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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

...editing photos, this morning, from recent trip to Banff and Jasper. This one, of Maligne Lake taken 5th September, is an early favourite. #nature #Canada #photography #ECK #landscape #mountains

Looking south along Maligne Lake, Alberta, during the evening golden hour. The lake occupies the lower half of the frame, with soft-focus reflections of partially-sunlit peaks lying in a band across it. The sky in the upper half of the frame is a light baby blue, with just a few small clouds present. Across the middle, the mountains around the lake, with a hint of snow on some peaks. The forested banks of the lake are in deep shadow. The photo was taken September 5th this year.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

For #birdoftheday #birdsinabstract - two out of focus greylag geese, taken during the golden hour one fine November evening, in Norfolk (always good for geese!), a few years back. I've a soft spot for this impressionistic photo, despite the evident problem. #birds #nature #ECK #photography

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Peyto Lake, Canadian Rockies this morning. The astounding turquoise is for real... see alt for more detail #nature #ECK #photography #Canada #Rockies

One end of Peyto Lake, of The icefield parkway, Alberta. Once upon a time (around 100 years ago). The ice of Peyto Glacier would have reached into this photo. Now, it is well off to the left up the valley it has ground out. The variation in the beautiful colour of the lake water is caused by passing cloud. Photo taken a few hours ago (10 Sept 2026).

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Reposted by Janet Drew

AraInfo @arainfo.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

📹 VÍDEO ACELERADO | Así se ha visto el eclipse solar sobre Zaragoza, condensado en unos segundos. El cielo oscurece mientras la Luna cubre por completo el Sol: arainfo.org/todos-los-de... Video: Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Here's an eclpse offering - illustrating the way we interpret everything as faces... This looks like two happy faces nose to nose. It is, of course the projection of two images of the sun through a pair of binoculars (held by my son) onto a cream wall. #nature #eclipse #photography #ECK

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Here's a california gull getting ready to sprint along the shore of Mono Lake for a delicious? mouthful of brine flies. An offering for #birdoftheday #bestfootforward. The brine flies are everywhere in the photo - including on the water surface, showing as black pin-pricks.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

This is an old one from 1992 - probably taken with my second-hand nikkormat (and since scanned). For #birdoftheday #Firsts. An alert eagle owl, with glowing amber eyes. Photo taken at the Ringwood Owl Sanctuary next to the New Forest.

An eagle owl readying itself to fly around the room in which the guy running the Ringwood Owl Sanctuary 1992 is telling his audience about the sanctuary's owls. When it was let loose ...deeply impressive! The owl is perched on a heavily gloved hand, some talons showing. The beautiful tan-and-dark breast feathers are fluffed up. The bird is face on, with both the rich amber-coloured eyes clearly visible, and the long ears flattened onto the head.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

See the story in 'alt'. An encounter between two rock doves. A slice of avian daily life. #pigeonsky #nature #photography #birds

A pair of rock doves meeting up on a Greystones Marina quayside, Wicklow. I first noticed them walking towards each other at the quay's edge - so I watched what happened, taking a few photos. It seemed to me quite sweet - two birds pleased with each other's company - an established couple, presumably. Both are identically-marked rock doves (iridiscent necks, light grey backs/wings with black wing and tail bars, white rump patch, coral feet - not feral pigeons).

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

For #birdoftheday #ebony&ivory, a black guillemot taking a breather on the quay beside Greystones Marina, Wicklow - seen there last Monday. They are reliably there, and always seem like a relaxed bunch. #birds #ireland #nature #photography #ECK

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Sunset on the shortest night. As seen overlooking the Connemara coast. End of a perfect sunny day. #nature #photography #ECK #sunset

Summer solstice sunset - looking across to Inishbofin, from Cleggan (Connemara). Orange sky with no hint of cloud. Darkening foreground. Inishark (just visible left horizon) and Inishbofin in silhouette across the water.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Had to repost this one for #birdoftheday #borrowedplaces. Still seems extraordinary, over a year later. #birds #nature

