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persiflage.bsky.social
Persiflage
@persiflage.bsky.social
1.6K followers 240 following 26K posts
😶 not a girl 🍓 birbs 💘 blogging from deep into the woods 🌳 (bio from not a pornbot: https://perchance.org/botdescript)
Reader; writer; lover of great acting & storytelling; fannish; word nerd; semi-cripple; non-binary. pfp - Red Kite photo by me.
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persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)
Seen 3: 2 Herring Gull, 1 Red Kite

#UKBirding

7C, rain, 20mph SSE wind

Friendly lil Robin Redbreast who sang at me most sweetly, then flirted its tail and wings - saucy birb!
A Robin perching on the newel post of a handrail alongside some concrete steps leading up into the local branch library. The steps curve round from bottom right to top left and there's a matching set on the other side.
December 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Ha! I thought I'd kept it when I culled my book collection before moving 2 years ago!

34 years old!
A green Faber & Faber paperback edition of Edward Thomas' Collected Poems. It has a photo of Thomas in the centre of the cover.
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
I was 16 when I discovered Edward Thomas. An older woman on whom I had a crush introduced me to him.
I once stood in a corridor in Oxford's JR Hospital and searched a map of Oxfordshire that was on the wall until I located Adlestrop while I waited for news of my landlady's potential heart attack.
Adlestrop By Edward Thomas Yes. I remember Adlestrop— The name, because one afternoon Of heat the express-train drew up there Unwontedly. It was late June. The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat. No one left and no one came On the bare platform. What I saw Was Adlestrop—only the name And willows, willow-herb, and grass, And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry, No whit less still and lonely fair Than the high cloudlets in the sky. And for that minute a blackbird sang Close by, and round him, mistier, Farther and farther, all the birds Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Source: Poems (1917)
December 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen 2: 2 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 7 Collared Dove, multiple Rock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 29 Magpie, 19 Jackdaw, 19 Carrion Crow, 3 Rook, 3 Black-Headed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 3 Red Kite

#UKBirding

9C, cloud, sun, 33mph SW wind

A slightly Maggie for @laraacorona.bsky.social
A Magpie standing on a stretch of leaf-strewn grass. There's a wooden post with a pointed top in the foreground.
December 6, 2025 at 10:25 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Me, trying to get a photo of the Cold Moon while battling with a phone camera and intense light pollution:
A Supermoon - the December Cold Moon - seen through the bare branches of a tree. The image is black and white and grey, and a bit shite thanks to the intense light pollution of the streetlights out of shot below. The Moon is a bit of a round white blurry blob!
December 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)
Seen 3: 3 Black-Headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Red Kite

#UKBirding

2C, frost, sunny, 12mph South wind

Have a couple of Robins who sang very sweetly to me.
A Robin perched in the bare twigs of a bush with greens leaves below it and a pale coloured brick wall behind it. A Robin perched in the Ivy above my head. Above it can be seen a blazingly blue sky.
December 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)

Sorry this phone vid's a bit shaky - the wind's gusting as you can probably hear and was battering me as I recorded these 5 Carrion Crow, 3 of whom were really going at it hammer & tongs, while 2 more occasionally intervened & 4 Magpie heckled from the sidelines!

#UKBirding
November 27, 2025 at 10:16 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/4)
Seen 2: 4 Song Thrush, 8 Collared Dove, 3 Stock Dove, multiple Rock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 28 Magpie, 19 Jackdaw, 25 Carrion Crow, 3 Rook, 6 Black-Headed Gull, 2 Yellow-Legged Gull

#UKBirding

10C, cloudy, 25mph SW wind

See if you can spot the Blackbird in the bush.
A male Blackbird perched in among the foliage of an evergreen bush. He was burbling quietly to himself as I slowly and quietly approached, but although he kept an eye on me, he didn't panic - just continued to burble away.
November 27, 2025 at 10:16 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)
Seen 3: 2 Herring Gull, 1 Red Kite

