29-7-2012 SEVASTOPOL, CRIMEA - NORTHERN WHITE BREASTED HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus roumanicus)

The northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) is a species of hedgehog.

The range of the species extends in the west as far as Poland, Austria and the former Yugoslavia, and south to Greece and the Adriatic Islands, including populations on Crete, Corfu and Rhodes. It is found eastwards through Russia and Ukraine, as far east as the Ob River in Siberia. It is widespread throughout this range, and there are no signs of a significant population decline.

Taxonomically, it was for a time considered to be a subspecies of E. europaeus, and later a subspecies of E. concolor. Since the 1990s, it has been considered a separate species in its own right, following new genetic and morphological studies, with five subspecies - E. roumanicus roumanicus, E. roumanicus bolkayi, E. roumanicus drozdovskii, E. roumanicus nesiotes, and E. roumanicus pallidus.

In Europe, the size of the northern white-breasted hedgehog in southern Europe was greater in comparison to white-breasted hedgehog in northern Europe. The size of the northern white-breasted hedgehog varied based on the temperature and precipitation, the size of the white-breasted hedgehog was larger in higher temperatures. The higher the precipitation, specifically summer precipitation, the smaller the size of the white-breasted hedgehog.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - PIED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe pleschanka)

The pied wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) is a wheatear, a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher (family Muscicapidae). This migratory central Asiatic wheatear occurs from the extreme southeast of Europe to China, and has been found wintering in India and northeastern Africa. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

The male is a boldly marked white-and-black bird. The white crown tinged with brown contrasts with the black face and throat and white rump. The female is browner, and the head is washed with sandy buff. Females are darker than the females of the northern wheatear, look smaller and show less white on the rump. The tail feathers are white with characteristic black markings, which form an inverted black "T" pattern that resembles the tail of the western black-eared wheatear. This 14 centimetres (5.5 in) bird nests in open, stony, sparsely vegetated regions, laying four to six eggs in a hole, under a stone or in a rock crevice. The pied wheatear primarily eats insects but will also take seeds. 

The pied wheatear is native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia. The breeding range extends from Romania and Bulgaria to Siberia, Altai and Mongolia and southwards to the Caucasus, Transcaspia, Turkestan, Iran and Afghanistan. It occurs at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in the Altai and up to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) in the Tien Shan. It migrates to Northeast Africa, passing through Southwest Asia on the way. In the breeding season it is found in rough open country, steppes with scant vegetation, stony slopes and hilly country. In its winter quarters it is found in similar locations with rock, scree and on plains with thorny scrub. It sometimes visits grassy areas and gardens. It has occurred as a vagrant in Italy, Heligoland and Scotland.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula parva)

The red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva) is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in eastern Europe and across Central Asia and is migratory, wintering in south Asia. It is a regular passage migrant in western Europe, whereas the collared flycatcher which breeds further east is rare. This is because of the different migration direction. The Asian species Ficedula albicilla, previously considered a subspecies of the red-breasted flycatcher, has the red throat surrounded by grey and a different song. It is usually now separated as the taiga flycatcher (Pallas, 1811).

The breeding male of this small 11–12 cm long flycatcher is mainly brown above and white below, with a grey head and orange throat. The bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores. As well as taking insects in flight, this species hunts caterpillars amongst the oak foliage, and will take berries. The base of the outertail feather is white and the tail is often flicked upwards as they perch looking out for insect prey which are caught on the wing or sometimes from the ground. In winter they are mostly silent but have a typical chip-chip-chr-rrr flycatcher call. In their breeding season, the song consists of melodious whistles, like that of the European pied flycatcher.

Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have brown heads and lack the throat collar, but are easily distinguished from other Ficedula flycatchers on size and the wheatear-like tail pattern, with an inverted dark T against the white tail sides.

They are found mainly deciduous woodlands, especially near water. They build an open nest in a tree hole or similar recess. 4–7 eggs are laid.

Studies on their spring arrivals to the breeding quarters in Poland from 1973–2002 show that males are returning earlier with increasing temperatures.

The genus name is from Latin and refers to a small fig-eating bird supposed to change into the blackcap in winter. The specific parva is Latin for "small".

