Italy - a photographic series: No.2 Monteriggioni is a stunning hilltop fortified village. Small but beautifully preserved/conserved, a wedding in its church also meant the chance to admire some stunning Italian fashion #italy #tuscany #travel #travelphotography #scenery #photography

A Tuscan agri-turismo farmstead, called Borgo Lesolana, near Bucine - a wonderful location for a wedding or an escape into the solitude of the lovely wooded, hilly rural scenery. #italy #tuscany #travel #travelphotography #scenery #borgo #agriturismo

Two for the price of one … & both look rather surprised! A Short Eared Owl & a Barn Owl meet over a grass upland moorland in the North Pennines! #Northumberland March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #raptor #owl

With a dark moody sky backdrop, this lovely Barn Owl makes a stall turn ready to dive down to catch its prey Somewhere in the grass upland moorland of the North Pennines, a vole is probably running for cover! #Northumberland March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #raptor #owl

With a dark moody sky backdrop, the late afternoon sunshine shows off the lovely Barn Owl to its best. The owl scans the grass upland moorland in the North Pennines for voles #Northumberland March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #raptor #owl

[A repost of an image posted yesterday in which I mislabelled the owl! 🙈] Dark moody sky and a lovely Barn Owl scans the grass moorland for voles on the upland moors of the North Pennines #Northumberland March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #raptor #owl

A regal Skylark shows off its crown in warm Suffolk coastal sunshine. Its raised crest is usually a sign of it being alert to possible ‘threats’, in this case the photographer! March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #Skylark

A Skylark flies over a northern England hill, singing its heart out in the beautiful warm sunshine #Northumberland March 2025 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #Skylark @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl scans the grass moorland for voles on the upland moors of the North Pennines #Northumberland March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #raptor #owl

A Short Eared Owl flies across the upland moors of the North Pennines #Northumberland March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #raptor #owl

A few more for #lichen experts ( @northernhills.bsky.social et al) out there. These lovely lichens were found on lead mine shaft waste heaps, high up (530m) North Pennines (UK) peat moorland - the 1st & 2nd formed quite large 2x4m clumps #nature @northpennines.bsky.social @nenature.bsky.social

Any #lichen experts out there? Is this Cladonia coccifera (Madame’s cup lichen) which occurs on acidic peaty soils. In this case, it was on high (530m) North Pennines (UK) peat moorland but protected by being on the edge of a coniferous wood #nature @northpennines.bsky.social @nenature.bsky.social

A Skylark rests after singing aplenty on the #Northumberland coast March 2025 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #Skylark @nenature.bsky.social

A Purple Sandpiper walks through seawater & between boulders on the #Northumberland coast March 2025 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #photography #Sandpiper #PurpleSandpiper @nenature.bsky.social

A Grey Plover catches a worm on a #Northumberland beach March 2025 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #plover @nenature.bsky.social

A Grey Partridge waits to cross the road! Introduced for shooting, this bird is now UK red listed, due to its declining numbers in the wild March 2024 #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #partidge

A wren watches a fly #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #warbler

Dartford Warbler (Curruca undata) sings to the photographer on a bright sunny March morning (2024). Suffolk coast near Minsmere Once nearly extinct in UK, these birds are still on the Amber List with about 2200 pairs in mainly limited southern heaths #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #warbler

Dartford Warbler (Curruca undata) sings and calls on a bright sunny March morning (2024) on the Suffolk coast near Minsmere Once nearly extinct in the UK, these birds are still on the Amber List with about 2200 pairs in mainly limited southern heaths #ornithology #birds #wildlife #nature #warbler

A male Marsh Harrier searches for food while flying over reedbed and pools on the north #Norfolk coast, UK March 2024 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

Marsh Harrier searches for food while flying over pools & scrapes on the north #Norfolk coast, UK March 2024 Such a lovely sight seeing them close to. #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

Marsh Harrier flying over pools & scrapes on the north #Norfolk coast, UK March 2024 Such a lovely sight seeing them close to. #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

Marsh Harriers flying over reeds beds on the edge of #Northumberland coast, UK Feb 2025 For once the sun shone and, although about 200m away, 2 females & 1 male displayed well. A lovely sight. #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

A Marsh Harrier flies low over reeds beds on the edge of #Northumberland coast, UK Feb 2025 For once the sun shone and, altho about 200m away, 2 females & 1 male displayed well. (Focus hunting of Canon R5 was problematic 😬) #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

A Marsh Harrier flying over reeds beds on the edge of River Ouse near Goole, East Yorkshire, UK @rspbblacktoftsands.bsky.social (Very dull cold damp weather = v high ISO, so not great photos! 😬 I’ll be back!) UK Feb 2025 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