#UKBirding

-3C, heavy frost, sunny

Have a Blackbird who was vigorously tossing leaves aside in the park in his search for something tasty for breakfast!
A male Blackbird with orange beak standing in a lot of frost leaf litter which he kept vigorously tossing aside with his beak while he searched for breakfast.
November 26, 2025 at 10:39 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Whisky label with ALT Text
The label reads: Product of Scotland THIS WHISKY IS FOR THE DOLLS On 15th April 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that a woman is defined by her "biological sex. A vicious verdict that poses a huge threat to trans rights, particularly for trans women and transfemme people. All the profits from this bottle will go to Not A Phase, a trans-led charity dedicated to improving the lives of trans+ adults in the UK. It's a vibrant Dailuaine 13 Year Old Single Malt, chosen by whisky specialist Kristiane Westray. Best served alongside writing to your MP, donating to fundraisers and protecting the dolls at all costs. Because a world without trans people has never existed and never, ever will. Distilled at Dailuaine Distillery Bottled for Milroysofsoho.com Bottom right hand corner has a square box with Not A Phase printed inside it in a 3x3 letters format.
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
I dunno, maybe it's just me, but observing this single drop of rainwater clinging to the underside of the coping on this stone wall, moved me just a little this morning.
A single drop of rainwater clinging to the underside of the coping on a stone wall.
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Addendum.
Forgot I had some pics of birbs on my phone to share! (Sorry the Blackbird one's a bit blurry!)

The Maggie is, of course, for @laraacorona.bsky.social as usual!

#UKBirding
A large black bird with a grey beak (a Rook) perches on the corner of a flat roof above a red brick building and against a blazingly blue sky. A Magpie poised to peck at whatever tasty treat its found on the leaf-strewn concrete path that's bathed in freezing sunshine. There's leaf-strewn grass beyond and a tree trunk (top left). A Blackbird poised to dip deeper into the leaf litter that's strewn across the grass in the park. It dug very deep before finding some tasty treats to eat!
November 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen (2): 7 Collared Dove, 3 Stock Dove, multiple Rock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 30 Magpie, 14 Jackdaw, 18 Carrion Crow, 2 Rook, 4 Common Gull, 2 Yellow-Legged Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Red Kite

#UKBirding

-5C, sunshine, cloud, 15mph WNW wind

Have a lil Robin friend at the park!
A Robin perched on the edge of a concrete landing at the head of some steps outside the local branch library building. It let me get quite close, making me suspect it's the same one I've seen multiple times over the past few months, which happily comes quite close to me.
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen (2): 2 Mallard, 20 Magpie, 12 Jackdaw, 6 Carrion Crow, 4 Rook, 1 Ring-Necked Parakeet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Common Gull, 4 Yellow-Legged Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 2 Red Kite

#UKBirding

-1C, sunshine, cloud, 23mph WSW wind

Grey Heron phone vid. The river's behind & below it.
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
With full ALT Text, Cheryl, if you want to repost?
(No obligation to, of course!)
I am Transgender. In honor of Transgender Awareness Week, feel free to ask me anything. I want to help people understand trans people like me better. Comment a number below and I'll answer it. 1. Has being trans been an obstacle in your life with friends, family, work, etc? 2. How long have you known? 3. What are your pronouns? 4. How did you pick your name? 5. What's your favorite dinosaur? 6. Why would you want to be a guy/girl? 7. What does AMAB or AFAB mean? 8. What do you feel like you missed out on most in your childhood (if you transitioned later) 9. What has been your favorite part of transitioning so far? 10. What worries you most as a trans person? 11. Does your family accept you? 12. How has transitioning changed your life? 13. What has surprised you most about transitioning? 14. What would have made it easier for you to come out? 15. What has been the hardest part of your transition so far? 16. How do you know you're trans? 17. How does it feel to transition? 18. How did you tell your family, friends, work, etc.,? 19. Are you fully transitioned? 20. What's the hardest part of your experience as a trans person? 21. Why not just be a "feminine guy"/"masculine woman"? 22. How do you think your life would be different if you could have transitioned younger? 23. What is the best part about being trans? 24. Have you had any surgeries? Are you going to? 25. How can I make things better for you? 26. What are you most excited about in your transition? 27. What's non-binary? 28. What do you wish you could tell younger you, as a trans person? 29. What are you most excited for in your transition? 30. I want to ask another question / AMA
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Pigeon in a box by my bed.
A cardboard box with a layer of brown packing paper in the bottom and a sick Pigeon within. The two smaller box flaps are partially closed. The Pigeon has lost most of the feathers on the back of its head, and the bare skin revealed is pink.
November 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Birthday books: 3 volumes Ladybird British Birds and Their Nests; Ladybird Conservation: Hedges; Brogen Murphy's Wildlands; John Green's Wings Over the Valley; Frances Tophill's A Wildflower Year; Fiona Robertson's Stone Lands; and Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield (illustrator Hoang Giang).
A stack of books. From top to bottom the three Ladybird British Birds and Their Nests; the Ladybird Conservation: Hedges book; Brogen Murphy's Wildlands; John Green's Wings Over the Valley; Frances Tophill's A Wildflower Year; Fiona Robertson's Stone Lands; and Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield (illustrator Hoang Giang).
November 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)
Seen (3): 3 Yellow-Legged Gull, 3 Herring Gull

#UKBirding

10C, cloud, sunshine, 15mph West wind

Definitely a birthday birding bonanza!

