David Element

The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis with a Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinis that she had just caught in a small London park yesterday #birds - along with some mud and a leaf-stem! It didn't last for long.

It was good to see Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class No. 35028 @clanline35028.bsky.social back in action at Wandsworth Road this morning following the winter maintenance period by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society. Looking in fine fettle!

The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, poised to pounce on the unsuspecting Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus that she successfully caught moments later #birds. Photographed in a small London park this morning.

The pair of Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis thoughtfully posed together in a small London park this morning #birds. Perhaps the birds are aware of the current low availability of memory cards!

Swietelsky Freight English Electric Class 37/6 No. 37607 & Meteor Power Class 37/4 No. 37 425 topping-and-tailing a Network Rail ultrasonic test train at Derby on 9/3. Nemesis Rail Class 31 No. 31128 'Charybdis' is in the 3rd photo (background). A combined age of about 190 years!

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 taking a drink early this afternoon #birds. The head-plumes that adorn these birds during the breeding season have been growing nicely!

Brand new GB Railfreight's Stadler Class 99 Bi-mode Locomotive No. 99005, stabled at Leicester on a sunny 5th March. It had been delivered to the UK from Valencia on 18th February. Environmentally friendly, and so highly polished that the shed door was reflected by its paintwork.

The Sun, shot (safely) through cloud this morning. The three prominent sunspots are (from right to left) 4378, 4381 and 4384. The contrast has been adjusted to highlight the sunspots, so the blue tint is artificial.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 negotiating a Three
-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus this am #birds. It goes without saying that these fish don't always co-operate with their predators. However, they rarely manage to escape, despite their impressively hostile weaponry!

They are indeed - relatively recent arrivals to the UK where they started to breed in 1996.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7, employing flaps and undercarriage when alighting early this morning in a small London park #birds. High ISO was needed as it was still rather dull at the time.

A really nice capture Simon!

This Grey Heron Ardea cinerea had managed to catch some fallen leaf detritus along with a Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus in a small London park this morning #birds. This happens frequently, and the vegetable matter was typically discarded before the fish was swallowed, head-first.

My gallery of photographs has been significantly expanded since I was promoted by the Avalon agency as 'Photographer of the Month' for January. The entire collection of images may be accessed here: www.avalon.red/editorial?bl....

In both senses! Thanks Rob.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta was in amongst the Common Minnows Phoxinus phoxinus again in a small London park this morning #birds. Once captured, they have little chance of escape.

The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis taking flight from the fallen tree in a small London park earlier today #birds.

This Red Admiral Butterfly Vanessa atalanta added an additional splash of colour to a glorious day. Photographed in a small London park this morning.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 in a reflective mood earlier today #birds. Photographed in a small London park.

I didn't have time to switch from portrait mode when Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 took off in a small London park today when a juvenile Grey Heron Ardea cinerea took exception to his proximity #birds. Nice water reflections underneath the wing.

One from a sequence of the female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis in the process of consuming an unfortunate Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus that she had just caught in a small London park earlier today #birds. She was perched on the fallen tree, and it was swallowed just seconds later.

The 2023G Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen has returned this evening after having delivered her third litter of cubs, all fathered by the 2023F dog fox. The cubs won't be visible until early April. Three successive litters involving the same partnership is comparatively rare.

Fallen branches seem to stimulate some members of society to take pleasure from dumping them in the nearest water-body #birds. The female Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis innocently exploited this malevolent behaviour by using this newly discovered perch in a small London park yesterday.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 was making a positive contribution by brightening up a gloomy day yesterday #birds. These stunning birds are great subjects for photography, and some of the subtleties of their plumage are easier to see in dull conditions. Photographed in a small London park.

Three more photographs, taken in disappointingly dull light, of the 2024A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen during her visit early this afternoon.

A rare diurnal sighting of the 2024A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen today, last seen shortly before the end of 2025, and entirely nocturnal in her habits for more than a year. She was two years old on 10th February.

All a matter of scale Rachel!

Oil from the uropygial (preen) gland and feather-dust (dander) are used to maintain the complex plumage of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta in tip-top condition. No. 7 is shown enjoying a languid scratch in a small London park on 14th February. These birds bathe only occasionally.

One of the toe abnormalities that enables Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 (present for a 6th winter) to be identified is visible in this photograph, illustrating the use of the pectinate claw during the long preening process #birds. Photographed in a small London park on 14th Feb.

For Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, preening is a long, drawn-out process, often taking an hour or more to complete #birds. Two of the bird's main tools are illustrated here, the bill and the specially adapted and grooved pectinate claw. Photographed in a small London park on 14th Feb.