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ali1973.bsky.social
Ali
@ali1973.bsky.social
140 followers 94 following 340 posts
Photography, Wildlife, Birding, Insects, Astronomy
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ali1973.bsky.social
Some of my favourite landscape shots from around the UK.
#landscape #EastCoastKin #photography
Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon the sun picks out a tumbledown, derelict cottage as clouds shadow a mountain in the background. A field has bands of red, green and pink foliage. A broken down fence is on the left of the image, about two thirds from the bottom of the shot. Low golden sun lights a large tree where deep ploughed furrows lead the eye towards it. There are dark lowering grey-black clouds behind, and rain is pouring from them. A soft, snowy landscape has a bare stand of snowy trees in the middle ground, off to the right. There is a large patch of reeds in the foreground and a frozen lake and distant hill in the background.
January 28, 2026 at 3:13 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Iridescent I adore this aspect of bird plumage, so I could go wild here 🤭 Here is one of my favourites, a Magpie catching the sun. I've extreme overexposed in post to create the stark white background. #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social
Magpie with its wings and tail spread wide against a stark white background. The sun has caught the wings, and they are shining iridescent blue and green. The whole image is very overexposed and the white of the bird merges into the background.
January 28, 2026 at 11:28 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #BrownIsBeautiful A Wren showing off its lovely markings in the sun #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social
A Wren stands on a tangle of darkly marbled twigs. Its specked feathers are shown well in warm brown tones.
January 27, 2026 at 1:24 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Paddling A Green Sandpiper gets its feet wet #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social
Green Sandpiper stands in water whose surface is broken by green sprigs of weed and bumps of mud. The light is low and soft and its reflection is visible in the still water.
January 26, 2026 at 7:14 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Poise with #White alternative. A Great White Egret landing with grace fits both themes #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social
Great White Egret landing in shallow water. It is side on facing right with its wings outstretched and its feet forward, just touching the water.
January 25, 2026 at 10:04 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Swans Wanted to post this one for this theme, but it was on from a while ago... back in 2009, so it was a trip down memory lane to dig it out of the archive! #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social
Mute Swan peers directly into the camera in extreme closeup, so much so, the bottom of its orange bill is not in shot. There is a lightly leafed twig framing the top of its head and out of focus ripped grey water in the background.
January 24, 2026 at 11:49 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Walking Black Tailed Godwit having a shoreline stroll #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Black Tailed Godwit with reddish head and marbled grey and white body. It walks on a rocky shore with pale grey-white water in the background.
January 23, 2026 at 8:27 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme #TailsUp Water Rail showing off its tail feathers #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Water Rail stands by a post on a frozen pond. It is looking right with its back to the camera. Its tail is up, which looks like a white edged flame.
January 22, 2026 at 8:30 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme #Singing Here is a Sedge Warbler belting out a tune #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Sedge Warbler sits on a bare branch against a blue sky. Its bill is open in full song and a feather on its back sticks out, ready to fall.
January 21, 2026 at 4:13 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
#WinterRobin #ForJanet #birds #EastCoastKin
Robin perching amongst the twigs. It is looking up and to the left and its feathers are slightly ruffled by the breeze.
January 20, 2026 at 10:02 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #FeedingTime Nuthatch jumping for joy over his seed feed #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Close up of a Nuthatch with a seed in its bill. It is caught mid-jump on a post scattered with seeds.
January 20, 2026 at 8:36 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #TwoOfAKind Here is a pair of Oystercatchers playing follow my leader #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Two Oystercatchers walking single file from left to right. The second is hunched down, giving the impression it is sneaking up on the other. The beak ground is green foliage and muddy shoreline, and the birds and background are reflected almost perfectly in still water.
January 18, 2026 at 11:42 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #PerfectPerch An elusive Green Woodpecker sitting at the top of this dead tree was a perfect position for a pic 😁 #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Green Woodpecker sits on a dead branch. Shot from below, the branch bisects the bird - it is facing the left with its green body fluffed and shaded against a blue sky.
January 17, 2026 at 1:16 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Short beaks Here is a Red Poll using its little beak to pick the tiny seeds out of the small cones of an Alder(I think?) #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
A Red Poll sits on a twig which has small Alder cones hanging from it. Its small beak has a few seeds showing. The bird has a low rosy red blush on its breast and a red patch on the top of its head.
January 16, 2026 at 7:28 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Raptors Sparrowhawk scanning the area whilst perched on bird feeder post #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social
Male Sparrowhawk stands on the crossbeam of a feeder support. He is off to the right of the image with one foot drawn up. He is looking to the left with his piercing yellow gaze.
January 15, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Ali
bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
❄️What's been your favourite thing this winter?❄️

