Sarah Longes
LightNews LightNews
banner
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Sarah Longes
@sarahlonges.bsky.social
720 followers 510 following 2.6K posts
Nature - Wildlife - Music Photographer, Speaker, Educator. SheClicks Ambassador. Fujifilm X Series. Poetry/Spoken Word. Wheelchair User. Living with Crohn's, an ileostomy, and fibromyalgia. Love to laugh! aka MiradorDesign, Sarah Williams
Posts Replies Media Videos
sarahlonges.bsky.social
The Colour Of Magic #ShareMondays2026 #FoxOfTheDay

“It was octarine, the colour of magic. It was alive and glowing. But Rincewind always thought it looked a sort of greenish-purple.” – Terry Pratchett #nature #wildlife @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @rbgkew.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social
The image features a female red fox (vixen), known as Star, surrounded by lush green grass and a dense scattering of early purple crocuses, which fill the background and foreground in a softly blurred bokeh. The vixen is the main subject, her face in sharp focus, and positioned in the centre-right of the frame, looking towards the left. She is pictured in a relaxed, lying-down posture, her body partially obscured by the grass and flowers. Her most identifying feature, a white star on her dark grey-black chest is hidden away from the viewer by the low perspective. Star has a thick reddish-orange coat, large pointed ears with black on the back, and a large black tear-stain marking extending into a lighter, whitish-grey area on her muzzle and neck. She’s alert, despite her half-closed eyes. On the rare winters days this year when we haven’t had lots of rain, the foxes in the gardens have enjoyed their various resting spots in the sun and it’s lovely to share a moment of peace and quiet nearby. Foxes only use earths/dens for birthing or sheltering from bad weather. The early purple crocus is not to be confused for Spring crocus! It's sometimes known as the woodland crocus or by Tommasini's crocus after the botanist Muzio Tommasini. It was brought to the UK in the nineteenth century from Eastern Europe where it grows wild. It's a more delicate flower than Spring crocus, with paler lilac-purple petals that fade to a white centre and flower tube (stem) with yellow anthers and an orange style. They're greatly beneficial as an early food source for bees and other insects. I often think of them as a herald of Spring.
February 9, 2026 at 10:20 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Awakening #ShareMondays2026 #FoxOfTheDay

The emergence of #flowers, along with the #behaviour of the #vixens in the #gardens, hints at a slow shift in the seasons 💮🦊 #nature #wildlife #redfox @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @rbgkew.bsky.social #mammals #fujifilm_uk
This is a close-up photograph featuring the face of a female red fox, peering intently through a delicate curtain of white snowdrops. The central focus is the fox's face, characterised by its vibrant reddish-orange fur and striking amber-yellow eyes looking directly towards the viewer. Her muzzle is edged in bright white, leading down the V shaped face into the clusters of white flowers. The perspective is low, placing the viewer at eye level with the subject as she emerges from the flowers. The shallow depth of field keeps her eyes in sharp focus, with those vertical pupils that are a characteristic distinguishing foxes from some other canids. Those eyes are focused and alert, hinting at the her keen senses, as she follows scent trails with her nose to the ground. The composition creates an intimate, almost secretive, feel. This vixen is known as Red, for that rich reddish fur that contrasts with the pristine white of the flowers, while the background is a soft, blurred expanse of green foliage. The scene captures a fleeting moment of wild beauty, where the vibrant life of the fox meets the gentle, slow awakening of Spring.
February 2, 2026 at 10:54 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Winter Gold #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social

A little #goldcrest hunting among the bright #witchhazel #blossom at #RHSGardensWisley recently 💛 #nature #wildlife #birding #RHS #fujifilm_uk @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @bto-gbw.bsky.social
The image is a close-up photograph of a Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), perched on a branch of a witch hazel, with distinctive yellow, spidery flowers. Along with the Firecrest, the Goldcrest is the UK's smallest bird, weighing about the same as a 20 pence piece and only 9cm in length. It has olive-green plumage on its back and a paler front. Its most striking features are the yellow and black stripe on its head, which is a bright orange in males. In the Autumn, our resident Goldcrests are joined by reinforcements that fly here all the way from Scandinavia and Russia to make the most of our milder weather.  Winter is prime Goldcrest-spotting season, as migrant arrivals boost numbers. They often tag along with roaming flocks of tits – so if you think you’ve spotted a Blue Tit, it’s always worth a second look!  When they’re not flitting about in conifers, where invertebrates will often seek shelter in winter, I have very regularly observed them hunting in witch hazel once it’s in flower. RHS Gardens Wisley have a great mix of both of these tree species so I usually go looking for goldcrests there every winter. The bird is captured mid-motion, leaning forward towards the flowers with its back to the camera, foraging for small insects or invertebrates which make up its diet. It’s perched on a moss-covered branch with several clusters of bright yellow, ribbon-like flowers. The background is softly blurred bokeh, with muted tones of greens and browns which helps to keep the focus on the bird and the flowers. It was captured using a shallow depth of field, rendering the background out of focus while the subject remains sharp.
February 1, 2026 at 12:47 AM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Repost for #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social
February 1, 2026 at 12:20 AM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Repost for #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social
February 1, 2026 at 12:20 AM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Repost for #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social
sarahlonges.bsky.social Sarah Longes @sarahlonges.bsky.social · 20d
F is for Falcon #ShareMondays2026

I had a lovely time watching a #kestrel pair hunting in #BushyPark at the weekend. This is the #female perched on a favourite old #hawthorn tree. #nature #birding #wildlife @theroyalparks.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #BigGardenBirdwatch
The image is a detailed photograph of a Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), perched on a dead hawthorn tree branch. The kestrel is a small bird of prey of the falcon family, slightly smaller than a pigeon. It has rich brown plumage with darker spots and bars on its back and tail feathers. It has distinctive yellow talons and a yellow cere at the base of its beak. Its feathers appear slightly ruffled in the wind. The bird is perched on the gnarled, weathered wood of a bare branch, covered with lichen. The background is a vibrant, uniform blue sky, providing a stark contrast that highlights the warm tones of the bird. The focus is sharp on the kestrel and its perch, while other branches in the foreground and background are softly blurred. Kestrels are a familiar sight in various habitats, known for their characteristic hovering behaviour while hunting for small mammals. They can often be seen perched on high points like fence posts or trees, scanning the ground for prey. The title is a nod to the book H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, now also a movie starring Claire Foy. The book is a memoir centred around Helen’s training of a goshawk that helped her through the grief of losing her father. Here’s the RSPB’s description of the Common Kestrel: Both males and females have pale undersides with black speckles. Males have a slate-grey head and uppertail with a single black band at the tip. Females are browner all over, with bars all along the uppertail. Both males and females have dark ‘tear’ marks extending below each eye. Wing tips are more pointed than a Sparrowhawk’s. They have a longer tail than other falcons, with a black band at the end, fanned out while hovering. The beak is yellow and black. Legs are yellow. They are between 32 and 35cm in length.
February 1, 2026 at 12:19 AM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Incredibly grateful to Fotospeed for choosing my image of mum, Grey, & daughter, Star, having a last dance as the winner of this month’s contest. Star is now settling into her own territory and both vixens are looking great as they prepare for Spring 😊🦊🌱🌷
fotospeed.bsky.social Fotospeed @fotospeed.bsky.social · 19d
🏆 #FSPrintMonday Winner Announcement 🏆

🥇 Congrats @sarahlonges.bsky.social

We love the symmetrical composition and mirrored poses creating an intense focal point, while the muted, autumnal background allows the foxes' vibrant coats and expressive, open-mouthed snarls to pop.
January 28, 2026 at 6:35 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
F is for Falcon #ShareMondays2026

