Nicki Nacki Nocki Noo
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hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Nicki Nacki Nocki Noo
@hellcattnicki.bsky.social
280 followers 160 following 180 posts
West Yorkshire lass and proud mother to 4 girls and 2 boys.
Lover of wild places, the sea, and nature in all its forms.
Amateur wildlife photographer. Wildlife portrait artist.
All images shared are my own, except for reposts.
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hellcattnicki.bsky.social
When you're out and about looking for mushrooms but happen upon a fun-gi instead. This chap is a mooring post on the side of a, now disused, lock. It's got to be said he really made me smile 😃

#fungi #canal #shroom #humour #photography #Nikon
An old mooring post on the side of a disused lock has the shape of a mushroom. At some point someone has stuck two googly eyes to it. There is a circular feature on the post, below the eyes, which make it look like a shocked face.
December 13, 2024 at 10:36 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
I can't wait for the wild herbs to be in flower again!

Comfrey was once called king of the vulneraries because of its healing properties. I just think it is a beautiful plant to find out and about. This little Bee seemed to appreciate it very much.

#Comfrey #wildherbs #bee #insects #photography
In the foreground Comfrey plants, with bell like pink and purple flowers, can be seen in sharp focus against a blurred background of vegetation and sky. There is a bee sipping nectar from one of the flowers to the left of the photo.
December 12, 2024 at 7:13 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good afternoon BlueSky!

Anyone for a Grasshopper? My kids spent ages over the summer hunting them out on the banks of the Humber. They really are cute little beasties.

#Grasshopper #bugs #insects #macro #wildlife #nature #photography #Nikon
A tiny grasshopper, perched on a finger, very close up. The insect was around half an inch long. It has beautiful variations in its pattern, from beiges to browns. You can see the details in the different segments of its body including the tiny hairs in its legs.
December 11, 2024 at 2:19 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
I do love a Dunnock. They may seem quite a dull bird next to some of our flashier visitors but they have the most beautiful song and I think their muted tones are really pretty.

#birds #UKbirding #photography #wildlife #nature #Dunnock #Nikon
A grey and brown Dunnock is sitting on a small branch, partly obscured. The background is muted greys and greens.
December 9, 2024 at 11:08 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
As I saw that it is #SparrowSunday it would be rude not to post another pic of the lovely little Tree Sparrow hunting to feed his family earlier in the year.

Hope your having a lovely Sunday BlueSky peeps 🙂

#birds #UKbirding #nature #wildlife #photography #TreeSparrow #Nikon
A Tree sparrow is clinging to the stems of Cow Parsley with a beak full of small insects ready to take to its growing brood.
December 8, 2024 at 5:19 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Visiting family at the coast today, so no birds, only boats.

"Hauled Out"

Fishing cobble and smaller boat at Flamborough, UK.

#boats #Flamborough #Yorkshire #coastal #photography #fishingcobble #NorthSea
A red and white fishing cobble hauled out onto a slipway at the top of the beach. Another, smaller, red and white boat sits to the right side and a rusty battered tractor sits behind to the left.
December 7, 2024 at 2:26 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good evening BlueSky!

Goldfinches really are lovely little birds.
That pop of red and yellow cheers up even the gloomiest of days. I love watching them picking at the seedheads in my garden.

#birds #photography #nature #wildlife #UKbirding #Nikon
A European Goldfinch sitting on a branch with lichen. It is stood side on with its tail facing more to camera and looking towards camera. Its red face, yellow and black wing bars and black tail really give a pop of colour against its cream and fawn coloured head and body.
December 6, 2024 at 5:14 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Bucyrus Erie BE 1150 Walking Dragline Excavator, or Oddball as we affectionately know her, resides at RSPB St. Aidans.

Alt text for bird related.

More info on Oddball here: www.walkingdragline.org

#RSPB #birds #nature #wildlife #photography #machinary #walkingdragline #mining #excavator
Oddball is a left over relic from when RSPB St. Aidans was an opencast coal mine. The site flooded on the 19th March 1988 when the banks of the River Aire, which had been in part diverted, gave way. She is a reminder of the industry that was once on the site, but is now quiet and provides a home for several species of birds. A pair of Barn Owls nest every year in the tip of her boom and it is a pleasure to sit on the benches in front of her, watching the adults hunting over the fields and bringing food back to their young. A pair of Little Owls frequent the stacked pallets beneath the boom and can often be seen sitting inside them or on the structure of the boom itself. The café on-site is named Little Owl café in their honour. Kestrels love to sit high up in the top of the structure along with Wood Pidgeon and various other birds. St. Aidans wouldn't be St. Aidans without Oddball. As the daughter of a heavy plant fitter she fascinates me. The Friends of St. Aidans BE 1150 Walking Dragline hold open days occasionally and it is an experience to climb up inside and see just how massive she really is. You can even make yourself comfortable in the drivers seat and imagine just what it would have been like to take this incredible piece of machinery out to work.
December 6, 2024 at 8:51 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Seeing as they are everywhere at the moment I thought I'd share my own #FestiveDailyRobin

Have a great day BlueSky peeps.

