#common winged plover

[jurinova]

My bird watching hobby has now fully grown into a bird hobby. Drawing birds, thinking about birds... You know, the usual. 🦆

[smallerdelusions]

Excerpt from Observations on the Order Draconia in Europe, with Notes on the Oriental Breeds by Edward Howe

As a lifelong birder, I couldn't stop thinking about a comment from an earlier post about the possibility of dragon-spotters in England. So I (naturally) mocked up a page based on my bird field guides to show differences in size, weight and wing shape between the common british dragons. These are all the undersides of wings as they would be seen from the ground. The book title/author is stolen directly from His Majesty's Dragon.

I'm still basing the shape/silhouette/function off of birds, listed below if you were curious:

Jade: Common Swift Greyling: Albatross Winchester: Sparrow Grey Copper: Pheasant Anglewing: Plover Reapers: Duck Parnassian: Crow Regal Copper: Goose Celestial: Fish Hawk Chequered Nettle: Hawk Longwing: Crane

Thanks for reading!

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Killdeer

Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

"Widespread, common, and conspicuous, the Killdeer calls its name as it flies over farmland and other open country. Like other members of the plover family, this species is often found at the water's edge, but it also lives in pastures and fields far from water. At times, it nests on gravel roofs or on lawns. Many a person has been fooled by the bird's 'broken-wing' act, in which it flutters along the ground in a show of injury, luring intruders away from its nest."

- Audubon Field Guide

[wendievergreen]

Nisegwag

I detected a religious metaphor in this one what with the seven day creation and taming of the seas, so I asked my siblings for suggestions on the most divine shorebird. Sibling was very certain that the puffin is the most god-like bird on the shore🙏 so that's where I started.

The species most common on our coast is the tufted puffin, and while their tufts are soft and hang down behind their heads, I decided to have my nisegwag's tufts curve up to form a halo.

I wanted to make it a little more generically seabird so I also referenced a plover for the legs and a gull for the body and wings.

[spacefinch]

Assorted Pokemon headcanons

Samurott’s helmet-like shell has nerves inside it, so it can feel when someone’s touching it. Most domesticated Samurott enjoy being petted or brushed on the head.

They will also need a scratching post to rub their horn on, since the horn grows constantly. In the wild, they will sharpen the horn against rocks or driftwood.

Male and female Samurott look very similar, but the male has a longer mustache.

Similar to real-life geese and swans, wild Swanna are menaces to society. It’s highly recommended that people do NOT feed or approach them. 

Domesticated and trained Swanna are okay around humans, though. However, they do tend to be territorial and will try to bite unfamiliar people.

Their pre-evolution, Ducklett, is a lot more docile, and thus easier to catch. 

Deerling are somewhat skittish in the wild, but once they're caught, they quickly warm up to their Trainers. Since they're herd creatures, they require a lot of socializing.

Sawsbuck can be used as a ride Pokemon, but it takes a great deal of training. When riding a Sawsbuck, a Trainer should never use its antlers as hand grips. (Just like you would never pull a horse's mane.)

Like most cat Pokemon, Purrloin and Leopard often get the zoomies, especially at night.

Wild Litwick, Lampent, and Chandelure feed off the life forces of other creatures (both people and Pokemon). However, trained Litwick can be taught to drain the life energy from plants instead. Once its life force is absorbed, the plant will be dried up and perfect for using in tea or as a cooking herb.

Espeon, Sylveon, Umbreon, and Absol are common service Pokemon for people with anxiety disorders or other similar conditions.

Leafeon's leaves have sharp edges, which are used for defense in the wild. However, this does make grooming them difficult for first-time owners. One way to clean your Leafeon without getting cut is to just spray them down with a hose. (In fact, many Grass-type Pokemon enjoy this kind of "bath.")

Flareon is the only Eeveelution that actively avoids water. Instead, Flareon licks itself clean, like a cat.

It is possible for Unfezant to be gynandromorphic, or exhibit both male and female traits. Since their pre-evolutions do not have any visible gender differences, you won't be able to tell if a Pidove or Tranquill has this condition until it's fully evolved.

This condition can manifest itself in quite a few ways:

Stomach feathers are green on one side (male) and orange on the other side (female)

Shorter head plumes

A so-called "female" Unfezant having a crest

One half of the face has head plumes, the other half doesn't.

Not surprisingly, these Pokemon are popular with the LGBT community, along with Eevee and its evolutions.

Female Decidueye are larger than males.

Decidueye use their enormous wings to protect their young, much like a mother hen or plover.

Sometimes they also allow other small Pokemon to take shelter under their wings. They have even been documented doing this with human children as well.

When under threat, a Decidueye will fluff up its feathers and spread its wings to make itself appear larger and scarier, similar to the great horned owl’s threat display.

