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Reposted by Alan Smith

Helen Bennett 🌿 @helenbennett.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Hello 👋 I adore Owls so today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls 😊🦉 Any owl from the two owl families. Here's a gorgeous Long-eared owl that I was fortunate enough to see 🤎 📷 🪶 Alt: #BirdNameG any bird whose common name starts with the letter G! Happy Thursday 🕊️ #Nature #Photography #ECK

A photograph showing a long-eared owl that is perched at an angle on a textured tree branch, facing right against a blurred green background. The owl features a prominent facial disc with a white, vertical stripe between its vivid orange eyes, a black beak, and long, dark ear tufts which are flattened against its head. Its plumage is a dense mix of brown, black, grey, and tan feathers, with a warm rufous coloration visible on its chest. The owl's talons are gripped firmly onto the rough bark of the vertical branch, and its lower wings are partially extended downward, showing a barred pattern of tan and dark brown bands. The owl had been hunting in the adjacent fields just before dusk and its feathers underneath are slightly wet. His gaze is fixed intently in to the distance ready to launch in flight again.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A brown fish owl is my contribution to today’s #birdoftheday

The owl is perched on the edge of a shattered tree trunk, using its wings for balance, and staring into the the cavity below searching for food

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

After the eclipse of Wednesday evening I moved out of town into the vineyards to try and capture the Milky Way and the Perseid meteor shower. I saw lots of meteors but nearly all were just out of frame. This is a quick edit of my best capture. #perseids #astrophotography

Part of the Milky Way galaxy rises diagonally above the light pollution on the horizon. To the right of frame is a diagonal streak from a meteor burning up in the atmosphere.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Another image of Wednesday’s solar eclipse – 9 unevenly spaced moments from before it started until sunset.

9 images showing various stages of a solar eclipse

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The Sun dances around the Moon. This is what a 97% eclipse looks like. Taken in South-western France. #solareclipse2026

Three slender crescents of the sun at different angles, taken during an eclipse.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I am currently in the Gironde department in France which is suffering from a prolonged heatwave and the resulting wildfires. Climate change is having a devestating effect on the wildlife here. I noticed swallows flying low over the covered pool, looking for water. Uncovering it led to this. #birds

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Today is International Tiger Day. They can be hard to spot in the wild. This female was hiding behind a river bank in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, and occasionally peeked over the top to check us out. #tiger #wildlifephotography #naturephotography

A tiger peers over a the top of a riverbank and through long grass. Only its right eye is visible and one ear.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

A lioness and her two cubs taken last month in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Maasai Mara, Kenya. #wildlifephotography

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Little bee-eaters photographed in the Olare Orok Conservancy in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. #birds #wildlifephotography #littlebeeeaters

A bird comes in to land beside another one of the same species that is perched on a narrow branch.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

This is a buff-tailed bumblebee I rescued from a swimming pool. It took 10 minutes to dry itself and warm up enough to be able to fly off.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I don’t just shoot wildlife. This is an alley in Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France. Taken with my phone. #streetphotography

A black and white photo looking down a dark alleyway with cobblestones in the foreground. There are a couple of arches and an old style lamp visible in the sunshine at the far end of the alley.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Brotherly love. Taken in the Olare Orok Conservancy, Kenya.

A close up of the heads of two male lions. The lion on the left is on its back and the one on the right is gazing down at him

A close up of the heads of two male lions. They are both lying on their backs with their heads against each other. The lion on the left is sticking its tongue out.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

A spur winged lapwing having a drink in the Olare Orok Conservancy. Taken during my trip to the Maasai Mara, Kenya, last week. #bird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

The bird has its beak immersed in a small stream. The ripples caused by this are distorting its reflection. There is a clear red eye and slight forward movement of the head is visible.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

A pair of Secretary birds (observed by a Superb starling), photographed at first light in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Maasai Mara, last week. #birds #wildlifephotography #naturephotography

A Secretary bird appears to walk up to its mate and put a wing around it. The birds were photographed in a treetop at first light.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

This is why I get out of bed before dawn when I am on safari.

A lion and some bushes are silhouetted against a golden early morning sky.

Zebras, topi and other plains game are silhouetted against an orange sky.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

A couple of lion cubs that I photographed yesterday afternoon in Kenya #wildlife #photography

Two cubs lying side by side in the grass

One cub trying to persuade its sibling to play

One of the cubs hides in the long grass. The wind temporarily makes it visible.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

A female tiger patrolling a dam wall in Bandhavgarh National Park, India. (The second image is cropped from the first one.) Taken last May. #naturephotography #tiger

A wide shot of a female tiger standing in long grass and looking at the camera. The tops of trees can be seen in the background.