The crisp frosty mornings, snowy weather, or wonderful wildlife?

We'd love you to share your favourite natural spectacle with us by filming yourself talking about it.

Send your videos via www.bbc.co.uk/send/u203684...

#WinterWatch #wildlife #winter
January 13, 2026 at 6:36 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Fox having a stretch in my garden this morning #FoxOfTheDay @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
Fox stands in snow, facing the camera. It is leaning down in a stretch with its tongue licking its nose. A blurred edge of a pale brick wall slightly impinges on the right side of the image. A close-cropped portrait of the Fox against a snowy background. It is looking up to the left and is in profile.
January 10, 2026 at 1:19 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #MoodyFaces This Goldeneye is giving right grumpy vibes #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social
Male Goldeneye appears to be frowning in disapproval.
January 10, 2026 at 12:15 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Feathers&Form I love the plumage of Buzzards so here is one in flight, showing off its wonderful feathers. #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Buzzard in flight. A close image showing the bird's varied and diverse plumage; a mixture of rich mottled, browns and creamy whites
January 9, 2026 at 5:10 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #FoodFinds Two fishy finds with both a Heron and a Kingfisher with their beaks full #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Heron striding onto the bank having caught a nice big fish for its lunch. The fish has orange fins and is hanging out of the Heron’s bill. Kingfisher flies low across rippled water with a fish held in its bill. It is reflected in the shifting water.
January 7, 2026 at 8:31 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Some great views of Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Water Rail recently #birds 🪶
Water Rail walks across and iced over pond that has a light sprinkle of snow. Marsh Harrier banking low against a reed bed. Marsh Harrier flying towards the camera as it looks right. Buzzard coming into land on a treetop. Its wings are swept back and its legs extended.
January 6, 2026 at 7:37 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #BlackAndWhite Here’s an Oystercatcher coming into land #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Oystercatcher coming to land. Its wings are swept back and its tail is spread as it puts on the brakes.
January 6, 2026 at 11:19 AM
ali1973.bsky.social
Today’s theme is #Snowy From today back of the camera shot of a Water Rail walking over icy snowy pond #BirdOfTheDay #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social
Water Rail walking over a frozen and snowy pond. It is nearly in silhouette against a patch of snow.
January 4, 2026 at 1:26 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
A very cold morning was rewarded with some distant views of a Bittern in a reedbed across the lake. Lovely to see it after a glimpse of it flapping just above the reeds led me to stake it out for two freezing hours... #birds 🪶 @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
A Bittern pops its head up out of a reedbed. It is quite distant and the scene is dominated by the pale tones of the reeds. A Bittern flies up out of the reedbed. It is quite distant with its head up and its wings on the down stroke. A Bittern flies up out of the reedbed,. It is quite distant with its head lower now though its wings on again caught on the down stroke. A Bittern now stands on the icy edge of the reedbed. It is quite distant with its head up. The reeds behind it are lit by the low winter sun and the water is bright blue and has four coots in the foreground.
January 3, 2026 at 6:24 PM
ali1973.bsky.social
The Moon this morning as the sun rose #moon #astronomy 🔭 #scapes #dawn
Reeds silhouetted against an out of focus full Moon. The sky is lilac as the Sun rises. The full Moon in focus showing the maria and craters. The sky is dark purple and in the foreground there are out of focus reeds in silhouette. The full Moon in focus showing the maria and craters. The sky is a rich royal blue.
January 3, 2026 at 6:12 PM