#birds #photography #wildlife #nature #art #Nikon #birdsky
A close up photo of a European Robin sat on a branch with his red breast glowing in the sunlight.
December 5, 2024 at 11:07 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Another throwback to spring with this lovely Tree Sparrow hunting for bugs to take back to its brood. These are sweet little things and I love watching them and listening to their chatter.

#birds #UKbirding #wildlife #photography #art #Nikon
A Tree Sparrow is climbing the stem of a Cow Parsley plant looking for bugs to tale back to its nest.
December 4, 2024 at 8:29 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good morning BlueSky peeps.

As we barely start into meteorological winter I can't help but look forward to my favourite season, spring. This Collared Dove, surrounded by Hawthorn blossom, reminds me that the short winter days don't last forever.

#birds #nature #birding #photography #art #Nikon
A Collared Dove sits on a branch which curves from centre bottom, round to the right, and goes out of view slightly inset at top right. The Dove is in full sun with its back towards camera and looking at camera over its shoulder. In the back ground is a blurred Hawthorn bush full of blossom set against mottled greens.
December 4, 2024 at 7:38 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Testing out a lens through my, eh-hem, dirty living room window which looks into my north facing front garden. Don't think it did a bad job so can see me using it more often.

Hydrangea dead head in low winter light.

#flowers #photography #art #nature #garden #Nikon
#IReallyNeedToCleanMyWindows
A once pink, now autumnal orangey brown, Hydrangea flower head set against the out of focus background of mottled greens and browns of my hedge. A desaturated, closer, view of the hydrangea flower head in my garden.
December 3, 2024 at 3:33 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good evening BlueSky peeps!

Another one from Lotherton Hall yesterday. I love how the light is catching the spiders webs on the grass. The whole field was covered in them and they shone in the early evening sunlight.

#LothertonHall #RedDeer #nature #wildlife #photography #art #Nikon #Yorkshire
A Red Deer hind stands in the left foreground, facing to the right with her head turned towards the camera. Behind to the left, and out of focus, is another small group of hinds which are stood in front of a large tree. The short grass in the field is strewn with spider silk which is glowing in the early evening sun.
December 2, 2024 at 8:15 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good evening BlueSky. I hope you've all had a great day.

I had a nice trip with the kids to see the Red Deer at Lotherton Hall this afternoon so they could practice their photography. We even managed a little bit of afternoon sun.

#RedDeer #wildlife #nature #photography #Nikon #naturephotography
A close image of a Red Deer hind showing her head, neck and foreleg. She is feeding on the short grass in the evening sunshine.
December 1, 2024 at 7:05 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
I can't wait for the Dandelions to bloom in my garden again. Every part of the plant can be utilised in some way and they make great food for our pollinators. Every garden should have a few. In my case, lots! My Bearded Dragon loves to eat them.

#Dandelion #flowers #wildflowers #nature #photography
A close up shot of a beautiful Dandelion flower glowing bright yellow in the sun, with a blurred background of green tones. The pollen is visible on the stamens and there are tiny little beetles hiding in-between them feasting on the nectar.
November 30, 2024 at 7:04 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
This is definitely not the sharpest photo of a Gannet!

However, it does highlight the birds jet black iris; which would normally be pale blue, and indicates that this bird is a survivor of avian flu.

#birds #UKbirding #photography #NorthernGannet #nature #wildlife #BemptonCliffs #birdphotography
A juvenile Northern Gannet, still with mottled black and white wings and tail, sitting on the grassy cliff top with a feather in its beak. This bird has a jet black iris, which would normally be pale blue. This is a great indicator that the bird has survived the avian flu virus, which has hit gannet populations particularly hard in recent years, and gives a glimmer of hope that some immunity is building within the colonies.
November 30, 2024 at 11:56 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Normally my art is reserved for wildlife, but occasionally I do other things too. This was my first ever dog portrait. The lovely Pumba. He is owned by my daughter and her partner and this was a Christmas gift for them both.

