Alan Gardiner
@alang64.bsky.social
Hertfordshire birder, Weather station owner, retired chartered engineer
One of three Great White Egrets at Tyttenhanger GPs near St Albans, earlier all three were partly hidden at the edge of the lake. It's a hot spot for Egrets, with Little Egrets there in double figure numbers. About a month ago there was a Cattle Egret around, it's a remarkable change in populations.
February 4, 2026 at 8:07 PM
One of three Great White Egrets at Tyttenhanger GPs near St Albans, earlier all three were partly hidden at the edge of the lake. It's a hot spot for Egrets, with Little Egrets there in double figure numbers. About a month ago there was a Cattle Egret around, it's a remarkable change in populations.
This is first day I've seen 3 different species of Egrets in the UK at one place - at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits near St Albans. a sure result of a warming world. #ukbirds #hertsbirds
December 13, 2025 at 2:42 PM
This is first day I've seen 3 different species of Egrets in the UK at one place - at Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits near St Albans. a sure result of a warming world. #ukbirds #hertsbirds
I got a compact super zoom camera mainly for bird watching, it could provide usual evidence if I find something rare that needs authenticating. None of them are rare (Alt text gives details) but I'm happy with the reasonable quality. Photos have been cropped and the brightness increased.
November 27, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I got a compact super zoom camera mainly for bird watching, it could provide usual evidence if I find something rare that needs authenticating. None of them are rare (Alt text gives details) but I'm happy with the reasonable quality. Photos have been cropped and the brightness increased.
I'm cat sitting for a few days, this is one of the duo. Since I've fed them they now seem to like me. This one is Orion, he's the one with brains. The floor is heated #ukcats
November 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I'm cat sitting for a few days, this is one of the duo. Since I've fed them they now seem to like me. This one is Orion, he's the one with brains. The floor is heated #ukcats
There has been aa significant irruption of Crossbills to the UK, this bird was one of a small flock of 12 near Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Not a great photo but the bird was 40m away. There is a large wood nearby with a mixture of conifers and deciduous trees where they can feed. #ukbirds #hertsbirds
November 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
There has been aa significant irruption of Crossbills to the UK, this bird was one of a small flock of 12 near Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Not a great photo but the bird was 40m away. There is a large wood nearby with a mixture of conifers and deciduous trees where they can feed. #ukbirds #hertsbirds
I didn't expect a Pectoral Sandpiper to turn up almost on my doorstep, the UK gets about 100 records a year of this species. The photo was taken with my phone via my telescope so the quality is poor. I've now seen 4 in the UK, two were in the early 1970's #birds #ukbirds #hertsbirds
October 3, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I didn't expect a Pectoral Sandpiper to turn up almost on my doorstep, the UK gets about 100 records a year of this species. The photo was taken with my phone via my telescope so the quality is poor. I've now seen 4 in the UK, two were in the early 1970's #birds #ukbirds #hertsbirds
Reposted by Alan Gardiner
This is the best comparison map I've seen so far.
Comparison of climates in Australia and New Zealand vs North America
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
Comparison of climates in Australia and New Zealand vs North America
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
July 5, 2025 at 7:49 AM
This is the best comparison map I've seen so far.
Comparison of climates in Australia and New Zealand vs North America
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
Comparison of climates in Australia and New Zealand vs North America
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
A White Admiral butterfly at Bricket Wood Common this afternoon. It flew off after a few seconds.
June 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A White Admiral butterfly at Bricket Wood Common this afternoon. It flew off after a few seconds.
Quite a few Marbled White butterfClies around on Bricket Wood Common, my first this year #bitterflies
June 19, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Quite a few Marbled White butterfClies around on Bricket Wood Common, my first this year #bitterflies
The Heath Spotted-Orchids are giving a fine display locally at the moment.
June 11, 2025 at 7:11 AM
The Heath Spotted-Orchids are giving a fine display locally at the moment.
I had a walk around my local patch at Tyttenhanger GPs which is a mosaic habitat of scrub, rough grassland, gravel pits with reeds, woodland and arable crops. A total of 50 species including Common Tern, Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, large numbers of Swifts and Sand Martins and a calling Cuckoo
June 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I had a walk around my local patch at Tyttenhanger GPs which is a mosaic habitat of scrub, rough grassland, gravel pits with reeds, woodland and arable crops. A total of 50 species including Common Tern, Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, large numbers of Swifts and Sand Martins and a calling Cuckoo
Reposted by Alan Gardiner
Vegetated shingle now looking a colourful treat, including small patches of the rare Starry Clover
#ShorehamBeach
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@plantlifeuk.bsky.social
#ShorehamBeach
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@plantlifeuk.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Vegetated shingle now looking a colourful treat, including small patches of the rare Starry Clover
#ShorehamBeach
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@plantlifeuk.bsky.social
#ShorehamBeach
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@plantlifeuk.bsky.social
Plenty of Kidney Vetch in Greenwood Park, Chiswell Green, it's been created to attract the Small Blue butterfly. They aren't that far away and this is its food plant so with luck the numbers should increase.
May 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Plenty of Kidney Vetch in Greenwood Park, Chiswell Green, it's been created to attract the Small Blue butterfly. They aren't that far away and this is its food plant so with luck the numbers should increase.
Renewable energy powering most of the UK at the moment as well as being exported to France and elsewhere.
May 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Renewable energy powering most of the UK at the moment as well as being exported to France and elsewhere.
These two photos show what happens to an arable field that was sold off in lots as a redevelopment scam 20+ years ago. It's now a good mixture of Hawthorn, Ash, Oak and Field Maple although some of the Ash saplings have succumbed to Ash dieback, others look OK, no regimented planting needed. /1
May 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
These two photos show what happens to an arable field that was sold off in lots as a redevelopment scam 20+ years ago. It's now a good mixture of Hawthorn, Ash, Oak and Field Maple although some of the Ash saplings have succumbed to Ash dieback, others look OK, no regimented planting needed. /1
Reposted by Alan Gardiner
DUCKS: by this time of spring most ducks will have settled at potential breeding sites. So all records of scarce & rare breeding ducks, including Shoveler, Wigeon, Garganey, Pintail, Pochard and Red-breasted Merganser, should be submitted, with breeding evidence, to the relevant county recorder
May 17, 2025 at 12:34 PM
DUCKS: by this time of spring most ducks will have settled at potential breeding sites. So all records of scarce & rare breeding ducks, including Shoveler, Wigeon, Garganey, Pintail, Pochard and Red-breasted Merganser, should be submitted, with breeding evidence, to the relevant county recorder
A Kestrel perched in an Oak at Nomansland Common, Wheathampstead this morning. #hertsbirds #birds
May 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
A Kestrel perched in an Oak at Nomansland Common, Wheathampstead this morning. #hertsbirds #birds
Verulamium Park, St Albans where the River Ver has reclaimed its floodplain forcing the building of a raised walkway. The bike is mine.
April 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Verulamium Park, St Albans where the River Ver has reclaimed its floodplain forcing the building of a raised walkway. The bike is mine.
A singing Blackcap in Park Wood, St Albans this morning #hertsbirds
March 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM
A singing Blackcap in Park Wood, St Albans this morning #hertsbirds
This chunky chap was taking an interest in my kitchen this morning
March 3, 2025 at 9:23 AM
This chunky chap was taking an interest in my kitchen this morning
Reposted by Alan Gardiner
#BlueskyResistance #Voices4Victory #ProudBlur
Advertisement at a London bus stop. Ya gotta love the British…
Advertisement at a London bus stop. Ya gotta love the British…
February 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
#BlueskyResistance #Voices4Victory #ProudBlur
Advertisement at a London bus stop. Ya gotta love the British…
Advertisement at a London bus stop. Ya gotta love the British…
After a half-term week when the traffic has been moving reasonably freely in St Albans, it's now back to its usual term-time near gridlocked status.
February 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
After a half-term week when the traffic has been moving reasonably freely in St Albans, it's now back to its usual term-time near gridlocked status.
Reposted by Alan Gardiner
🧵"So this is how liberty dies..."
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
February 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
🧵"So this is how liberty dies..."
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9