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

'What are you looking at? Can't a bird bathe in peace?!' A juvenile blackbird in a birdbath eyeing up the photographer. #BirdoftheDay #lLookingAtYou A bit past the #newlife stage... #birds #nature

A juvenile blackbird is sitting, side on, in a green ceramic bird bath (with a few insect-friendly stones in it to help out the occasional passing bee in need of a drink). The bird's plumage is brown all over, but its beak is beginning to acquire the yellow colour of maturity. Seen side on, it is head is turned towards the camera.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Three #anatidae species for #birdoftheday: 2 mallards, a goosander and 5 swans - all seen on Lake Como last week. #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

Two mallard drakes show their displeasure at being disturbed by a female goosander whose sole crime is to decide she's had enough of sitting on the corner of the quay and is walking between them. Photo taken on the edge of Lake Como last week, in late afternoon sunshine. The two drakes are hissing at the goosander (beaks open and heads thrust forwards).

A swan with his/her 4 cygnets in front. The curious lighting is the result of the photo being taken from the side of Lake Como already in the shade - the sky above (out of frame) is still a perfect blue. Photo taken last week just before the current heatwave set in.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

A photo for #Stunday representing late #spring on the banks of Lake Como - a view from the very lovely slopes of Villa Carlotta gardens. #landscape #gardens #Italy #photography

This photo was taken from within one of the more wooded sections of the Villa Carlotta gardens on the banks of Lake Como, on May 16th. The right hand side of the picture is dominate by a gap in the foliage, revealing the matching blue sky and lake (and the opposite bank, in the distance). The main feature of the left hand side is a rhododendron in flower, with the pink of the blooms making a very pretty contrast with the luxuriant foliage - that, for sure, is characteristic of Villa Carlotta and many other Como gardens.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Persona non grata. The goosander can be forgiven for wondering what she had done to upset the two mallard drakes either side of her, as she left her sunning spot on the corner of the quay. They were clearly angry - both of them. #birds #nature #wildlife

A female goosander is making her way on a concrete pier, between two seated mallard drakes. Inexpicably, both drakes turn their heads and hiss at her. The photo was taken late yesterday afternoon beside Lake Como. The strong shadows are testament to the very clear conditions.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

This was us, at around 2.30 pm yesterday, a thousand feet plus up in the air - ringside to an in-flight lightning strike. Not actually scary (oddly) but definitely an experience.

A still, from the ground near Gatwick Airport, of the plane we were on yesterday afternoon - as it was struck by lightning. This image appeared in a couple of online reports yesterday evening. We were in row three (me, by the window) on the side the lightning struck. ...brilliant white flash, and a loud crack!

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

These young starlings have to be #linedup (for today's #birdoftheday) given the space that is theirs to occupy. What a rumpus there is when a parent turns up with food! The noise... Photo taken late this afternoon. #birds #nature

Four starling nestlings lined up in their distinctly linear space beneath a roof tile - up on the house next door. The photo was taken today (with extreme 30x zoom - they are a long way up). I fear for the small one at the left end of the line that's only just visible. The biggest, with an especially mean expression is second from right. They are probably not long from fledging. When a parent flies up on the roof with food for them, the squawking is intense and all you can see are the gaping yellow-outlined mouths frantically pushing forwards.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I post this to mark David Attenborough's 100th birthday tomorrow. I'm pretty sure his TV programmes about Madagascar introduced me to lemurs in my early teens - got to see them in their habitat in 2015. It's wonderful he's still with us. #nature #DavidAttenborough #photography #mammals #ECK

A sportive lemur passing the daytime away, wedged in a tree cleft - as they do - in Zombitse national park, Madagascar. The lemur is looking down at the camera, while clutching the thick branch to the left in the picture. He/she is not minded to do anything about his/her audience. The animal's fir has a golden hue. The prominent eyes are round with small pupils - they are really designed for evening/nighttime use.

Verreaux's sifaka, moving throught the trees next to a picnic spot in Isalo national park. These long-limbed animals are very agile. When on the ground they bounce around on two legs. They're quite big - but not as big as the awesome indri (once hear - never forgotten!). The vegetation in Isalo has a semi-arid character, which makes lemur spotting easy.

Had to include one photo of ring-tailed lemurs. This is a family group huddled up in a tree in the park at Anja. I think there are 4 of them in this picture: 2 adults and 2 youngsters. When most of us think 'lemur' we're thinking long-tailed ...the one thing you can't actually see in this photo. The distinctive faces of the two adults and the youngster toward top left are the main point of the image.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

I love wisteria - and this one lives with me. Drought conditions last summer (only its second) when we were away almost killed it. But it's back😊and it's fun to watch the blooms develop. #nature #gardens #bloomscrolling #photography

The first of three photos of a pair of wisteria buds up on the garden wall. This one was taken a week ago. The buds are compact and purple in coloiur and have 'scales' that make them look a bit like pine cones or hops. They are set in young leaves at the end of a woody stalk. Training wire on the wall behind is visible about 3/4 of the way up the photo.

This photo was taken two days later, on Tuesday last - the buds and the leaves are both bigger.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

I came home, after a spell away, to this! Feels miraculous, but its just a broom plant in the back garden (Wicklow). This has turned into quite a #spring. #bloomscrolling #nature #Ireland #gardens

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Reposted by Janet Drew

Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Reading wonderful Ursula Le Guin, with this essay, written in 2004, resonating in a sadly different way today. “I beg you to see what it is that we must save, and not to let the bigots and misogynists take it away from us again”.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

This afternoon's photo of a heron in a pond - with hazy dream-like reflections in the water. #birds #photography #nature #ECK

A x20 phone camera zoom of a heron that had just landed at the far edge of the Watercress Reserve's main pond. I rather like the fuzzy reflections of the heron and the waterside plants in the pond. The heron is side on with its neck extended.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

More #spring #bloomscrolling: a white bluebell, peak blackthorn and two flowering cherries. #photography #nature

A rare instance of a white bluebell, next to a blue one - in among thousands and thousands of the blue kind carpeting Langley Wood in Heartwood Forest. April 9th 2026

Blackthorn full-throttle blooming. These have become more and more frequent hedgerow denizens in recent years, it seems to me. The picture is focused on a near twig carrying the delicate white flowers, against an increasingly out-of-focus background of more and more blooms covering the bush. Heartwood Forest, April 9th 2026.

In the foreground a branch of a cherry tree, loaded down with white flowers - against a background of more flowers. Heartwood Forest, April 9th 2026.

And finally, a sprig of prunus (cherry) flowers on the tree in our back garden. Some of the flowers are yet to open and present with pink hues. The open flowers are white. Underneath and a little in the background are the shrivelled fruit of last autumn, still hanging there. A few years back, birds used to take them. The difference is likely to be some reduction in bird numbers, but also an increase in competing food attractions in surrounding gardens. St Albans, 9th April 2026.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Peak bluebell! A photo from yesterday, April 9th, in Heartwood Forest, SE England. #bloomscrolling #nature #ECK #photography

A photo of the sea of bluebells in Pudler's Wood, Heartwood Forest (Herts. England). The coppice is not yet in full leaf, allowing in the light that encourages the bluebells to flower. The foliage showing on the trees is 'spring green' in colour.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

...something's going on at the back of our garden this morning: two wood pigeons loitering up in the bay tree. They've been in there for over an hour, perhaps longer. #birds #nature

This photo was taken through a (not very clean!) window of two wood pigeons *lurking* in the bay tree at the back of our garden. The more visible of the two, on the left, is in what might be a guard position with its head and beak pointed straight at the camera. It will have an excellent view of what is going on out in the open. The other, to the right, is side-on and embedded in the bay foliage. Eating or nesting? Might be either.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Some serious up-ended Jurassic layers on the less-visited east side of Durdle Door in Dorset. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekLForLayers #ECK #nature