[apoemaday]

Catbird

by Mary Oliver

He picks his pond, and the soft thicket of his world. He bids his lady come, and she does, flirting with her tail. He begins early, and makes up his song as he goes. He does not enter a house at night, or when it rains. He is not afraid of the wind, though he is cautious. He watches the snake, that stripe of black fire, until it flows away. He watches the hawk with her sharpest shins, aloft in the high tree. He keeps his prayer under his tongue. In his whole life he has never missed the rising of the sun. He dislikes snow. But a few raisins give him the greatest delight. He sits in the forelock of the lilac, or he struts in its shadow. He is neither the rare plover or the brilliant bunting, but as common as the grass. His black cap gives him a jaunty look, for which we humans have learned to tilt our caps, in envy. When he is not singing, he is listening. Neither have I ever seen him with his eyes closed. Though he may be looking at nothing more than a cloud it brings to his mind several dozen new remarks. From one branch to another, or across the path, he dazzles with flight. Since I see him every morning, I have rewarded myself the pleasure of thinking that he knows me. Yet never once has he answered my nod. He seems, in fact, to find in me a kind of humor, I am so vast, uncertain and strange. I am the one who comes and goes, and who knows why. Will I ever understand him? Certainly he will never understand me, or the world I come from. For he will never sing for the kingdom of dollars. For he will never grow pockets in his gray wings.

[dansnaturepictures]

Eight of my favourite photos I took in August 2024 and month summary: Baby steps into the shift of the seasons

The photos are of; view with a moody sky at Lakeside Country Park, young Mute Swans at Keyhaven, Jersey Tiger moth at Lakeside, Chalkhill Blue at Stockbridge Down, Common Darter at Lakeside, Roe Deer at Acres Down, harebells at Shipton Bellinger and King Alfred's cake at Fishlake Meadows.

August is a time to enjoy high summer sights including butterfly filled meadows and darting dragonflies but also a time to prepare for change into an equally exciting wild season, as subtle signs like the drawing in of the nights and emergence of berries hint at the imminent baton exchange of summer and autumn. I have really enjoyed this August to the full for wildlife, walking and photos.

In the early days as the Big Butterfly Count drew to a close I ended triumphantly observing a big increase in species such as Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Speckled Wood being around. There were some stellar additions to my butterfly year this month with Essex Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Chalkhill Blue and Brown Hairstreak seen. Other standout species of a fantastic butterfly month included Brown Argus, Wall Brown, Small Heath, Small White, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock and Red Admiral. I had a marvellous month of moths centring on a phenomenon over a week or so seeing a fair few Jersey Tiger moths at different locations a species I’d only ever seen three times prior to that, a really exciting influx of this resplendent moth. I was captivated by a splendid Swallow-tailed moth at home at the month’s start, with Double-striped Pug, Wavy-barred Sable, my first ever Purple Bar, Grass-veneer, Silver Y, Small Dusty Waves and Six-spot Burnet also enjoyed. As the month went on butterflies rather made way for dragonflies to take centre stage a little, with mesmerising times watching Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, evocative of late summer for me Common Darter and Black-tailed Skimmer, with Beautiful Demoiselle and Blue-tailed Damselfly good to see too.

Shift in the year was evident in my birdwatching month too which was another brilliant one with some migration movement. I loved seeing Whinchats at Hook-with-Warsash, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper at Pennington and Osprey at Fishlake Meadows. I got some splendid views of the Peregrines at Winchester Cathedral this month, very much enjoyed the new Great Crested Grebe chicks and young Moorhens on regular walks at Lakeside Country Park and was thrilled to see adorable Mute Swan cygnets well a few times at Winnall Moors and Keyhaven in a strong year I’ve had for seeing young birds. Other highlights this month included Ravens, Jay, Red Kite, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, the last Swifts, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Stock Doves, Stonechat, Bullfinches, Great Spotted Woodpecker at Lakeside and Green Woodpecker there and heard elsewhere, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Goldfinches including young at home, a few Kingfishers, Cormorants including notably at Lakeside and Winnall Moors, Grey Heron including notably at Lakeside and in Winchester, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Spoonbills, Knot, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Avocet, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Snipe, Whimbrel, Curlew, Eiders and some Tufted Ducks including ducklings.

Other nice sightings this month included of Roe and Fallow Deers on wonderful afternoon of deers at Acres Down in the New Forest, Grey Squirrel, Common Red Soldier beetle, my first ever Tawny Longhorn beetle at Shipton Bellinger, ladybirds, pondskater with especially lots at one point at Lakeside sticking in my mind, sawflies, charming Hornet mimic hoverfly at Stockbridge Down, Yellow-haired Sunfly, other hoverflies and bees, Ichneumon wasps, Fox and Cinnabar moth caterpillars, crickets/grasshoppers including Roesel’s bush cricket, Long-winged Conehead and Common Field Grasshopper, snails at home on wet nights and gorgeous Ambersnail at Winnall Moors, Common Lizards at Magdalen Hill and Grey Silverfish and spiders at home.

