The bird life around us

• Bird Life around us

"Birds in the nest who got can not be photographed. I can ... "B. Täht

This, of course, a little joke, in which an enormous truth. Indeed, the birds in the nest it is better not to take pictures, and if they can be removed only with a lot of "buts". All pictures taken in this story, made by me during walks with professional ornithologists, so look after me. =) And so, again, I would say: Do not repeat, DANGER!

I'll start with the most usual - with the coots. This relative of the crane settled at Peterhof reservoirs in large quantities, and feels very well here. As you probably guessed, the number of tourists at this time in our city just rolls over, but the birds are used to it and do not hesitate to build a nest almost paths. Of course, I exaggerate, but not by much. =)

The only bad thing that people do not really pay attention to the birds and regularly leave them gifts, such as the first photo in the upper right corner.

By the way, to my shame, I had never paid attention to that coot chicks are born with a fiery red hairstyles. Chicks ordinary mallard such grace hairstyle does not stand out, but they usually move large companies.

If you ever met a duck, which has more than 10 chicks, we can with high probability to say that some of the chicks "repulsed" or may voluntarily-forcibly taken away from some neighbor then. Especially careful-Mallard mother sometimes collected around itself more than two dozen chicks and coddled them. Only for me is still a mystery whether the neighbor children voluntarily or forcibly give ...

In some ponds were of different age groups in the spotted swimsuit. It chicks Black-headed Gull. Fly not yet fly, and swim very willing, almost a duck. Next door to have Peterhof settlement called Martyshkino. One would think that it is named after the monkeys, well, or in honor of a man whose last name in honor of the monkey, but it is not. It is named in honor of the black-headed gull. Plebeian name of this bird - Martyn or monkey. And apparently, when in the vicinity of the village was a colony of black-headed gulls, so in honor of this bird and town got its name.

Here are the adult monkeys here are clearly visible, even the one sitting on the nest ...

A under the hillock did not notice anything? There sits very rare for our (and not only for ours) places a bird - black-necked grebe. She sits for a reason, and on the nest. For the second time in the history of birdwatching in the Leningrad region could reliably secure nesting of this bird. Naturally, ornithologists were close attention to this jack, all waiting for work - it does not, will the chicks or not. You never know what she is sitting, and suddenly scared or stolen eggs. But two weeks later, in the next coming of this body of water waiting for us good news, even two ...

For quality fotografio'm sorry, but do not want to close these grebes swim. Kata children on their backs, and do not want to be photographed.

Two more words about waterfowl. That year, noticed that one of the ponds arrives pair Red-breasted Merganser, or feed, or for a vacation. It is surprising that breeding sites for these birds are like no, and they have. For them to nest in hollow trees need water. Asked knowledgeable people, it turns out, mergansers remarkably adapted to nest in the crevices of the rocks at the dam. When a dam in St. Petersburg did poured large granite boulders, that among these stones, birds and found a replacement, so lacking in their hollows. Now I want to come, look for where they live.

Old friends Remezy this year really have fallen in number. Where last year's nest the dozens, in this lonely were three nests, but still there. =) Here is one of these artists is raising their offspring warm mitten. And for myself, I found the first nest Remez in Lomonosov, very close to home. =)

Once, when I was just starting to take off, this bird has made a huge impression on me. The fact that I come from the East region, with Tikhvin, and there is only white wagtails are found, so I had no idea that there are also yellow. When I photographed her for the first time, there was a feeling that a new kind of opened. =))) Now I have these birds perceive quieter. And the picture is seen as one of the parents have collected a full beak vkusnyashek for their offspring.

Oh, and about the sweets. For some it's the mosquitoes and midges, but for some it's more serious than that:

Short-eared Owl returned to their nesting area. for the fourth year in a row in my memory. One - almost white, the second - brown. It may, of course, this is a coincidence, but I like to think that the birds the same return. It's not often I get to take a picture of the bird sitting on a tree, and even sitting on the tree -. So all of the incredible discharge =)))

noticed that the houses in their area approached almost close, but they insisted settle here. So this year, five chicks hatched from six eggs. One egg is left unused. =), Not five owls differences in this mountain, but believe in the word.

I have already described, I will not repeat, just one picture show About chicks eared owls.

Now that pro field spoke in a strange way to show basic local bird - lapwing. Pictures, of course, are not so hot, but I need them to show you some variation on the removal of chicks at this bird. At the same parents chicks is about to depart, and others ...

.. while others are only just hatched. Once again amazed disguise these klopyshey. they are the side certainly noticeable, but when viewed from above - just blend in with the land.

In here's a test for care: what is this picture interesting?

Jack found? =) Below, around broken brick. Here it is larger:

The host near the sand jumps. This little ringed plover. Bird beaches found in St. Petersburg niche. Deserted beaches we have a little bit, but the abandoned construction sites and landfills - as much as necessary, so she is thriving. Nest in Plover ascetic, even the blades of grass did not wear, but due to this it is absolutely imperceptible. And as noted here, if it is not. =)))

But who labored over the nest, so is a marsh harrier. In the first place, to a place not so easy to approach - water everywhere. Secondly, the nest itself, even though it, too, no frills, but it is clear that the bird tried.

And thirdly, it is in May, a nest it seems that in sight. Just a couple of weeks it very reliable cane begins to cover. And even if you know where it is, you still have to stray on the cane thickets.

This is the same place, but two weeks later ...

I hope it was interesting, but I would like to remind you that it is not necessary to photograph birds in the nest. I made these pictures under the supervision of experienced people, and without them it is very dangerous. For birds, the first!