A Marsh Harrier rests within reeds on the edge of the River Ouse near Goole, East Yorkshire, UK @rspbblacktoftsands.bsky.social Terrible dull cold damp weather = v high ISO, so not great photos! 😬 I’ll be back! UK Feb 2025 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #MarshHarrier #raptor #photography

A Hen Harrier soars over grass moorland in North Pennines, UK Feb 2024 Sadly, often predated on by humans linked to game shooting moors, can all sides ever benefit from #raptors? 🙏 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/29/t... #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #photography @nenature.bsky.social

A Hen Harrier glides over grass moorland in North Pennines, UK Feb 2024 Sadly often predated on by humans linked to game shooting moors, can all sides ever benefit from #raptors? 🙏 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/29/t... #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #photography @nenature.bsky.social

A Hen Harrier spots a vole on grass moorland in North Pennines, UK Feb 2024 Sadly often predated on by humans linked to game shooting moors, can all sides ever benefit from #raptors? 🙏 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/29/t... #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #photography @nenature.bsky.social

Looking at you, looking at me. A Curlew stares at the photographer on a cold grass moorland. @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Feb 2024 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #curlew @curlewaction.bsky.social #photography @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl scans the ground for voles, as it flies over a bitterly cold, snowy grass moorland. @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Feb 2024 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl #photography @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl flies over a bitterly cold, snowy grass moorland, in its hunt for voles. @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Feb 2024 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

European Stonechat sits atop a dead branch & gorse #Northumberland UK coast Jan 2024 An often solitary bird regularly seen standing atop tall grasses & bushes in the coastal dune areas. However, I also watch them on upland moors #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #Stonechat @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl gazes at the photographer as it shelters in the snow, on a bitterly cold winter moorland @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Jan 2024 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

It’s ‘Whatever Excuse You Need To Be Romantic Day’ So let ur hair down or put on ur flat cap Butter urself up or failing that butter ur crumpet Then look someone in the eyes & then let out the words of a true romantic “Eh up love, you’ve got balls, love your bat but ‘ows the cricket coming along”

A Short Eared Owl gazes at the photographer as it rest on a fence post on the snow covered moorland @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Dec 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl stares at the photographer as it glides over snow covered moorland @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Dec 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl stares at the photographer as it rises from its resting place on grass moorland @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Sept 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

Common Linnet atop a fence on the #Northumberland UK coast in Oct 2023 … #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #Linnet @nenature.bsky.social

European Stonechat on the #Northumberland UK coast in Oct 2023 … an often solitary bird regularly seen standing atop tall grasses, rushes & bushes in the coastal dune areas. However, I also watch them on upland moors #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #Stonechat @nenature.bsky.social

A flock of Common Redshank and Turnstone flying over Port Carlisle’s old harbour wall! Solway Firth, #Cumbria UK Sept 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife

A Short Eared Owl sits watching the photographer … sometimes they’re ‘happy’ to be seen, but sometimes (image 2) they’re rather harder to spot! @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Sept & Dec 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl watches the photographer as it flies past in lovely setting sun light. @northpennines.bsky.social #Northumberland UK Sept 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

A Short Eared Owl stares intently at the photographer as it flies over grass moorland in #Northumberland UK Sept 2023 #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #ShortEaredOwl #raptor #owl @nenature.bsky.social

Common Linnet feeding on seeds of Common Mugwort or Wormwood, on the #Northumberland UK coast in Oct 2023 … Linnets are often seen flying in large flocks with Goldfinch & Starlings. #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #Linnet @nenature.bsky.social

Common Linnet on the #Northumberland UK coast in Oct 2023 … they are often seen flying in large flocks with Goldfinch & Starlings. It’s resting on is Common Mugwort or Wormwood, that is growing wild. Corrections welcome! #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #Linnet @nenature.bsky.social

Common Linnet (I think rather than Twite?) on the #Northumberland coast in Oct 2023 … I also think that the plant that it’s feeding on is Common Mugwort or Wormwood, that is growing wild. Corrections welcome! #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #Linnet @nenature.bsky.social

A Golden Plover stands atop a small mound of earth and grass, keeping watch in a sunny field of short grasses (July 2023). I always look forward to their return to #NorthPennines moors & meadows in spring #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife

Grey Headed Lapwing: Noted in 2023 as ‘one of the most hyped birds of the year’ after it was spotted in east #Northumberland UK & noted for its British & Irish Rarity Status as ‘Mega’, #GreyHeadedLapwing is usually found in the far east of Asia! Looks like it’s staying? #birds #ornithology #wildlife

Special moments can be few & far between! So to see a male Hen Harrier at a distant was a highlight of the last few weeks of wildlife photography, but to see one fly low & fast close by, was definitely one of those special moments. #birds #ornithology #nature #wildlife #photography #northumberland