Onto plants and I saw some more thrilling wildflowers this month including fairy flax, water speedwell and another speedwell, St. John’s-worts, fleabane, ragwort, bird’s-foot trefoil, forget-me-not, scarlet pimpernel, water mint, sundew, bog asphodel, hemp agrimony, purple loosestrife, great willowherb, rosebay willowherb, small-flower hairy willowherb, marjoram, wild basil, tufted vetch, vetch, viper’s-bugloss, scabiouses including fine devil’s-bit scabious, wild carrot, upright hedge-parsley, sea aster, scentless mayweed, pineappleweed, dock, self-heal, sainfoin, creeping thistle, spear thistle, woolly thistle, horseweed, common mallow, musk mallow, marsh mallow, golden samphire, nightshade, broad-leaved enchanter’s nightshade and some of my favourites centaury, restharrow, common toadflax, eyebright and endearing nodding harebells. It was amazing to see sunflowers at home in the garden a stalwart of August with the fuchsias and black-eyed Susans coming on nicely too. The aforementioned berries I really enjoyed seeing this month included loads of blackberries and hawthorn, blackthorn sloes, rowan, guelder rose berries, nightshade berries, cuckoo-pint berries, elderberries, wild service tree berries and wayfaring tree berries with apple, acorn and chestnut seen too. There were some nice mushrooms seen this month as well including King Alfred’s cake and panthercap and I took in some stunning views at various locations and habitats with epic sky scenes including moody scenes, the moon and sunsets observed. Have a great September all.

[officialweezerelections]

THE FULL FUCKED UP BIRD BRACKET

All birds have been randomized, the seeds mean nothing. Yes pitohui is spelled incorrectly in the bracket image.

GROUP A

Andean Condor VS Loggerhead Shrike

Superb Lyrebird VS Emu

Greater Sage-Grouse VS Common Ostrich

Yellow-Billed Oxpecker VS American Woodcock

Bare-Throated Bellbird VS Giant Petrel

Greater Sooty Owl VS Vampire Ground Finch

Great Eared Nightjar VS Spur-Winged Goose

Common Cuckoo VS Tawny Frogmouth

GROUP B

Great Potoo VS Killdeer

Domestic Chicken VS Oilbird

Tufted Puffin VS Dalmatian Pelican

King Vulture VS Twelve-Wired Bird Of Paradise

Greater Superb Bird Of Paradise VS Perrito

Barn Owl VS Purple Gallinule

Bearded Vulture VS Secretary Bird

Long Wattled Umbrellabird VS Horned Screamer

GROUP C

Oriental Bay Owl VS Anhinga

Pennant Winged Nightjar VS Snowy Sheathbill

Red-Legged Seriema VS Marabou Stork

Argentavis VS Common Loon

Black Skimmer VS Luzon Bleeding-Heart

Southern Cassowary VS Flamingo (all species)

Green Heron VS Great Hornbill

African Jacana VS California Condor

GROUP D

Hamerkop VS Capuchinbird

Shoebill Stork VS American White Pelican

Roseate Spoonbill VS Hoatzin

Terror Bird VS Elephant Bird

Great Egret VS Magnificent Frigatebird

Guinean Cock-Of-The-Rock VS Hooded Pitohui

White-Throated Rail VS Spur-Winged Plover

White Bellbird VS Kiwi

Polls will be tagged with their BRACKET (example: #bracket a) and #tournament poll

MAY THE WORST BIRD WIN

[birdusannus]

4/14: cape cod?!

we wound our way to the very tippy-top of cape cod , MA in search of seabirds-- and seabirds we found! we spent more than four hours and walked more than four miles total through sand and seawater to find a bunch of cool species, many of which were lifers for me!

Bird 67: a Belted Kingfisher was perched in a marshy area not quite at the seashore.

Bird 68: Surf Scoters were floating out on the water, mixed in with Black and White-winged Scoters!

Bird 69: We spotted a few Piping Plovers running up and down the shoreline-- they were so cute!

Bird 70: Razorbill; these fellas were far off shore and hard to find, but we saw them eventually.

Bird 71: Laughing Gulls were- well, laughing! I think their black heads are very striking.

Bird 72: Ring-billed Gull

Bird 73: Great Black-backed Gull

Bird 74: Glaucous Gull; we saw at least one for certain. I'm awful at identifying my gulls, but I learned that GLGUs are large, chunky, and have all-white wingtips.

Bird 75: Iceland Gull; still not sure how to ID these guys, to be honest...

