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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

I saw a nuthatch in a tree, showing off its climbing skills. They're pretty little #birds South London, UK.

17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

The signs in the park said not to feed bread to the ducks, so I fed their egos with lots of compliments instead. They are very pretty, so it's only right to tell them that. #birds

Female mallard standing in shallow water and shaking herself, she is motion blurred

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

This moorhen chick is so funny looking, but cute with it. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

A beautiful tufted duck mother and her cute ducklings. #birds

Female tufted duck and a duckling on a disused nest in a pond

Two tufted ducklings on a disused nest on a pond

A female tufted duck standing on a disused nest in a pond

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

A Canada goose washing, splashing lots. I don't think they're capable of being subtle or quiet. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

I know terrapins aren't a natural part of the ecosystem in the UK & shouldn't be in our parks but I still think they're amazing to look at. These two live in a small park in South London.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Tufted ducklings, they're so cute. They can dive even when they're tiny, so they're constantly disappearing and reappearing. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

This kingfisher was just metres away from busy roads, light industrial sites, out of town superstores & a busy children's playground. It's so good that they can survive in the city. She had just caught & eaten a small fish. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

A parakeet eating some fruit in a neighbouring garden. I find it interesting how they hold food with their feet and their beak. They're not native to the UK but they are everywhere in the London area and a number of other cities. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Local cat enjoying rolling around on my patio, showing off her toe beans 😻 #cats #notmycat

A black cat with golden eyes lies on her back with her paws in the air on yellow patio slabs.

The same black cat is lying with her paws in the air

Same black cat lying on her side on the patio

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

I saw a couple of skylarks on a golf course, on the border between London and Surrey. I really hope they've had a successful breeding season. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

The ants weren't happy about the number of 7 spot ladybirds on this plant. Ants actually farm aphids, getting them to produce honeydew, while ladybirds eat aphids. Amazing to watch their interactions. The ants are much smaller so I don't know if anyone wins. #ladybirds

A ladybird is on a plant and two ants are in front of it, one with its antenna touching the ladybird.

A ladybird is on the underside of a seed pod, while an ant pokes at it with its antennae.

A ladybird on a plant with an ant grabbing at it.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

I saw some pretty dragonflies hiding out in woodland to avoid unwanted male attention. First one is a common darter, second southern hawker. Seen in Croydon, South London.

A female Common Darter butterfly is perched on top of an upright branch, viewed side on.

A female Southern Hawker dragonfly is perched vertically gripping a tree branch.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Shiny insects in Reading, UK. A rose chafer beetle and a male banded demoiselle. Such beautiful colours.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

It's almost like they're trying to catch people out with the ticket machines. 3 different fares to the same place. The journey planner shows the via London route. A 20p difference between via Redhill & "not via London" (i.e. change at Clapham Junction) but a big fine if you get it wrong.

A photo of the screen on a ticket machine at East Croydon train station that says "Please select your fare". There are 8 fares available. On the left are the fares for "Reading via Redhill", a slow and unreliable route going down through Surrey, costing £25.20 for an off peak day return. In the middle is "Reading not via London" which involves travelling to Clapham Junction then catching a slow train to Reading, costing £25.40 off peak day return. It's confusing because Clapham Junction is in London (so is Croydon). On the right is the "any route permitted" tickets which is £32.20. The journey planner apps show the journey via central London, because it's quicker. It feels like this is deliberate to catch people out and fine them for having the wrong ticket. The other prices are for "any time" fares which can be used before 9:30am and first class.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

The beautiful, yet often overlooked dunnock, in a South London park. #birds

Dunnock standing side on to the camera stretching one wing and spreading its tail feathers.

Dunnock sitting in the sun looking fluffy

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

A beautiful young fox, the most relaxed of 3 youngsters living near me. I know they're not always perfect neighbours but I love seeing these beautiful creatures in our cities.

A young red fox standing on a suburban street with its mouth open, looking towards the camera

A young fox standing on a street looking to the side

A young fox sitting in a road by parked cars, looking at the camera.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

I think the fact that Radiohead's 1997 song Let Down has finally charted says something important about the national mood.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Canada goslings and parents in the evening sun. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Quite a dramatic fight between two moorhens in a South London park this afternoon - then a third joined in & was chased off. They normally seem such peaceful birds. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Canada goose belly flop. Such graceful #birds

A Canada goose has just jumped from a low concrete path into a pond and there is a large splash around it, while a moorhen looks on and a female tufted duck is behind the wall of water.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

The top deck of a bus is the best way to travel round London (when it's too far to walk). Only £1.75, great views, much quieter than the tube & no escalators or long tunnels. This is Bank Junction in the City of London.