Jurassic-era strata that have been tipped to practically vertical - mostly limestone with some softer darker layers in between. (Lulworth formation rocks for those interested in the geological detail). The drop captured in the image is several 10s of feet. These are seen on the east side of the promontory. The famous Durdle Door view with the arch is from the west side.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Hats off to the Daily Pennsylvanian Editorial Board: a concise, wise statement. The aphorism '...if you don't use it, you lose it' certainly applies to power of thought. Equally, if you don't put in some effort to use it, you won't (magically) gain it, either.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Images of #spring in Wicklow, #Ireland. The weather since the this year's has been very wet, windy and often cold. It has felt like a hard wait! But finally, spring arrives. #nature #EastCoastKin #photography #blossom #flowers

A zoom shot of two large inflorescences on an almost tree-sized rhododendron-related shrub -- the lower of the two is still opening up and glows with pink. The upper flowering is more nearly white, but the dark purple detail in the interior of each individual flower is more visible. This plant is Mount Usher Gardens, Wicklow.

The River Vartry flowing through the heart of Mount Usher (Wicklow) on a recent - but rare - fine spring day. The dense varied growth on either side of the river is advanced in greening. A towering rhododendron, in flower, is visible on the right. Human on right-bank footpath for scale.

From my garden - a close up of a snakeshead fritillary in flower (an inverted cup shape, with petals of allternating light/dark purple squares). The elegantly drooping golden anthers are visible through a gap between two of the petals.

A perfect pink camellia bloom in my back garden. Seen in among other buds and flowers on a large bush. This year's flowering is relatively late, and had me concerned for the plant. But it has happened and has been worth waiting for.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

A magellanic penguin: both #blackandwhite and #wingsopenbutnotflying ...in a manner of speaking! For today's #birdoftheday and #birds. To my eye, not the prettiest of penguins, but they still have ALL the winning, ungainly charm on land, you expect of this bird group. #nature

A magellanic penguin seen on the Valdes Peninsula, Patagonia (Argentina). It is stood with wings open, right next to a parking lot: at the bottom of the photo, the cast-iron bar separating it from the sandy ground the penguin was stood on. It seemed completely ease despite the tourists (including us) within just a few feet. Along with his compadres, this individual had just waddled up from the water's edge below, with the immediate goal of simply getting into the sunshine. The real reason they were there - to scout out nesting sites on the slope down to the water. Apparently the boys show up before the girls, each breeding season, to do this.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

There's a really good piece on the (UK's) intergenerational gap by John Lanchester in today's Guardian.I've grabbed a bit of the text that is, for me, a source of continuing pain... www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...

Lanchester goes on to give polling evidence with numbers. The effect is real and so excrutiating and maddening.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

#Sideview of a patagonian sierra finch (...great name!) which also has a #yellow tummy. For today's #birdoftheday.

A patagonian sierra finch, facing right. It has a typical short finch-style beak, with darker feathers around the eye blending into a grey head. It has a khaki/green collar, and a light warm brown back, edged with more khaki/green. The wings and tail are grey mainly, and the tummy below is yellow. A white rump is just visible. The feet are pink. The bird is stood on a bench - off picture there is a bit of bread left by a visitor that it is summoning up the courage to seize. The out-of-focus weird light blue background is the Perito Moreno glacier.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Fulmars are gliders par excellence. Here are 6 of them (with only one actively flying) low over the ocean off Jan Mayen Land for #BirdoftheDay #fourormore. #birds #nature

A group of 6 fulmars gliding/flying low over the north Atlantic. Five of the birds have their wings in a horizontal glide, with only one actively flying. The sea beneath, a steely blue-grey, is being rucked up by the wind. The photo was taken from the deck of the Fram (Hurtigruten) in 2017.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The puffin in the foreground is standing very erect, perhaps rather pleased with itself its and its haul of sand eels - a #powerpose of sorts for today's #birdoftheday. #birds #nature

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Reposted by Janet Drew

Jonathan Pie @jonathanpienews.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

A Royal Reckoning. JonathanPie.com youtu.be/yiOvAgw4hwE?...

youtu.be

A Royal Reckoning

YouTube video by Jonathan Pie

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Just felt like posting a couple of archive photos - of the Matterhorn, to brighten up the timeline. #photography #nature #EastCoastKin #mountains

This photo, and the one accompanying are both of the Matterhorn as seen from my hotel bedroom in Zermatt. This mountain has to be the most iconic mountain of all. In its many moods, it just seems like a Platonic ideal - the stuff of imagination. In the first photo, taken during the afternoon, it was wearing some of the fluffy white cloud in the picture like a scarf, around and streaming behind its neck. More on the second photo in the next alt text...