Bird 76: Pacific Loon; we spent most of our time searching for this bird specifically. The water was full of COLO and RTLO, but seeing as MA is on the Atlantic, PALO are understandably rare. We sorted through winter plumage birds for hours, knowing PALO were present from other birders we came across. We finally ID'd a winter plumage bird based on its narrow beak (relative to a conveniently placed nearby Common) and chinstrap... it was such an exciting moment when we finally got it!

Bird 77: Northern Gannet; there were dozens, if not hundreds, of these guys close to shore. They were gorgeous, bright white with stark black wingtips. I could have watched them gracefully arc in the air before plunging into the water for hours!

Bird 78: Bufflehead; sitting on a lake near the seashore!

[swede1952]

Beachside Siesta

Most of the laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) in this group seem to be napping while standing in the low surf. There are a couple nearest the shore that appear to be alert.

Hmmm … I wonder why many birds stick their beaks under a wing while sleeping. Maybe it feels cold … it is an extremity. Maybe they do that like we might cover our hands under our arms in the cold. I'll have to look that up.

"The Laughing Gull is perfectly named; its continuous, raucous "ha-ha-ha" calls are a part of the summer soundtrack along Gulf and Atlantic Coast beaches. This medium-sized, black-hooded gull favors the ocean shore and is a common sight there during the summer, alongside other coastal bird species such as the Royal Tern and Piping Plover. It is less common along inland waterways." - abcbirds.org

@birdcounter

[scienceisforevryone]

TW: Anti-Arab racism

Palestinian Crocodiles

Crocodiles once lived in Palestines Coastal marshlands. (Bentley, n.d.) So what happened?

Palestinian crocodiles are not a distinct species. Palestinian crocodiles were common nile crocodiles or, “Crocodylus niloticus” that lived in northern Palestine. (Bentley, n.d.) They supposedly feasted on crustaceans, migrating birds, frogs, fish, and livestock. (Bentley, n.d.) Spur-winged plovers reportedly picked meat out of the crocodiles open mouths. (Bentley, n.d.) The crocodile eggs were eaten by otters. (Bentley, n.d.) Crocodile blood was feasted on my mosquitoes. (Bentley, n.d.)

A zoo in Jerusalem claims the last Palestinian crocodile was hunted out by Palestinian villagers in Jisar-A-Zarka in 1905. (Bentley, n.d.) Is that the truth though? Some of the villages of the marsh area are Arab Kabbara and Arab al-Ghawarna. (Bentley, n.d.) The people who live here historically lived in caves and tent encampments of the marshlands rocky hills, raising water buffalos, weaving mats with springy reeds, and being well known for their hunting skills. (Bentley, n.d.) They welcomed people fleeing violence or marginalization, and had a significant Sudanese population. (Bentley, n.d.) There seems to be no evidence of a Palestinian tradition of hunting crocodiles. (Bentley, n.d.) Colonial zoologists on the other hand, did hunt, study, and transfer the bodies of crocodiles to collections. (Bentley, n.d.) This was part of a larger 19th century craze of taxidermic decor or study of animals from newly colonized places. (Bentley, n.d.) This combined with European and white American feelings of entitlement to the holy land. (Bentley, n.d.) The local Ghawarna people were seen as capital and used to hunt crocodiles by German-American researcher Gottlieb Schumacher. (Bentley, n.d.) There were stereotypes in Europe and America of crocodiles being evil beasts, and this led to a popularity of European males going on hunting trips for crocodiles. (Bentley, n.d.) Crocodiles became something of a symbol for dangerous uncolonized otherness. (Bentley, n.d.) Crocodiles from Palestine were viewed more favorably for being from the holy land though. (Bentley, n.d.) Eventually the Zor Al-Zarqa/Kabbara marshlands were drained by the British Mandate and Palestinian Jewish Colonization Association in the early 1920s. (Bentley, n.d.) Gawharna people’s labor was exploited, and the legal battle to keep their land was lost. (Bentley, n.d.) Today the area continues to have a colonialist zoological shadow with the Israeli government establishing nature reserves being created that rename the areas to not have Arab names. (Bentley, n.d.)

People like Sami al-Ali, Mohamad Hamdan, and Saidah al-Ali are working to commemorate the past ways of the Palestinian marshlands and imagining a new future. (Bentley, n.d.)

Resources

Bentley, E. (n.d.). Between Extinction and Dispossession A rhetorical historiography of the Last Palestinian Crocodile (1870–1935). Jerusalem Quarterly, 9–29. https://www.palestine-studies.org/sites/default/files/jq-articles/Between%20Extinction%20and%20Dispossession.pdf

[outofangband]

Birds of Dor-lómin

I have decided to make two posts at least for the birds of Hithlum, this one and one for Mithrim and greater Hithlum

As I take inspiration from several European and Asian countries for the environment of Dor-lómin, the species here reflects that however to the best of my ability it is ecologically consistent. Obviously this will not be a complete list and I will go back to it!