An image cropped from the previous one, showing the full length of the tigress without all the background and foreground details of the original image.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Mouth to mouth – lion style Taken in the Maasai Mara in November 2022 #wildlifephotography

A lioness squints into the early morning sunlight as it tries to strip the flesh from around the mouth of a Cape buffalo.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Two young elephants play fighting in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Taken in 2024.

Teo young elephants wrap their trunks around each other’s as they twist, turn and shove each other.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Two hippos play fighting – taken in the Serengeti in 2024

A closeup of the heads of two hippos with their mouths open and showing their teeth. Their lower jaws are touching and water is pouring out of their mouths.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

I’m delighted that one of my images has made it into the finals of the Remembering Giraffes competition. Regardless of whether I am selected for the book, I can recommend the Remembering Wildlife series of photo books. They raise money for wildlife conservation. 3’30” www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqfK...

youtube.com

Remembering Giraffes Competition - 200 Finalist Images

YouTube video by Remembering Wildlife

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Shall we dance? Zebra stallions fighting in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. Taken in 2024.

A zebra rears up and places a hoof on the back of its rival. The rival reacts by trying to bite the first Zebra’s neck.

The zebra tried to bring down his rival by pushing his head down on the rival’s back.

He now tries to bring the rival down by leaning into its haunches.

The rival responds by going for the other zebras neck while he is rearing up on his back legs.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Another of my nigella photos, this time in black and white. The dew on the flower is natural. The image has been created from a 20 image photo stack in order to get much of the flower in focus. #naturephotgraphy #flower #monochrome

A black and white image of a nigella flower. The photo is taken looking straight down on the flower.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

For those who are unaware, Remembering Wildlife has started its latest Kickstarter campaign to fund a beautiful photobook #rememberinggiraffes (photo is not from the book) – if you would like to help fund the book, buy some artwork or a reduced price safari, go to www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar...

Two male reticulated giraffes stand side by side, but facing in opposite directions, as they prepare to fight each other. Photo taken in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, a few years ago.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I think Nigella damascena (aka love in a mist) is one of the most photogenic of the late-spring flowers. It is a member of the buttercup family that grows wild in southern Europe. I can’t wait to photograph them again this year.

A close up of the reproductive organs of a plant. The flower is deep blue in colour and the background is dark green. There are a few dew drops visible on the petals.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

The leopard known as Luluka in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, in 2022.

A leopard lying against a grassy mound in the evening sunlight. Her head is to the left of frame and she is looking along her body towards the right-front of frame.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I like what using the infrared filter in the black and white adjustment layer (modified by me) in Photoshop has done to this photo of a solitary male giraffe in the Serengeti. #photography #naturephotography

A monochrome image of a giraffe standing in an open plain beside a sausage tree. There is a small acacia in the background. The grass and leaves are white because of an infrared filter that was applied while converting the image from colour. The sky is dark grey as a heavy rainstorm is heading towards the giraffe.

The original colour image of the giraffe standing in an open plain beside a sausage tree. There is a small acacia in the background. The sky is dark grey as a heavy rainstorm is heading towards the giraffe.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Peek-a-boo! A captive eagle owl at the British Wildlife Centre shows that even when it is asleep it is aware of what is happening around it. #bird #owl #eagleowl #photography

A close up photo of the head of an almost sleeping eagle owl. It has one eye slightly open, showing its orange iris. The bird is turned halfway towards the left of frame.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

A red squirrel from my photo day at the British Wildlife Centre. #photography

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

This is Hamish, a Scottish wildcat that I photographed last week at the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey, UK. Note his flatter, squarer face that distinguishes him from domestic moggies. Wildcats are critically endangered in the UK and captive breeding is the best way to ensure species survival.

A captive Scottish wildcat licks its lips as it looks back over its shoulder while walking up the sloping trunk of a pine tree.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Another photo from my day at the British Wildlife Centre – a sleeping captive tawny owl (taken in natural light). Which do you prefer, colour or black and white? #bird #birdphotography #owl

A colour image of a tawny owl perching on a branch with its eyes closed, against a dark grey sky.

A black and white version of the image of a tawny owl perching on a branch with its eyes closed, against a dark grey sky.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

A captive harvest mouse photographed at the British Wildlife Centre. These mice are classified as near threatened in the UK. The centre breeds them for release into the wild. This chap will be given his freedom once his modelling days are over. #photography

A harvest mouse perching on some dry grass. Its prehensile tail is wrapped around one of the stalks, helping it to balance.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Here’s a photo of a unicorn (Rhinoceros unicornis) to cheer us up on Friday evening. They were almost hunted to extinction but now thrive in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (amongst other places). The passengers are Mynah birds. # wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birds

A head on photo of an Indian one-horned rhino walking towards the camera. It has grass in its mouth and 3 Mynahs on its back. The ginger hair on its ears stand out against its grey skin.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Quick flick – a crested serpent eagle quickly turns its head to look behind and above it #birds #birdphotography #naturephotography

A crested serpent eagle perched on a branch. Its body is facing towards, and to the left of, the camera. It has just flicked its head round to look behind and above it. The neck feathers are blurred because they are still moving. The image was taken as dusk was falling in Bandhavgarh National Park in India.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

It’s 2½ weeks until the start of Meteorological Winter here in the UK so I was surprised to see this Red Admiral butterfly still supping nectar this afternoon in Berkshire. (Taken with my iPhone.) #photography #naturephotography

A red admiral butterfly, with its wings folded back, hanging under a pink flower. Its proboscis is extended into the centre of the flower. The underside of the red admiral’s wings are a fascinating mix of colours with a mottled brown helping providing camouflage to help it hide from predators. However, the tips are red, black and white and need to be hidden by the underwings while roosting.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I am happy to say that my photo “Path of the Brittle Star” has been selected as Highly Honored in the Art in Nature category of the Nature’s Best Photography International Awards. My imagewill be published in the 2025 Winter Special 30th Anniversary Edition of Nature’s Best Photography magazine.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Monkey cuddles A baby grey langur monkey being cuddled by its mother in Pench National Park, India. #monkey #baby #wildlife #naturephotography

A close up of the face of a baby monkey while it is being held in its mother’s arms. The baby is looking straight into the camera.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Contemplation! A grey langur monkey looks up during golden hour in Pench National Park, India. #monkey #wildlife #naturephotography

Backlighting brings out the hairs on the monkey’s head as it stares up into the trees above it. The image is a close up of its head.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

A tiger uses her tail to splash water on her body to help cool down as the temperature rises above 40°C (100°F). #tiger #cat #wildlife #nature #photography

A tiger lies in the sand beside a pools of water with her head raised in the air with an expression that looks like ecstasy. The water in the pool has been disturbed by the tiger’s tail as it has used it to flick an arc of water into the air towards its body.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

I spotted this strange behaviour while on safari in India earlier this year. The monkey on the right appears to be stealing the other’s baby . Of course it could be the other way round. The one on the left could have been the original kidnapper. #wildlife #behaviour #naturephotography

Monkey tug of war. Two grey langur monkeys fight over which one gets to keep the baby. Unfortunately the baby is being pulled in different directions during the struggle.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

It is rare to be on your own at a tiger sighting and it is difficult to find the best spot for photography. For more than an hour this was a “meh” photo opportunity. Then something caused the tiger to glance up and transformed the scene for a second. #tiger #cat #wildlife #nature #photography

A female tiger briefly glances up from her rest spot. She had been lying down, partially hidden behind an earth bank covered in long grass. The light has caught the white on her face drawing attention to her eyes.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Sometimes when I am out with a camera an unexpected photo opportunity presents itself. In spite of not having the most appropriate lens on the camera and much too slow a shutter speed selected, I still give it a go. The results can be interesting. #wildlife #naturephotography #otter

An intentional camera movement photo of an otter running on a beach. The beach is wet and it is reflecting the colours of the sky.

A slow shutter speed photo of an otter running on a beach. Its blurred body is partially reflected in the wet sand.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

A monkey cigarette break (it’s actually chewing on a fruit/nut that it had gathered from the ground. #monkey #photography #naturephotography

A vervet monkey sits in the fork in a tree trunk, looking up into the canopy. She looks like she is smoking a cigarette – in fact she is chewing on a fruit that she had gathered the ground.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

The large male tiger known as Jamhol, photographed exactly 4 months ago today in Bandhavgarh National Park, India. #tiger #photography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography

A male tiger stretches out its right foot as it strides towards me. Its eyes are fixed on mine.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Two cattle egrets in breeding plumage keep a very close eye out for any insects that might be disturbed by a grazing Indian rhinoceros. #photography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #rhinos #birds

A close up of the head and forelegs of an Indian one-horned rhino. Two egrets are visible between the head and the foremost leg – one of them is partially hidden behind that leg. They are both looking very closely at the ground beside the rhino’s mouth.

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Alan Smith @dustyfootprints.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

The swallow chicks fledged today. This is one of them plucking up the courage to make its second flight (back to the nest). #bird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography

The chick flaps its wings as it tries to regain its balance after backing off from launching itself off the ledge.

One final stretch of the wings before launching off the ledge.

The fledgling flying the short distance back to its nest.

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