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atlanticbirding.bsky.social
Atlantic Birding
@atlanticbirding.bsky.social
1K followers 680 following 1.4K posts
Birder/Hobby Photographer; West of Ireland. Post pictures of birds, nature & landscapes encountered on my travels.
Interested in nature and the environment around the world.
All pictures my own unless otherwise stated.
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atlanticbirding.bsky.social
Happy Valentines Day Everybody!

These Common Frogs have been getting into the spirit of things all week! Spawning season is well underway.

#eastcoastkin #valentines #valentinesday #frog #frogs #greensat #coloraday #love #spawning #frogspawn #spring #ireland
Two Common Frogs mating on a path at the side of the forest. The frogs are facing the camera with their left sides showing. The male is on top of the female and both heads are visible. They are on stone and the background is out of focus vegetation A Common Frog poking its head out of water in a pond. The frog is facing the camera, the reflection of its head is visible in front of it. The water has a metallic appearance and is reflecting the grasses and reeds in the water. A small mound of frog spawn can be seen in the background Two Common Frogs mating on a path at the side of the forest. The frogs are facing the camera straight on. The male is on top of the female and both heads are visible. They are on stone and the background is out of focus vegetation Two Common Frogs with their heads poking out of the water; one is side on and the other is facing away. Their reflection are visible in front of them. There are grasses poking out of the after throughout and giving the water a green tinge.
February 14, 2026 at 9:12 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 It’s time for #SmallBirdSaturday, when the #LittleBirds take the stage.

I have;

- Goldfinch in the forest
- Grey Wagtail on the shore
- Female House Sparrow in sunshine

#irishbirding #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #Sparrow #Wagtail #Goldfinch
A Goldfinch perched small branch facing to the left but turned slightly towards the camera. The background is an out of focus mass of branches with some golden light peeking through. A Grey Wagtail in side profile on a concrete slip at the shore of a lake. The bird is facing left and glancing at the camera. A Female House Sparrow perched on a small woodbine branch in sunshine. The bird is facing right and slightly away from camera but looking back towards the camera. The background is blue sky.
February 14, 2026 at 8:25 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @alan678.bsky.social’s theme for today’s #BirdOfTheDay is #Portrait.
Alt. Is #BirdsBeingBirds

I have a Saddle-Billed Stork portrait, taken in captivity.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #eastcoastkin #stork #saddlebilledstork #greensat #coloraday
A Saddle Billed Stork portrait against a green background. The bird is in side profile, facing left. Its white body is just visible below the black neck; leading to a black and long, red bill with a black band and a yellow saddle and wattle.
February 14, 2026 at 8:06 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 Two black and white shots of a grey heron coming in to land amongst the short reeds on the lakeshore.

#ColorADay #BWFriday #ClassicMono #blackandwhite #BnwMacro #scape #photography #nature #EastCoastKin #Flyday #birdsofbluesky #heron
A Black and White image of a Grey Heron coming in to land in the water beside the lake shore. The bird is facing away from the camera so its tail, wings and back are visible. Its wings are outstretched to slow its descent. The lake is covered with short stubs of reeds breaking up the water. A Grey Heron in flight in black and white, the bird is flying away from the camera and banking right so its wings and underbelly are visible. The background is a lake surface littered with short stubs of reeds
February 13, 2026 at 7:23 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social has chosen #DivingforFood as #BirdOfTheDay.
Alt. is #Pigeons&Doves

I have some recent shots of a Great Northern Diver (or Loon) in winter plumage, fishing off a pier.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #eastcoastkin #diver #irishbirding #loon
A Great Northern Diver standing out of the water to flap it wings. The bird is in side profile in the centre of the frame looking right. Its wings are across its body and the white spots on the wings are visible. A Great Northern Diver floating on the sea surface having just come up from a dive. . The bird is in side profile in the centre of the frame looking right. There is a drop of water coming from is beak. A Great Northern Diver standing out of the water to flap it wings. The bird is in side profile in the centre of the frame looking right. Its wings are across its body and the white spots on the wings are visible. A Great Northern Diver floating on the surface with its head in the water searching for fish. The bird in side profile slightly angled towards the camera
February 13, 2026 at 7:07 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 Today’s Alt. #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EverydayBirds but I have the opposite to share.
Saw my first lifer in a while yesterday; Snow Bunting feeding on the shoreline!
Hopefully the 1st of many for 2026 🤞

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #eastcoastkin #snowbunting #irishbirding #lifer
A Snow Bunting on a mound of sand on the shore. The bird is in side profile looking to the left with a seed in its beak. Its on a sandy patch in the foreground; the background is decaying seaweed
February 12, 2026 at 10:19 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @alan678.bsky.social’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Birds&Bugs. Alternative is #EverydayBirds.

I recently met this Goldcrest searching the lichen for bugs.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #eastcoastkin #goldcrest #irishbirding
A Goldcrest sitting on a lichen covered branch with what might be a spider in its mouth. The bird is facing the camera, turned slightly to left with its head down and tail up. The lichen covered branch runs along the foreground the background is out of focus grey broken up by branches.
February 12, 2026 at 8:32 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social has chosen #Waterbirds for today’s #BirdOfTheDay. Alt. is #Blue

I have a selection of;
- Oystercatcher in the sunshine
- A Small flock of Curlew on an estuary
- A Coot on the water.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #waderwednesday #eastcoastkin
An Oystercatcher in side profile on the sand in the bright sunshine. The bird is on the left facing right with a dirty beak and a blue ring on the right and yellow on the left leg. The foreground and background are sand with the base of a large rock visible behind the bird A flock of five Vurlew standing ankle deep in water at the edge of an estuary. The birds all have their heads turned towards the camera. There is water in the foreground and a hint of shore running along the right from foreground to background with grass visible in the background A Coot floating on water in golden sunshine. The bird is side on facing left and with its head turned slightly to camera. It has just resurfaced so some bubbles are visible beside it. The water has a metallic, mercury like appearance with small waves running from back to front. In the foreground are reeds popping up a few inches from the water.
February 11, 2026 at 8:32 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @alan678.bsky.social’s theme for today’s #BirdOfTheDay is #OddCouples. But I’m going with the alternative of #Urban.

A Grey Heron hunting in an Urban Park in Cork City.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #heron #greyheron #sunshine
A Grey Heron standing at the edge of an urban pond in the sunshine. The bird is showing its right side (and front) to camera with the sun shining from the same side. It is standing on a rocky edge of the pond with long grass behind it, beside it is a sculpture of two otters on a branch. In the background and part of the foreground is the water.
February 10, 2026 at 7:09 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social has chosen #StareDown as today’s #BirdOfTheDay.
Alt. Is #Gulls

I love a stare down picture, here’s a Blue Tit, Stonechat and Robin throwing me daggers!

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #stonechat #robin #bluetit
A Blue Tit in an Ivy bush in side profile with its head turned to look directly at the camera. The bird a in the shade and its angry eyebrows are on full display A Stonechat perched on a bramble facing into the setting sun with its head turned to stare down the camera. The background is out of focus grey cloud A Robin perched on a branch in sunshine facing directly into the camera. The bird is hunched down, ready to fly and staring directly into camera.
February 9, 2026 at 7:13 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 So I believe in the U.S. today is something called #SuperbOwlSunday; a tradition I can get behind!

A portrait of an Eurasian Eagle Owl I took at a falconry.

BTW being a birder I guess I’m going for the hawks tonight!

#birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #eastcoastkin #Owl #eagleowl
A Eurasian Eagle Owl portrait shot. The birds head and upper body fill the frame as it looks directly into the camera with its large eyes. Its mottled brown, yellow and black feathers can be seen in good detail. The background is a plywood sheet turning to shadow on the right.
February 8, 2026 at 11:37 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay #Birds #blueskymonday #eastcoastkin #mallardmonday #woodpeckerwednesday #waderwednesday #thursjay #scape #forestfriday #squirrelsaturday #smallbirdsaturday #stunday #swanday #blueskyartshow
atlanticbirding.bsky.social Atlantic Birding @atlanticbirding.bsky.social · 6d
I want acknowledge hitting 1k followers & thank this community for being so welcoming. & to the hosts for driving & challenging interactions
2&1/2 yrs ago I was a birder who got a camera & you’ve helped me evolve into a competent photographer

Here’s the first photo I ever took; a swift in flight.
A Swift in flight against a Bluesky. The bird is facing the camera and tilting its head to look towards it. It is facing the camera, wings outstretched and tailored slightly to the left.
February 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
I want acknowledge hitting 1k followers & thank this community for being so welcoming. & to the hosts for driving & challenging interactions
2&1/2 yrs ago I was a birder who got a camera & you’ve helped me evolve into a competent photographer

Here’s the first photo I ever took; a swift in flight.
A Swift in flight against a Bluesky. The bird is facing the camera and tilting its head to look towards it. It is facing the camera, wings outstretched and tailored slightly to the left.
February 8, 2026 at 9:28 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 A pair of Mute Swans paddle
across a lake, backlit by the sunrise on a frosty winter morning.

#ireland #naturetherapy #naturephotography #eastcoastkin #lake #sunrise #photography #stunday #swanday #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #frost #winter #sun
A pair of Mute Swans paddle in a line from left to right across a lake with the sunrise whinging on them from behind and right. The birds are backlit and their reflections are visible in front of them. The lake has a metallic appearance with wisps of fog visible. In the foreground are some low growing reeds in the water and the background is scrubby woodland at the edge of the lake.
February 8, 2026 at 8:53 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @alan678.bsky.social’s theme for #BirdOfTheDay is #posted, any bird on a fence or post.
Alternative Is #red

I have a gorgeous Stonechat on a cement post in the sunset.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #stonechat #sunset #stunday #sunshine
A male Stonechat on a cement post at sunset. The birds are backlit is in side profile looking to the left showing its tail, wing, back and head. The background Is out of focus greens and whites
February 8, 2026 at 8:34 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 So @alan678.bsky.social has chosen #Serenity for #BirdOfTheDay while @robcrank68.bsky.social is convalescing. Alt. Theme is #Blurry.

I find this shot of tufted ducks at sunset very calm.

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #duck #sunset #calm
Four Tufted Ducks on a calm lake at sunset. The birds are backlit by the golden sunshine, three are together to the left of centre of the shot and the other is to the right. One of the group of three is raised up with its wings out against the sunset.
February 7, 2026 at 11:22 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 For this weeks #SquirrelSaturday I have some shots of a Red Squirrel feeding on beech nuts from the Autumn.

#mammals #naturetherapy #naturephotography #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #redsquirrel #squirrel #mammalphotography #sqrlpix #ireland #irishwildlife
A Red Squirrel hanging upside down on a very thin beech branch to reach the nut at the end. The animals entire body is visible from head to toe along the branch. The foreground and background are beech branches covered in leaves, dappled with light. A Red Squirrel sitting in a beech tree eating a beech nut. The animal is facing the camera with a nut in its hands. The foreground and background are beech branches covered in leaves, dappled with light. A Red Squirrel moving through a beech canopy, the animal is standing in the middle of the frame reaching up to another branch. The background is beech branches covered in leaves, dappled with light.
February 7, 2026 at 8:24 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 Good Morning. Time for @javajanegallery.co.uk’s #SmallBirdSaturday;

- Treecreeper on a mossy Willow
- Goldfinch in the sunshine
- Male Chaffinch on Bramble

#irishbirding #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #Treecreeper #Chaffinch #Goldfinch
A Treecreeper hanging off a drooping carpet of moss on a dead willow branch. The bird is visible on its right side and is inspecting the moss with its beak. The branch is black and runs from the right to the top of the frame. The background is out of focus greens mixed with dark colours. A Goldfinch perched on a small branch, the bird is faced slightly away from Camera with its head turned back so its left side is visible. The sun is shining directly on it and lighting up the branches and bushes in the background A Male Chaffinch perched on a bare bramble branch close to the Ground. The bird is showing its right side and has it’s head down as if ready to fly Away. The light is coming from the left and highlighting its tail and wings.
February 7, 2026 at 7:44 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @alan678.bsky.social has chosen #Birds&Berries for today’s #BirdOfTheDay.
Alt. Is #Backlitbeauty.

I have a series of a European
Robin performing impressive acrobatics to eat Ivy berries

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #robin #irishbirding
A European Robin, close up in side profile, perched on Ivy. A Robin, still perched on Ivy, twisting its head upside and backwards to grab a berry Robin back In a normal position with the Ivy berry in its beak
February 6, 2026 at 7:31 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 A shot I took with a GoPro, over 12 years ago, of the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare, Ireland.
Hag’s head, the southern most outcrop of the cliffs, is visible in the background with the ruins of a napoleonic signal tower on it.

##naturetherapy #seascape #eastcoastkin #scape #sea #cliff #coast
A shot of the Cliffs of Moher taken from the most northerly point. The cliffs are on the left and the sea is to the right. In the foreground some people can be seen on top of the cliffs and in the background Hag’s Head can be seen. It is said that it looks like the face of a Hag jutting out of the water. The ruin of Napoleonic era signal tower can be seen on top
February 6, 2026 at 7:07 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 For this week’s #Flyday I have a succession of Black-headed Gulls flying across a lake in front of a golden winter sunset

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #eastcoastkin #irishbirding #sunset #flying #gull #silhouette #scape
A sunset scene; dark hills peppered with bare trees in the low background are topped by a sunset of deep oranges and pinks. A hint of the water of the lake is visible in the foreground and the silhouettes of four black headed gulls can be seen just above the tree line, the birds are all flying right to left and are in a line. A fifth bird can be partially seen at the bottom right of the picture in front of the hill
February 6, 2026 at 6:53 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 Happy #ThursJay everybody. Time to celebrate the Corvids. This week I have;

- Silhouette of a Raven in flight
- Moody shot of a Western Jackdaw
- Rook missing some feathers around the beak

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #eastcoastkin #corvid #irishbirding #raven #jackdaw
A Silhouette of a Raven in flight. The bird is flying from left to right in side profile. Its wings are up and its head is tilted slightly upward and towards the camera. The background is grey and there is a little darkness in the foreground as it was shot through scrub A Western Jackdaw perched on a gnarly tree branch. The birds tail is to the right of the shot, in side profile and looking at the camera with its left eye. The bird and gnarled branches are in focus and there are out of focus bare trees dappled with grey light in the background A young Rook standing on a road in side profile. The bird is looking to the left with its right foot forward. The light is catching Its back and wings and it is missing some feathers around the beak. Another Rook can be seen in the background and the left side of the road has a green lilt from moss.
February 5, 2026 at 6:59 AM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Pigeons&Doves. The alternative is #Black&White

I have
- Collared Dove on the ground
- Wood Pigeon in a conifer

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #pigeon #irishbirding #dove
A Collared Dove, in side profile, walking on the ground. The bird is moving from right to left on grass with dark soil showing through it. The light is brightest on the birds head and left shoulder A Wood Pigeon perched in a conifer with its back turned to camera and head turned so it is looking back with its left eye. The sun is shining through the branches of the tree from the left. The birds tail, wings and head are visible
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Reposted by Atlantic Birding
annaquent.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social hat heute das Thema #BackyardBirds für den #BirdOfTheDay gewählt.
Hier ein Kernbeißer in der Linde vor meinem Küchenfenster.
Kernbeißer auf einem Ast im Baum, teils von kahlen Zweigen verdeckt, ausgerichtet zur rechten Bildseite, hat seinen Kopf zur Seite gedreht und schaut aus dem Bild heraus. Das Gefieder leuchtet in der Sonne. Im Hintergrund blauer Himmel.
February 4, 2026 at 12:56 PM
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
🪶 @alan678.bsky.social’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BackyardBirds. Alt. is #LongNecks

Here’s a close up of a Long-tailed Tit I captured last week in a brief spell of nice weather!

#birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #naturetherapy #wildlifetherapy #eastcoastkin #Longtailedtit #irishbirding
A long-tailed Tit sitting in a Whitethorn tree in the bright sunshine. The bird is close up and in side profile, looking to the right. Its head and side are prominent and the detail of the feathers are very clear. The wing and tail are obscured by small branches. Some small, out of focus, branches are in the foreground and the background is out of focus dark greens.
February 4, 2026 at 7:16 AM