Bank junction in the City of London with old buildings in the foreground and new skyscrapers in the background.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

I don't think I'll ever grow out of the excitement of seeing ducklings. These two families were at Kelsey Park in South London yesterday. #birds

Five young Mallard ducklings snuggled up together on grass looking cute.

A mallard mother keeping watch at the edge of a lake while her ducklings sit behind her.

A mallard duckling that is older than the previous ones and starting to grow some less fluffy feathers is standing up in shallow water preening.

A mallard duckling that is starting to gain its adult shape and only partly fluffy in water.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Bumblebees in poppies, next to a busy road. In the first photo there's a bee in the poppy and another trying to follow it in.

A bumblebee is hovering in front of a red poppy flower. Another bumblebee is inside the flower, but mostly obscured. Behind them is a road sign.

Two red poppies with raindrops on them from earlier rain. The one on the right has a bumblebee in.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

This leaf is beautiful, like a work of art.

A photo of a leaf which has pointed edges. The leaves around it are green but this one is a mix of orange and red with some black patches.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

A long-tailed tit lying back in a tree on a hot afternoon, in Banstead, Surrey. I guess it was trying to cool down by spreading its feathers and venting with its beak. #birds

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

The first brood of great crested grebes at South Norwood Lake are looking so grown up now. Their parents appear to be sitting on a second brood of eggs. They are incredible parents. #birds

A juvenile great crested grebe in a lake next to a nest. It is starting to look more like an adult, losing its stripy look.

An adult great crested grebe sits on a nest in a lake, while two juveniles float in the water nearby. One of the juveniles has its beak wide open.

Wider view of the great crested grebe nest with one adult on the nest and two juveniles next to it.

Juvenile great crested grebe with its beak tucked into its feathers resting.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

An animal I hadn't expected to see in France was the coypu, aka nutria. This South American mammal was introduced for the fur industry but is now endemic. Their voracious appetite for water plants is problematic. The resemblance to the capybara is clear though.

Coypu or nutria in a shallow lake covered in duck weed.

Coypu in a shallow lake surrounded by plants

Coypu on the edge of a lake. It had been very dry and the water levels had dropped a lot.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Sometimes birding rewards perseverance, other times it's just luck. I heard the gentle purring of a turtle dove & spent quite a time tracking it down to the top of a tree. Then I sat down for a break & saw an osprey in a tree by the River Loire (France). #birds

Osprey perched on top of a leafless tree

Osprey having just taken off from a tree with wings upwards. There was a buzzard harassing it.

Turtle dove on a branch, seen from below.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

I am loving these green lizards, they're such stunning bright colours. Seen in the Loire Valley region of France.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

I found a swallowtail butterfly near a motorway rest stop in Normandy, France. It's so beautiful.

Swallowtail on a purple clover flower with its wings spread

Swallowtail on a purple clover flower with its wings part closed.

Swallowtail on a purple clover flower, looking towards the camera and showing the back of its wings.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I saw my first small copper butterfly of the year in a local park. In the first photo there's a regular sized ant for scale.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Baby birds at Waddon Ponds in Croydon. Mallard ducklings and a coot chick. #birds

Mallard duckling that is starting to gain its adult shape and a few non-fluffy feathers, in a pond.

Two mallard ducklings that are starting to gain their adult shape and a few non-fluffy feathers, in a pond.

A coot chick in a pond surrounded by water plants.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Some beautiful cows I met yesterday.

A red-brown cow with white on its head looks towards the camera over the back of another cow.

A red Sussex cow faces the camera, its tail swishing behind it.

Four cows stand on grass, three of them looking towards the camera.

Two cows touch heads, while another stands by them.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Moorhen family at a local pond. I'm not sure what one of the chicks did wrong but it got a telling off from its parent. There's also some tadpoles in the pond. Some ponds are at risk of drying up as there's been so little rain, but this one seems ok. #birds

An adult moorhen has its beak wide open right next to the face of a chick, in a pond.

A moorhen chick that is starting to grow some less fluffy feathers standing in shallow water.

A moorhen chick standing in shallow water with a couple of sticks around it.