And as always requests are open! I’m also always willing to put together ecological world building based on specific real locations!

Flora, fauna, geography and environment of Arda Masterlist

Note: I use Hadorian here to refer to the folk of Hador and of Marach including cultural practices that might predate Hador himself

The eastern mountains and forests around Húrin’s house: hazel grouse, brambling, northern wryneck, common buzzard, Zitting cisticola, grey headed woodpecker, black redstart, grey heron, common quail, great spotted woodpecker, dusky thrush, white winged crossbill, Bohemian waxwing, ring ouzel, tawny owl, common raven

The western border and Firth of Drengist: horned grebe, osprey, black crowned night heron, little gull, black tern, great white pelican, common kingfisher, common starling, little ringed plover, rocky pipit, white tailed eagle

Note: many of the mountain, sea and wetlands birds here are incidental species occurring in Dor-lómin because of migration or other factors. This is also true of some of the species listed for the eastern mountain borders.

The fields and open lands: Greylag goose, corn bunting, little owl, gadwall, mallard duck, wood lark, bearded reedling, hedge warbler, twite, common grasshopper warbler, yellowhammer, greater scaup (migratory), nightjar, stone curlew, barn owl, black headed bunting, whinchat, little grebe, goldfinch, blue throat

Throughout: common wood pigeon, fieldfare, hobby (migratory), common crane, mute swan, house sparrow, merlin, common buzzard (primarily in the Southern mountains), black woodpecker, gryphfalcon

World building notes:

-The people of Hador keep ducks, geese, chickens and pigeons including a species like passenger pigeons. They are the only group of Atani in Beleriand that has a practice of keeping birds primarily for eggs as well as meat and who uses eggs in cooking semi frequently. The Haladin, Bëorians, Drúedain and other groups do eat eggs though not usually chicken eggs and do not often use them as ingredients in baking (although there are some Bëorian dishes that involve bread with quail eggs)

Aerin and bird HCs

-Hadorian food is a combination of farming and agriculture and hunting and foraging. Grouse, pheasant and wild ducks are sometimes caught for food

-Sea birds are relatively rare but can be seen in western Dor-lómin near the Firth of Drengist and the border to Nevrast. The northern Sindar who live in western Hithlum including western Dor-lómin keep oral records of the presence and appearance of sea birds and mentions of them appear occasionally in song

-Feathers of geese are designs associated with the Hadorian midwinter festival. They are sometimes worn but more commonly embroidered or painted.

-The northern Sindar by the caves of Androth paint birds on the cave and cliff walls, using pigments made from minerals, bark and sometimes shells. Herons, gulls and starling shapes are the most common.

-Random character HC: Sador’s favorite animals to carve are birds especially ground birds. Some of these he even paints or polishes when he has the time.

[echoes-of-kemet]

Do yu know what other animals were in ancient egypt? I want my oc to have a unique animal and you seem to know a fair amount

I am a well of ridiculous, hyperspecific, only interesting to some trivia lmao.

I would encourage you not to limit yourself to an entirely unique beast- many deities share sacred animals and are still strong individuals. My mind immediately goes to the huge number of feline deities- lions and lionesses in particular- for an example. Additionally, it's nigh impossible for me (with no academic anthropology/egyptology/historic zoology knowledge) to say for certain that particular animals were present in Kemet when they have no documented deities, mummies, or written mentions. I've had to guess for some, deduce by their present day habitats and more or less "timeline" of their species.

It's also important to keep in mind Kemet had contact with other civilizations in other habitats, meaning they were aware of animals not necessarily native to the area. A perfect example is the Hamadryas baboon- they were Nubian animals, but were sacred to both Thoth and Babi, depicted in art, and many mummies of the species have been recovered. A more surprising example is the Syrian brown bear, which was a rare exotic spectacle for the royal elite. There's also the trouble of many species now being extant from the area, meaning they were there but the local population is now extinct- the African sacred ibis is the example my mind comes to first, the waterfowl no longer present along the Nile.

Coincidentally, I've been compiling a list of animals for my own reference to supply a beast or two for the deities that don't have one in tradition. 

