It has a brownish head with black streaks, beautiful turquoise wings and a completely red bill.  The male has a black back whereas the females and juveniles have brown backs. Below is a video I filmed of a pair of Kingfishers: Brown Hooded Kingfisher Size: It weighs around 50g to 75g and the size is…Read More The post Brown Hooded Kingfisher appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

After many months of being closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown regulations implemented by the government the Nahoon Estuary Nature Reserve (NENR) has once opened to the public. Since the re-opening a few weeks ago I have visited the reserve a few times and have not been disappointed; the birdlife and nature has thrived during…Read More The post Nahoon Estuary Nature Reserve is Open! appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

When you hear the term “Seahawk” most people tend to think of the NFL team “The Seattle Seahawks”. A few teams in the NFL are named after an animal, and a few are named after birds such as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Baltimore Ravens, the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. Those are all well-known…Read More The post What is a Seahawk? appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

A story of a fascinating interaction between Snowy Egrets by Kathleen Ryan Submit your own birding story here. One of my favorite places to go birding near where I live is,  Laguna Grande Regional Park, in Monterey, CA, USA. It’s a wonderful place to bird watch, where you’re almost guaranteed to see several different species…Read More The post Snowy Egret Chase – Birding in Monterey, California appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

How to identify a Kelp Gull The Kelp Gull is a medium-large bird, about 60cm (23in) in length and weighs in at around 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs). The male and female have the same plumage, but the male will be slightly larger. It is white with black back and wings. The bill is bright yellow…Read More The post Kelp Gull – video of adult and juvenile feeding on fish appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

To raise awareness that thousands of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters dying every year as a result of fisheries operations and other human-induced threats, the Agreement on the conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) is inaugurating a World Albatross Day (WAD), to be held annually from 2020 on 19 June, the date the Agreement was signed in 2001.  The…Read More The post World Albatross Day – 19 June appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

Do you have a birding story that you’d like to get published on Birding Planet? It could be anything: * a simple walk you took where you saw some wonderful birdlife * a dedicated birding holiday/cruise/trip that you participated in * some interesting bird behavior you’ve noticed * highlights from your garden bird feeder *…Read More The post Submit Your Birding Story appeared first on Birding Planet ..read more

While penguins might extremely noticable on land, when they are in the ocean, under the water, their black and white coloring helps them stay camouflaged and hidden from both predators and prey. As they swim, their black backs blend in with the darker ocean water below them so that they’re difficult to be seen by any creature above them. At the same time their white chests help them blend in with the lighter, brighter surface of the water, so that from below, they’re almost invisible as well. And speaking of ‘standing out on land’ here are African penguins that were wandering around the quiet ..read more

How to identify a Black-Capped Chickadee As the name suggests the black-capped chickadee has a black “cap” over his head. This is the most distinguishing feature of the bird. The cap goes down just past the black eyes. It is also has white cheeks on the side of his face and a black “bib” over his chest. The underparts are white with reddish brown flanks. Its bill is short, but the gray tail is long and narrow. Both sexes look the same, but the males are slightly bigger and longer than the females. Body length is 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in), wingspan is 16–21 cm (6.3–8.3 in) and ..read more

The recently imposed health policy of lockdown has become a universal phenomenon with people across the globe experiencing the unprecedented restriction of personal movement, and isolation from friends, family and neighbours. In Ireland national policies of self imposed isolation have been welcomed by some as an opportunity for invention, creation and innovation, and experimental family activities. For others it has become a time of loneliness, anxiety, and even fear, as access to familiar recreational and retail opportunities have been restricted or denied. Fortunately, I provide an essential ..read more