Dinosaur of the week: Smew

A male and female Mergellus albellus were taking a nap at Regents Park, London. The number of the birds are decreasing, among other things because of logging of mature trees along rivers and river canalisation.

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Dinosaur of the week: Grey Heron

I find Ardea cinerea fascinating. If you’ve ever watched one hunting you might understand why. This particular bird was finding food on the outskirts of Oxford.

On the other hand, their hunting skills are why the birds are persecuted in some areas. Another danger to them is the cutting of trees because they build their nests high up and they nest in colonies, so many birds are affected.

Dinosaur of the week: Great Tit

This Parus major was catching insects in the WWT wetland in London a couple of years back. Fewer insects mean fewer birds.

Dinosaur of the week: Eurasian Jay

This Garrulus glandarius was looking for food on a meadow in Oxford, England, UK, Europe. The species, unlike some Homo sapiens on the island, can plan for the future.

Dangers to these birds are the daft who use their feathers for fishing or decoration. On top of, that there are the silly who persecute them because of their natural habit of feeding on  newly hatched birds of other species.

Dinosaur of the week: Common Moorhen

This Gallinula chloropus was taking a bath in the London WWT centre, which is definitely worth a visit. Although regionally extinct in Equatorial Guinea, the species is not under major threats in other areas. I’d love to write such words more often!

Dinosaur of the week: Egyptian Goose

Alopo

These two Alopochen aegyptica were part of a feral population in Regent’s Park, but I’ve also seen this species in southern Africa in its natural habitat.

The overall numbers of these geese are declining because of shooting and poisoning.

Dinosaur of the week: Eurasian Coot

Admire the feet of Fulica atra. The species suffers from several threads: hunting, wetland drainage, oil pollution, and drowning in fishing nets, to name but a few. Biggest enemy: Homo sapiens. This one though was fairly safe in Regent’s Park, London.

Dinosaur of the week: Western Marsh Harrier

This Circus aeruginosus was flying over the reeds of Otmoor, an RSPB reserve. The species is facing threats like shooting and in Otmoor in particular habitat loss because some nitwits want to build another road in the area. If you’re like me not happy with this and you live in the UK or are a Brit, please consider signing this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/217244 Thank you!

Dinosaur of the week: Common Chaffinch

This male Fringilla coelebs was looking for food under the tables in a pub near Oxford. The species is mostly doing alright, apart from the subspecies on the Canary Islands which suffers from habitat loss.

J’apprends le français 30/30

Dans la forêt à Oxford habit un dragon formidable. Il serpente à travers entre les arbres. Les blaireaus, les herissons et les mésanges bleues sont très jolis parce que ils ont un refuge.