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - BLACK WOODPECKER (Dryocopus martius)

The black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is a large woodpecker that lives in mature forests across the northern Palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding. The black woodpecker is easily the largest woodpecker species in Europe as well as in the portion of Asia where it lives and is one of the largest species worldwide. This non-migratory species tends to make its home in old-growth forest or large forest stands and excavates a large tree hole to reside in. In turn, several species rely on black woodpeckers to secondarily reside in the holes made in trees by them. This woodpeckers diet consists mostly of carpenter ants. This species is closely related to, and fills the same ecological niche in Europe as, the pileated woodpecker of North America and the lineated woodpecker of South America, also being similar to the white-bellied woodpecker which is distributed to the south somewhat of the black woodpecker in Asia.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - BEARDED REEDLING (Panurus biarmicus)

The bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) is a small, long-tailed passerine bird found in reed beds near water in the temperate zone of Eurasia. It is frequently known as the bearded tit or the bearded parrotbill, as it historically was believed to be closely related to tits or parrotbills. Today it is known to lack close relatives and it is the only species in the family Panuridae.

The bearded reedling is strongly sexually dimorphic and form life-long pairs. These social birds are highly productive and can breed several times in a season. They mostly feed on small invertebrates in summer and plant seeds in winter.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - CORN CRAKE (Crex crex)

The Corn Crake, also known as the Corncrake or Landrail (Crex crex), is a medium-sized bird belonging to the rail family. It exhibits brownish-black upperparts streaked with buff or grey, and its wings are adorned with chestnut markings. The underparts are a blue-grey hue, transitioning to rust-colored and white bars on the flanks and undertail. The bill is a robust, flesh-toned structure, the iris pale brown, and the legs and feet a pale grey. Juveniles resemble adults in plumage, while downy chicks are black, a common trait among rails.

Males are distinguishable by their slightly larger size and more vivid upperparts compared to females. The Corn Crake's distinctive chestnut wing coverts and barred flanks aid in its identification. In flight, it reveals white edges on the inner wing and its legs dangle characteristically.

The Corn Crake favors grasslands, particularly hayfields for breeding, and similar environments during winter migration. It avoids very wet habitats and prefers areas with vegetation that is not too tall or dense to walk through.

This species breeds across Europe and Asia, extending to western China, and migrates to Africa for the Northern Hemisphere's winter. Its range includes lowlands and upland regions, with some populations nesting at high altitudes.

The Corn Crake is a secretive bird, often hidden within vegetation. It exhibits a high-stepping walk and can run swiftly through grass. When disturbed, it may take a weak, fluttering flight but is capable of stronger flight over longer distances, such as during migration.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - RED NECKED GREBE (Podiceps grisegena)

The red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites.

The red-necked grebe is a nondescript dusky-grey bird in winter. During the breeding season, it acquires the distinctive red neck plumage, black cap and contrasting pale grey face from which its name was derived. It also has an elaborate courtship display and a variety of loud mating calls. Once paired, it builds a nest from water plants on top of floating vegetation in a shallow lake or bog.

Like all grebes, the Red-necked is a good swimmer, a particularly swift diver, and responds to danger by diving rather than flying. The feet are positioned far back on the body, near the tail, which makes the bird ungainly on land. It dives for fish or picks insects off vegetation; it also swallows its own feathers, possibly to protect the digestive system. The conservation status of its two subspecies—P. g. grisegena found in Europe and western Asia, and the larger P. g. holboelii (formerly Holbœll grebe), in North America and eastern Siberia—is evaluated as Least Concern, and the global population is stable or growing.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - MARSH FROG (Pelophylax ridibundus)

The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) is a species of water frog native to Europe and parts of western Asia.

The marsh frog is the largest type of frog in most of its range, with males growing to a size around 100 mm (3.9 in) SVL and females slightly larger (4 in) SVL.[4] There is a large variation in colour and pattern, ranging from dark green to brown or grey, sometimes with some lighter green lines; a lighter line on the back is generally present. The frog will usually be darker coloured in early spring to absorb heat more efficiently.

Tadpoles can reach up to 190 mm (7.3 in) in length, but this usually occurs in places with long winters where the tadpole has time to grow.

They occur in a large part of Europe starting from western France and spreading out into the Middle East and about a quarter into Russia. There are also isolated populations in Saudi Arabia and the Russian Far East, along with some introduced populations in the United Kingdom and other places.

These frogs are very lenient in their habitats, and are able to inhabit a majority of different types of water bodies. Marsh frogs hibernate during the winter either underwater or in burrows, and are able to use the magnetic field of the Earth to locate breeding ponds.

Adult marsh frogs have a large head that is able to devour a wide variety of prey, mostly arthropods and other invertebrates, as well as small fish, other amphibians (including conspecifics), reptiles, small birds, and rodents. In an analysis of 53 adults in Thrace, flies made up 40% and beetles 20% of their diet. These frogs have been found to climb onto water buffalo so they could eat the flies attracted to it, hinting at a possible mutualistic relationship.

