GrahamC75

A photo of a Peregrine Falcon, taken several years ago. It's a bit quick!

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, of the family Falconidae. The peregrine can reach over 200mph during its stoop, which would make it the fastest animal on the planet!

#Peregrine #Falcon #BirdOfPrey #Raptor #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶

"I had to swerve but I managed to get them."

🤣👏

A photo of a juvenile Otter, swimming close in. Sadly, I heard that a dog savaged it a few months later.

Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra, from the family Lutrinae. Photo taken a few years ago, happily not too far from home.

#Otter #Mammal #ukwildlife

Part one of my short story, 'The Time Traveller'.

Part two of my short story, 'The Time Traveller'.

Part three of my short story, 'The Time Traveller'.

Part four of my short story, 'The Time Traveller'.

It's December! Christmas greetings!

Here's this month's story:📖
Entitled, 'The Time Traveller – A Christmas Tale.'
A woman loses her family in a tragic accident. She’s given a chance to go back; to change history.

#WritingCommunity #writing #writers #ShortStory #booksky

Good luck, Quins🤞

A photo of a male Orange Tip butterfly. Males and females occupy different habitats: males mostly frequent the edges of forests whereas females frequent meadows. You have to wonder how they survive?

Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines, of the family Pieridae. One of my fave species of butterfly. Sadly, they only live for approx six weeks.

#OrangeTip #Butterfly #Lepidoptera #ukwildlife #HMWT #Amwell

A photo of a Mugger Crocodile, seen whilst on a visit to Nepal, some years back. We were in a small canoe, and as we floated closer, it opened its mouth. Cue back paddling…!

Marsh Muggar Crocodylus palustris, from the family Crocodylidae. Don't worry, I didn't get too close!

#Crocodile #Reptile #wildlife #Nepal

A photo of a resplendent male Mandarin duck. Seen whilst visiting WWT Barnes several years ago.

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, from the family Anatidae.

#Mandarin #PerchingDuck #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #WWT #Barnes

A photo of a male Mallard, posing and showing off his beautiful plumage. Fun fact: The Mallard has hybridised with more than 40 species in the wild, and an additional 20 species in captivity.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, from the family Anatidae. Who doesn't like a mallard…?

#Mallard #DabblingDuck #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #HMWT #Amwell

A photo of a Long-tailed Tit, perched on a branch, with insects in its beak. Northern subspecies are paler and have completely white heads, lacking the large dark eyebrows of southern populations.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus, of the family Aegithalidae. Seen at one of my local Reserves.

#LongTailedTit #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #RSPB #RyeMeads

A photo of a pair of Little Grebes on a lagoon. One Grebe seems to be speaking to the other. It's the smallest European member of its family.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, from the family Podicipedidae. Nagging: Not just a human thing!😜

#LittleGrebes #Dabchick #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶

A photo of a lake, with a reflection of a forest in the Scottish Highlands. Mountains in the background. There were several such areas and scenes similar to this one. It was a quite magical place to visit.

A landscape photo! I couldn't resist. I loved the reflection. Seen whilst on a short visit to the Highlands several years ago.

#Scotland #Highlands #Landscape #Reflection

A photo of hundreds, if not thousands, of Knot taking flight. It's said to get it's name and species epithet from King Cnut. Because of the Knot's foraging along the tide line and the story of Cnut and the tide. Hmmm…?

Lots of Knots! Calidris canutus, from the family Scolopacidae. Watching them forage was interesting, but when they took flight it was an amazing spectacle.

#Knot #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #NorfolkBirds

A photo of a Kea in flight. Or rather, hopping from one perch to another. The species is now uncommon, and has received full protection under the NZ Wildlife Act of 1986. It was a real pleasure to see one.

Kea Nestor notabilis, of the family Strigopidae. A species of parrot that's endemic to the forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand.

Not only was I fortunate enough to visit NZ a few years ago, I was lucky to see and photograph one.

#Kea #Birds 🪶 #Parrot #NewZealand

A photo of a Hoopoe standing on a tree stump with a tasty morsel in its beak. Interestingly, its diet includes many species considered by humans to be pests. For this reason the species is afforded protection under the law in many countries.

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops, from the family Upupidae. Sadly, it's the only one I've ever seen! A cracker, though.

#Hoopoe #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶

A photo of a Great White Egret flying past. The scientific name comes from Latin ardea, 'Heron', and alba, 'White'.

Great White Egret Ardea alba, from the family Ardeidae. Used to be scarce in the UK, but are now becoming widespread; especially in the south and west.

#Egret #Heron #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #SomersetBirds

Not too loud, more a spectacular sight…Lots of quacks…!😆

A photo of hundreds of wildfowl taking to the air. I think it was a pair of Marsh Harriers that put them up. It was an incredible scene.

Ducks!
Happily watching them feed when a raptor put them up. Amazing sights and sounds. Seen a few years ago, whilst visiting RSPB Greylake.

#Ducks #Wildfowl #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #SomersetBirds

A photo of a Green Sandpiper, another tail-bobbing wader. They have a very characteristic three-note whistle, mostly when flying around.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, of the family Scolopacidae. Seen on a visit to RSPB Rye Meads earlier in the year.

#GreenSandpiper #Wader #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #RSPB #RyeMeads

A photo of a Great Crested Grebe. Their elaborate courtship display is something everyone should witness; usually early in the year.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, of the family Podicipedidae. There are plenty of these around the LVRP. Stunning birds.

#GreatCrestedGrebe #Grebe #Waterbird #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #LeeValleyRegionalPark

A photo of a female Goosander. Oddly, they nest in holes in trees. The name 'Common Merganser' is used in North America, while 'Goosander' is used in Eurasia.

Goosander Mergus merganser, from the family Anatidae. Also known as the Common Merganser. Several were seen at the Abberton Causeway earlier this year.

#Goosander #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #Duck #EssexBirds

Hah! Funny you should say that. My inspiration and ideas always come just after I've sank into a hot bubble bath! I have to rush out and type it down before I forget.

I then have to replenish the bath with hot water.

🙄

A photo of a Northern Fulmar in flight. A member of the 'tube-nose' brigade. The name comes from the Old Norse Fúlmár meaning "foul-mew" or "foul-gull" because of the birds' habit of ejecting a foul-smelling oil towards predators.

Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, from the family Procellariidae. Seen whilst on a visit to Bempton Cliffs, back in 2019. Wonderful trip!

#Fulmar #UkWildlife #Birds 🪶 #Seabird

A photo of an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar, hanging on to a precarious branch. The name is derived from the caterpillar's resemblance to an elephant's trunk.

Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor, of the family Sphingidae. Spotted this beauty last year on a local walk.

#ukwildlife #Caterpillar #Lepidoptera #Moths

A photo of a Dipper, standing atop a rock, amid a flowing stream. It often perches bobbing spasmodically, with its short tail uplifted on the rocks. It acquired its name from these sudden dips, not from its diving habit, though it dives as well as walks into the water. It's the national bird of Norway.

White-throated Dipper or European Dipper, Cinclus cinclus, from the family Cinclidae.

This is the only one I've seen in the UK. It was on a lovely visit to the Highlands.

#UKWildlife #Birds 🪶 #Dipper #UKBirds #Passerine

A photo of a Common Sandpiper taking a drink. It can be distinguished from other sandpipers by the shoulder straps.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, of the family Scolopacidae. This one was seen on a visit to EWT Fingringhoe Wick...

#UKWildlife #Birds 🪶 #CommonSandpiper #UKBirds #Wader #EssexBirds

Part Four of my short story, 'Something's Wrong...'

Part Five of my short story, 'Something's Wrong...'

The final part of my short story, 'Something's Wrong...'

A story for #ArmisticeDay. Entitled, 'Something's Wrong - A Never-ending Tale.' Two friends attempt to survive an oncoming battle.

2/2

#WritingCommunity #writing #writers #ShortStory #LestWeForget

Part One of my short story, 'Something's Wrong...'

Part Two of my short story, 'Something's Wrong...'

Part Three of my short story, 'Something's Wrong...'

A story for #ArmisticeDay. Entitled, 'Something's Wrong - A Never-ending Tale.' Two friends attempt to survive an oncoming battle.

1/2

#WritingCommunity #writing #writers #ShortStory #LestWeForget

Local weather forecast. Cloud and rain. This is the time of the year where you either have cloud cover and higher than average temperatures, or blue skies and freezing temps.

A photo of a Brimstone butterfly, perched up on a twig. The term 'butterfly' is believed to have originated from this species, as they'd called it the 'Butter-coloured fly'...

Common Brimstone butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni, of the family Pieridae. Fairly uncommon where I live, it's always nice to see one.

#UKWildlife #Brimstone #Butterfly #Lepidoptera