A shallow pond where some common frog tadpoles can be seen swimming around and clustered around a log.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Today I learned that if a female speckled wood butterfly isn't interested in mating, she'll lie down and play dead until the male moves on 😆

A speckled wood butterfly is perched on a leaf facing another butterfly which is lying almost flat on the leaf.

A speckled wood butterfly is perched on a leaf next to another butterfly which is lying on the leaf.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Mistle thrush in a local park, collecting worms for its babies. #birds

Mistle thrush standing in grass, looking towards the camera with a worm in its beak.

Mistle thrush emerging from behind a tree with a worm in its beak.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Female banded demoiselles are also very beautiful and shiny. Photo 4 is a blue-tailed damselfly, the only other species of damselfly I saw today. All at Morden Hall Park in South London.

A female banded demoiselle perched on a leaf. She is metallic green coloured with red-brown eyes.

Female banded demoiselle viewed side on.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Today I saw these male banded demoiselles by the River Wandle, in the lovely Morden Hall Park in South London @nationaltrust.org.uk Such beautiful, shiny insects.

Male banded demoiselle, a blue damselfly with a black band across its wings, standing on a plant.

Male banded demoiselle, a blue damselfly with a black band across its wings, standing on a leaf and looking directly at the camera.

Male banded demoiselle, a blue damselfly with a black band across its wings, standing on a leaf.

Male banded demoiselle, a blue damselfly with a black band across its wings, standing on a plant facing away from the camera.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Some cows & a goat grazing the top of the quarry at Riddlesdown (don't worry - there's a big fence to stop them falling off the edge).

Four Sussex cattle grazing with their backs to the camera. On the right there is a view across the valley towards Kenley.

Two Sussex cattle grazing with a view of a distant hillside

A black and white goat standing on its hind legs to reach tasty leaves.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

It's been so hot here that even the sheep are melting 🫠 Jacob sheep, Riddlesdown, Croydon.

A wooly brown and white Jacob sheep is lying on grass looking at the camera.

A wooly brown and white Jacob sheep is lying on grass looking away from the camera.

Two wooly brown and white Jacob sheep are lying on grass.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

I had a lovely surprise while sitting by a pond today - a female sparrowhawk came down for a drink. Amazing to see this beautiful bird so close - look at her fancy stripy trousers. Croydon, UK. #birds

Female sparrowhawk standing in shallow water at the edge of a pond, looking forward with her beak open.

Sparrowhawk standing at the edge of a shallow pond

Female sparrowhawk standing at the edge of a pond

Female sparrowhawk standing at the edge of a pond with her head down and beak in the water drinking.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

The great crested grebe chicks at South Norwood Lake are doing really well. They've grown a lot - hard to believe a couple of weeks ago they could both hide in their parents' feathers. #birds

Great crested grebe chick floating in a pond, partially obscured by willow leaves

Adult great crested grebe on a nest with a chick in the water behind.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Adorable ducklings at Waddon Ponds in Croydon. Unusually, a male mallard was actually helping look after them. Normally they don't stick around. #birds

A mallard duckling standing on the bank of a pond

A mallard duckling standing preening its tail

A male mallard swimming in a pond with a duckling alongside

A male mallard swimming in a pond with two ducklings in front of him

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Sometimes lizard spotting is quite challenging. There's a lizard in each of these photos.

Photo of dead leaves and some grass, with a lizard head poking out in the middle.

Photo of grass with sandy soil beneath and a lizard head just visible

Photo of the wooden bar of a fence with wire in front of it. It is fairly overgrown with long grass. A lizard is lying on the wood behind the wire.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

This rabbit I saw today at Chipstead Downs was so cute I just have to share it. The way it flicks its ear with its paw 😍

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

A lovely pair of common whitethroats I spotted in a hedge today at Hutchinson's Bank in Croydon. They have a distinctive song but usually I don't manage to get a proper look at them. #birds

Female common whitethroat holding a fly in her beak, seen through a hedge and partially obscured by leaves.

Male common whitethroat side on, with a barbed wire fence behind him and some branches partially obscuring him.

Male common whitethroat side on but looking at the camera, with a barbed wire fence behind him and some branches partially obscuring him.

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17kingfishers @17kingfishers.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Great spotted woodpecker in a local park, having a preen, stretching his neck and doing some drumming. I've heard a lot from them recently but not managed to see much so it was good to watch this. #birds

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