitat of the Northern Wheatear consists of heather, bogs, meadows with stone walls and mountain meadows with rocks and gravel. During migration, it can be seen in meadows and fields.

In Slovenia, Northern Wheatear is a rare yearly species. I was lucky to see and capture it this Autumn just when it was taking a rest on the way to the South.

Interesting Fact About European Hare (Lepus europaeus)

14 Oct, 2020, No comments

Hares can see three – dimensional objects. Their vision is close to 360 degrees thanks to the fact that their big eyes are placed high on both sides of their head. In addition, they bulge out a bit. But, interestingly, hares as well as rabbits have a blind spot of approximately 10 degrees in front of their nose. Their weak vision in the region of 10 degrees caused the European hare, you can see below, to run directly, head-on, towards me. Luckily I was ready and I managed to take some nice photos of this swift animal.

European hare (Lepus europaeus) running toward me

Hummingbird Hawk-moth In-flight

14 Apr, 2020, No comments

The Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a day-flying moth with a wingspan of about 50-58mm. It is a very swift flyer (5m/s) and it hovers in the best tradition of Hummingbirds. Its wings beat at 80 beats per second and they produce a characteristic and audible hum. One of the special features of this moth is also its use of the long proboscis for sucking nectar.

I like challenges and so I tried to capture this speedster in flight. Below are two of my keepers.

Unique Symbiosis at Isola della Cona

25 Oct, 2019, No comments

When you visit the Isola Della Cona Nature Reserve one of the trade-mark views are those with the Camargue horses (Equus ferus caballus) with Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) riding on them. ;)

Though Cattle egrets forage similarly to other wading birds, by catching fish or frogs, they can be seen also following the Camargue horses herd, to eat insects on the ground that are stirred by their hoofs. In addition, they literally inspect the horses to find different bugs such as horse flies, horn flies and other annoying insects/ticks and eat them. This way Cattle egrets rid the horses’ grazing area of many pests.

Check the images below showing several moments from a unique symbiosis between the Cattle egrets and Camargue horses.

Isola della Cona Rich Diversity

17 Oct, 2019, No comments

Isola della Cona, by Staranzano, Italy represents the one-and-only ecosystem where it is possible to observe a rich diversity in flora and fauna. In this nature reserve more than 300 bird species were listed. The area provides the fantastic habitat for a plethora of wading birds, including teals, mallards, grey geese, herons, coots, and many others.

The reserve incorporates a walking path that rounds the observation area and includes several observation lookouts which enable visitors, birdwatchers and nature photographers to get closer to the diverse fauna it surrounds them.

Bellow you can see several images confirming the sheer abundance of the fauna at Isola della Cona that is regarded as the best birdwatching place in Italy and beyond.

Camargue horses grazing in company of numerous different bird species.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) duck foraging at the Isola della Cona.

Eurasian teal (Anas crecca) resting in the shallow waters of the Isola della Cona.

European penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus) perching high in the reeds at the Isola della Cona.