Birds

Abdim's Stork

African Darter

African Dwarf Kingfisher

African Grass Owl

African Open-billed Stork

African Pied Wagtail

African Sacred Ibis

Asian Green Bee-Eater

Barbary Falcon

Barbary Partridge

Barn Owl

Barn Swallow

Bearded Vulture

Bennu Heron (likely not an actual animal, the Bennu bird inspired by the Goliath Heron- but felt like including it anyhow)

Black Kite

Black Stork

Black-throated Loon

Black-winged Kite

Brown-necked Raven

Carrion Crow

Cattle Egret

Chukar Partridge

Common Buzzard

Common Cormorant

Common Crane

Common Greenshank

Common House Martin

Common Kestrel

Common Kingfisher

Common Pochard

Common Quail

Common Raven

Common Redshank

Common Redstart

Common Sandpiper

Common Spoonbill

Common Teal

Crab Plover

Crested Plover

Dalmatian Pelican

Demoiselle Crane

Eagle (I'm sure there were some, but I can't find any definitive evidence of species in the ancient Kemetic culture- I would take a guess that the Golden Eage was an infrequent visitor)

Egyptian Plover

Egyptian Vulture

European Roller (considered a pest)

European Turtle-dove

Eurasian Coot

Eurasian Crag Martin

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Wigeon

Fan-tailed Raven

Ferruginous Duck

Gadwall

Garganey

Glossy Ibis

Golden Oriole

Goliath Heron

Great Bittern

Great Bustard

Great Cormorant

Great Egret

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Great White Pelican

Greater Flamingo (possibly not native)

Green Sandpiper

Grey Heron

Griffon Vulture

Helmeted Guineafowl (not native)

Hermit Ibis

Hobby Falcon

Honey Buzzard

Hooded Crow

Hoopoe

Houbara Bustard

House Crow

House Sparrow (pest, hieroglyph had negative connotation)

Kittliz's Plover

Lanner Falcon

Lappet-faced Vulture

Laughing Dove

Lesser Kestrel

Lesser Pied Kingfisher

Little Bittern

Little Bustard

Little Egret

Little Owl

Long-eared Owl

Long-legged Buzzard

Mallard

Marabou Stork

Marsh Sandpiper

Masked Shrike

Merlin

Mourning Wheatear

Northern Lapwing

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Ostrich

Pale Crag Martin

Peregrine Falcon

Pied Avocet

Pink-backed Pelican

Purple Gallinule

Purple Heron

Red Kite

Red-backed Shrike

Red-footed Falcon

Red-rumped Wheatear

Reed Cormorant

Ring-necked Dove

Rock Dove

Rook

Ruddy Shelduck

Saddle-bill Stork

Saker Falcon

Sandhill Crane

Sand Martin

Sand Partridge

Short-eared Owl

Spotted Redshank

Sooty Falcon

Squacco Heron

Striated Heron

Swan (not native)

Tawny Owl

Tufted Duck

Western Reef Heron

White-backed Night Heron

White-crowned Wheatear

White Stork

White Wagtail

Wood Sandpiper

Yellow-billed Stork

Mammals

Aardvark (possibly not native)

Aardwolf

Addax Antelope

African Clawless Otter

African Giant Shrew

African Green Monkey (not native)

African Grass Rat

African Leopard

African Striped Weasel

Arabian Oryx

Barbary Deer (not native)

Barbary Lion (now extinct)

Barbary Macaque (not native)

Black Rat

Common Patas Monkey (not native)

Black Rhinoceros

Blanford's Fox

Black Wildebeest

Bubal Hartebeest (now extinct)

Cairo Spiny Mouse

Cape Hare

Caracal

Cheetah

Common Beisa Oryx

Common Genet

Desert Hedgehog

Desert Long-eared Bat

Dorcas Gazelle

Desert Black Cobra

Egyptian Fruit Bat

Egyptian Jackal/African Wolf (originally misidentified, now the African Wolf)

Egyptian Mongoose

Egyptian Pipistrelle

Egyptian Red Fox

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Egyptian Tomb Bat

Egyptian Weasel

Egyptian Wild Ass 

Fennec Fox

Flower's Shrew

Four-toed Jerboa

Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat

Gerenuk

Giraffe

Golden Spiny Mouse

Greater Egyptian Jerboa

Greater Mouse-tailed Bat

Greater Red Musk Shrew

Hamadryas Baboon (not native)

Hippopotamus

Honey Badger

House Mouse

Lesser Egyptian Jerboa

Lesser Mouse-tailed Bat

Long-eared Hedgehog

Long-nosed Shrew

North African/Bush Elephant (vilified and driven out by prehistoric Egyptians)

North African Crested Porcupine (not native)

Nubian Ibex (not native)

Olive Baboon (likely not native, sometimes called the Anubis Baboon)

Persian Fallow Deer (not native)

Rhim Gazelle

Rüppell's Fox

Sand Rat

Serval (likely not native, but Ra was depicted as one)

Scimitar Oryx

Soemmerring's Gazelle

Somali Dwarf Shrew

Spotted Hyena

Spotted-necked Otter

Striped Hyena

Syrian Brown Bear (not native)

Wild Boar

White Rhinoceros

Yellow Baboon (not native, species' epithet means 'dog-head' in Greek)

Vervet Monkey

Reptiles

African Chameleon

African Rock Python

Arabian Horned Viper

Desert Horned Viper

Desert Monitor Lizard

Egyptian Cobra

Egyptian Gecko

Egyptian Sand Boa

Egyptian Sand Racer

Egyptian Tortoise

Javelin Sand Boa

Insects/Arachnids/Etc.

Nile Crocodile

Nile Soft-shelled Turtle

Red Spitting Cobra

Saharan Sand Viper

Amphibians

African Common Toad

European Green Toad

Marsh Frog

Mascarene Grass Frog

Nile Delta Toad

Nile Valley Toad

Camel Spider

Banded Garden Spider

Brown Widow Spider

Carpenter Ant

Centipede

Click Beetle

Common Housefly (NOT considered a pest, actually revered as a protector)

Danaid Eggfly

Desert Ant

Desert Locust

Devil's Coach Horse Beetle

Dorippus Tiger Butterfly

Dragonfly

Flea

Fire Ant

Jewel Beetle

Gaudy Commodore Butterfly

Half-edged Wall Jumping Spider

Large Salmon Arab Butterfly

Maggot/Carrion Fly

Migratory Locust

Messor Ant

Millipede

Red-breasted Goose

Mosquito (pest)

Moths in the Saturniidae family

Palestine Yellow Scorpion

Pantropical Jumping Spider

Pharaoh Ant

Plain Tiger Butterfly

Praying Mantis

Scarab Beetle

Sinai Baton Blue Butterfly

Southern White Admiral Butterfly

Scorpions in the Buthidae and Scorpionidae families

Water Scorpion

Fish, Mollusks, etc. (Keep in mind fish were taboo in Kemet)

Abju

African Catfish

African Tigerfish

Bayad Fish

Blacktip Shark

Blue-spotted Stingray

Bolti

Chromis

Cichlid

Cornish Jack

Eel

Flatfish

Gilt-head Bream

Great Barracuda

Leopard Shark

Lepidotus Fish

Loligo Squid

Lungfish

Moon Fish

Mullet

Nile Barb

Nile Bichir

Nile Carp

Nile Mormyrid

Nile Labeo

Nile Perch

Nile Puffer

Parrotfish

Reef Manta Ray

Reef Shark

Sandbar Shark

Sea Snake

Scorpionfish

Spiny Lobster

Sturgeon

Surgeonfish

Swordfish

Thornback Ray

Thresher Shark

Tiger Shark

Tilapia

Triggerfish

Unicorn Fish

Wrasse

Zebra Shark

Domestic Animals

Bean Goose

Brant Goose

Camel (not introduced until Middle/New Kingdom)

Cats (Mau breed)

Chickens (not introduced until New Kingdom era)

Cow/Bull

Dogs (Saluki, Greyhound, Basenji, and Pharaoh Hound breeds)

Donkey

Egyptian Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Greylag Goose

Honey Bees

Horse (not introduced until New Kingdom)

Pig

Ram

My sources, if you're interested, are the Wikipedia page for Egyptian wildlife, a few different diving sites about the Mediterranean and Red Sea, a couple books I own on Ancient Egypt that describe the geography of the periods, and this lovely reddit multi-post

Sheep

[fruityfinch]

Animals spotted today (from bus ride):

A surprisingly large number of hares

A small herd of deer

Ring-necked pheasants

Pochard ducks

Two kestrels

Highland cows

A BARN OWL, HOLY CRAP!!!

Animals spotted today (around coast or on boat ride):

Many small wading birds (ring-necked plovers, curlews, oystercatchers, dunlins)

Eider ducks in pretty large numbers

Many seagulls (common gulls, herring gulls, kittiwakes, and THE LARGEST GULLS IN THE WORLD, THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL)

A single gannet (but it did its iconic wings-folded dive into the water so still thrilling)

A handful of PUFFINS!!!

Shags (the bird)

Grey seals and their pups

OVERALL, A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!!!! I WILL TREASURE THESE MEMORIES. I HAD THE TIME OF MY FUCKIN LIFE

[wildshuttersk]

🔸️Live life with a free spirit, just like a bird.

🔸️Delicately built small plover with bright yellow eyerings. Note dull pinkish legs and large white forehead patch (in adults). Plumage much like bulkier Ringed Plover, but white eyebrow continues unbroken across forehead. In flight shows narrow, indistinct whitish wing stripe. Breeds on stony substrates around lakes, gravel pits, and along rivers; migrants occur in wide variety of fresh and brackish wetland habitats, but rarely out on open tidal areas. Clipped "peu" call quite distinct from call of similar Common Ringed Plover.

