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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A flock of Canada geese take to the sky while the cows munch on fresh green grass behind them. Port Meadow, Oxford #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Grey heron hunting by one of the boathouses at Hyde Park in London. #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Some close encounters with herring gulls during a north Wales holiday a few weeks ago. They are very ‘in your face’ and one snatched half of my cheese sandwich! #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Last week at St James’s Park in London, 4 of the great white pelicans were fishing together, an unusual sight but apparently effective. A grey heron fished by itself and was also successful. The two species politely ignored each other. #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

To mark @everyheron.bsky.social’s 10th anniversary here is a heron in Kensington Gardens in London. Today is the hottest day of the year and the bird is ‘sunbathing’ to encourage parasites to come to the surface. It’s also gular fluttering - vibrating throat tissues with its beak open, to cool down

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

A visit to WWT London: Bob the heron arrived at exactly 2pm for the otters’ feeding time. Another heron could just be seen among the Australian pelicans and a third was sunbathing near the white storks. Herons know where to get their food! @adamlittle.bsky.social @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

For #BirdOfTheDay, here is a grey heron at the Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London. This bird was moving between the various ponds in the Gardens, regularly finding fish. #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

St James’s Park, London. The heron on the bridge was on duty again and was having a preen to maintain the highest level of smartness @everyheron.bsky.social Also spotted was a pochard mother with her duckling #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Grey heron on guard on the bridge to Duck Island, St James’s Park, London. No one gets past that sharp beak. @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Cattle on Port Meadow in Oxford. The meadow is an unimproved area of grazing land bordering the Thames. Cattle and horses graze the meadow, taking very little notice of humans. These animals were enjoying a cooling walk in the river

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I had a good view of this grey heron at the Italian Gardens in Kensington Gardens in London. It fished in the ponds, completely ignoring us humans #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I was really pleased to see this swan family with 7 cygnets at Green Park Village Lake in Reading. One of them tried to climb on Mum’s back but is far too big now! #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Silver-studded blue butterfly, Great Orme, Llandudno, Wales. These pretty butterflies are rare nationally but common on the Great Orme.

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Canada Goose family with 6 goslings, Kennet & Avon Canal, Reading. The parents had led their youngsters to a grassy bank to feed. While I was watching them, I could hear a cuckoo calling in the background #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Handsome (and he knows it!) male Mandarin duck, Whiteknights Lake, University of Reading #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The first cygnets I have seen this year. They are so sweet and fluffy. Chelmsford, Essex. #birds

Two adult swans on water with 5 cygnets between then. All the family are eating

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Greylag goose family, River Thames, Reading. The little goslings are slowly getting bigger #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

It’s gosling season again! Cute greeny-yellow balls of fluff Canada and greylag goslings, River Thames, Reading #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

While I was in Hyde Park (London) last week, I had a great heron experience near the small heronry at Serpentine Island. I saw around 9, including some punky-haired youngsters born here a few weeks ago #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

A long line of herons on posts in the lake with an adult nearest the camera

A long line of herons on the posts in the lake with a young bird near the camera

Heron walking along the edge of the lake.

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

My pretty cat Caisley came to inspect me on the sofa yesterday evening #caturday

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I checked in on my local swans a couple of weeks and was surprised that Mr Swan clambered up the bank where I was standing. River Thames, Caversham. I’m hoping the pair will nest. #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Two well hidden Reading herons hunting for food. The first one is at Whiteknights Lake, at the University of Reading, the second on a stream at View Island on the Thames. #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

Heron hidden among grasses, plants and trees at the edge of a lake

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

I may have misjudged the mood of this domestic/greylag goose. It wasn’t at all pleased to see me. On the contrary, it was quite angry. River Thames, Reading #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Grey heron at the new development at Green Park village in Reading. Herons are quick to take advantage of new fishing opportunities #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Some birds I saw on the River Thames at Henley in Oxfordshire the other day: male Egyptian goose; cormorant in smart breeding plumage; 3 mallard ducks which were swimming around together. The female and the nearest male are slightly paler than usual #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

There is just one black swan in Hyde Park in London, and here he is preening alongside his mute swan friend #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

A few birds I saw in Hyde Park in London on Monday which was much sunnier than today! Black swan; a fierce looking lesser black-backed gull; a pretty stock dove which kept walking round me #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Grey herons in Hyde Park in London yesterday. Someone was feeding them fishy treats, which led to a flappy dispute. #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Birds at Whiteknights Campus at the University of Reading yesterday: robin on top of a pole; Egyptian goose family, and the growing goslings in a warming clump; great crested grebe behind a tufted duck #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Two herons at WWT Barnes last Saturday: Bob the famous heron from the otters’ pen, and a younger heron who appears to be sunbathing. Feels a bit early in the year for that. I think I can also see another heron in the background to photo 2. @adamlittle.bsky.social @everyheron.bsky .social #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Some gulls I saw in London recently: lesser black-backed gull in Hyde Park, a bird which starred in David Attenborough’s recent documentary because of its ability to catch pigeons; herring gull in St James’s Park; common gull in Kensington Gardens. All preparing for the breeding season #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

This grey heron was taking advantage of a flooded footpath to extend its hunting territory. Dinton Pastures Country Park, Berkshire. @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Handsome heron strides confidently along the edge of the lake. St James’s Park, London #birds @everyheron.bsky.social

Tall grey heron, with orange beak and hanging feathers, also called plumes. On the edge of the lake with a reedbed in the background

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Plumage variations in black-headed gulls in Hyde Park in London. #1 is a youngster with some brown feathers, and dull orange legs and bill; #2 is an adult with deep red legs/bill; #3 has grown its new season’s black head plumage (actually dark-chocolate brown if you look closely) #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

This herring gull was perching on a post but as soon as it saw me it decided to fly away. The bird still has brown speckling on its neck but will be losing this shortly to be replaced by white breeding plumage. Hyde Park, London #birds

Herring gull with raised wings flying away from the post it was perching on

Herring gull perching on a past with an Egyptian goose family with chicks passing by in the background

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

The black swan in Hyde Park (London) is making a nuisance of himself by pestering female mute swans. I feel sorry for him because there are no female black swans around, but I wish he would leave the mutes alone. This poor female was just trying to sleep, but he kept poking her. #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

A few birds I saw on a recent trip to Central London: a handsome pair of gadwalls at Hyde Park; an Egyptian goose fast asleep on the river wall; a smart glossy crow by the extremely gaudy Albert Memorial; possibly too many pigeons being fed at South Kensington tube #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

The new Bazalgette Embankment by the River Thames.The lion moved here from the river wall. Sculptures by Nathan Coley, which reminded me of the monoliths in the film 2001 (pic4). I expected them to discharge bolts of energy to waiting aliens! @patriciastoughton.bsky.social, have you been here yet?

Metal lion with a ring on its mouth, formerly used as a mooring point on the River Thames

Grey large rectangle-based artwork with steps

Dark grey monoliths with a modern building in between, which is on the other side of the Thames

Monolith from 2001 A Space Odyssey with an ape, with a rocky background.
Taken from 2001 A Space Odyssey Wiki

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

My little rescue cat Caisley on the sofa with me last night. She was in mid-wash when I took the photo

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

I was in Henley in Oxfordshire the other day. The river Thames was very high, and the cormorants were swimming very close to the bank, finding fish. They were attracting plenty of interest from passers-by. The bird in the final picture was developing the pale feathers of its breeding plumage #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

I walked in the Woolhampton/Midgham area of Berkshire. There was a short period of sun on the canal; Brimpton Manor Farm includes a C12th former chapel; a muddy sheep field which was full of lapwings; a male swan on his canal territory. #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Icy scenes from Reading over the last two days: waterbirds in a small open area at Green Park village; the main lake there was almost completely frozen; frozen lock channel on the Thames at Caversham; swans trudge over the ice at Hosehill lake, like Polar explorers over a glacier #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Swans on the River Thames at Reading the other night. The front pair appeared to be displaying to each other which was nice to watch. The swans were being lit up by lighting from the nearby winter ice rink! #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

My sister’s cat Panda is enjoying the festive period #caturday

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

There is a big feeding flock of swans and other birds near Caversham Bridge in Reading. People regularly feed them. I counted around 16 juveniles in this flock, which is good news #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Some birds l saw at Battersea Park in London the other day; grey heron at the cafe waiting for fishy treats; Mr & Mrs Mandarin duck; mute swan; coot showing off its big foot lobes. The heron nesting season is underway again, with birds standing on their nests. @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

This grey heron at Battersea Park in London took its place at table 140. It didn’t have to wait long until someone brought it fishy treats @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

I think this is a heron. An interesting cheerful illuminated mural at Reading railway station with references to the town. There is lots of wildlife on the mural but I haven’t found a great crested grebe yet Kev Munday and Stuart Melrose @everyheron.bsky.social

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Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

This grey heron is at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park in London. A new ramp has been built to help swimmers get into the water. Fish have learned to shelter under the ramp while the heron has learned to snaffle any careless fish @adamlittle.bsky.social @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

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