I got up at dawn to take this one (and others). just the moon (top left) and the Matterhorn are lit up by the Sun. Not a cloud in the sky, with the ridge sitting below the mountain still in darkness.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

A pair of spectacled (or bronze-winged) ducks - for today's #birdoftheday #waterbirds. Details in +alt #birds

A pair of spectacled ducks stood next to the water. The water in question is the meltwater forming the lage at the foot of the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. The ducks are mostly a warm chocolate-y brown, with a purple/bronze speculum visible on the wing. The 'spectacles' are very distinctive white patches between the actual eyes and the top of the dark pointed beak. Orange legs and webbed feet. The darker barring on the chest is a nice feature.

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Reposted by Janet Drew

Les Cater @lesjwc.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

One of the most unusual and beautiful sights we had were the Buzzards, some of them had this amazing plumage and markings. Although we saw the most common type we have here in the UK, this one was in my eyes something special. It could be a young Buzzard but I am not sure. 😉😊 @rspb.bsky.social

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Reposted by Janet Drew

Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 @brexitbin.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

The Brexit anniversary is a day for sadness. After the results of the Brexit ref came through all those years ago, this young woman was asked to put her thoughts about it on camera. Her eloquent words spoke for so many of us back then – and her worst fears have tragically come true. #RejoinEU 🇬🇧🇪🇺

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

For today's #brownisbeautiful #birdoftheday, a chimango caracara seen in the Bariloche area of Argentina. Pretty chest feathers. This predator was soon bullied off its perch by the bigger predator, a crested caracara. #birds #nature #photography

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Reposted by Janet Drew

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

“The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.” As a piece of prose and geopolitical analysis Carney’s Davos speech feels history-making. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...

paulwells.substack.com

The Carney doctrine

Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Aurora as it just happened: looking north, from the hills above Wicklow Town.

From the back garden around midnight: trees, part of the house, a bit of cloud at the top of the frame - and in between - a red aurora glow (to the north)

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Taken as we set out on this afternoon's walk, next to Kilcoole's marshes. Great sky! #EastCoastKin

A view across the railway line out of Kilcoole towards Wicklow Town. The sun is low in the southern sky behind fine "combed-out" cirrus. Marshland occupies the middle distance, showing very dark green in the highly angled light.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Some #astronomy - a weird discovery, even.☺️

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

For #BirdoftheDay #anatidae These greylags were on Hickling Broad in Norfolk.

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Cats... being cats. (Instinct > reason!)

The photo shows a doorway with a tall winerack to the near side of it. One of the two cats in the photo sits on top of the open door, while the other opts for the next highest point on top of the wine rack. A typical moment of madness from these two!

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Janet Drew @jedrew.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

For #birdoftheday, I have #most pictures of so-called black guillemots - a lovely chocolate-y brown, close up (the consequence of living next to a marina in Wicklow, they visited often). In photo 2, the non-breeding plumage is starting to show around the top of the beak. #birds #EastCoastKin

Two black guillemots swimming together in Greystones Marina. The view is from above, via a telephoto lens. Their bright red legs show under the water. Most of the plumage is a rich chocolate brown. The birds appear 'black' only from a distance and/or under cloudy sky. The distinctive white wing patches are clearly visible.

Just one black guillemot in this picture - seen at an angle where you can see the speckling around the top of the beak that signals the beginning of the switch to non-breeding plumage. When the switch is complete most of the 'black' will have gone, giving the bird a very different appearance.

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Reposted by Janet Drew

Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 02/01/2026

Today our message to Starmer is loud and clear: scrap the £3bn Trump tax on our NHS and put that money into social care now. @libdemdaisy.bsky.social

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