Coloured pencil on drafting film.

#art #petportrait #SpringerSpaniel
A portrait of a Springer Spaniel called Pumba that I made for my daughter and her partner for Christmas. I have shown the original photo, the work mid way and the completed art. It is drawn using Faber-Castell polychromos, and Caran D'Ache Luminance, coloured pencils on drafting film.
November 29, 2024 at 1:00 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
A few summers ago I got to meet my favourite birds up close and personal when we took the #YorkshireBelle out to their feeding grounds off Bempton Cliffs. It was an amazing experience! Excuse the poor quality, and mine and the kids voices, I didn't want to cut the sound.

#birds #Gannets #Yorkshire
November 29, 2024 at 10:51 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Don't take my photo I'm shy!

Little Egret fishing for his supper at Old Moor earlier this year.

#birds #birding #birdphotography #nature #waders #Nikon
A Little Egret is stood in the shallows of a lake with his wings extended out and over his head. He does this to create a shaded patch on the water so that he can see fish and other creatures without the glare of the sun.
November 28, 2024 at 8:11 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Portrait of a Mute Swan.

I love his cool tones against the warmth of the sunlit foliage behind. Happy Thursday BlueSky peeps!

#birds #photography #nature #wildlife #birdphotography #Nikon #Yorkshire
A portrait of a Mute Swan, showing the head and part of the neck and chest. Taken in evening sunlight which is coming from the right to the left of frame and highlighting the top of the birds head and front of his chest. The bird is slightly in shadow, keeping his colouring cool against the warm tones of the sunlit foliage in the background.
November 28, 2024 at 10:56 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Beautiful shot!

Here's a lovely Kestrel, mid scratch, for you :)
A Eurasian Kestrel is sat on a post with one leg raised just about to scratch its head.
November 27, 2024 at 1:24 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good morning BlueSky peeps.

Something different today. I took this photo on a visit to the abandoned village of Doel in the Netherlands. This particular piece of art reminds me of an angry Peacock. I love the pop of colour, framed by nature as it reclaims the area.

#graffiti #art #artphotography 🪶
Graffiti art of a stylized angry looking man, which I think has more of a look of an angry Peacock. It is sprayed in various shades of turquoise blue, black and white onto a brick wall painted white. It is naturally framed by trees which are growing up around it, leaving the artwork itself clear. The village where this is painted is, for the most part, abandoned, with only a few die hard residents refusing to move away. The majority of the village was bought so that the Port of Antwerp could be expanded. The village also sits next to the Doel nuclear power station.
November 27, 2024 at 10:39 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
My editing is usually limited to noise removal, tweaking light, contrast, and colour settings where needed. I decided to have a go at something a bit different today. This is the first time I've done anything like this so constructive criticism is welcome.

#birds #photography #artphotography #art
A portrait of a sunlit Northern Gannet on a dark grey background. I have merged another photo, of Gannets on a cliff top, onto the chest and neck of the bird, placing the layer behind the original photo to keep the texture of the birds feathers overlayed onto the new photo while reducing the opacity of the new photo also. The finished image is far from perfect but it is the first time I have done anything like this. I definitely need to practice more.
November 26, 2024 at 4:52 PM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good morning BlueSky bird lovers!

I may (definitely) have mentioned once or twice that I really love Gannets, and they're one of my favourite birds, so here's a lovely courting pair from earlier in the year for #TwosDay

#birds #naturephotography #birdphotography #UKwildlife #BirdsofBlueSky #Nikon
A pair of Northern Gannets sit on top of a grassy chalk cliff. The sea behind is a deep deep blue. The birds are facing each other, beaks pointing upward and touching as they court each other. The bird nearest to camera has its wings partially stretched out in an M shape. They are both highlighted in strong sunlight.
November 26, 2024 at 10:24 AM
hellcattnicki.bsky.social
Good morning BlueSky, from me and this gorgeous Shelduck.

The sun has put in an appearance today and it's a little milder, I've got to say it is most welcome!

I hope you all have a fab Monday 😃

#birds #UKbirding #naturephotography #wildlife #Nikon #birdphotography #Yorkshire
A Shelduck is dabbling at the silty edge of a lake in the sunshine. It has a bright red beak, deep bottle green head and neck with a white throat. The body is predominately white with a band of tan running around the shoulders down to the top of the chest. A black stripe runs down the centre of the chest to the vent. Its wings are folded against its back and are white, edged with black flight feathers and a tan coloured bar towards the tip. The legs are bright pink.
November 25, 2024 at 10:13 AM