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📍Nagi-Nakti Bird Sanctuaries, Jamui

📸Nikon Z6 +Nikkor 200-500mm

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#wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotographer #wilderness #wildlifeplanet #wildlifeonearth #wildlifephoto #bird #birds #birdsofinstagram #nightjar #nikon #natgeo #natgeowild #natgeoindia #natgeoyourshot #yourshotphotographer #earthcapture #earthfocus #earthinfocus #earthofficial #natureinfocus #nofilter #bbcearth #BBCWildlifePOTD #nikondz6 #nikonindia

[dansnaturepictures]

Four of my favourite photos I took in April 2024 and month summary

The photos are of; an Osprey at Lossiemouth in Moray, Speckled Wood on dandelions by Lakeside Country Park in Hampshire, early spider orchid at Durlston in Dorset and view at Laggan Dam.

April was another momentous and splendid wild month for me with so much seen and many amazing places visited. My birdwatching year continued to go from strength to strength with some smashing spring species seen and my year list kept pace with where my others had been at this stage in a year being second only to the number I was on last year my highest ever year list. Spring delights Swallow, House Martin, Wheatear, Whitethroat, glorious Sedge Warbler, Redstart, thrilling views of Guillemot and Fulmar, Little Tern and Common Tern were key species added to my year list this month alongside blockbuster names Osprey and rare Marsh Sandpiper. Avocet, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sand Martin, Goldcrest, Blackcap seen and heard and my first Cuckoos heard this year were other highlights. Following the Lakeside Great Crested Grebes with their four growing chicks and a pair still courting and the new Winchester Peregrine pair was special again this month, as was seeing Greylag goslings and adorable Moorhen chicks at Lakeside. The month ended and the new one began whilst away on the incredible adventure that has been our Scotland holiday; it has been pure, tranquil, joyful and nourishing being out in wilderness areas surrounded and embraced by sensational wildlife both at the amazing cottage we’re staying in and the many fantastic places visited. By the end of April we had already seen many of the standout species of the trip including resplendent summer plumage Black-throated Diver and Red-throated Diver, majestic White-tailed Eagle, exuberant Willow Warblers a very welcome constant, Pink-footed Geese, Red Grouse, Red-legged Partridge, loads of Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plover, Knot, Hooded Crow, Kittiwake, amazing views of many Ospreys, Razorbill, Puffin, Common Scoter, Goosander, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Teal, Wheater, Sand Martin, Yellowhammer, Crossbill, Brambling, White Wagtail, Tree Sparrow, Raven, Skylark, Buzzard, Common Gull, Curlew, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.

It was a massive butterfly month for me too as the peak season moved through the early gears enjoying magical views of Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Holly Blue and Wall Brown with many making the most of the wealth of dandelions out the front and at Lakeside. My moth year got going too with White-shouldered House moth at home and bright Brimstone moth at Durlston.

It was a marvellous month of mammals with Hedgehog at home, more Roe Deers in a strong year I’m having for them, Sika Deers on the way to Durlston and Grey Squirrels enjoyed. A massive part of the Scotland trip was exhilarating encounters with mammals, getting some of my best ever views of certain species; inside April this included stunning intimate views of Hares and Roe Deers around the cottage, an amazing moment as a Stoat ran through the garden, a dream encounter watching Bottlenose Dolphins at Spey Bay and Mountain Goats. Bees, spiders, Black and Yellow Cellar slugs and pill woodlouse were other highlights this moth. 

Flowers gripped my month of course too as the season really matured with cuckooflower, garlic mustard, wild garlic, early purple orchid, my first ever known sighting of green-winged orchid, early spider orchid, cowslips, bluebells, greater stitchwort, marsh marigold, wood anemone, milkwort, buttercups, lesser celandine, wood anemone, cuckoo-pint, red deadnettle, white deadnettle, yellow archangel, forget-me-not, green alkanet, speedwell and herb-Robert starring alongside the breathtaking dandelion scenes. Vetch, sea and red campion, thrift, hogweed and oxeye daisy (some more than others and largely down to personal perspective) were examples of the cycle of the floral year being slightly ahead again. In Scotland it was interesting to observe spring being slightly behind compared to home with daffodils and primroses still around in numbers among others. It was nice to enjoy the sight of fungi here and there in April including hoof fungus in Scotland.

I enjoyed two great social occasions this month, the Hampshire Ornithological Society’s Member’s Day and a talk from Megan McCubbin based around her book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading earlier in the year. Both were inspirational and eye-opening times where it was great to meet like-minded people something watching the Great Crested Grebes has allowed a lot too. Finally I enjoyed being out and looking out so much in April taking in my surroundings and taking in some wonderful vistas and epic sky scenes. Immersed in the splendour of the vast, open, rugged, mountainous and varied landscape in Scotland also including wetland, coast and forest we enjoyed some incredible and breathtaking views.