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Ben

@tarka79

Pilot, photographer, astronomer, Britpop nostalgist, book reader, swimmer, walker, very amateur Egyptologist & professional number wrangler. Photos taken by me unless stated otherwise.

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28.11.2024
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Latest posts by Ben @tarka79

A crow perched on a wooden A-board sign, with a brick wall behind.

A crow perched on a wooden A-board sign, with a brick wall behind.

A crow posing in central London last weekend for #flyday

#birds #wildlife #photography #nature #EastCoastKin

13.03.2026 12:28 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Terry Pratchett in a blue jacket and Akubra hat holding a young owl for release.

Terry Pratchett in a blue jacket and Akubra hat holding a young owl for release.

Eleven years since you crossed the black sands. I wish I could say that the world is better than you left it (although it will always be better for having had you in it) but at least there is a new Young Sam to help carry on the Pratchett name and ethos. Love you always ❀️

12.03.2026 18:05 πŸ‘ 10256 πŸ” 1483 πŸ’¬ 232 πŸ“Œ 121
A shallow, fast flowing river in a forest. The trees are a mix of green and autumnal yellow. The sky is overcast white cloud.

A shallow, fast flowing river in a forest. The trees are a mix of green and autumnal yellow. The sky is overcast white cloud.

The fast #flowing River Affric in the Scottish Highlands for #BlueSkyArtShow

#photography #Scotland #EastCoastKin #River #landscapephotography

07.03.2026 17:39 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Drop something RED

#birds

05.03.2026 16:16 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A European stonechat perched on a bramble stem, surrounded by fresh green leaves with reddish edges. The small bird has a warm orange chest, mottled brown back, and a pale wing patch. Its beak is stuffed with a messy bundle of dry grass, moss, and fine rootsβ€”nest material so large it partly hides its faceβ€”suggesting it is busy building or lining a nest. The background is softly blurred green, making the bird and the tangle of nesting material stand out clearly.

A European stonechat perched on a bramble stem, surrounded by fresh green leaves with reddish edges. The small bird has a warm orange chest, mottled brown back, and a pale wing patch. Its beak is stuffed with a messy bundle of dry grass, moss, and fine rootsβ€”nest material so large it partly hides its faceβ€”suggesting it is busy building or lining a nest. The background is softly blurred green, making the bird and the tangle of nesting material stand out clearly.

Good morning. For the alt of today’s #BirdOfTheDay #NestBuilders I’m going with this Stonechat who was building a three room extension to the nest, all with sea views. #birds #photography #EastCoastKin

04.03.2026 06:49 πŸ‘ 553 πŸ” 88 πŸ’¬ 42 πŸ“Œ 5
Post image

Bit foggy this morning…

#photography #EastCoastKin #fog #London #landscapephotography

04.03.2026 09:45 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A view of cirrus clouds, lit pink by the setting sun (not in frame, a large bare tree is in the bottom right.

A view of cirrus clouds, lit pink by the setting sun (not in frame, a large bare tree is in the bottom right.

Late winter sky for #Stunday

#photography #skyscape #EastCoastKin #clouds #tree

01.03.2026 18:14 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A ballock dagger handle, missing the tang-attached blade. 

For those who want to complain about the spelling we use, both this and the one you use are correct, but spelling it with an 'a' avoids issues with filters...

A ballock dagger handle, missing the tang-attached blade. For those who want to complain about the spelling we use, both this and the one you use are correct, but spelling it with an 'a' avoids issues with filters...

Victorian antiquarians called this type of dagger, of which 65 were found on the Mary Rose, a 'kidney dagger', as the lobes on the handle apparently resemble a pair of kidneys.

The Tudors called it a ballock dagger, after a different body part, but we don’t see it ourselves...

27.02.2026 10:15 πŸ‘ 204 πŸ” 48 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 7
A clear sky, crossed with two vapour trails and the glow of sunset at the bottom. A silhouetted bare tree is at the bottom left, with the tops of a few houses visible.

A clear sky, crossed with two vapour trails and the glow of sunset at the bottom. A silhouetted bare tree is at the bottom left, with the tops of a few houses visible.

It’s been sunny! And Warm!

#photography #skyscape #spring #landscapephotography #EastCoastKin

25.02.2026 17:04 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

See you then!

17.02.2026 22:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A view of the Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben) on the right and the rest of the palace silhouetted against a blue sky with bands of thick clouds. Silhouetted Victorian lampposts are on the left edge of the image.

A view of the Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben) on the right and the rest of the palace silhouetted against a blue sky with bands of thick clouds. Silhouetted Victorian lampposts are on the left edge of the image.

The Palace of Westminster with some brief blue skies between showers yesterday.

#photography #BlueSkyMonday #London #landscapephotography #cityscape

16.02.2026 17:20 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
A long-dead tree stump, bleached white. The land has eroded underneath it and it is now standing on a white beach, roots exposed. The turquoise sea is to the left and live trees and foliage on the right. The sky is mainly clear blue, with some clouds on the horizon and a faint one top centre right.

A long-dead tree stump, bleached white. The land has eroded underneath it and it is now standing on a white beach, roots exposed. The turquoise sea is to the left and live trees and foliage on the right. The sky is mainly clear blue, with some clouds on the horizon and a faint one top centre right.

