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fraggenstein.bsky.social
Fraggs Photography 📸🦊🦉🦋🦔 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
@fraggenstein.bsky.social
2.8K followers 1.6K following 1.5K posts
Amateur wildlife photographer from South Wales ~ Loving all aspects of nature & capturing those beautiful moments with a camera ~ Canon R5 & R7 ~ BBC Countryfile Calendar Competition Finalist 2023 🏆
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fraggenstein.bsky.social
A bit late but today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme has been #Thrushes and the alternative is #waders set by @alan678.bsky.social Here's a Song Thrush - photo taken at Forest Farm NR 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #wildlife #birdphotography #EastCoastKin
November 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
An early post from me for #ThursJay as grabbing my winter warmers and heading out on this frosty beautiful day here in South Wales 🥶 🌞 Chosen a Carrion Crow at Forest Farm NR 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy #corvids #birdphotography #wildlife
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Close up capture of a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the back garden in Cardiff ~ South Wales 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #wildlife #birdphotography #BirdLife #PhotograpyIsArt #woodpecker
November 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is all about Birds looking a bit on the #Round side set by @robcrank68.bsky.social
And the alternative birds are #Sparrows.
I've gone with a rather puffed-up Chaffinch 😍 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #EastCoastKin
November 19, 2025 at 8:42 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Nearly forgot it's #Twosday & here's two Moorhens💞💕during courtship, this is normally a sign of allopreening (mutual preening) but can also be a sign of a pre-fight but not with these two lovebirds 🥰😍 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #PhotograpyIsArt
November 18, 2025 at 8:27 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
One of the many Squirrels of Forest Farm Nature Reserve & always ready to have a photo taken if you have some nuts on offer 😍 🌰 #mammals #photography #EastCoastKin #naturephotography #ukwildlife #wildlife #bluesky #squirrel
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Was hoping for better photos but a huge lifer ✅ for me last Thursday 13/11/25 at Aust Salt Marsh with a rare visitor to these parts in the very elusive Juvenile Penduline Tit 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #birdphotography #BirdLife #PhotograpyIsArt
November 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay theme is #StareDown, any bird looking at you, and the Alternative is #GullsInFlight set by @robcrank68.bsky.social - I'm going for a Female Sparrowhawk & that's what I call a real stare down 👀 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #naturephotography #birdsofprey #birdphotography #EastCoastKin
A female sparrowhawk is a large, powerful bird of prey, noticeably bigger than the male, with a wingspan of up to 80cm (about 31 inches). Size and Build: The female is significantly larger than the male, but much more robust. She has a purposeful, strong appearance. Coloration: Her upper parts (back and wings) are a dark brown or grey-brown, which contrasts with her pale underparts (chest and belly) that are covered in bold brown stripes or bars. This contrast can be a useful visual cue. Eyes and Legs: A striking and distinctive feature is her piercing, bright yellow or orange eyes. These are often a high-contrast focal point. She also has long, thin yellow legs with sharp talons. In Flight: When flying, look for a characteristic shape: she has relatively short, broad, and blunt-tipped wings and a long, square-ended tail. Her flight pattern is a distinctive series of quick flaps followed by a short glide ("flap-flap-glide"), which helps her manoeuvre quickly through woodland and gardens.
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
A very sunny cold morning here in South Wales for #MallardMonday & finally a change in the weather 🥶 Drake Mallard on the Canal at Forest Farm NR - Cardiff - South Wales 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #birdsky #birdphotography #BirdLife #PhotograpyIsArt
Head and Neck: A glossy, iridescent green head and neck, separated from the chest by a crisp white collar or ring. Body: A chestnut or brown-coloured breast and greyish flanks/body, with a black rear. Bill: A bright yellow or yellowish-orange bill, often with a black tip. Wings: Both sexes have a distinctive iridescent blue speculum (wing patch) bordered by white on both the leading and trailing edges, which is especially noticeable in flight. Tail: A white tail, with the central feathers of the male often curling upwards into a distinctive black curl. Size: They typically measure 50–65 cm (20–26 inches) in length with a wingspan of 81–98 cm (32–39 inches).
