Thank you for the shout out! 😳😅
Sorry, I feel a slight fraud using the #DailyNaturePics tag, still. Since ending my ~230 consecutive day streak at Christmas & now needing to prioritise other things.
I'm frustrated I missed the ALT on that puddle too (Buffer's UI only shows if it's on mouse hover).
Heya! I've just imported a second tranche (in 2 years) of follows from Twitter, via "Sky Follower Bridge" chrome extension.
Close-up of vibrant pink cherry blossoms (Prunus) on a branch, showing open flowers with delicate yellow stamens alongside deep pink, unopened buds.
A cluster of bright yellow primrose flowers (Primula) with distinct orange-red centers, surrounded by crinkled green leaves in soft sunlight.
A bare tree brilliantly illuminated by golden sunlight, its branches heavy with hundreds of hanging yellow catkins (likely Hazel, Corylus avellana), contrasting sharply against a dark, dramatic grey sky.
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Out on foot, for short walks, when too rainy to bike (mostly phone shots):
- Higan/Spring cherry, damp blossoms.
- Puddle ripples (SLR).
- Primroses, in yellow, when the sun finally popped out!
- Corylus (?) catkins, contrasting stormy skies.
Close-up of delicate pink cherry plum blossoms (Prunus cerasifera) on a dark branch, dotted with tiny water droplets against a soft, blurred grey background.
Close-up of deep blue-purple hyacinth flowers (Hyacinthus orientalis) beginning to bloom among thick green leaves, glistening with raindrops.
Close-up of vibrant daffodils (Narcissus) with swept-back yellow petals and prominent orange central trumpets, speckled with water droplets after a rain.
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Back garden in late February's perpetual rain (SLR telephoto shots):
- Cherry plum (myrobalan) blossoms popping.
- Hyacinthus, planted out.
- Weeping daffodils (Narcissus cyclamineus)
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A close-up side profile of a Western Jackdaw clinging to a wire bird feeder. Its distinctive pale blue-white eye is sharp as it pecks at a suet ball, with small crumbs flying from its beak.
A wide shot of a large flock of Jackdaws scattered across a twilight sky. A silhouetted street lamp and bare tree branches are visible in the foreground against the fading light.
Google search screenshot: Jackdaws are highly social, gregarious birds that live in loose, noisy, and hierarchical colonies, often forming lifelong pair bonds. They frequently nest in close proximity within tree cavities, chimneys, and cliff crevices. These intelligent corvids are known for forming massive, mixed-species roosts with rooks and crows during winter. O The Wildlife Trusts +5 Key Characteristics of Jackdaw Colonies: • Colonial Nesting: Jackdaws are cavity nesters that build nests from sticks, often in chimneys, attic spaces, ruined buildings, and tree hollows. • Social Structure: They live in strict, settled pecking orders, with unpaired females at the bottom. They often form permanent, lifelong pairs, and may even form same- sex pairs. • Diet and Foraging: They forage on the ground for insects, seeds, fruits, and carrion, often in large, mixed-species flocks. • Behavior and Communication: Highly vocal and intelligent, they are known to recognize human faces and display complex social interactions, including adopting orphans in dense colonies. • Habitat: They thrive in woodlands, parklands, coastal cliffs, and urban areas. • Winter Roosting: During autumn and winter, they abandon their breeding areas to roost in massive, sometimes thousands-strong, communal groups in trees or on structures. O The Wildlife Trusts +8
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- Ripping into the food. Grappled on as per: bsky.app/profile/z3r0...
- Colony flying a lap, by a main road roundabout. Not sure if there were also rooks or crows in that mix...
- Google AI summary on these interesting birds.
A Western Jackdaw with its signature pale white eye and grey nape clings to a metal bird feeder, reaching for suet balls.
Two Western Jackdaws flying against a clear blue sky, their wings backlit by the warm glow of the sun, highlighting the feather detail. One is missing wingtip feathers.
A large flock of Jackdaws in silhouette, some perched in the bare branches of a winter tree and others taking flight against a pale, overcast sk
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Jakdaws, common but still impressive:
- Beady eye on me, through our fat-ball feeder cage.
- Pair flying overhead (they often mate for life).
- Huge communal roost taking flight
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A close-up of pale pink cherry blossoms against a clear blue sky. A large, fuzzy bumblebee is captured in mid-flight, slightly blurred, departing the flowers from the top right.
