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linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Lucy B
@linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
9 followers 2 following 60 posts
Tech. Cycling. Nature.

Mostly posting wildlife photos.

Based in Manchester, UK

[bridged from https://mastodon.org.uk/@linuxlucy on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
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linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Goldeneye (male).

The resignation of our local MP and resulting by-election means I'll be mostly focused on politics this month. However, we've been treated to a stunning visitor on our local ponds over the last week. I'm really hoping he'll stay to see the […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A black and white duck sits in the water surrounded by water droplets. The duck isn't fully black, but the harsh light makes it look the case. In reality, the feathers are wonderful green and purple. A black and white duck stands in the water stretching his wings back. There are some water droplets flying around.
February 2, 2026 at 7:56 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Hope 💚

#greenparty #gortonanddenton
The leader for the Muslim Greens and the Green party leader stand in between Hannah Spencer, the Green party candidate for Gorton and Denton. They're all grinning happily and are surrounded by press photographers. Party members are sat many rows deep in the foreground.
January 31, 2026 at 5:33 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Robin.

The sun doesn't shine that often, but when it does it's worth singing about.

I love watching these feisty little birds. Our resident robins are joined by migrants from the continent during cold weather. They're one of the few birds that sing year […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A cute, small round bird with a red breast stands on a branch. Their mouth is open, giving the impression that they're singing.
January 18, 2026 at 4:18 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Sparrowhawk.

Wow, what a week. I saw a water rail on my local patch on Tuesday, as well as a mink with a frog in its mouth. This morning, I had my closest ever encounter with a sparrowhawk. I think a young female, but open to opinions. The cold weather can […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A brown and cream coloured hawk sits on a frosty wooden fence. There's a golden light behind her, complimenting her yellow eyes and feet. There's some dried blood on her breast feathers, while she's looking pensively down at something out of frame.
January 10, 2026 at 6:57 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
A slippery start to 2026.

There are many reasons to despair right now and it can be hard to see that there's any good left. So here's a reminder that even in a badly kept urban park, which suffered badly (again) last year, there's still some magic to be […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A moorhen walking on ice. The large feet with claws, more frequently used for climbing, are probably helping a little. A black-headed gull standing on ice. One leg is at an angle, but they're still upright for now. A female mallard, looking confident and at home on the ice. Or maybe they were just hoping I had some food.
January 4, 2026 at 1:47 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Red-necked phalarope.

A photogenic, small wader that's always on the move. They're a red listed species in the UK with only 60-70 breeding pairs. They winter as far away as the eastern Pacific and can live up to 12 years. The males are more subtly coloured […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A small brown and grey bird sat on a pond, with a chestnut red neck patch. The bill is slim, for picking invertebrates out of the water. Moss and other vegetation are visible in the background.
December 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
A moment of calm and reflection.

Even a Eurasian coot can be still for a moment (admittedly a fast shutter speed helps). They're a common bird in the UK and eve more so in the winter as the resident birds are joined by visitors from further east.

It can be […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A black bird with a white "shield" on the forehead, looking down into golden water. The water is still, so their reflection is visible.
December 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
[Bird illness, not graphic, but sad]

I'm sharing this, because I feel like most people don't see what's happening. Animals are usually removed quickly after dying and even when the birds are sick, the signs are missed.

These photos show three of the cygnets […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A swan, still with some brown feathers showing it's not yet fully grown, sits still on a lake. The swan is looking downwards and the neck is s-shaped rather than straight. Lethargy and a heavy, s-shaped neck are key indicators of bird flu. A swan sleeping, the brown feathers, showing that it's a cygnet are clearly visible. The winter sun acts as a backlight and shows the swan's breath. Again, the bird is lethargic. The head and neck of a young swan. There's some redness around the eye, which can become worse as the disease progresses. Birds may also become blind temporarily. The low winter sun shows the brown and white feathers on the back and wings of the cygnet.
December 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
It's turning into a bad flu year for humans in the Northern hemisphere and it's turning out to be a bad year for bird flu too, at least locally.

The influx of winter migrants has brought with it plenty of sick birds, especially Canada geese, who've been […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
Two adult mute swans standing on a manmade nest with seven cygnets, hatched just hours earlier. The cygnets are grey, fluffy and extremely cute. There are yellow flowers and reeds in the background. It looks like a sunny, late spring day.
December 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
This is a season of change.

As the cold weather comes in, birds like this tufted duck return from their summer adventures, and others, like the young coot and young black‐headed gull experience cold weather for the first time. Meanwhile, photographers make […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A young coot sits in the water. The light is warm and golden. A tufted duck sits in the water. Their feathers are dark grey and dark brown, with a dark blue-grey beak and yellow eyes. A black-headed gull sits in the water. They don't have a black head, instead they have dark patches that look a bit like headphones. The barely visible brown feathers on the back indicate that this is a first winter bird.
November 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Shetland.

Three very different views of Shetland, of three different islands. No colour, just light, shadow and shape. And birds, of course.

#bird #shetland #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ukwildlife
Noss. A gannet standing on a cliff edge. The rock curves in a similar way to the gannet. Sumburgh, south Mainland. Dramatic rocks and dramatic light, showing guillemots living on the edge. Hermaness, Unst. The mist and rain almost obscures Muckle Flugga, the northern most lighthouse in the UK, from view. The rocks are flecked white with birds, although not as obviously as a few years ago before bird flu hit.
November 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Grey heron.

Infinitely patient. Hidden among the weeds. Watching and waiting.

Herons typically live around five years, although the oldest ringed bird was 23 years old. We're lucky enough to have several of them around at the moment.

Oct 2025. Stockport […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A grey heron looks down, the green reeds point up. The background is white and only the head and shoulders of the bird are visible, especially the long pointed beak.
November 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Carrion crow.

The world seems to be full of arseholes today, especially ones who get angry with people for being on a bicycle.

Anyway, here's a crow who spent ages manoeuvring these monkey nuts to make them all fit in their beak.

#birds #nature #wildlife #ukwildlife
A black carrion crow, with a slightly improbable number of nuts in their beak.
November 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
I took advantage of the brief sunshine yesterday to do what are likely to be my last cyanotypes of the year. Those six bookmarks, on (basically) expired paper, were done in a rush and yet are some of my favourites so far.

I have lots of ideas for what I can […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
Six bookmarks that are blue photograms of various ferns and snowdrops. A selection of bookmarks and a postcard. Most are photograms of different plants, a bike chain and some paperclips. There are also a couple of robins, made from negatives of digital photographs. Eight cards, some featuring ferns or snowdrops, one of a bike chain, and two made from photographs of a robin and a crow.
October 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Bird ringing.

I was recently able to watch a bird ringing demo. I've previously spotted the little metal rings and reported them to find out more about the bird, but this was the first time I'd watched it being done.

Birds are caught in a mist net, examined […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A greenfinch being held with one wing spread out. Someone's hand is pointing to the tertiary feathers, which give an indication of the age of the bird. A greenfinch is being held in one hand, while being fitted with a tiny metal leg ring, using a specialist pair of pliers. A great tit, upside down, in an old film canister on a set of scales. This is a standard sized container used for weighing small birds. While undignified, this is scientifically useful information. A great tit being held in someone's hand. The back of the bird and tail feathers are visible.
October 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Finally, for #FungiFriday, here are a few of the many mushrooms I found on the Isle of Man.

It's a good year for mushrooms, but even so, I was surprised by the number and variety that I found.
A ghostly, pale mushroom with lots of folds. It's surrounded by moss, dead leaves and twigs. An orangey brown mushroom in a pine woodland. An orangey brown mushroom with a green ring. Surrounded by moss and clover. Purple mushrooms with creamy gills, surrounded by dead grass and moss.
October 17, 2025 at 8:47 AM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Some more photos from the Isle of Man.
The remains of a lead mine are in the foreground, with lots of grey soil and the ruins of a small grey building. There are a couple of hills in the background. A sign for the coastal path leans diagonally in front of a sloping hill. There's a map partway up the sign and a lot of moss. A white viaduct runs parallel to a rocky stream. There's a small white house next to the viaduct and some trees on the opposite side. A book nook has taken over a traditional British-style telephone box. There's a church in the background and some neatly kept grass in front.
October 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Isle of Man.

Apparently, I can't spend every holiday photographing birds, so here are some non-bird phone snaps of our recent trip.

