Sandy Horne
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sandyhorne.bsky.social
Sandy Horne
@sandyhorne.bsky.social
Birder. Amateur photographer. Mostly birds but other things at times.
I spend a lot of time in my 4WD out in beautiful remote areas.
Born on Gubbi Gubbi land. Living on Kaurna land.
Feed cleansing one photo at a time.
Introvert.
Single.
64.
Pinned
2026 BIRD CALENDARS
I'm pleased to announce that I have calendars available now.
Please email me and I'll send you the deets.
(I've put my email address in the image below to avoid it being picked up by bots.)
Aussies: If you were thinking of trying to see an aurora tonight, best to just go to bed. It looks like the numbers have fallen off a cliff all of a sudden. It's not likely you'll see anything tonight.
January 21, 2026 at 11:23 AM
This is incredible.
Also, fun fact: I have visited North Pole, Alaska. I even got to sit on Santa's lap 😁
Good night from North Pole, Alaska. This just happened tonight
January 21, 2026 at 11:10 AM
When I first started taking photos last night, there was still a bit of twilight from the sun that had just set & the beams were not yet visible. Instead, the sky was bathed in pink & purple. Lucky that the moon wasn't an issue as it had just set.
Near Truro, South Australia, 20 Jan 2026.
#aurora
January 21, 2026 at 10:44 AM
A note about aurora colours, because they are so insane. I haven't adjusted the colours in any of my photos. They simply don't need it. It is true that it doesn't look like this to the naked eye. That's due to human eyes being terrible at seeing colour at night. Cameras don't have those limitations.
January 21, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Large beams pointing to the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Near Truro, South Australia, 20 January 2026.
#aurora
January 21, 2026 at 2:42 AM
When a car driving along a rural dirt road 'ruins' your aurora shot ... but you don't mind because it looks interesting 😄
Near Truro, South Australia, 20 January 2026.
#aurora
January 21, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Another Aurora Australis photo from last night. The beams were naked-eye visible. This event was even better than 11 May 2024.
Near Truro, South Australia.
#aurora
January 21, 2026 at 12:10 AM
I am so glad I didn't stay home!
Totally worth the drive!
It blew a gale which made it very difficult, but I persevered.
Aurora Australis near Truro, South Australia.
#aurora
January 20, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Argh!
Changed my mind.
I think I will go aurora hunting tonight.
FOMO!
January 20, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
The aurora 20 minutes ago near Fairbanks, Alaska
January 20, 2026 at 6:45 AM
I posted this over 7 hours ago.
Since then, things have changed.
It doesn't look like anything much is going to happen for us here in Australia tonight.
Tassie might get something.
(But, things can change, so I'll keep an eye on indices.)
There has been an aurora alert issued. It's looking pretty good for southern Australia tonight.
SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS. AURORA MAY BE OBSERVED DURING LOCAL NIGHT TIME HOURS IN GOOD OBSERVING CONDITIONS AT REGIONS AS FAR EQUATORWARD AS EQUATORIAL LATITUDES.
#aurora
January 20, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Not looking good for aurora action.
I might be staying home instead.
This is what happens. You never can tell.
But I'll keep monitoring. Things can change.
January 20, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
Hawaiian monk seals are more rare than pandas.
Hawaiian monk seal seen soaking up sunshine in Waikiki
A Hawaiian monk seal was seen soaking up the sun in Waikiki on Saturday.
www.hawaiinewsnow.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:35 AM
Thinking of heading up to the Riverland after work today.
I'll pack a thermos of tea.
Worth a try.
Happy for someone to join me, if interested - but drive yourself.
#aurora
January 20, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
Wow, can see with the naked eye over Loch Long in Argyll Scotland and the colours are amazing 🤩

Taken with iPhone, night settings, no editing 🎉

#Aurora #Scotland #StormHour
January 19, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
We have an early CME hit! This was the fastest I've ever seen it arrive.

I'm taking this pic standing in the middle of a typical Icelandic hail squall but you can see the aurora through breaks in the clouds. Go outside now if you're in Europe!

19:50 | Þingvellir, Iceland
#aurora #northernlights
January 19, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
Lady Aurora has been out dancing tonight in the UK. #northernlights #aurora #photography #nature
January 19, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
More aurora from Orkney!
January 19, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Sandy Horne
Ireland, if you haven’t looked outside this evening . . .

#SpéirGhorm #SpeirGorm
January 19, 2026 at 9:54 PM
There are never any guarantees when it comes to auroras - but the numbers for this current one are crazy.
There is the potential for it to be bigger/better than 11 May 2024 (and we all know how amazing that was!).
Fingers crossed for clear skies and good numbers.
There has been an aurora alert issued. It's looking pretty good for southern Australia tonight.
SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS. AURORA MAY BE OBSERVED DURING LOCAL NIGHT TIME HOURS IN GOOD OBSERVING CONDITIONS AT REGIONS AS FAR EQUATORWARD AS EQUATORIAL LATITUDES.
#aurora
January 19, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Son just sent me this 🤣
Gotta love Seattle!
January 19, 2026 at 11:02 PM
There has been an aurora alert issued. It's looking pretty good for southern Australia tonight.
SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS. AURORA MAY BE OBSERVED DURING LOCAL NIGHT TIME HOURS IN GOOD OBSERVING CONDITIONS AT REGIONS AS FAR EQUATORWARD AS EQUATORIAL LATITUDES.
#aurora
January 19, 2026 at 10:52 PM
I am going to bed.
While I'm sleeping, let's spin the world events roulette wheel and see which bad thing (or things) it lands on this time 🙄
January 19, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Best of 2025:
An Anna's hummingbird in my son's backyard in Seattle.
A joy to sit and watch!
#bestof2025
January 19, 2026 at 10:42 AM