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Bonus: bee gone! Cherry plum, myrobalan.
A soft-focus, macro shot of several vibrant blue Grape Hyacinths (Muscari). The bell-shaped flower clusters are backlit by natural light, highlighting their deep purple-blue color against a blurred green background.
A bumblebee with a distinct yellow band and white tail feeds on a cluster of tiny white and pink Viburnum tinus flowers. The bee is centered among the dense blossoms and green leaves.
Bright yellow daffodils stand tall in the sunlight against a dark, moody background. Below them, several dusty pink hellebore flowers (Lenten Roses) bloom, creating a layered spring garden scene.
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Quick neighbourhood SLR bike this afternoon:
- Grape Hyacinths in he sun.
- Viburnum, with first proper bee pic of the year!
- More daffodils, atop a bare 'dahlia ally'.
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Description by Gemini 3: A close-up, side-profile shot of a Eurasian Wren standing on a grey stone path. The tiny, plump bird has mottled brown feathers with darker barred patterns on its wings and short, cocked tail. A distinct pale cream "eyebrow" stripe sits above its dark eye. It stands alert against a soft-focus background of green grass and dry stalks.
Description by Gemini 3: A Dunnock perched on a weathered stone edge in a garden setting. The bird is shown in profile, highlighting its slender, dark beak and the characteristic lead-grey feathers on its face and breast. Its wings and back feature a warm brown plumage with dark, streak-like patterns. In the background, soft-focus green leaves and small reddish-brown garden plants provide a natural, outdoorsy atmosphere.
Description by Gemini 3: A female Common Chaffinch perched on the edge of a metal bird feeder or water bowl. The bird is primarily a soft olive-brown and grey, with two prominent white wing bars visible on its dark wings. Its thick, conical beak is a pale pinkish-grey. The background is a dark, out-of-focus green foliage, making the bird stand out in the center of the frame.
Description by Gemini 3: A male Common Chaffinch standing in a patch of fresh white snow interspersed with blades of green grass. The bird features a striking blue-grey cap and nape, a rust-red face and breast, and a dark wing with bright white and yellow-tinted wing bars. It is seen in profile, looking toward the right, with its thin legs gripping the cold ground.
Small back garden ground feeder fowl:
- Eurasian wren, tiny thing, came surprisingly close to the house.
- Dunnock (Hedge sparrow)
- Common chaffinch, female, much clearer than previous shot.
- Male, in January's snow (some background clutter edited out).
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Description by Gemini 3: A close-up photo of a vivid purple dwarf Iris flower blooming outdoors. The delicate petals are covered in fresh water droplets, and the lower falls of the flower feature striking bright yellow and white crests with dark purple veining. The background is a softly blurred grassy lawn.
Description by Gemini 3: A close-up photo of a vibrant yellow daffodil (Narcissus) in full bloom. The flower's textured central trumpet and flat outer petals are sharply in focus and dotted with tiny, glistening water droplets. Softly blurred green stems and other yellow daffodils appear in the background.
Description by Gemini 3: A cartoon still from a classic animated film (resembling Disney's Alice in Wonderland) featuring two anthropomorphic flowers in a dark, leafy garden. On the left is a tall, purple Iris with a haughty, aristocratic facial expression. On the right is a slender white Daisy with a yellow center, wearing a timid and surprised expression.
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Maybe we're past the perma-wet blooms of Monday...
- Netted/Winter Iris, is a new on on me (in a grass verge). Totally reminded my of Alice in Wonderland: Madame Iris!
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Sun's finally been out, and so are the daffodils, everywhere!
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- Starlings, on a rare sunny afternoon, rudely ignoring me.
- White ducks, in the distance.
- Seagulls, migrating NE -> SW in unending little waves.
Description by Gemini 3: A low-angle shot of a Great Cormorant soaring through a pale, overcast sky. The bird is seen from below, its large, dark wings fully extended. It has a long neck and a hooked beak with a distinct yellow patch at the base. A small white patch is visible on its thigh, suggesting it may be in breeding plumage.
Description by Gemini 3: A close-up, eye-level shot of a Eurasian Coot swimming directly toward the camera. The bird has charcoal-black feathers and a stark, white frontal shield and beak that contrast sharply with its dark head. The water is calm with gentle blue-grey ripples, creating a clear, symmetrical reflection of the bird’s white "shield" on the surface below.
Description by Gemini 3: A wide shot of a calm pond with tall, tan-colored dried reeds lining the background. On the left, a dark Eurasian Coot swims away, leaving a white wake in the water. On the right, a male Mallard duck is captured in mid-flight, blurred by motion, showing its iridescent green head and orange legs as it flies low over the water toward the right.
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Birding roundup! First, I took my telephoto to the old pond in the new estate, last month. Lucky to see:
- Cormorant, circling overhead! (But camera ISO struggles/glitches.)
- Eurasian Coot...
- ... Bullying a male Mallard off the water.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 248
Description by Gemini 3: A profile shot of a female Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) standing on a vibrant, mossy green lawn. The bird has dark, sooty-brown plumage and a duller orange-brown beak compared to the bright yellow of a male. In the soft-focus background, a dense cluster of white Snowdrops (Galanthus) is in full bloom, signaling the arrival of early spring.
Description by Gemini 3: A silhouette of a Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) perched near the top of a tall, needle-leafed evergreen tree, likely a Cedar or Larch. The bird is captured in profile against a flat, pale grey sky, highlighting its sturdy beak and powerful frame. The tree branches extend outwards in a tiered, triangular pattern, creating a stark, graphic contrast against the overcast background.
Subdued colours, back garden, away from the feeder:
- 'Mummy' blackbird, on our luscious moss-lawn, by the snowdrops.
- Crow in an silhouetted cedar.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 247
Description by Gemini 3: A close-up shot of a slender, dark brown tree branch covered in tiny, green flower buds, likely from a Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) or Hawthorn shrub. Individual raindrops hang delicately from the underside of the branch. The background is a soft, brown and green bokeh with a vertical white blur suggesting a distant waterfall or stream.
Description by Gemini 3: An artistic, moody reflection in a large rain puddle on a grey pavement. The reflection shows the intricate, skeletal silhouette of bare deciduous tree branches against a pale, overcast sky. The edges of the puddle are soft and blurred, with a hint of green grass visible in the upper right corner.
Description by Gemini 3: A large, dense Viburnum tinus shrub in full bloom, partially shaded by late afternoon sun. The bush is covered in hundreds of small, tightly packed clusters of white flowers and pinkish buds. To the right, the warm glow of the sun hits a red brick wall, creating a sharp contrast with the deep shadows behind the foliage.
Description by Gemini 3: A lush Camellia bush filled with vibrant, candy-pink double blooms and tightly closed pointed buds. The flowers have delicate, layered petals, some of which are covered in small raindrops. Dark, glossy green oval leaves surround the blossoms, and a few older, faded brown flowers are visible among the fresh growth.
Lot of water about on yesterday's little SLR ride, spurred by a peep of evening sunshine, amid the endless showers...
- Barely budding branch (maybe Blackthorn) over stream
- Trees still naked (in a puddle)
- Viburnum
- Camellia
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Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of two Yellow Crocus flowers (Crocus × luteus, often called 'Dutch Yellow'). The goblet-shaped buds are a rich golden-yellow, featuring faint, dark purple-brown stripes running up from the base of the petals. The flowers are closed and covered in glistening raindrops, surrounded by slender, dark green leaves with a thin silver stripe down the middle.
Description by Gemini 3: A vertical, close-up shot of a Mahonia shrub (Mahonia × media, likely the 'Winter Sun' variety). The image focuses on a dense, upright cluster of rounded flower buds in shades of lime green and pale yellow, with a few bright yellow bell-shaped flowers beginning to open at the base. Tiny, clear raindrops cling to the buds and the dark, glossy, holly-like leaves in the background.
Description by Gemini 3: A vibrant, low-angle ground-level view of a patch of Eastern Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum). The small, nodding flowers are a brilliant magenta-pink with dark purple centers, standing on thin, reddish stems. They are surrounded by rounded, kidney-shaped green leaves patterned with silvery-white marbling. Fresh raindrops are visible on the delicate, upswept petals.
Too rainy to ride, so took a short walk, found some more colour braving the perpetual wet.
- Yellow crocuses
- Oregon-grape (I think, not Mahonia), budding
- Eastern Cyclamen
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Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of several Early Crocuses (Crocus tommasinianus) growing out of a bed of damp, fallen leaves and green grass. The slender, tapered flower buds are a pale lavender-purple with silver-grey outer petals, all speckled with fresh raindrops. The background is a soft-focus view of a garden and residential buildings on a grey, overcast day.
Description by Gemini 3: A Phalaenopsis Orchid, specifically the "Eclipse" variety from M&S, presented in a white ceramic pot on a bright windowsill. The orchid's stems are trained into a perfect circle, showcasing multiple blooms with white petals heavily mottled with deep magenta-purple splotches. Large, leathery green leaves sit at the base, and the plant is backlit by soft light filtering through white net curtains.
- Crocuses popping up! Almost a year since I first made it far enough on foot to find some one street over! bsky.app/profile/z3r0...
- Phalaenopsis Orchid, a Christmas gift, sitting in the sunny spot I could find, not over a radiator.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 244
Description by Gemini 3: A European Robin is perched on a thick tree branch, bathed in warm, golden sunlight. The light emphasizes the bird's vibrant orange-red breast and face against its soft greyish-brown head and white belly. The background consists of the textured, shadowed bark of a large tree trunk.
Description by Gemini 3: Two Great Tits are perched on a green wire mesh bird feeder. The bird on the right is seen from the front, showcasing its bright yellow breast with a wide, distinctive black "tie" running down the center, a black cap, and white cheeks. The bird on the left is in profile, showing its olive-green back and a similar yellow underbelly.
Description by Gemini 3: Three European Goldfinches are feeding from two separate cylindrical mesh bird feeders filled with sunflower hearts. One goldfinch in the foreground is clearly in focus, showing its red face, white cheeks, and the bright yellow flash on its dark wings. The other two birds are slightly out of focus in the background, busy at the second feeder.
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Robin, again "what are you doing down there..?"
- Great tits, food drama.
- Goldfinches, seem rowdy to me, a little thuggish, despite their diminutive size. They're also not as acrobatic as the tits, preferring to land directly on the feeders.
Description by Gemini 3: A Eurasian Blue Tit perched on the decorative curve of a dark metal garden gate. The small bird is captured in profile, showing its bright blue crown, white cheeks with a thin black eye-stripe, and a yellow breast. The background is a soft, out-of-focus deep purple.
Description by Gemini 3: A profile shot of a European Robin standing on the edge of a weathered wooden bird table against a dark, blurred background. The bird displays its iconic bright orange-red breast and face, contrasted with an olive-brown back and a pale underbelly.
Description by Gemini 3: A close-up, profile view of a European Goldfinch perched on a green mesh bird feeder filled with sunflower hearts. The bird features a vibrant red face mask bordered by white and black, a buff-brown back, and a striking bright yellow stripe across its black wing.
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Telephoto #BirdWatching Part 3:
- Blue tit (Eurasian), on a metal tree.
- Robin (European), stumped, with me sat at end of garden.
- Goldfinch (European), one of a bunch (see below)...
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- Squirrel up close and fluffy.
- Crow meal to go. They swoop in straight after mum puts bits out at the top of the garden .
- Ya wot m8?! Seagulls may be a common UK nuisance, but rare in our garden. Many passing overhead, currently.
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Bird Watch Part 2:
- Our crows are so wary, rare to get a close up.
- Black Headed Gulls in their winter plumage (not Mediterranean or Common)!?
- More overleaf...
Shot from kitchen, so not really #MEcfsEgress, but bit of a workout lifting the telephoto! DailyNaturePics 242
Funny how I've been most excited about my least pretty photo! 😅
I wanted a hobby telescope (8" reflector) through my teens, but a bit too indulgent for a Christmas present.
I don't think I ever got to use one during my physics degree, either. Saw some on open days, heh.
To pick out the moons, I used the brightest aperture, shutter speed and ISO setting that I could. Without adding too much noise or shake. (Casual hand-held at 1/60th of a second F5.6. ISO not reported, maybe issue with the D5100 camera.) Europa is mostly hidden, bottom left, in Jupiter’s halo. This was just stood out back, looking over the house, getting cold in the frigged air while my dinner was cooking.
This is the best I could do, trying to resolve details of Jupiter's cloud structure. Stopping all the settings waaaay down, by comparison... Jupiter is actually 3-4 times more reflective than our Moon. But much further from the sun, so less illuminated. I think we can see the darker poles, top left and bottom right, of this unimpressive beige blob. I was just thrilled to clearly resolve the disk of any planetary body!
Stellarium (free Android app) screenshot, zoomed in and looking at the same spot, at the same time. To confirm what I was seeing.
Our Moon for reference; nothing amazing in terms of zoom (or setup). I enjoy it more, a little softer looking, in the evening sky. Wish I'd had this lens for a couple of other Moon shots I've posted previously.
Behold Jupiter and its moons Ganymede, Io and Calisto!
I did not think about my new 450mm equivalent (at max zoom) telephoto lens enabling my old 16.2MP SLR to image these, when I snapped the bright dot on a whim!
Details in image [ALT]s... #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 241
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- Whipping my mask off for a minute to smile at the sun...
- Winter 'bows are an interesting contrast.
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- Saw my first full rainbow of the year while out today!
- Dramatic skies reflected in puddle.
- Some snowdrops out in the back garden.
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Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of a Skimmia japonica shrub. The plant is covered in dense, branching clusters of tiny, round reddish-pink flower buds. Dark green, leathery leaves provide a backdrop to the textured floral display.
Description by Gemini 3: A full-body profile of a solid black domestic cat sitting on a textured green surface. The cat has a thick coat and bright, alert eyes, looking slightly toward the camera with a calm expression.
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- Skimmia japonica
- Cat, inside, in the outdoor furniture and 1/2 price Christmas decorations section..?!
Description by Gemini 3: A bright, close-up shot of several Daffodils (Narcissus). The flowers are a uniform, vibrant yellow with distinct central trumpets and six surrounding petals, standing tall on thick green stems.
Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of vibrant Blue Hyacinths (Hyacinthus). The bell-shaped flowers are a rich indigo-blue with slightly recurved petals, tightly packed along a thick, dark central spike.
Description by Gemini 3: A dense cluster of Cyclamen flowers. The petals are a deep magenta-pink at the base, fading to a crisp white at the ruffled edges. The flowers are tightly packed, creating a sea of pink and white.
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Unexpected trip to drive Mum to the garden centre today. So have a random splash of Winter colour!
- Mini-daffodils
- Hyacinths
- Cyclamen
... And in-store cat that looked a lot like ours (below).
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Description by Gemini 3: A selfie of a photographer geared up for a cold day. They are wearing a grey knit hat, a blue patterned Trespass jacket, black gloves, and a white 3M respirator mask. A Nikon camera with a large Tamron telephoto lens is strapped around their neck.
Description by Gemini 3: A group of three Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) foraging on a green lawn. Two males are in the foreground, showing their characteristic blue-grey caps and pinkish-red breasts, while a more camouflaged brownish female is visible behind them.
Big Garden Birdwatch Tally Sheet Description by Gemini 3: A bird identification and tally sheet for the Big Garden Birdwatch. The sheet features illustrations of common garden birds like the Goldfinch, Chaffinch, and Long-tailed Tit. Handwritten tally marks and numbers show counts for several species, including "Crows - 3" and "Magpie - 1".
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I've been a little underwhelmed; it needs a *lot* of light, or a faster sensor, with better auto-focus.
But I've collected a good few bird shots. Most of the spotting sheet (which mum filled out briefly). More to follow.
- Me wrapped up
- Chaffinches, foraging
- RSPB sheet
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- Magpie, very wary.
- Pigeon, ruffled up.
- Blackbird, they've not been much in evidence.
I've been experimenting with a 2nd hand, 3rd party telephoto lens I bought myself as a late Christmas present: Tamron 70-300mm, effectively 450mm on my old crop sensor Nikon D5100...
Description by Gemini 3: A group of five Long-Tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus) are clustered together on a green wire suet ball feeder. These small, round birds have tiny beaks, very long black-and-white tails, and beautiful pinkish-white fluffy feathers. They are actively feeding on a cold, grey day.
Description by Gemini 3: A sharp profile shot of a Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) clinging to a vertical metal ornament. The bird has blue-grey upperparts, a long pointed beak, and a distinctive black eye-stripe. Its underparts are a warm buff-orange color, set against a soft, dark brown background.
Description by Gemini 3: A close-up side profile of a Great Tit (Parus major) perched on a dark metal garden table. The bird has its beak open as if calling. It features a signature black "cap" and "bib," bright white cheeks, a yellow breast with a central black stripe, and olive-green wings.
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I made an effort to process some of the back garden bird photos I've been taking this month, seeing as it's the #BigGardenBirdWatch this weekend!
- Long-tailed Tits
- Nuthatch, yesterday.
- Great Tit, close up to the kitchen window.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 238
