Tony Allen-Mills's Avatar

Tony Allen-Mills

@taminf.bsky.social

Former foreign correspondent retired to the mountains of France, where I’ve (mostly) hung up my pen and picked up a camera. Veteran traveller, now focused on landscapes, birds, dragon- and butterflies with the odd urban scene thrown in.

820 Followers  |  1,018 Following  |  1,035 Posts  |  Joined: 31.01.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Tony Allen-Mills (@taminf.bsky.social)

Post image

I'm very late to #BirdoftheDay today, but a good excuse - I was out in Springlike sunshine chasing birds. And as luck would have it I caught this white egret offering the most elegant of #sideprofiles for @robcrank68.bsky.social

#photography #birds

09.03.2026 16:04 — 👍 34    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

Fabulous.

09.03.2026 06:09 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Thanks Alan!

08.03.2026 13:15 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

I was lucky enough to meet a Crested Caracara at a raptor sanctuary in the Florida everglades. The Clark Gable of #photogenic birds for #BirdoftheDay by @alan678.bsky.social

#photography #birds

08.03.2026 08:09 — 👍 42    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0
Post image

No sign of #BirdoftheDay and I've got an early start, so here instead is a perky Carolina wren for #SmallBirdSaturday.

#photography #birds

07.03.2026 07:32 — 👍 29    🔁 3    💬 2    📌 0

It did actually peck at one of the glasses, but the waiter arrived to shoo it away. Poor thing never got a taste!

06.03.2026 16:37 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Thanks Rob!

06.03.2026 16:36 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A lucky one - he jumped up right in front of me!

06.03.2026 16:36 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

"Which one should I try first?"

The waiter had just laid out glasses for a tasting of Port wines in Porto, Portugal, when a thirsty seagull hopped onto the table.

For the #ColourfulCaptures theme of #BirdoftheDay by @alan678.bsky.social.

#photography #birds

06.03.2026 09:22 — 👍 43    🔁 4    💬 5    📌 0
Post image

I'm thrilled to report that my recent visit to Portugal produced numerous treasures for future editions of #FireHydrantFriday. Here's a charming hydrant from Porto that seems to be disguised as a flowerpot.

#photography #streetfurniture

06.03.2026 09:12 — 👍 19    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1

Brilliant! How I long for the dragon and damsel season to get started here in alpine France!

06.03.2026 09:08 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Frankly, Sabine, you can run that theme any time you like. There was some wonderful couture on display there!

05.03.2026 15:45 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I'm not sure they would have gone to war dressed like that - all that metal must weight a ton. I suspect it was just a palace outfit for impressing the Sultan!

05.03.2026 15:44 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I knew I wouldn't get away with that one!

05.03.2026 15:41 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Post image

#MixedPairs you say? How about human and hawk? I found this pair in central London, where a Harris hawk and its trainer often patrol the streets, chasing away pigeons pestering tourists for food (and often bombing them with poop). For #BirdoftheDay by @robcrank68.bsky.social

#photography

05.03.2026 08:29 — 👍 33    🔁 6    💬 2    📌 0
Post image

The ceremonial chainmail splendour of an Ottoman warrior is my pick for the #FashionThroughTime theme by @sabineshutterbug.bsky.social for this week's #palacesandgardens. From the Topkapi palace collection in Istanbul.

#photography

05.03.2026 08:14 — 👍 52    🔁 7    💬 4    📌 0

Thanks Jan - they do build very cosy nests!

04.03.2026 18:18 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Thank you Sabine! I may have a couple of Portuguese palaces to play with too!

04.03.2026 18:17 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

You're very welcome. It was a lovely place to find.

04.03.2026 18:16 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

A South African Weaver doing its thing for today's #Nestbuilders theme of #BirdoftheDay by @alan678.bsky.social

#photography #birds

04.03.2026 09:41 — 👍 45    🔁 1    💬 2    📌 0
Post image

A gorgeous Art Nouveau window reflecting off the grand piano in the salon of a Belle Epoque Lisbon mansion (1904). For #WindowsonWednesday

#photography

04.03.2026 09:07 — 👍 50    🔁 7    💬 3    📌 1

Thank you!

03.03.2026 20:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Thanks Audrey!

03.03.2026 20:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Back from a Portuguese city break with a camera full of snaps, but only a very few of birds, alas. Luckily this Chaffinch stood still long enough for me to sneak up for a #sideview, today's #BirdoftheDay theme by @robcrank68.bsky.social

#photography #birds

03.03.2026 08:58 — 👍 40    🔁 3    💬 3    📌 0
Post image

Been a bit busy wandering around Portugal, but nothing’s more important than #FireHydrantFriday. Here’s a classic Portuguese model from urban Lisbon

#photography #priorities

27.02.2026 10:49 — 👍 35    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 1

Tell that to the Swiss!😜

20.02.2026 16:43 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Ta very much!

20.02.2026 16:41 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Thanks Alan. I'm on the road for a couple of weeks, no bird lens, but hope to be back for the Spring migrations!

20.02.2026 16:41 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

🙏

20.02.2026 16:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Have a great weekend!

20.02.2026 16:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0