GrahamC75
LightNews LightNews
banner
grahamc57.bsky.social
GrahamC75
@grahamc57.bsky.social
57 followers 83 following 150 posts
Amateur wildlife 'tog. Aspiring author.
Mother Nature. Rugby. Cricket. Classical Music. Opera. Detectorists. Apolitical. Practising agnostic. Reading. Writing. Tea.
Twitter-quitter/ex-X.
Pasqueflower - National flower of Hertfordshire.
Posts Replies Media Videos
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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?
December 4, 2025 at 10:20 AM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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…!
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, from the family Anatidae.

#Mandarin #PerchingDuck #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #WWT #Barnes
A photo of a resplendent male Mandarin duck. Seen whilst visiting WWT Barnes several years ago.
November 29, 2025 at 1:43 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, from the family Anatidae. Who doesn't like a mallard…?

#Mallard #DabblingDuck #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶 #HMWT #Amwell
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.
November 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 27, 2025 at 12:46 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, from the family Podicipedidae. Nagging: Not just a human thing!😜

#LittleGrebes #Dabchick #ukwildlife #Birds 🪶
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.
November 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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…?
November 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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
A photo of a Great White Egret flying past. The scientific name comes from Latin ardea, 'Heron', and alba, 'White'.
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 Green Sandpiper, another tail-bobbing wader. They have a very characteristic three-note whistle, mostly when flying around.
November 18, 2025 at 10:55 AM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 Great Crested Grebe. Their elaborate courtship display is something everyone should witness; usually early in the year.
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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
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.
November 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor, of the family Sphingidae. Spotted this beauty last year on a local walk.

#ukwildlife #Caterpillar #Lepidoptera #Moths
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.
November 14, 2025 at 12:37 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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.
November 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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
A photo of a Common Sandpiper taking a drink. It can be distinguished from other sandpipers by the shoulder straps.
November 12, 2025 at 12:03 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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 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...'
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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
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...'
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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.
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
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
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'...
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
My latest short story: 'The Chase - A Tale of Terror.' The continuing story of a woman trying to escape from her assailant. But there is still nowhere to run.

2/2

Reviews? Opinions?🤷‍♂️

#WritingCommunity #writing #writers #ShortStory
Part Four of my story, 'The Chase'. Part Five of my story, 'The Chase'.
November 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
grahamc57.bsky.social
Another month, another story!📖
Entitled, 'The Chase - A Tale of Terror.' A woman is trying to escape from her assailant. But there is nowhere to run.

1/2

#WritingCommunity #writing #writers #ShortStory
Part One of my short story - 'The Chase'. Part Two of my short story - 'The Chase'. Part Three of my short story - 'The Chase'.
November 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM