#birdoftheday#ukbirding
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photosbyvertego.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Short Beaks, any bird with a short beak, and the Alt theme is #Pigeons.
@robcrank68.bsky.social

#GoldFinch

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #naturephotography #ukbirding
@rspb.bsky.social
#BirdLife
a Goldfinch enjoying some sunshine
January 16, 2026 at 3:19 PM
bennett23ross80.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Short Beaks, any bird with a short beak, and the Alt theme is #Pigeons.

Here’s a Waxwing from a few years ago.

#birds #birding #photography #birdphotography #EastCoastKin #naturephotography #ukbirding @rspb.bsky.social #BirdLife @robcrank68.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 12:41 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Short Beaks, any bird with a short beak, and the Alt theme is #Pigeons set by @robcrank68.bsky.social ~ I've chosen a female Siskin, beautiful little birds 😍🥰 🪶🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #bluesky #naturephotography #birdsofbluesky #EastCoastKin
Photo taken in back garden The female siskin is a small, lively finch, smaller than a greenfinch, with a distinctly forked tail and a narrow bill. It is important to note that "partially sighted" means different things to different people, ranging from tunnel vision to blurry central vision, so the description focuses on key high-contrast features and patterns. Key Features of a Female Siskin Size and Shape: It is a very small bird, so a partially sighted person might initially just register a small, fast-moving shape, especially as they are known to be quite nervous and flit around a lot. They are often seen feeding acrobatically, sometimes hanging upside down in trees to reach seeds. Colouration: The overall colour is a muted grey-green with yellowish tones, especially compared to the brighter yellow of the male. This colouring helps her blend in very well with conifer trees and other foliage. Markings and Patterns: The most prominent feature, and one that might be more visible depending on the type of sight loss, is the heavy streaking. Her chest and belly are heavily streaked with dark lines. She has prominent yellow-and-black bars on her wings and flashes of yellow in her tail, which are key identification features visible in flight or when the wings are folded. She has a yellow rump, which is visible as a splash of colour when in flight. Distinguishing from the Male: A key difference from the male is the lack of a solid black cap and black chin patch; the female's head is streaked like the rest of her body. Siskins often gather in groups, especially in winter, so they might be seen as a flurry of small, streaky green shapes moving together in birch and alder trees or on a bird
January 16, 2026 at 10:14 AM
javajanegallery.co.uk
Rob’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is
#ShortBeaks
Long Tailed Tit
#BOTD
#birds #ukbirding #birdphotography #naturephotography
#EastCoastKin
@robcrank68.bsky.social
Long Tailed Tit on a branch looking at the camera
January 16, 2026 at 10:11 AM
robcrank68.bsky.social
Good morning

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Short Beaks, any bird with a short beak, and the Alt theme is #Pigeons.
Here's a Jay, Siskin, Long-tailed Tit & Wood Pigeon covering both themes for today.

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #naturephotography #ukbirding @rspb.bsky.social #BirdLife
January 16, 2026 at 9:56 AM
bigdisc.bsky.social
A Sparrowhawk catching some low Scottish sun
#BirdOfTheDay #raptors #birds #Ukbirding #olympus
January 15, 2026 at 4:43 PM
bigdisc.bsky.social
Red Kite trying to hide over Easter Ross, Northern Scotland
#BirdOfTheDay #raptors #birds #Ukbirding #olympus
January 15, 2026 at 4:34 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Raptor captures. The alternative is #Anatidae, birds of that family set by @alan678.bsky.social ~ here's a close encounter I had with a Female Sparrowhawk in the garden 😍 🪶🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #birdsofprey #naturephotography #EastCoastKin
A female sparrowhawk is a large bird of prey with brown-grey feathers, a finely barred white chest, and striking bright yellow or orange eyes. Key Features for the Partially Sighted: - The most important distinguishing feature is her size; females are significantly larger than the males, by up to 25%. She is a robust, "chunky" bird of prey. Her upper body (back and wings) is a grey-brown colour. Her underparts (chest and belly) are pale with distinct dark brown or grey barring. She lacks the orange-brown coloration found on the male's chest. She has a dark brown head with a slight pale stripe above the eye (an "eyebrow" or supercilium). Her eyes are a striking, bright yellow or orange, which can appear very intense. The eye colour tends to deepen from yellow to orange as the bird ages. She has long, thin, yellow legs and very long talons, adapted for catching her prey. When in the air, she has a distinctive T-shaped silhouette, with relatively short, broad, blunt-tipped wings and a long, square-ended tail that often shows four dark bars. She is agile and fast, often seen making quick dashes through gardens or woodland in pursuit of smaller birds. While hunting, the air might suddenly go quiet as smaller birds hide. The male often makes a high-pitched food call when bringing prey to the female at the nest. For those with partial sight, focusing on the large size, brown/grey and white barred plumage, and bright yellow eyes are the primary visual cues for identification. Further details can be found on the RSPB website or the Wildlife Trusts website.
January 15, 2026 at 8:41 AM
javajanegallery.co.uk
Alan’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is
#Raptor
So hard for me 🫢
#birds #ukbirding #birdphotography #naturephotography
#BucksBirds
#EastCoastKin
January 15, 2026 at 7:52 AM
hwrdsmth.bsky.social
View over a section of the Rushy Pool at Slimbridge.
#birdphotography #wildfowl #ukbirding #slimbridge #natural #birdoftheday
@slimbridge-wild.bsky.social
#landscapephotography
January 14, 2026 at 6:26 PM
hwrdsmth.bsky.social
Two bewick swans and a pochard at Slimbridge.
#birdphotography #wildfowl #ukbirding #slimbridge #natural #birdoftheday
@slimbridge-wild.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 6:24 PM
hwrdsmth.bsky.social
Redshank at Slimbridge.
#birdphotography #wildfowl #ukbirding #slimbridge #natural #birdoftheday
@slimbridge-wild.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 2:21 PM
frightopenclose.bsky.social
I don't usually post for both #BirdoftheDay themes due to having limited bird pictures, and I've posted this picture in the past, but I'll give it another whirl for todays #LongBeaks theme hosted by @robcrank68.bsky.social #birds #nature #photography #EastCoastKin #ukbirding
January 14, 2026 at 2:06 PM
frightopenclose.bsky.social
Good morning. For Robs #BirdOfTheDay themes #LongBeaks or #Gulls I'll go with the latter and this care free Gull floating on a lake. #birds #nature #photography #EastCoastKin #ukbirding
A picture of a Gull centre frame and facing the camera at a slight right angle with white and grey feathers and a red beak floating on a rippling and reflective lake.
January 14, 2026 at 11:21 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LongBeaks, any bird with a Long Beak. The Alt theme is #Gulls ~ set by @robcrank68.bsky.social ~ I've gone with a Great Egret at Westhay NR - Somerset 🪶🦉 #ukbirding #birdphotography #ukwildlife #bluesky #naturephotography #birdsofbluesky #EastCoastKin #photography
The great egret is a very large, all white-water bird that is similar in size to a Grey Heron, standing up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) tall with a wingspan of up to 1.7 meters (over 5 feet). Its entire body is covered in bright white feathers. It has a long, pointed, dagger-like bill that is yellow (though it can turn darker, even black, during the breeding season). Its legs and feet are black. This helps distinguish it from other smaller white egrets that have yellow feet. It is a tall, lanky bird with a long, S-curved neck and long legs. When hunting, it often stands motionless in shallow water and then strikes quickly at prey like fish and frogs. In flight, it tucks its long neck in (unlike storks or cranes, which fly with necks outstretched). During the breeding season, adults grow long, delicate, lacy plumes on their backs, which were historically highly prized for use in hats. You can find more information and potentially view images through resources like the RSPB website or the BTO website.
January 14, 2026 at 7:37 AM
javajanegallery.co.uk
Rob’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #longbeaks
Pelican
#birds #ukbirding #birdphotography #naturephotography
#BucksBirds
#EastCoastKin
@robcrank68.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 6:27 AM
oskareel.bsky.social
A monogamous gannet in #Solitude on the nest, perhaps waiting for its partner to return with food

RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, UK June 2025

#photography #birds #birding @alan678.bsky.social’s #BirdOfTheDay #ukbirds #ukbirding #wildlife #nature #seabirds #cliffs #wildlifephotography #Nikon
January 13, 2026 at 1:16 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Solitude, open to interpretation. The alt is #gardenbirds set by @alan678.bsky.social ~ so many photos I could have chosen for this theme & decided to go with this Cormorant drying its wings 🪶🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #ukwildlife #EastCoastKin
Photo taken at Radyr Weir ~ Forest Farm NR - Cardiff - South Wales A cormorant is a large, sleek, dark bird, like a goose crossed with a loon, known for its almost prehistoric look, long neck, and glossy black feathers that can shimmer blue-green in the light. You'd recognize it by its distinctive silhouette, often standing with wings spread wide to dry after diving for fish, a heavy build, and a long, thin, hooked beak, feeling solid and powerful. They have striking eyes and often orange-yellow skin around their face and throat, making them very noticeable near water.
January 13, 2026 at 8:29 AM
javajanegallery.co.uk
@alan678.bsky.social

🪶Alan’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Solitude ,open to interpretation
When you’re the only one in the aviary ☹️ Kestrel
#birds #ukbirding #birdphotography #naturephotography
#BucksBirds
#EastCoastKin
Kestrel - captive at a zoo
January 13, 2026 at 7:58 AM
trusttheroad-24.bsky.social
Last set of four: #BirdOfTheDay theme which is #BirdsInFlight, and the Alt theme is #Finches

- Wood Stork
- Glossy Ibis ( trying not to get eaten)
- Bahama Woodstar
- Brown Booby

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #birdphotography #ukbirding
@rspb.bsky.social #naturephotography #BirdLife
Wood Stork flying low over lake. Large bird, white body, black under and on outer parts of wings and head. Two Glossy Ibis flying near an alligator. They weren't close enough to make the alligator's lunch, it's mouth was open for heat control or just helping me get a more interesting picture. Small hummingbird seen on Gorda Cay in the Bahamas. Bahama Woodstar. Brilliant green body and head, with black patch under chin like a beard. Brown Booby flying near cruise ship, crossing camera left. Right wing down, left wing up, showing white and black underside.
January 13, 2026 at 4:07 AM
trusttheroad-24.bsky.social
First set of four: #BirdOfTheDay theme which is #BirdsInFlight, and the Alt theme is #Finches

- Brown Booby
- Osprey(s)
- Great Blue Heron
- Wood Stork

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #birdphotography #ukbirding
@rspb.bsky.social #naturephotography #BirdLife
Black and brown bird, Brown Booby, sailing along next to cruise ship. Wingtips nearly vertical, back to camera, as it hunts for lunch over the bright blue sea. Two Ospreys, caught in almost a hover, as they hunt over a pond in central Florida. The bird at top is preparing to drop onto its lunch down below. Great Blue Heron casually coasting by the photographer. Wings nearly flat, neck curled in tight, long legs trailing straight out behind. Wood Stork soaring overhead. Large bird, black head, white underneath, black on wings. Head and neck straight out, legs straight out behind.
January 13, 2026 at 3:56 AM
westcountrynature.bsky.social
A chaffinch for today's #birdoftheday. He's a well fed chap living at #rspb Ham Wall in Somerset. I am seeing more and more of these; hopefully their numbers are bouncing back.

#birds #ukbirding #eastcoastkin #nature #wildlife #winter #photography
A male chaffinch sits on a fencepost eating seed. He has an orangey-red breast and blue-grey cap and throat marking.
January 12, 2026 at 8:09 PM
bigdisc.bsky.social
"Patrolling the river" for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BirdsInFlight
#birds #heron #ukbirding #olympus
January 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
bigdisc.bsky.social
An Easter Ross Red Kite for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BirdsInFlight
#birds #ukbirding #redkites #scotland #birdsseenin2026 #olympus
January 12, 2026 at 4:14 PM
photographyguy28.bsky.social
#Birds🪶🦉 #NaturePhotography #PhotographersOfBlueSky #Wildlifephotography #birdphotography #UkBirding
Good afternoon Bluesky Friends! Today’s #BirdOfTheDay is #BirdsInFlight featuring a Red Kite, Black Headed Gull, Canadian Goose, and Common Buzzard.Alt theme: #Finches. Captured on a Canon EOS R50.
The image captures a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in soaring flight against a clear, deep blue sky. Key features: - Viewed from below and slightly behind, with the bird gliding effortlessly on long, angled wings that are distinctly narrow and pointed, showing "fingered" primary feathers at the tips. - Deeply forked tail, twisted slightly for steering—a classic Red Kite trait—spread to reveal the V-shape. - Rich rufous-brown body and upperwings with mottled patterning, contrasting pale head with dark eye streak and hooked beak. - Pale patches visible on the underwing primaries, adding to the distinctive contrast. - Wings held in a slight dihedral (upward angle), body streamlined with legs tucked in. The lighting is bright and even, emphasizing feather details and creating a clean, dramatic silhouette against the cloudless sky. This is a beautiful, dynamic shot that showcases the Red Kite's elegant, acrobatic flight style typical of this European raptor. The image is a clear, close-up photograph of a single bird in flight over a body of water. The bird is a Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) in winter/non-breeding plumage. Key features include: - Mostly white head with a small, distinct dark spot behind the eye - Bright red bill and red legs/feet (legs dangling down as it flies) - White body and underparts - Pale grey upper wings with prominent black tips on the primary feathers - Wings fully extended in mid-flap, showing the classic gull wing shape The bird is flying low and directly toward the camera, captured from a slightly low angle. The background is softly blurred water with greenish-brown tones and subtle ripples, giving a calm, natural outdoor setting (likely a lake, river, or coastal area). The lighting is natural daylight, with good detail on the feathers and no harsh shadows. Overall, it's a striking, dynamic wildlife shot that beautifully captures the gull's graceful motion. The image is a dynamic wildlife photograph of a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) in flight, captured low over a body of water with a lush, green forested background. Key details: - The goose is in active flight with wings fully extended in a powerful downstroke, feathers spread and showing detailed layering on the underwings (pale grey flight feathers with darker coverts). - Classic Canada Goose markings: black head and long neck with a distinctive white "chin strap" patch, brown-grey body, white undertail and vent area, and black tail. - The bill is open wide as if honking or calling loudly—a common vocal behavior—revealing the pinkish interior. - Legs and webbed feet are tucked back against the body. - It's flying directly toward the camera from a slightly low angle, creating an engaging, almost confrontational perspective. The background features calm water in the foreground (with subtle ripples and reflections) and dense, out-of-focus green foliage/trees behind, suggesting a natural wetland or lake setting. Lighting is soft natural daylight, likely overcast, giving even illumination without harsh shadows. This is an expressive, action-packed shot that captures the bold personality and vocal nature of this familiar waterfowl species. The image is a striking wildlife photograph of a Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) in soaring flight against a clear, cloudless deep blue sky. Key details: - The bird is viewed from below and slightly to the side, banking gently to the right as it glides effortlessly. - Broad, rounded wings with distinctly "fingered" primary feathers at the tips, held in a shallow V-shape (typical dihedral posture for buzzards). - Dark brown upperparts and head, contrasting with paler, mottled underparts and underwings that show subtle barring and a darker patch near the "wrist" (carpal area). - Short, fanned tail with faint banding. - Sharp, hooked beak with a pale cere, and intense dark eyes giving a focused, predatory expression. The lighting is bright natural sunlight, highlighting feather textures and creating a clean silhouette against the vibrant sky. Overall, it's a dynamic, minimalist shot that captures the grace and power of this common European raptor in mid-soar.
January 12, 2026 at 2:06 PM