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

Pretty white pigeon, Kensington Gardens, London @theroyalparks.bsky.social #birds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four species of gull at Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens in London: noisy lesser black-backed gull which is the largest gull in the park; a wintering common gull which disagrees with its sign; herring gull; young black-headed gull perching on a Victorian fountain #birds

LO41 ENDEAVOUR was built in the 1920 and spent most of its life as a cockle boat in Leigh-on-Sea on the Thames Estuary in Essex. But in 1940, it became one of the ‘little boats’ which evacuated British troops from Dunkirk in France. In front of it are Brent geese and sanderlings.

I took this photo of a Common Pochard a couple of years ago in Kensington Gardens in London. The species is declining globally but winters in large numbers in this park, and can be seen in many other London parks. I love this male’s chestnut head #birds

After a long cold but exhilarating walk on Greenham Common, I was relieved to see this nice warm train approaching at Thatcham station at sunset. Also, two of the herd of beautiful cattle which roam free on the Common. This young one was interested to see me. Cows are curious by nature.

Some gulls I saw in Hyde Park in London the other day: pic 1 is a big lesser black-backed gull which has learnt to catch and eat pigeons; the black-headed gull in pics 2/3 disagrees with the sign it is perching on; pic 4 is an immature herring gull #birds

In Thursday morning’s sun, I came across this heron perched on a branch in the Thames by Port Meadow in Oxford. To my surprise, a little egret walked by with some prey it had fished out of the river. The heron just ignored it. It must have been feeling mellow @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

My pretty little girl, Caisley #cats

Herons and egrets in various different places: grey heron at St James’s Park in London and at Reading Bridge on the Thames. Little egrets at the Hythe, Maldon in Essex; and at Whiteknights Lake, University of Reading @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

I managed a quick visit to St James’s Park in London last week. I used to work near the park and I still try to visit it regularly. Here are some birds I saw: great white pelicans; black swan; grey heron; and a rather grumpy looking young herring gull #birds

Birds in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire: cormorant perching on the boat Zanzibar; Egyptian geese on a ramp; a swan family preening; lots of black-headed gulls squabbling for food #birds

Some lovely animals at Calcot Mill near Reading in Berkshire: small horses, a sheep and two very sweet cats.

These ducks are gadwalls. They’re not as well-known as some duck species perhaps because the male isn’t particularly showy. But he has lovely grey/plumage full of patterns and swirls. You can see his white wing patches and black tail. The female has an orange bill. Hyde Park, London #birds

A few grey heron pics from Hyde Park in London. Heron with fish; heron with cormorant friend on the new swimmer’s ramp at the Lido; heron with swan family @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

I watched this male mute swan for a while. Someone had given him rice which he was picking off the bank. He took regular sips of water to help the food go down. Then he sat back and showed how strong he was, to discourage other swans from snatching his rice River Thames, Reading #birds

A Egyptian goose family with one well-grown youngster (first pic), New River, north London #birds

St James’s Park in London on a breezy but pleasant early evening: grey heron; black swan; great white pelican (all 6 were out, causing some havoc among the pedestrians); carrion crow, apparently “for His Majesty’s pleasure” @everyheron.bsky.social #birds

My longish-haired tabby cat, Caisley #cats

My beautiful floofy cat, Caisley

A few herons from Hyde Park in London. The park has a small herony, so it’s a great place to get good views of the birds. The 3rd heron is standing on a landing stage which officially belongs to a black-headed gull @everyheron.bsky.social #birds