I had a lovely time watching a #kestrel pair hunting in #BushyPark at the weekend. This is the #female perched on a favourite old #hawthorn tree. #nature #birding #wildlife @theroyalparks.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #BigGardenBirdwatch
The image is a detailed photograph of a Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), perched on a dead hawthorn tree branch. The kestrel is a small bird of prey of the falcon family, slightly smaller than a pigeon. It has rich brown plumage with darker spots and bars on its back and tail feathers. It has distinctive yellow talons and a yellow cere at the base of its beak. Its feathers appear slightly ruffled in the wind. The bird is perched on the gnarled, weathered wood of a bare branch, covered with lichen. The background is a vibrant, uniform blue sky, providing a stark contrast that highlights the warm tones of the bird. The focus is sharp on the kestrel and its perch, while other branches in the foreground and background are softly blurred. Kestrels are a familiar sight in various habitats, known for their characteristic hovering behaviour while hunting for small mammals. They can often be seen perched on high points like fence posts or trees, scanning the ground for prey. The title is a nod to the book H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, now also a movie starring Claire Foy. The book is a memoir centred around Helen’s training of a goshawk that helped her through the grief of losing her father. Here’s the RSPB’s description of the Common Kestrel: Both males and females have pale undersides with black speckles. Males have a slate-grey head and uppertail with a single black band at the tip. Females are browner all over, with bars all along the uppertail. Both males and females have dark ‘tear’ marks extending below each eye. Wing tips are more pointed than a Sparrowhawk’s. They have a longer tail than other falcons, with a black band at the end, fanned out while hovering. The beak is yellow and black. Legs are yellow. They are between 32 and 35cm in length.
January 26, 2026 at 10:34 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Let Sleeping Foxes Lie #ShareMondays2026 #FoxOfTheDay

A quiet moment spent with the dominant #DogFox in a secluded area of @rbgkew.bsky.social last week. #nature #redfox #wildlife #mammals @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social #WildLondon #fujifilm_uk @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
The image is a close-up photograph of a male red fox sleeping peacefully on the ground. The subject almost fills the whole frame. He’s the dominant dog fox of the family group that I have been watching in the gardens, known as Notch due to an old injury that has left a small notch in his left ear. He’s curled into a tight ball, a common pose for warmth and security, resting on a bed of brown, dried leaves with patches of green vegetation. These are mostly brambles and the early unfurling of Spring wildflowers in this small copse of mature trees. His eyes are closed, and his bushy tail is wrapped around its body and face. His fur is a mix of reddish-orange and greyish-brown tones with black on the back of his ears, white on the inside and on his almost hidden muzzle. The light is soft under the trees, highlighting the texture of the his fur and the earthy tones of his surroundings that he is able to blend into and remain hidden from most passersby.
January 19, 2026 at 10:50 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
And this week I’m getting the year wrong in the hashtag 😂🤭🤦‍♀️ #ShareMondays2026
January 12, 2026 at 9:20 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Bright Winter Fare #ShareMondays2025