I found the Isle of Man to be a slightly strange place. It's another country but feels extremely English. It felt insular in […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A bay with a hill and some sloping cliffs in the background. The sea is gently lapping against some rocks and there's some yellow gorse in the foreground. A single bird is flying across the sky (a corvid of some sort). The top of snaefell, the only mountain on the Isle of Man. There are rolling hills in the background and a trig point in the foreground. This would be a lovely picture looking out to sea, but the camera has focused on a juvenile herring gull standing on a wall. This one looks neat with lots of detail visible on the tidy feathers.
October 12, 2025 at 7:42 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Bearded tits.

It's that time of year again, when the bearded tits (or reedlings) come out of the reeds and head to the grit trays. Autumn means a change in diet for these birds and an opportunity for photographers. As the weather cools, the birds switch to […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A female bird perched on a reed. The bird is a warm brown with a pale front and a long tail. A female bird amongst the reeds. She's fluffed up despite the bright sun. She also has a couple of coloured plastic rings on her left leg, added as part of a scientific survey. A male bearded tit. These get all the attention thanks to their impressive mustache and bright colouring. You might think they have a beard, but they don't. They're also not a tit.
October 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Juvenile grey heron.

He's trying hard to be a great hunter, but is sticking with smaller prey just for now and isn't too bothered by humans.

I love that you see the small differences with the adult above in this photo. The youngsters always seem slightly […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A grey and white bird looks to the left. There's a green bush behind and it's a sunny day. The long sleek head feathers that are characteristic of a grey heron haven't appeared yet, giving this one an appearance of a slightly scruffy teenager.
September 27, 2025 at 9:26 AM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Grey heron.

A great hunter, who's not afraid of causing upset. Makes a sound that leaves no doubt of being descended from dinosaurs. Tendency to stand very still, making them popular with photographers.

August 2025. Stockport, UK.

#birds #birdphotography […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A headshot of a bird with a very pointy orange beak and a long s-shaped neck. The bird is grey, navy and off-white in colour, with yellow eyes. The background is various shades of green from different types of (unidentifiable) vegetation.
September 7, 2025 at 3:14 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
The Guardian are running two stories about tax avoidance today and I'm reminded of this Terry Pratchett quote:

"Privilege just means 'private law'".

#politics
Photo of a book, reading: ”'No, just very, very arrogant,' said William. 'We've always been privileged, you see. Privilege just means "private law". That's exactly what it means. He just doesn't believe the ordinary laws apply to him. He doesn't really believe they can touch him, and if they do he'll just shout until they go away. That's the de Worde tradition”
September 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Rock pipit (aka "rocket").

This is a fairly common bird that lives around our rocky shores. It looks similar to a meadow pipit, but is slightly stockier and with slightly greyer colouring. When I looked up whether the population is increasing or decreasing […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A small, olive brown bird is perched on some grassy rocks, surrounded by pink flowers. There's a hint of its pale streaky front. The bird is looking uncertainly towards the camera, although probably hasn't actually noticed the camera or photographer.
August 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Shetland plants.

I'm not much of a plant person, but our tour guide pointed out several rare/interesting species while we were out looking for wildlife.

In no particular order:
1. Oyster plant, on a beach.
2. Lesser twayblade, on a peaty moor.
3. Northern […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
An oyster plant, very small with rounded leaves and tiny blue/purple-ish flowers. Lesser twayblade, a tiny golden stem with tiny golden flower heads sticking up from the low grassy moorland plants. Easy to walk straight past. Northern marsh orchid, bright pink/purple, very similar to a common spotted orchid. Surrounded by grass in front of a drystone wall. Sundew, a carnivorous plant, laying low amongst some moss, waiting for insects to drop by.
August 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
Last month, I spent a week in Shetland. It was full of stunning scenery, amazing bird life and lovely walks. It was also incredibly windy, wet and cold most of the time, as you'd expect.

There are almost no birds of prey and no native land mammals except the […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A group of gannets flying in front of some cliffs, with waves below. The sky is blue and the sea is even bluer. A ruined house next to a tiny sandy beach. There's an old wooden boat at sea and an island in the distance. The sea is calm and a beautiful variety of blues and greens. The lighthouse at Sumburgh head, with a winding road leading up to it. There's emerald green grass almost everywhere and the sea is visible just beyond the lighthouse. A shetland pony looks unamused, maybe it's due to the wind messing up her thick mane. Rolling hills and a sound (long bay type thing) are visible in the background.
July 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM