Potters Bar & Barnet Local RSPB Group

 UK Photographs

All the photographs on this page were taken in the UK.

        Chiffchaff Potters Bar 2008   Ian Stewart                      Goldfinch Potters Bar 2008  Ian Stewart

Mandarin Duck  Oakmere Park  2006   Ian Stewart                            Sparrowhawk  2008   John Moody

  Greylag family  Lakenheath 2010    Ian Cook                       Bluetit  Wild Hill  2008  Laura Cook

Blackbird 'Anting' photo taken by Tony Keel in his garden in Coulsdon, North Downs, Surrey.

Tony says that the blackbird sat on the ants nest and spread its wings out

to allow the ants to crawl all over it. ©

'In the behaviour called anting, birds rub insects on their feathers, usually ants, which secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, that can act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, bactericide, or to make them edible by removing the distasteful acid. It possibly also supplements the bird's own preen oil. Instead of ants, birds can also use millipedes. Over 250 species of bird have been known to ant.' quote from Wikipedia

more information at Wikipedia Anting