As tadpoles, they eat a wide range of organic matter including algae, detritus, decaying plants, invertebrates, and dead animals.

 In places where they were introduced, marsh frogs may pose a threat to the native Pelophylax by diluting the gene pool, but there is evidence that although they may hybridize they do not affect the overall population that greatly.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - THRUSH NIGHTINGALE (Luscinia luscinia)

The thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), also known as the sprosser, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chats.

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in forests in Europe and the Palearctic and overwintering in Africa. The distribution is more northerly than the very closely related common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos, which it closely resembles in appearance. It nests near the ground in dense undergrowth.

The thrush nightingale is similar in size to the European robin. It is plain greyish-brown above and white and greyish-brown below. Its greyer tones, giving a cloudy appearance to the underside, and lack of the common nightingale's obvious rufous tail side patches are the clearest plumage differences from that species. Sexes are similar. It has a similar but more powerful song than that of the nightingale.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - RING OUZEL (Turdus torquatus)

The ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus) is a mainly European member of the thrush family Turdidae. It is a medium-sized thrush, 23–24 centimetres (9.1–9.4 in) in length and weighing 90–138 grams (3.2–4.9 oz). The male is predominantly black with a conspicuous white crescent across its breast. Females are browner and duller than males, and young birds may lack the pale chest markings altogether. In all but the northernmost part of its range, this is a high-altitude species, with three races breeding in mountains from Ireland east to Iran. It breeds in open mountain areas with some trees or shrubs, the latter often including heather, conifers, beech, hairy alpenrose or juniper. It is a migratory bird, leaving the breeding areas to winter in southern Europe, North Africa and Turkey, typically in mountains with juniper bushes. The typical clutch is 3–6 brown-flecked pale blue or greenish-blue eggs. They are incubated almost entirely by the female, with hatching normally occurring after 13 days. The altricial, downy chicks fledge in another 14 days and are dependent on their parents for about 12 days after fledging.

The ring ouzel is omnivorous, eating invertebrates, particularly insects and earthworms, some small vertebrates, and a wide range of fruit. Most animal prey is caught on the ground. During spring migration and the breeding season, invertebrates dominate the adult's diet and are also fed to the chicks. Later in the year, fruit becomes more important, particularly the common juniper.

With an extensive range and a large population, the ring ouzel is evaluated as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are signs of decline in several countries; suspected causes including climate change, human disturbance, hunting and outdoor leisure activities. Loss of junipers may also be a factor in some areas. Natural hazards include predation by mammalian carnivores and birds of prey, and locally there may also be competition from other large thrushes such as the common blackbird, mistle thrush and fieldfare.

 

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus)

 The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Eurosiberia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

It can be distinguished from other similar finches by the colour of the plumage. The upper parts are greyish green and the under parts grey-streaked white. Its wings are black with a conspicuous yellow wing bar, and the tail is black with yellow sides. The male has a mainly yellow face and breast, with a neat black cap. Female and young birds have a greyish green head and no cap. It is a trusting, sociable and active bird. The song of this bird is a pleasant mix of twitters and trills. For these reasons it is often raised in captivity.

These birds have an unusual migration pattern as every few years in winter they migrate southwards in large numbers. The reasons for this behaviour are not known but may be related to climatic factors and above all the availability of food. In this way overwintering populations can thrive where food is abundant. This small finch is an acrobatic feeder, often hanging upside-down like a tit. It will visit garden bird feeding stations.

24-7-2012 DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA - RED NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)

Almost all of the nonbreeding season is spent in open water. As this species rarely comes into contact with humans, it can be unusually tame.

21-9-1992 SITKA, ALASKA - HORNED PUFFIN (Fratercula corniculata)

The horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) is an auk found in the North Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of Alaska, Siberia and British Columbia. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often with other auks.

It is similar in appearance to the Atlantic puffin, its closest relative of the North Atlantic, but differs by a "horn" of black skin located above the eye, present in adult birds.

This juvenile lacks the horn and brilliantly colored rhamphotheca seen in sexually mature birds during the breeding season

The height of the adult puffin is approximately 20 cm (8 in), the weight is approximately 500 g (18 oz), and the wingspan is approximately 58 cm (23 in). Horned puffins are monomorphic (the male and female exhibit the same plumage coloration). Sexually mature birds have a small fleshy black "horn" extending upwards from the eye, from which the animal derives its common name — the horned puffin. A dark eyestripe extends backwards from the eye towards the occiput. The cheeks are white, with a yellow wattle at the base of the bill. The legs and feet are orange.