I finally tracked down the visiting fieldfare in #RHSGardenWisley last week 😊 They love #crabapples! @rspb.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #wildlife #nature #birding #gardens #horticulture #fujifilm_uk @birdguides.bsky.social
The image is of a fieldfare in profile, positioned centrally, looking upwards and to the right of the frame. It’s perched on a branch, surrounded by clusters of scarlet crab apple fruit, which are an important food source for migrating birds like fieldfares and redwings during winter. Some berries appear shriveled after recent frost or partially eaten. The natural, bare branches provide a textured foreground against a softly blurred, deep blue background of the winter sky. This contrast makes the subject and red berries stand out vividly. I was thrilled to finally discover where these winter migrant visitors to the UK were feeding at RHS Gardens Wisley this season. Having seen them roosting on the very tops of trees in wooded areas, I eventually tracked them to the far side of the orchards. Here they were feeding on windfall apples and their favourite crab apples that were planted along the borders. With the sun low in the sky behind me, the birds were lit with a warm glow and the skies took on a deep wintry blue tone, broken only by shadowed bokeh branches of oaks on the edge of the Jubilee Arboretum. 2025 was a mast year (plentiful) for nut and fruit bearing trees in the autumn with warmer weather helping them to remain fresh into the winter. Usually this bounty of food would bring large numbers of these migratory thrush species into the heart of the gardens but they have appeared scarce over the past few years. Here’s a description of the fieldfare from the RSPB: The Fieldfare is a large and striking bird. This chunky thrush has a grey head, lower-back and rump and chestnut upper-back and wings. Its tail is black and its heavily spotted breast sits on a warm ochre wash. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from ten or twenty to several hundred strong
January 12, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Sarah Longes
dylannardini.com
REMEMBER 🚨

A new year means a new hashtag.

#Sharemondays2025 is now #Sharemondays2026

Old hashtags will be accepted for the first few weeks as we changeover.
January 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Industrious #ShareMondays2026

As the #feezing #weather took hold last week, small #birds gathered together in a frenzied search for food in #BushyPark. This nuthatch was one of several searching the #deadwood! #nature #wildlife #birding @theroyalparks.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social
This is a landscape aspect photograph of an Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea) perched on a stack of weathered, deadwood logs with a touch of frost on them. The bird is small and stocky, with a blue-grey back and a rust-coloured or orange-buff belly and flanks. A distinctive black eye-stripe runs across its head, and it possesses a long, pointed black bill. The nuthatch is captured in a head-down posture, typical of its ability to climb down tree trunks headfirst while searching for food. It is positioned on rough, textured logs that show variations of brown, grey, and orange hues. The background is softly blurred (bokeh), consisting of warm, earthy tones of brown and orange, from the woodland floor.
January 5, 2026 at 10:18 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Strictly Fox Dancing #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social #FoxOfTheDay

Grey (right) has been pushing her daughter, Star, out of the territory over the past month as we approach the breeding season 🦊 @rbgkew.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social #wildlife #nature
Two female red foxes are the central focus of this photograph, engaged in an energetic interaction. They have the characteristic russet-red fur, pointed ears, and bushy tails with white tips. Both foxes are standing on their hind legs, facing each other, with their front paws on each other’s, and their mouths wide open. This behavior can sometimes be part of play, but in this instance it’s establishing dominance, with loud, screeching vocal communication, as foxes are particularly vocal during their mating season in January. The pair are mother and daughter, Grey (right) and Star (left) who was born back in March. She’s dominating Star through these noisy wrestling matches that almost look like a dance at times, in order to push her out from the family territory before the breeding season. January and February are often known as “travelling time” as both males and females are moving in search of new homes and mates. The interaction takes place on a grassy area scattered with fallen brown leaves. The background is a soft-focus (bokeh) mix of green foliage and bare branches with reddish-brown dead leaves.
December 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
A repost for #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social
December 31, 2025 at 10:23 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Berry Merry Christmas #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social