First sighting of a Brambling, and I think that's the most Raven I've seen in the park at once.

Have a Robin serenading me from a hedge!
A Robin perched on a twig in a hedge. Moments before it had alighted, then it sang at me for several minutes before flying up into the Beech tree behind me. It's one of three Robins who alighted in front of me, then sang to me this morning.
November 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen (2): multiple Rock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 17 Magpie, 13 Jackdaw, 9 Carrion Crow, 1 Red Kite

#UKBirding

13C, cloudy, 18mph SSE wind

A Maggie for @laraacorona.bsky.social that was in my garden just as I got home and it didn't fly away!
A Magpie, with one wing half spread over its body as it faces away from the camera, perching on a garden wall. In the background is the window of the neighbouring house and to the left some green and yellow leaves on twiggy stems.
November 6, 2025 at 10:08 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen (2): 3 Mallard, 1 Yellow-Legged Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 3 Red Kite

#UKBirding

13C, sunshine, cloud, 28mph SSE wind

Have one of the male Mallard I spotted down on the river in the city centre this morning.
A male Mallard swimming in Castle Mill stream this morning. There are various bright green water plants across the middle of the photo and the Mallard's above with the stone wall of the river bank above him in the photo. A male Mallard who's just followed Castle Mill stream under the bridge and is in the fast moving water that pours over the weir that's out of sight top right of the photo. There's a log lower left in the photo and he's swimming around some of the bushy green water plants that were visible in the previous photo.
November 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen (2): 26 Magpie, 23 Jackdaw, 22 Carrion Crow, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Great Black-Backed Gull, 3 Red Kite

#UKBirding

12C, cloudy, 35mph SW wind

2 Maggies for @laraacorona.bsky.social, plus a cosy pigeon!
An all-white Rock Dove snuggled into a small round window below a gable and above a wide bay window. It's securely and cosily tucked in away from the strongly gusting wind. 2 Magpie posing on a roof ridge against a briefly blue sky. The roof is heavily be-lichened above the red brick block of flats.
November 3, 2025 at 10:23 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (3/3)
Seen (2): 4 Blackbird, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Collared Dove, multiple Rock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 21 Magpie, 13 Jackdaw, 18 Carrion Crow, 1 Yellow-Legged Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Red Kite

#UKBirding

13C, cloudy, 33mph South wind

Have a sweet lil Robin who stopped a foot away!
A Robin on a concrete path around the edge of the local park. There's a scattering of leaves and other detritus from the park's many trees on the ground as it's been very windy this week.
October 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
A Maggie for @laraacorona.bsky.social - can you spot it in the tree?
(I'm outside the doctors' surgery waiting for the vampire- sorry! nurse - to take my blood for the annual diabetic check up.)
A Magpie perching in a tree, looking for tasty treats. The same Magpie now perching on the roof of my local doctors' surgery.
October 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)
Seen (3): 3 Rook, 2 Raven, 2 Common Gull, 4 Yellow-Legged Gull, 1 Red Kite

#UKBirding

4C, sunshine, cloud, 16mph SSE wind

Have a lil Robin, and also there's a Maggie for @laraacorona.bsky.social
A Magpie perched atop a carved wooden statue with the Autumnal foliage of trees in the background. A Robin perched on a concrete drain surround in a largely bare flowerbed. There's a beige brick wall behind it.
October 30, 2025 at 10:35 AM
persiflage.bsky.social
Daily #BirdWatch (4/4)
Seen (3): 2 Herring Gull

#UKBirding

10C, overcast, light rain, 10mph WSW wind

A Maggie for @laraacorona.bsky.social, plus a fearless Jackdaw, whose blue feathers shone astonishingly in the dreary grey light!

Also seen today by the river: 1 Water Vole + a Grey Squirrel.
A handsome blue, black and grey Jackdaw stands beside a flower border at the edge of a drive. It's about to start throwing leaves everywhere in its hunt for insects! A Magpie perched atop a street light, surveying the street from its domain. The lower half of the image is taken up with two grey slate-tiled roofs, the most prominent of which has two skylights in it. Above the roofs is the drearily grey, overcast sky.
October 29, 2025 at 10:57 AM