The horned puffin's bill, which is larger than those of other puffin species, is red at the tip and yellow at the base. In summer (breeding) plumage, the bill's outer layer – the rhamphotheca – grows in size and turns bright yellow with a dark orange tip. The size and color of the rhamphotheca helps to attract a mate. The brilliant outer layers of the rhamphotheca are shed in late summer, as the face reverts to a gray and black color, and the legs and feet fade to a pale fleshy color. This phase is referred to as eclipse plumage. The puffin's bill has fluorescent properties that are also used to attract a partner. Puffins can see ultraviolet rays, allowing them to spot luminescence on the bills of other puffins during the courtship display.

9-4-2006 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BIRD GRASSHOPPER (Subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae)

16-4-2003 PANAMA - GOLDEN COLLARED MANAKIN (Manacus vitellinus)

The golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus) is a species of bird in the family Pipridae.

It is found in Colombia and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and heavily degraded former forest.

20-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - MANGROVE HONEYEATER (Gavicalis fasciogularis)

The mangrove honeyeater (Gavicalis fasciogularis) is a species of bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. The species was once considered to be conspecific with the varied honeyeater, but it is now treated as a separate species. These two species form a genus with the singing honeyeater.

It is endemic to Australia, where it is restricted to the eastern coast from Townsville in Queensland to northern New South Wales. The species has been expanding its range southward in recent years. The mangrove honeyeater is generally locally common over most of its range, but is rarer in the south.

There are 177 species of honeyeaters in 40 genera, including the Blue-faced honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis), Bell miner (Manorina melanophrys), Stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta), Western spinebill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus), and the Wattlebirds of the genus Anthochaera.

20-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - TORRESIAN KINGFISHER (Todiramphus sordidus)

The Torresian kingfisher (Todiramphus sordidus) is a medium-sized coastal bird from the family Alcedinidae found in northern and eastern Australia and southern New Guinea. It lives mostly in mangroves, mudflats, and tidal areas, feeding on small fish and crabs. It was once seen as part of the collared kingfisher group.

Physical Traits

Size: Measures about 23 to 25 cm long.

Weight: Weighs roughly 50 to 100 grams.

Color: Shows a greenish-brown cap, a white spot near the eye, a white collar, and turquoise-blue wings and tail.

Bill: Has a long, sharp, dark bill with a pale base on the lower jaw.

Habitat and Range

Location: Found in coastal northern Australia, parts of Western Australia, Queensland, and southern New Guinea.

Home: Prefers mangrove forests, tidal mudflats, and rocky shorelines.

Behavior and Diet

Diet: Hunts fish, crabs, and small coastal insects.Style: Sits still on low branches in mangroves to watch for prey before diving down to grab it.

20-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - SATIN BOWERBIRD (female) (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

The satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) is a species of passerine bird in the bowerbird family Ptilonorhynchidae that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is the only species placed in the genus Ptilonorhynchus.

Mature males have violet-blue eyes and are uniformly coloured black, however, light diffraction by the surface texture of the feathers results in an almost metallic sheen giving a deep shiny blue appearance. Immature males are coloured and marked the same as females and are often mistaken for them.

Females might be mistaken for the green catbird or spotted catbird with distinctively green/brown or otherwise entirely brown upper body and lighter under body with a distinct reticulated or scalloped pattern, but with very striking blue eyes.

The satin bowerbird is common in rainforest and tall moist sclerophyll forest in eastern Australia from southern Queensland to Victoria. There is also an isolated population in the Wet Tropics of north Queensland.

Like all Ptilonorhynchidae, satin bowerbirds are predominantly frugivorous as adults, though they also eat leaves and a small amount of seeds and insects. As nestlings, however, they are largely fed on beetles, grasshoppers and cicadas until they can fly.

18-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - STRIATED PARDALOTTE (Pardalotus striatus)

The striated pardalote (Pardalotus striatus) is the least colourful and most common of the four pardalote species. Other common names include pickwick, wittachew and chip-chip. It is a very small, short-tailed bird that is more often heard than seen, foraging noisily for lerps and other small creatures in the treetops.