A festive tree decoration, a #bluetit, on purple beautyberry at #RHSGardenWisley 💜 #Nature is the gift that keeps on giving! I’m forever grateful for it 🌍 #wildlife #birds @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
My favourite festive tree decoration this year is this sweet little blue tit, seen here feeding on purple beautyberry (callicarpa), at RHS Garden Wisley a few weekends ago at a festive meetup for members of the SheClicks community. The background of the image is a soft graduation of colours starting with hints of orange in the lower left corner, turning to yellow and then green in the right hand half of the piece. These are the colours of the shrubs and ferns behind the subject seen completely out of focus. The purpleberry shrub has slender branches that are a greyish in colour and bear vibrant purple berries in clusters along the stems. A shallow depth of field was used to create patches of blurred purple bokeh from berries on stems in the fore and background of the main subject. The blue tit is perched centre left of the landscape aspect image. It’s in profile with its head turned to look to the right along the length of its body. Centre right of the image is text in a handwritten style that reads “Berry Merry Christmas”. Here’s a description from Google of the Blue Tit: A small, vibrant European bird known for its bright blue cap, white cheeks with a black eye stripe, yellow breast, and blue/green wings, making it a common and attractive garden visitor. About 12cm long, it's agile, often seen hanging upside down foraging for insects and seeds, with females slightly paler than males. 
December 31, 2025 at 10:23 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
A repost for #fsprintmonday @fotospeed.bsky.social
sarahlonges.bsky.social Sarah Longes @sarahlonges.bsky.social · Dec 29
Star Light Star Bright #ShareMondays2025 #FoxOfTheDay

As the #lights came on at @rbgkew.bsky.social for their #ChristmasAtKew event, Star wandered in front of a glowing display 🦊😍💡 #nature #redfox #winter @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #christmas
This square-cropped photograph features a female red fox sitting in green grass, looking directly at the viewer. She has the characteristic reddish-brown fur, a pointed muzzle, and large, upright ears. Her legs and the backs of the ears are darker, and a star-shaped white patch is visible on her predominantly grey chest. The image captures a moment of direct eye contact between the subject and the viewer, highlighting the fox's features against an abstract background. The lower portion of the image is dominated by vibrant green grass, which is blurred in the foreground by using a shallow depth of field. The background is heavily blurred with large, warm-toned bokeh lights in shades of orange and red, creating a striking contrast with the green foreground. The bokeh circles are from a curtain of strung lights that are part of the Christmas At Kew event. The hazy surroundings of the central subject help to make the details of her features and fur stand out. This aesthetic can be achieved really well using a telephoto lens held at ground level.
December 31, 2025 at 10:13 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Star Light Star Bright #ShareMondays2025 #FoxOfTheDay

As the #lights came on at @rbgkew.bsky.social for their #ChristmasAtKew event, Star wandered in front of a glowing display 🦊😍💡 #nature #redfox #winter @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #christmas
This square-cropped photograph features a female red fox sitting in green grass, looking directly at the viewer. She has the characteristic reddish-brown fur, a pointed muzzle, and large, upright ears. Her legs and the backs of the ears are darker, and a star-shaped white patch is visible on her predominantly grey chest. The image captures a moment of direct eye contact between the subject and the viewer, highlighting the fox's features against an abstract background. The lower portion of the image is dominated by vibrant green grass, which is blurred in the foreground by using a shallow depth of field. The background is heavily blurred with large, warm-toned bokeh lights in shades of orange and red, creating a striking contrast with the green foreground. The bokeh circles are from a curtain of strung lights that are part of the Christmas At Kew event. The hazy surroundings of the central subject help to make the details of her features and fur stand out. This aesthetic can be achieved really well using a telephoto lens held at ground level.
December 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Berry Merry Christmas
Belated #SeasonsGreetings2025 🎄 A festive tree decoration, a #bluetit, on purple beautyberry at #RHSGardenWisley 😊💜 #Nature is the gift that keeps on giving! I’m forever grateful for it 🌍 #wildlife #birds @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #RHS @rspb.bsky.social
My favourite festive tree decoration this year is this sweet little blue tit, seen here feeding on purple beautyberry (callicarpa), at RHS Garden Wisley a few weekends ago at a festive meetup for members of the SheClicks community. The background of the image is a soft graduation of colours starting with hints of orange in the lower left corner, turning to yellow and then green in the right hand half of the piece. These are the colours of the shrubs and ferns behind the subject seen completely out of focus. The purpleberry shrub has slender branches that are a greyish in colour and bear vibrant purple berries in clusters along the stems. A shallow depth of field was used to create patches of blurred purple bokeh from berries on stems in the fore and background of the main subject. The blue tit is perched centre left of the landscape aspect image. It’s in profile with its head turned to look to the right along the length of its body. Centre right of the image is text in a handwritten style that reads “Berry Merry Christmas”. Here’s a description from Google of the Blue Tit: A small, vibrant European bird known for its bright blue cap, white cheeks with a black eye stripe, yellow breast, and blue/green wings, making it a common and attractive garden visitor. About 12cm long, it's agile, often seen hanging upside down foraging for insects and seeds, with females slightly paler than males. 
December 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Serene Solstice #ShareMondays2025 #FoxOfTheDay

