Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) chicks, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall.
I was exploring St Michael’s Mount, in Cornwall, when I noticed these little swallow chicks (Hirundo rustica) sat on a wire between two of the island’s buildings. They still had some downy feathers and had probably fledged from their nest just a day or two ago. The parents bring food back up to 400 times a day but passing it can take less than a second. I focussed on the chicks and as soon as I saw the tell-tale signs of excitement my finger was ready on the trigger. I think that this is an image that many parents will relate to - it can be difficult when more than one child is demanding your attention at the same time. #Swallows #Birds #Fledging #Chicks #Feeding #Hungry #Children
Black kites gather over Willare roadhouse as the pigs are fed, Kimberlys, WA.
Black Thighed Falconet - Worlds smallest raptor
Black-thighed falconet (Microhierax fringillarius), Malaysia. The worlds smallest bird of prey, the size of a sparrow.
The black thighed falconet (Microhierax fringillarius) is the worlds smallest bird of prey - the size and weight of a sparrow. Using a cherry picker I was able to slowly get level with the top of a tree where the adults rested before flying to the nest. After many hours gaining their confidence I was able to photograph this tender and intimate moment. This is a difficult bird to get close to and I worked with scientists who have been monitoring the nest for many generations. I agreed to not disclose the location for fear of poaching. #EarthOnLocation #BBC #Malaysia #Raptor #Bird #Romance #Love #Smallest #Wildlife
A Pacific Swallow also joins the chorus to entertain us at breakfast in #Sumatra
Using a remote camera Paul Williams captures this close up shots of clouds of budgies gathering to drink in a shrinking waterhole ------------------------During the summer months in central Australia (November to February), the temperature can be in the 40s and water is scarce. I knew that budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus) would start to flock together as they sought out what little water remained . It was a challenge to locate where they might gather but I heard reports from an area south of the town of Alice Springs. I drove up and down the desert searching the horizon for flocks. I eventually found a small waterhole littered with little green feathers and fresh droppings. I returned just before dawn. It was silent but it wasn’t long before the sky above me was filled with the flutters of thousands of budgies, all desperate to drink. Birds of prey also gathered to take advantage. To confuse the hunting raptors the budgies erupted into mesmerising clouds of green, creating huge murmurations like starlings in the UK.
Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Flocking to find water, Summer, Northern Territory, Australia
Mumurations of budgies form over a shrinking water hole -------------------------During the summer months in central Australia (November to February), the temperature can be in the 40s and water is scarce. I knew that budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus) would start to flock together as they sought out what little water remained . It was a challenge to locate where they might gather but I heard reports from an area south of the town of Alice Springs. I drove up and down the desert searching the horizon for flocks. I eventually found a small waterhole littered with little green feathers and fresh droppings. I returned just before dawn. It was silent but it wasn’t long before the sky above me was filled with the flutters of thousands of budgies, all desperate to drink. Birds of prey also gathered to take advantage. To confuse the hunting raptors the budgies erupted into mesmerising clouds of green, creating huge murmurations like starlings in the UK.
Thousands of budgies dive into the shrinking water hole to drink as Paul Williams sets up a camera to capture the action -------------------------During the summer months in central Australia (November to February), the temperature can be in the 40s and water is scarce. I knew that budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus) would start to flock together as they sought out what little water remained . It was a challenge to locate where they might gather but I heard reports from an area south of the town of Alice Springs. I drove up and down the desert searching the horizon for flocks. I eventually found a small waterhole littered with little green feathers and fresh droppings. I returned just before dawn. It was silent but it wasn’t long before the sky above me was filled with the flutters of thousands of budgies, all desperate to drink. Birds of prey also gathered to take advantage. To confuse the hunting raptors the budgies erupted into mesmerising clouds of green, creating huge murmurations like starlings in the UK.
NB: This image is also held by RexFeatures.com Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Flocking to find water, Summer, Northern Territory, Australia. Cameraman Lyndsey Cupper filming for the BBC series Wonders of the Monsoon
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