Walking #Wood on the beach for this week's #BlueSkyArtShow

#photography #EastCoastKin #Seychelles #beach #sea #landscapephotography

14.02.2026 17:00 πŸ‘ 59 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A view diagonally across the Thames, with Tower Bridge on the left and The Shard to the ight. The sky is mostly overcast, with a few central blue patches with the sun shining through a thinner section of cloud.

A view diagonally across the Thames, with Tower Bridge on the left and The Shard to the ight. The sky is mostly overcast, with a few central blue patches with the sun shining through a thinner section of cloud.

The sun was almost breaking through this morning!

#photography #EastCoastKin #skyscape #London #river

12.02.2026 09:45 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I don’t think I managed to keep one, although I’ve got an old 10p and 5p.

My parents recently found a β€˜box of treasures’ I’d put together when I was around 9. As well as the coins, there’s a compass, a magnet on a string, a small Lego car and an assortment of novelty pencil sharpeners!

11.02.2026 11:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Age verification?

Two of my grandparents were born before aeroplanes were invented.

10.02.2026 19:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I remember spending half pennies on sweets at the newsagent!

I also remember one pound notes but [checks Wikipedia] that was a few years later.

10.02.2026 19:51 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
10.02.2026 08:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
The sun setting beyond a small harbour, reflecting on the sea. The sky is clear, other than for a small amount of cirrus.

The sun setting beyond a small harbour, reflecting on the sea. The sky is clear, other than for a small amount of cirrus.

It has stopped raining, at least, so another photo of #sunlight for #BlueSkyArtShow in the hope that it will manifest in reality!

#photography #EastCoastKin #skyscape

07.02.2026 14:23 πŸ‘ 29 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
The low sun on the right hand side of the image shining through high cloud onto the sea. Two small sailing boats are in the distance in the centre.

The low sun on the right hand side of the image shining through high cloud onto the sea. Two small sailing boats are in the distance in the centre.

Absolutely no #sunlight here as it is yet another day of rain, but a photo from warmer climes for today’s #BlueSkyArtShow

Taken from a ferry on the Sea of Marmara last year.

#photography #sea #skyscape #istanbul #clouds #EastCoastKin

07.02.2026 08:49 πŸ‘ 36 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I’ve long been a fan of Morgan Le Fey.

Tiffany’s fantastic, too, of course.

06.02.2026 14:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I have a spreadsheet… 😁

06.02.2026 14:08 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I know it’s easy to take these images for granted, but do take a moment to reflect that this is the surface of another planet!

#space #mars #exploration #science

04.02.2026 15:03 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A life sized cast iron sculpture of a man, on a rock in the coast and revealed at low tide.

A life sized cast iron sculpture of a man, on a rock in the coast and revealed at low tide.

February started with clouds and rain, but made for a suitably moody setting for Antony Gormley’s β€˜Another Time’ sculpture at Margate.

#photography #EastCoastKin #sculpture #art

02.02.2026 10:59 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A sunset illuminating clouds on red and orange over the sea.

A sunset illuminating clouds on red and orange over the sea.

More #clouds for #BlueSkyArtShow

#photography #EastCoastKin #sunset #landscapephotography

31.01.2026 18:35 πŸ‘ 36 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Low level clouds with the low sun shining behind.

Low level clouds with the low sun shining behind.

#clouds with silver linings for this week’s #BlueSkyArtShow

#photography #EastCoastKin #nature #skyscape

31.01.2026 17:00 πŸ‘ 29 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
A view large white bird sitting at the base of a tree (to the left) and looking towards the camera. There are black feathers on its wings and a long white tail. A brown/grey tern is standing at the rear of the image

A view large white bird sitting at the base of a tree (to the left) and looking towards the camera. There are black feathers on its wings and a long white tail. A brown/grey tern is standing at the rear of the image

Definitely at the point of winter when I've had enough of cold, wet days (although it is brighter today).

Reaching into the archive to find somewhere warmer, here's a White-Tailed Tropicbird (and Noddy Tern behind) in the Seychelles!

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #wildlife #Seychelles #flyday

30.01.2026 09:54 πŸ‘ 21 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A close up of a robin perched on a wooden wheelbarrow (of which only a small part is in the frame)

A close up of a robin perched on a wooden wheelbarrow (of which only a small part is in the frame)

Hope you feel better soon. Here’s a robin to hopefully lift your spirits! x

30.01.2026 09:36 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Yourself but as a cartoon

28.01.2026 14:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Biographies of J.R.R. Tolkien and Angela Lansbury

Biographies of J.R.R. Tolkien and Angela Lansbury

Mordor she wrote

#LibraryShelfieDay

28.01.2026 11:49 πŸ‘ 746 πŸ” 160 πŸ’¬ 16 πŸ“Œ 7
A slim steel and glass skyscraper, seen edge-on, with bare trees closer to the viewer flanking the image. The sky is clear blue.

A slim steel and glass skyscraper, seen edge-on, with bare trees closer to the viewer flanking the image. The sky is clear blue.

Haven’t posted much recently as lots going on irl, but here’s a quick photo of the Newfoundland building at Canary Wharf, London.

Taken after visiting the dentist!

#photography #EastCoastKin #cityscape #London

28.01.2026 11:46 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0