Wishing everyone a blessed #solstice & #yuletide! The foxes are looking out for the return of the #GreenMan & longer days 🦊 #nature #wildlife #mammals #redfox @rbgkew.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk
A male red fox (known as Wolf for his lupine features) with a thick, reddish-brown coat is the central focus of this landscape aspect photograph. He has reddish-brown and greyish fur, with white on his abdomen, chin, and throat, and black on his lower legs and the back of his prominent ears. He’s standing in profile, looking upward and slightly to the right, with an alert and focused posture. He’s surrounded by green-leafed brambles and brown leaf litter on the woodland floor. The background consists of bare trees and a soft, diffused light filtering through a hazy background, creating a glow around the fox.
December 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Oh Little Star ✨ #ShareMondays2025 #FoxOfTheDay

Star will certainly be one to follow through the #Winter! Excited to see how the #fox #familydynamics develop over the coming months 🦊 #nature #RedFox #wildlife #fujifilm_uk @rbgkew.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social
A landscape aspect image showing a young female fox standing in front of a huge tree trunk, on ground that is heavily covered by rusty-brown leaf litter. The tree trunk in the background almost completely fills the frame, with just the lower fifth of the base obscured by the leaves. This is only around a third, or less, of the diameter of the ancient sweet chestnut trunk! It's deep in shadow but the deeply textured, gnarly bark is just visible, highlighted with the rich greens of moss and lichen. The vixen, Star is stood in the left side of the image, with the tips of her ears close to the top and her paws buried in the leaf litter. She is facing almost straight on to the camera, angled so she is looking just across to the right of me. She was watching some people walking up the sloping path and with her ears pricked forward you can tell that she is alert to any sign of threat. There wasn't! I think the people were delighted to see her and they paused at a respectful distance to watch her for a while. A lovely opportunity for me to tell them about Star and the other foxes that live in the habitat, to explain a bit about their beneficial role in the ecosystem and the family dynamics and current behaviour of the group. It was lovely to hear from these people about the foxes they see in their gardens and local area. Star relaxed completely as I sat on the ground, amiably chatting with others. It was good to see her relaxed around others who are respectful of her and her home. One of the people remarked upon her overall dark colouring and I was able to tell them that this appearance can be observed in members of the family group from one side. It's genetics. I explained that we call her Star for the star shaped white mark on her chest that stands out well against the grey and black fur that extends underneath her and on her flanks and legs. She also has large semicircular black markings on her muzzle.
December 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Thanks @chrisgpackham.bsky.social for sharing this one of our two beautiful vixens in the family group that I watch 😊🦊 This was taken a few weeks ago before the leaf litter turned to mulch! Loved lying down on the ground and chilling out with them, even if I did get a bit damp 🤭
chrisgpackham.bsky.social Chris Packham @chrisgpackham.bsky.social · Dec 13
A foxy duo for your #FoxOfTheDay today , shared by @sarahlonges.bsky.social , thank you Sarah !
December 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Last Light #ShareMondays2025 #FoxOfTheDay

The light leaves us early in the #winter! But it goes with a glorious glow as the sun is about to set and I must leave the #foxes resting 🦊 #wildlife #nature #redfox @rbgkew.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk
A female fox, known as Red, is lying down at the edge of one of her many earths (a chamber for sleeping). She's positioned almost centrally in this landscape aspect image. Her body is facing toward the right wih her head turned to look across towards the left. She has her legs all neatly drawn up under her, very much like how cats often sit, the sphinx position! The late light catches the features of her face and parts of her flank, leaving the backround area of brambles in deep shadow. The light also catches on the cleared area of packed earth around her den which has green moss growing on it and is surrounded by russet coloured leaf litter from the beech trees that surround the area. She uses the cleared ground as a daybed, where she can rest while there is no need to go to ground to escape the cold or wet weather. Her coat is a rich auburn with a white bib and white patches on the inside of her legs. She has black sock-like markings on her front legs. The back of her ears are also black. She got her moniker from her coat which is such a rich reddish tone.
December 9, 2025 at 12:01 AM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Come Into The Light #ShareMondays2025 #FoxOfTheDay

The young #vixen known as Star was shining bright as she came into the afternoon light from under a #beech #tree 🦊🍂 #wildlife #nature #redfox #mammals @rbgkew.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk
A close-up portrait of a young vixen approaching me with curiosity from the shadows beneath a large beech tree. The background is dark brown shadow in the top half, graduating to light browns and bright russet colours in the leaf litter around Star's feet. It's mid afternoon and the sun is low, sending golden light across the parts of the gardens that it can reach. I was sitting at the edge of the path when Star decided that she needed to come a bit too close so she could examine me properly! The light that caught her face, mostly the left side as we look at her, was simply gorgeous, highlighting her rich winter coat that blends perfectly with the russet coloured leaves around her on the ground. She and the leaves are aglow like a warm fireside. Even as I took several photos of her I was warning her that she was a bit too close, encouraging her to back away a bit. It was one of those moments where as a wildlife photographer you're caught between the desire to capture the beautiful light on your subject, with the concern to keep your subjects safe and wild by discouraging them from getting too close to people. She looks wary and alert because I'm discouraging her while shooting the scene with the camera low, composing through the LCD tilt screen. She did move to a more appropriate distance after this and settled down near another beech tree trunk. Star has earned her name from a small star-shaped white patch on her chest, just above her front legs. Her chest and underneath her body are quite a dark grey, almost totally black in places. This extends down her tail. There are white accents on her muzzle, the edge of her ears, the joints of her legs and a brighter white tip to her tail. The rest of her coat is a rusty-orange, peppered with grey. In this image only her head and one front leg and haunch are visible.
December 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Bouncing On Bracken #ShareMondays2025

A brief outing to #BushyPark brought a brief encounter with a little female #stonechat flitting about amongst the #bracken in the golden afternoon light @theroyalparks.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #nature #wildlife #birding #autumncolours
In the right half of this landscape-aspect image is a golden-brown frond of bracken, rising vertically from the lower edge, bending halfway up its length under the weight of a small bird. It's a female stonechat, about the size and shape of a robin, blending perfectly into the colours and speckled textures of the Autumn bracken frond she perches on. She is in profile facing to the left with her back slightly turned towards the camera so that you can see the tips of both wings, held slightly behind her to aid her balance, along with her tail, which she was bobbing around and flaring while I watched her. She was busy bouncing from frond to frond, to the ground and popping back up again to feed on insects active in the warming sunshine. The background is a blurred mix of grass-green, rusty orange and hazy blue layers of shadow, that hint to a landscape of mixed grassland with bands of bracken crossing horizontally behind the subject. Here's the RSPB's description of a stonechat: Stonechats are robin-sized birds. Males have striking black heads with white around the side of their neck, orange-red breasts and a mottled brown back. Females have brown heads, brown backs and an orange tinge to their chests. Stonechats are frequently seen flicking their wings while perched, often doing so on the tops of low bushes. As its name suggests, these birds utter a sharp loud call that sounds like two stones being tapped together. They breed in western and southern parts of the UK, but spread out more widely in winter.
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM