They mainly eat fish but this weej it is Frogs and Newt week...
Strangely it is only the male who brings the Frogs and Newts as the female only takes care of the fish orders..
Excellent ! I've seen them take newts from my garden ponds a few times.
Is this a newt larvae ?
Can't work our what species it is. It's got webbed feet so it could be palmate type.
Good shot any way.
Cheers
John
Hi Jeroen
Still can't tell really. Looks immature by the mottled tail.
Wait till he gets an adult!
JR
Posted by Andy Astbury on July 15, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Doesn't matter what species of newt it is Jeroen that bird would be is so much trouble with DEFRA if it was here
More top images Jeroen
The only thing I'm slightly 'iffy' about is the perch end - just looks a bit heavy, but it's a very minor niggle - you know, just the sort of thing you'd expect from me
As for preference well I'm for the original posting - great action, a nice bit of motion blur and the nictitating membrane does it for me
Both superb images, and just green with envy at how many superb Kingfisher shots you have. At this moment in time I would be happy just to get one cracker.
The taking of newts is quite common around these parts, although I've never noticed whether it is just males! I'll have a look through and check.
Cracking images.
Ian
Posted by Roeland Fort on July 16, 2008 at 4:25 AM
The newt looks like a young frog to me!
Superb picture by the way!
Roeland
Posted by Roeland Fort on July 16, 2008 at 4:53 AM
Super image Jeroen... certainly does look to be a frog, Brett is your man for a definate ID.. interesting if you look at the eye in the first image the secondary cover used when they dive still seems to be over the eye (can't remember what it is called)....
It is indeed a froglet or frog metamorph. Just hasn't lost the tail as yet. You can tell much easier in the second photo from the musculature and position of the hind legs and indeed the webbed feet in the first image. Newts don't have webbed feet and even the Palmate newt (male only), as John mentioned, has enlarged hind phlanges during the breeding season only..! Following up on Phil's comment it is the 'Nictitating membrane' or 'third eyelid' that is used to protect they eye during hunting for prey. Felids, canids, sharks etc all have them.
As for the images, I never stop to be amazed at the quality of your KF series. Truly inspirational. Thanks for taking the time to process and share with us all.
Kind regards,
Brett.
Posted by Jeroen Stel on July 16, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Hi Guys,
Thanks for your kind words and explenation on the prey!
I too would have to agree it is indeed a Froglet (as you can see in my next post!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Posted by Peter Barritt on July 16, 2008 at 12:16 PM
beautiful photo as usual.personally I much prefer the second shot.
awesome as the yanks might say.
Best wishes Peter
Discussion
16 repliesStill looking for some original files within my huge collection of Kingfisher images..
Thought this was a rather original prey....
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
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I've read about other prey species being taken but never witnessed it.
Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk
They mainly eat fish but this weej it is Frogs and Newt week...
Strangely it is only the male who brings the Frogs and Newts as the female only takes care of the fish orders..
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Is this a newt larvae ?
Can't work our what species it is. It's got webbed feet so it could be palmate type.
Good shot any way.
Cheers
John
Thanks for your reply!
Not sure what type of Newt is is either..
Here'a another shot where the Newt is perhaps better visible..
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
The droplets in the first are great, and both super sharp and detailed of course!
If we're guessing, I think its a palmate too, webbed feet in the first pic, can't see any orange underneath.
Still can't tell really. Looks immature by the mottled tail.
Wait till he gets an adult!
JR
More top images Jeroen
The only thing I'm slightly 'iffy' about is the perch end - just looks a bit heavy, but it's a very minor niggle - you know, just the sort of thing you'd expect from me
As for preference well I'm for the original posting - great action, a nice bit of motion blur and the nictitating membrane does it for me
Both superb images, and just green with envy at how many superb Kingfisher shots you have. At this moment in time I would be happy just to get one cracker.
Cracking images.
Ian
Superb picture by the way!
Roeland
Superb picture by the way!
Roeland
Great job
It is indeed a froglet or frog metamorph. Just hasn't lost the tail as yet. You can tell much easier in the second photo from the musculature and position of the hind legs and indeed the webbed feet in the first image. Newts don't have webbed feet and even the Palmate newt (male only), as John mentioned, has enlarged hind phlanges during the breeding season only..! Following up on Phil's comment it is the 'Nictitating membrane' or 'third eyelid' that is used to protect they eye during hunting for prey. Felids, canids, sharks etc all have them.
As for the images, I never stop to be amazed at the quality of your KF series. Truly inspirational. Thanks for taking the time to process and share with us all.
Kind regards,
Brett.
Thanks for your kind words and explenation on the prey!
I too would have to agree it is indeed a Froglet (as you can see in my next post!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
awesome as the yanks might say.
Best wishes Peter