The striated pardalote's plumage varies considerably across its range. The crown is black, with subspecies substriatus, striatus and ornatus having white streaks. The eyebrow is white, starting with a yellow mark near the beak. All races have a white stripe on the wing and olive backs. The nominate race has a yellow spot on the wing, whilst the other subspecies have a red dot. The male and female are similar, juveniles have duller plumage. Similar species include the spotted pardalote and the red-browed pardalote.

Striated pardalotes occupy a vast range of habitat types from tall mountain rainforest to arid scrubland, although they favour eucalyptus forest and woodlands. They are found in all parts of Australia except some of the Western Australian deserts.

Striated pardalotes feed on insects and insect larvae. They usually do so in the high foliage of eucalyptus trees, but may come closer to the ground where there are lower shrubs. Feeding takes place in small groups

Breeding occurs from June to February. Two to five white, oval-shaped eggs are laid in a nest is made of bark fiber, rootlets and fine grass, and placed in tree hollow, a tunnel excavated in the side of a bank or within crevices in man-made objects. Both sexes incubate and care for the young.

15-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - EASTERN ROSELLA (Platycercus eximius)

The Eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) is a colorfull parrot native to Australia and Tasmania. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Pale-headed rosella (P. adscitus).

The Eastern rosella has a red head and white cheeks. The beak is white, and the irises are brown. The upper breast is red, and the lower breast is yellow fading to pale green over the abdomen. The feathers of the back and shoulders are black and have yellowish or greenish margins giving rise to a scalloped appearance that varies slightly between the subspecies and the sexes. The wings and lateral tail feathers are bluish while the tail is dark green. The legs are grey. The female is similar to the male though duller in coloration and has an underwing stripe, which is not present in the adult male. Juveniles are duller than females and have an underwing stripe.

15-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - GALAH (Eolophus roseicapilla)

The galah (/ɡəˈlɑː/; Eolophus roseicapilla), less commonly known as the pink and grey cockatoo, galah cockatoo, or rose-breasted cockatoo, is an Australian species of cockatoo and the only member of the genus Eolophus. The galah is adapted to a wide variety of modified and unmodified habitats and is one of Australia's most abundant and widespread bird species.

The galah can be found throughout Australia and is absent only from the driest areas and the far north of Cape York Peninsula. The galah has been introduced to Tasmania through anthropogenic means and no sightings were made prior to 1848. A large population expansion occurred in the 1960s following many escapees from captivity. It is common in metropolitan areas, such as Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, and abundant in open habitats that offer at least some scattered trees for shelter. It is common in all habitats in its range except for dense forests, especially those with high rainfall.

While it is mostly found in inland areas, the galah is rapidly colonising coastal regions. The changes brought by European settlement, which have been disastrous for many species, have been highly beneficial for the galah, because of the clearing of forests in fertile areas and the provision of stock-watering points in arid zones.

The galah was also introduced to New Zealand in the latter part of the 20th century, becoming established in the South Auckland area.

14-10-2001 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - FLAME ROBIN (Petroica phoenicea)

The flame robin (Petroica phoenicea) is a small passerine bird native to Australia. It is a moderately common resident of the coolest parts of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Like the other two red-breasted Petroica robins—the scarlet robin and the red-capped robin—it is often simply called the robin redbreast. Like many brightly coloured robins of the Petroicidae, it is sexually dimorphic. Measuring 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in) long, the flame robin has dark brown eyes and a small thin black bill. The male has a brilliant orange-red chest and throat, and a white patch on the forehead above the bill. Its upper parts are iron-grey with white bars, and its tail black with white tips. Female coloration is a muted grey-brown. Its song has been described as the most musical of its genus.

The position of the flame robin and its Australian relatives on the passerine family tree is unclear; the Petroicidae are not closely related to either the European or American robins, but appear to be an early offshoot of the Passerida group of songbirds. The flame robin is predominantly insectivorous, pouncing on prey from a perch in a tree, or foraging on the ground. A territorial bird, the flame robin employs song and plumage displays to mark out and defend its territory. It is classified by BirdLife International as least concern.

10-10-2000 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - BLUE WINGED KOOKABURRA (Dacelo leachii)

The blue-winged kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) is a large kingfisher, slightly smaller than its cousin, the laughing kookaburra. It boasts a cream-colored plumage with brownish bars, blue wings, and a blue rump. The male is distinguished by its blue tail, while the female's tail is rufous with blackish bars.

Adults measure 38 to 42 cm in length and weigh between 260 to 330 grams. They lack the dark mask of the laughing kookaburra, have more blue in the wing, and striking white eyes. The bill is quite heavy. Juveniles can be identified by their more pronounced brown bars and marks, and their eyes are brown for the first two years.

This species is found in open savannah woodland, Melaleuca swamps, and farmlands, including sugarcane plantations.

The blue-winged kookaburra's range extends from southern New Guinea and northern Australia to Brisbane in southern Queensland, across the Top End, and down the Western Australian coast as far as Shark Bay.

They live in family groups of up to 12 individuals and are known for their maniacal cackling or barking calls.

The call of the blue-winged kookaburra is a distinctive and loud cackle or barking sound.

A cooperative breeder, the blue-winged kookaburra nests in tree hollows, with a breeding pair assisted by helper birds. They lay three to four white, slightly shiny eggs, and chicks are altricial, requiring extensive care post-hatching.

Their diet varies seasonally, including insects, lizards, frogs, crayfish, scorpions, spiders, fish, earthworms, small birds, and rodents. They are opportunistic and may even snatch insects fleeing from bushfires.

The blue-winged kookaburra is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, they face predation from red goshawks and rufous owls, and adults are at risk of vehicle collisions. Nests may be raided by olive pythons, quolls, and goannas.

10-10-2001 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - EASTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. coromandus)

The Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus, is a member of the heron family Ardeidae, displaying a stout build with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 96 centimeters. It is characterized by its white plumage, which during the breeding season is adorned with buff plumes, and a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. The breeding adult is distinguished by its golden nuptial plumes and the buff coloration extending to the cheeks and throat.

This species can be identified by its relatively short, thick neck, sturdy bill, and hunched posture. The non-breeding adult is predominantly white with a yellow bill. During breeding, the buff on the head extends to the cheeks and throat, and the plumes take on a more golden hue. The bill and tarsus are longer than those of its western counterpart, and it is generally smaller with shorter wings.

The Eastern Cattle Egret favors drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Its preferred environments include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies.

Native to southern and eastern Asia, and Australasia, this species has expanded its range remarkably, partly due to its symbiotic relationship with cattle and other large grazing mammals. It has established itself in the north and east of Australia and regularly visits New Zealand.

The Eastern Cattle Egret is often seen in the company of cattle or other large mammals, taking advantage of the insects and small vertebrates these animals disturb. Some populations are migratory, while others disperse after breeding, showing a remarkable adaptability in their movements.

10-10-2001 BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW, AUSTRALIA - EASTERN GREY KANGAROO (Macropus giganteus)

The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus: gigantic large-foot; also great grey kangaroo or forester kangaroo) is a marsupial found in the eastern third of Australia, with a population of several million. Although a large M. giganteus kangaroo male can typically weigh up to 69 kg (152 lb) and have a length of well over 2 m (6 ft 7 in),the scientific name is misleading as the red kangaroo of the semi-arid inland is larger, weighing up to 90 kg (200 lb).

The eastern grey kangaroo was described by George Shaw in 1790 as Macropus giganteus.

Although the red is better known, the eastern grey is the kangaroo most often encountered in Australia, due to its adaptability. Few Australians visit the arid interior of the continent, while many live in and around the major cities of the southern and eastern coast, from where it is usually only a short drive to the remaining pockets of near-city bushland where kangaroos can be found without much difficulty. The eastern grey prefers open grassland with areas of bush for daytime shelter and mainly inhabits the wetter parts of Australia. It also inhabits coastal areas, woodlands, sub-tropical forests, mountain forests, and inland scrubs.

Like all kangaroos, it is mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, and is mostly seen early in the morning, or as the light starts to fade in the evening. In the middle of the day, kangaroos rest in the cover of the woodlands and eat there but then come out in the open to feed on the grasslands in large numbers.The eastern grey kangaroo mainly graze a wide variety of grasses[ compared to other species (e.g. the red kangaroo) that also include significant amounts of shrubs in their diet.

Eastern grey kangaroos are gregarious and form open-membership groups. The groups contain an average of three individuals. Smaller groups join to graze in preferred foraging areas, and to rest in large groups around the middle of the day. They exist in a dominance hierarchy and the dominant individuals gain access to better sources of food and areas of shade. However, kangaroos are not territorial. Eastern grey kangaroos adjust their behaviour in relation to the risk of predation with reproductive females, individuals on the periphery of the group and individuals in groups far from cover being the most vigilant. Vigilance in individual kangaroos does not seem to significantly decrease when the size of the group increases. However, there is a tendency for the proportion of individuals on the periphery of the group to decline as group size increases. The open membership of the group allows more kangaroos to join and thus provide more buffers against predators.