November 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
One final post this Sunday evening ~ the amazing Dipper that is a remarkable bird that dips under water hunting for food at Bryngarw Country Park Bridgend South Wales 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #birdsky #birdphotography #BirdLife #PhotograpyIsArt
November 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Of course, today is also #SparrowSunday a day to celebrate our wonderful little garden visitors and this photo of a female taken earlier this year during Springtime 😍 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #birdsky #birdphotography #BirdLife #PhotograpyIsArt
November 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay theme today is #shadesofgrey any bird with grey in their colours and the alternative is #beakopen set by @alan678.bsky.social so I'm going with the alternative beak open with this Mallard that had an awful lot to say for itself 🪶 🦉 #ukbirding #birdingWales #photography #EastCoastKin
November 16, 2025 at 9:06 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Here's a youngster for #SquirrelSaturday - Photo taken in Cardiff, South Wales 😍 🌰 #mammals #photography #EastCoastKin #naturephotography #ukwildlife #wildlife #bluesky #squirrel
November 15, 2025 at 1:39 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #CootsAndMoorhens, and the Alternative for today is #Ducklings set by @robcrank68.bsky.social - I've gone for Moorhen strutting into Saturday with a bonus flying insect 😁 #birdingWales #birds #EastCoastKin #naturephotography #ukbirding #birdphotography #BirdLife
Size and Shape: It is roughly the size of a crow and has a plump body that is generally dark. Beak and Face: The most striking feature is its bright red beak which has a clear yellow tip. This red colour extends upward between its eyes, forming a "frontal shield" on its forehead. Body Plumage: The main body is a dark mix of bluish black on the belly and dark brown on the back and wings. It has a prominent white stripe running along its sides (flanks). The feathers directly under its tail are also bright white, which are often visible when it walks or swims. Legs and Feet: Its legs are a striking greenish-yellow colour. When out of the water, its feet appear disproportionately large with long toes, as they have no webbing like a duck's. Movement: When swimming, it has a characteristic jerky, head-pumping motion. On land, it walks with a high-stepping, almost comical gait. Sound: Moorhens can often be heard before they are seen. They make a variety of calls, including a bubbling or gargling sound, or a fast "kreck-kreck-kreck" noise. These features help distinguish it from the similar-looking Coot, which is more uniformly black and has a plain white beak and forehead shield.
November 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
I'm very late for #BirdOfTheDay and todays theme has been #swans set by @alan678.bsky.social so, here's part of a Swan to finish a Friday evening 😜 at Aberthaw Nature Reserve - South Wales 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #EastCoastKin
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Think it's time for a Friday Kingfisher ~ something bright & very cheerful for a very rainy day here ~ photo taken at Forest Farm Nature Reserve - Cardiff - South Wales 😎 🪶 🦉 #birdingwales #ukbirding #birds #kingfisher #nature #wildlife #birdsofbluesky #birdwatching #PhotograpyIsArt #BirdLife
A UK kingfisher is a small, stocky bird, similar in size to a house sparrow or robin, but with a large head and a long, dagger-like beak. It is often described in terms of its sound and movement, as its bright colouration, while striking, can be hard to spot in the dappled light by the water. Size and Shape: It is a compact bird, about 16-17 cm (around 6-7 inches) in length. If a physical model were available, it would feel small and robust, with a disproportionately large head and a long, pointed bill designed for fishing. Its tail is very short, and its legs are small with orange or reddish feet. Colouration (High Contrast/Vibrancy): The bird has a high-contrast pattern. Its back and tail are a bright, electric or metallic blue, while its underparts (chest and belly) are a rich, rusty orange or copper. It has a white patch on its throat and a white spot on the side of its neck. Flight: Its flight is rapid, direct, and low over the water's surface, a "flash of metallic blue" that is over in a blink. Hunting: It typically sits very still and patiently on a low-hanging branch or post over the water, watching for fish. It then suddenly dives headfirst into the water with a quick splash and pops back up to its perch almost instantly.
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
After posting Bertie Bullfinch a couple of days ago I should also post a photo of Bertha Bullfinch ~ my stars of the garden this year. 🤞 they come back next year in 2026 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #birdsofbluesky #bluesky
November 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
The weather is completely rotten here today with storm Claudia dumping a lot of water in South Wales but it's #flyday & here is a Kestrel at Aust Wharf yesterday afternoon enjoying the sunshine 🌞 🪶 🦉 #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #birdsky #birdwatching #birdphotography #PhotograpyIsArt #BirdLife
November 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Morning All 👋~ it's Friday 🤩 (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty like this wonderful Great Egret at Westhay Moor NR on the Somerset Levels 🪶 🦉 #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #nature #wildlife #birdsky #birdwatching #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #somersetlevels #PhotograpyIsArt #BirdLife
November 14, 2025 at 8:45 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
One from my travels today at Aberthaw Nature Reserve - South Wales ~ Beautiful Female Kestrel chillin' in the morning sunshine 😍😎🌞 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy #corvids #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #PhotograpyIsArt #BirdLife
November 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
A bit late with this one for #Thursjay ~ been out making the most of the sunny weather ~ Close up of a Jay in the garden 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy #corvids #EastCoastKin #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #PhotograpyIsArt #BirdLife
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DucksOutOfWater set by @robcrank68.bsky.social - Alternative Bird is a #Moorhen

Not quite sure what was going on here, but this Mallard was high up in a tree 🤷 maybe it thought it was a Wood Duck 😂🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #naturephotography #EastCoastKin
November 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
Today marks one year since I joined Bluesky ~ Thank you to all that have followed my photography journey 🤩 hope I can keep delivering worthy content for the next 12 months ahead ~ see ALT 🪶 🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdwatching #birdsofbluesky #bluesky
This was the first time ever in Spring this year to see Bullfinches visiting the garden and they obviously had a nest close by due to the amount of visits the pair were making on a daily basis, they were so frequent that they became known as Bertie & Bertha ~ was hoping to see the fledglings but never saw them visit ~ posted my favourite photo of Bertie to mark my 12 months on Bluesky as the pair were such special visitors this year. The bullfinch has a distinctive plump, rounded body and a proportionally large, "bull-headed" appearance. It's a small bird, about 16cm (6 inches) long, similar in size to a common finch. It has a very short, stout, and thick black beak, which is specifically adapted for cracking seeds and eating fruit buds. The feathers are soft and dense, providing insulation. The most striking visual features (for those with partial sight) are the sharp colour contrasts. Males have a vivid pinkish-red breast and cheeks that contrast sharply with a black cap on the head and a grey back. Both sexes have a bright white patch on their rump that is particularly noticeable when they fly. The female is a duller, more subdued grey brown with a dusty pinkish tinge on her underside.
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
This is an announcement from the Forest Farm crier - Hear ye, Hear ye - It's #Wrensday and your all halfway through the week 🔔 🦉 #birdingwales #ukbirding #birds #ukwildlife #wren #birdphotography #wildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 AM
fraggenstein.bsky.social
A long time since I photographed Swans but came across this Mute Swan just as it was lifting its head out of the water at Westhay Moor NR on the Somerset Levels 08/11/25 🪶 🦉 #ukbirding #ukwildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy #swan #birdsofbluesky #bluesky #wildlife
A mute swan is called "mute" because it is significantly less vocal than other swan species, although it is not completely silent. Its name reflects its relatively quiet nature, as it lacks the loud, trumpeting calls common in other swans like the Whooper or Trumpeter.
November 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM