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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

#BirdOfTheDay themes are #LookingDown and #LookingUp. So here is a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus photograph from 2019 that falls neatly into one of these categories (no prizes for guessing which!).

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

This lovely Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus has been seen regularly in a small London park recently #birds. She couldn't have chosen a better perch yesterday morning.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

First seen in November 2020, Little Egret Egretta garzetta No. 7 is probably blissfully unaware of how much pleasure local birdwatchers derive out of seeing him reappear in a small London park after a 6-month breeding season hiatus each year #birds. He made a dramatic reappearance this morning.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A soporific 2025D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen, now 19 months old, taking a rest early this morning. She is currently asleep in a plant trough.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Two juvenile Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo, still present on a pylon above a small London nature park yesterday morning #birds.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Common Darter Dragonflies Sympetrum striolatum flying in tandem in a small London park yesterday. Cropped, as off centre in frame. Manual focussing was used.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum patrolling in a small London park yesterday. There are still quite a lot of these late summer dragonflies around, something that will be of benefit to the juvenile Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo waiting to depart on their long migration.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This rather bizarre sight is a male Common Blackbird Turdus merula that hadn't quite finished moulting yet #birds! Note the feather sheaths. Photographed yesterday in a small London park. As shot, and cropped. He will look far more handsome once his remaining feathers have grown!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#BirdOfTheDay theme today is raptors, so here are 3 falcon species, all seen on the same London pylon this am. A well hidden Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo, a female Common Kestrel F. tinnunculus realising the implications of a notice, and an inelegant take-off by a female Peregrine F. peregrinus!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

You need to see this photo cropped to be able to determine what was happening #birds. The Carrion Crow Corvus corone adopted a 'divide and rule' approach by dislodging one of the pair of juvenile Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo from its perch above the pylon above a London wildlife park this am.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Firmly in the "I didn't expect to see this today" category, a female Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus being 'mobbed' (something of an exaggeration) by an irate Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea in a small London park this morning. She was unmoved #birds!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

As shot, and cropped - a confrontation between 2 juvenile Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo, perched on a pylon above a small London nature park (a third was nearby), and a Carrion Crow Corvus corone that had taken exception to their presence. 6 species of raptor have been seen in the area this week.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Another (cropped) image of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus tiercel from 16th September @johnboorman.bsky.social. The falling, rather featureless feather (a useful clue to their presence) may have belonged to a recent victim rather than to him, or it may have been dislodged by preening.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus tiercel perched, uninterrupted by corvids, on this pylon above small London park for at least 28 minutes on 16th September. The buffish tint on his breast suggests that he may be a new (definitely unringed) visitor @johnboorman.bsky.social.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

An exquisitely marked, freshly emerged second brood Lace Border Moth Scopula ornata, a Nationally Scarce A day-flying species photographed on 9th September at a sadly declining North Downs habitat where butterflies and other insects used to be far more diverse and abundant.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A stunning, freshly emerged Brown China-mark Moth Elophila nymphaeata, photographed on 1st September during a wet, dull and mostly cloudy week spent in Mid-Wales. There were very few moths about, or insects for that matter. A quite distinctive, and relatively large micro-moth.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The 2023F Red Fox Vulpes vulpes having a scratch this morning. He is at least four-and-a-half years old, and the father of two litters (in 2024 & 2025). His mate (the 2023G vixen) is presumed to have died after she had produced her third family early this year, so their cubs couldn't have survived.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Portrait of the 2025D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen from earlier today. The foxes are clearly enjoying the cooler weather as three were seen this morning.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A inquisitive European Robin Erithacus rubecula from this morning #birds. Photographed in a small London park. I hadn't seen this bird for a while.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The 2022C Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen has been present all day. She is the longest authenticated survivor of the locally born cubs, at 4 1/2 years of age. Always submissive to the local (unrelated) social group until this year when she paired with the 2024B dog fox and produced (as yet unseen) cubs.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Easily the pick of the photos taken during a brief visit to a small London park earlier today, a patrolling male Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I hadn't see the 2025D Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen since 7th July, but she turned up looking fit and well this morning. She is the youngest of the five regular visitors at 18 months of age. She may have been avoiding the heat - and her larger and more aggressive older brother!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Most of the wildlife had already taken umbrage by the time that I photographed this male Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum alighting on a perch in a small (and very hot) London park this morning.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Photographed in natural light, but with a background of deeply shaded water, a male Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum that was perching above the chalk stream in a small London park late this morning.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

This evening's partial solar eclipse, as seen from London.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I have just uploaded a revised version of this web page illustrating Ruddy Darter Dragonflies Sympetrum sanguineum with an entirely new selection of photographs: www.davidelement.net/dragonflies1....

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Patrolling male Common Darter Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum. Photographed in a small London park a couple of days ago.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Needed to get the timing just right for this shot @johnboorman.bsky.social!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I hadn't meant to photograph Red Admiral Butterflies Vanessa atalanta in flight today. My target was Green-veined White Butterflies Pieris napi as they were feeding predictably. Then this butterfly landed and I took a shot as it flew, fluking a much better image than anticipated!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Juvenile male Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, making a low pass shortly before sunset this evening #birds.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Another photograph of the fresh Red Admiral Butterfly Vanessa atalanta perching on Elder Sambucus sp. berries in a small London park this morning. What a beauty!

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

A Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, sunbathing on a roof overlooking a small London park this morning #birds.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Record shots of a quite decent sized Common Chub Squalius cephalus, seen in the chalk stream passing through a small London park this morning. The second image has been enhanced as it swam straight into my shadow! At least 10 fish species have now been recorded there.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

It was most considerate of this lovely Red Admiral Butterfly Vanessa atalanta to have selected such a perfect perch this morning! Photographed in a small London park.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Another low level sighting of a male Brown Hairstreak Butterfly Thecla betulae. He had descended to feed by a chalk stream at 10:00 am in a small London park yesterday morning. The third recent record there.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Lots of fresh Red Admiral Butterflies Vanessa atalanta flying at the moment. Photographs of these butterflies generally produce a more accurate rendition of their colours if they are slightly underexposed.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The 2022C Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen is the oldest fox for which I have been able to confirm an exact age, having been born in February of that year. It is always useful to obtain reference photos illustrating dentition. Canine decay/loss is likely to be life-limiting if a fox cannot defend itself

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

This was only my second 2026 sighting of a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Aglais urticae. This once common species has become elusive, probably due to parasitism of the larvae by Sturmia bella tachinid flies that reached the UK earlier this century. Anthropogenic climate change may be implicated too.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens is another insect that is aesthetically pleasing. It has been around for a great deal longer than we have. This beauty is functional (for courtship) and their vision, through compound eye facets, detects a different range of wavelengths to our own.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I have an unabashed love of Red Admiral Butterflies Vanessa atalanta, one of nature's most perfect designs. These two recently emerged examples were taking salts in a small London park yesterday. Note the subtle differences between the patterns of the white and blue spots on their forewings.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

This short excerpt from a longer film shows the reaction of a sunbathing juvenile female Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus to one of her siblings flying above her head yesterday evening #birds. Shown in real time, and then at one quarter speed.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

As shot, and cropped photograph of one of the juvenile female Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus from earlier this evening #birds. Putting on a good show in quite wonderful light.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

The tatty aberrant female Gatekeeper Butterfly Pyronia tithonus ab. albinotica was present again in a small London park this morning in exactly the same location as a couple of days ago. Still only possible to photographed her from a distance, but a sharper image this time. Significantly cropped.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I have just uploaded this film of a freshly emerged female Brown Hairstreak Butterfly Thecla betulae feeding on Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense and opening her wings to reveal her lovely orange patches: youtu.be/F7gQaaJtaSg?....

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

One of those moments that you hope might happen but can never predict - a gorgeous, freshly emerged female Brown Hairstreak Butterfly Thecla betulae had just flown towards me, and settled. Then she did this! Filmed in a small London park this am @rlewington2.bsky.social @markbravery.bsky.social .

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

A male Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens alighting above a chalk stream in a small London park yesterday.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A curiosity from today - a tatty aberrant female Gatekeeper Butterfly Pyronia tithonus ab. albinotica, photographed from a distance in a small London park @markbravery.bsky.social. The first image has been cropped.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I have just uploaded this film of a male Brown Hairstreak Butterfly Thecla betulae drinking from a chalk stream @markbravery.bsky.social @rlewington2.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social, taken this am: youtu.be/9Y-CYk65OLs?.... It is possible that this behaviour may not have been filmed before.

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David Element @davidelement.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

One of London's influx of Lesser Emperor Dragonflies Anax parthenope from a couple of days ago. This tricky to photograph migrant is rapidly becoming established as a new breeding species in the UK, in consequence of anthropogenic climate change. Impossible to tell if this one had emerged here.

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