Tessera

Janet Roch

@cumberlandjc.bsky.social

Photography and nature keeping me sane. Retired paediatric EM now trying to do my bit to leave this beautiful planet for the next generation. All photo's my own unless re-posts / credited #EastCoastKin Arts Collective Member Sheffield UK

1725 Posts3973 Follower 3043 Folgt

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 12h ago

Bit of a gruesome post for #RedOrDead but at least nothing dead - see Alt for story Sealion Island #FalklandIslands. A Southern Giant Petrel and a Dolphin Gull having a very fresh meal. Canon R5 300mm f8 1:800s ISO 3200 #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Nature #EastCoastKin #ColorADay #RedWed

The Sea-lions give birth in the Falklands in January on rocky beaches at the bottom of cliffs where they are protected from the elements and humans. Arriving at the top of the cliff we must have missed this female giving birth by minutes as the pup was already busy suckling but the placenta was still very fresh and next to the mother when we got there. The scavengers were just arriving, first the dolphin gull and a Sheathbill (out of picture) then the giant petrels. As we watched the petrel grabbed the placenta and pulled it up the beach, taking a little time to eat it, getting covered in blood down its front as it did so. The gull was left with the blood, a few bits that tore off and picking at the females opening. The whole process was quick - by the time we left there was no solid expelled flesh and very little blood, an efficient way of getting rid of anything that could rot and attract pathogens.

Photo shows a female sea-lion lying on a rocky shore with her back to the photographer, her head is raised up and her upper flipper is waving presumably because the gull at her tail end is annoying her. The back of a pup can be seen behind the mother in a position to suggest it is suckling. At the back of the adult is the bloody mess of the expelled placenta and the gull standing next to it has blood covering its beak. Closer to the foreground a large Giant Petrel is approaching the placenta. to the left foreground is the head and neck of another adult Sea-lion sitting up

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · yesterday

Todays #BirdOfTheDay was a no brainer for me (see Alt) A Knot in summer plumage truly is one of the most #FabulousWaders May '26 in the #Shetlands with @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social Canon R5 500mm f7.1 1:1000s ISO800 #Birds #UKBirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #EastCoastKin #TidesOutTuesday #ArtYear

Living in Sheffield (UK) I've only ever seen Knot in winter plumage before, still attractive birds with their streaky markings but grey.....only grey. Who knew that when they finally get to showing off their breeding colours they are such a vibrant russet-orange. Some of these birds stop of in Shetland on the way to their breeding grounds in the artic and with no time to waste once they get there some of them were already "Dressed to Kill" in their summer finery. What a treat!
Photo shows a medium size wader with a brown black and white streaked head, back and wings, green legs, black beak and a beautiful orange chest, standing on one leg, on seaweed at the edge of the sea.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2d ago

#GoodMorningBeautifulWorld ITS RAINED! and it looks like it might rain again. What could be more beautiful than that😍🤩😍 📷 #FairPhone 5 #PeakDistrict #Sheffield #TheOutDoorCity #Derbyshire #SnakePass #EastCoastKin #TheStormHour

Photo of the Peak District taken from the roadworks traffic lights on the Snake Pass, Derbyshire, UK. The view is of hills either side of a valley which is a mixture of grass and trees with Moreland at the top of the hills. Most importantly the sky is heavy with dark grey cloud promising rain to a land that has been dry for weeks.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2d ago

Thanks @atlanticbirding.bsky.social for another excuse to go back to the archives and my first DSLR My first Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill seen in #Kenya in 2005. I was suitably impressed. Canon 20D 220mm f5 1:125sec ISO 400 #BirdOfTHeDay #Firsts #Birds #Africa #EastCoastKin #ECK #ArtYear

Photograph of an Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill. An impressively large bird found in EasternAfrica. It has black and white plumage beautifully demonstrated here by it opening its wings to help it balance on a thin branch in a spikey tree (could it have been an acacia?)
its bright orange-yellow bill is heavy and down-curved, and do i detect a look of alarm in its wide open eye as it topples forward?

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 5d ago

#BirdOfTheDay is #OverTheRainbow and what better bird to post looking up than a #Kingfisher. Another one from the hard drive archives - I'm going to spend more time there😊 Canon 20Df6.3 1:320s ISO400 #Birds #SmallBirdSaturday #EastCoastKin #ECK #ArtYear

Photograph of a Eurasian Kingfisher, a beautifully coloured small bird with a bright orange belly and iridescent turquoise crown back and wings.It is sitting on a bare branch its head slightly tilted upwards with the sun on the top of its dagger like beak. Blurred foliage in the background

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 6d ago

What's this funny thing mum? Thank You, Alan! for this trip down memory lane. For #YourChoice I thought I'd delve into my hard drive...see Alt. The mammals may dominate but the joy rediscovering these photos meant it had to be my choice #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #Mammals #ECK #sensoryArt #heavy

What to choose for Alan's prompt #YourChoice?
It always seems to end up late by the time I have a moment to sit at the laptop so I end up posting from whatever's still on there. The prompt and some of the other great BOTD posts inspired me to connect up to the hard drive but where to start?... So many photos ....so I just opened the oldest folder. The camera my first digital SLR was bought for a family holiday in Kenya in 2005, the first holiday since having the kids that was solely focused on nature and I found not only the wildlife but pictures of my son, now in his 30's, before he was even a teenager, a wonderful trip down memory lane. The megapixels might not be as many as I have to play with now but any softness or lack of quality was definitely down to the photographer and not the camera 😂
The egrets followed the elephants through the swampy ground, catching the insects and amphibians disturbed by the big feet, this one was close to the baby for the entire time often almost hanging onto its tail (I took a lot of photos 😂😂) until the little calf turned round to check out just what it was. Now reminded I can picture the day so well - Thanks Alan 😊
Photo of a very young baby elephant still covered in its brown furry hair standing very close to its mother protectively behind it. The small calf is facing forward and stretching out its trunk to touch the head of a white cattle egret standing next to it in the grass. The mother elehant is sideways on partially cropped out of the photo, her head is turned to show her trunk and tusks
Canon 20D 260mm f5.6 1:320s ISO800

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · last wk.

#FalklandIslands 2026 The same species on different Islands had different predators, on Pebble the Dolphin Gulls were the main harriers of the Shags, trying to make them vomit their last meals (see ALT) Their #RedBeaks really are this RED! #BirdOfTheDay #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Birds #BlueSkyMonday #ECK

Photograph of a Dolphin Gull, in flight, hovering with the help of the ever present wind over a colony of Imperial Shag. The gull, photographed in the FalklandIslands, has a brilliant white body with very dark grey top and light grey under wings, it has a striking red beak and red legs.
At the bottom of the picture an adult Imperial Shag is showing aggression to a fluffy chick which is presumably not theirs while an even closer chick just next to it has its beak open begging for food. The chicks feed by pushing their heads down the adults throats while the adults regurgitate their stomach contents, the gulls fly overhead and land in the colony ,trying force the chicks to withdraw while the food is coming up or trying to make the chicks themselves vomit up their last meal - delightful! 🤢 Earlier in the season the gulls will stael eggs and newborn chicks.
Canon R5 500mm f/8 1:3200s ISO800

RK @rodsclicks.bsky.social · 2w ago

Polystoechotes punctata is the ID suggested, a giant lacewing #Moth Iduno never seen one before. Guess it fits #MothWeek #NationalMothWeek

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Bit of Puffin #SummerLovin , Sule Skerry July '25 I don't know what the plants were but they really were that green! Canon R5 500mm f8 1:3200s ISO800 -0.7EV #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #UKBirding #EastCoastKin #Nature #Photography

Photo shows 2 puffins getting cosy despite the heat of the day standing as close as possible amongst some very green foliage at the back and dried tall grass at the front below them unseen is their burrow. Taken on the Island of Sule Skerry in the North Atlantic in July at this time of year a visit is a feast for the senses. The foliage is this incredible green (slightly toned down in post for this photo as naturally it looks false!) while all around pairs of puffin are calling to each other with their soft rather croaky laughing call which is almost as comical as their clown like appearance. For the nose there is always a hint of guano which gets stronger as you get closer to the gannet colonies, But strictly no touch, in fact no moving off the few paths as the greenery hides a land so riddled with puffin burrows one step would see your foot collapse the fragile earth.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 3w ago

#Borneo 2024 The Taylor Birds were happily foraging for insects amongst the foliage until....the local clan of monkeys came to see if the photographers had any tasty handouts. Pandemonium! Canon R5 324mm f10 1:800s ISO800 #BireOfTheDay #OpenBeaks #Birds #EastCoastKin #ECK #Artyear

Photo of a small bird perched on a thin branch amongst foliage in dappled sunlight. It has a brown body and its turned head has a red face, its long thin beak is open as it shouts out an indignant alarm call

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 4w ago

"Excuse me, but why, exactly, are you standing on the rock I usually land on? Blooming humans, no social awareness" Black-browed Albatross combining #FunnyFaces and #UpandDown for #BirdOfTHeDay #Birds #FalklandIslands #Birdseenin2026 #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #birdPhotography

Photograph of a black-browed Albatross standing on a rocky cliff edge with its wings outspread and its neck extended. It has turned its head slightly upwards and sideways to look at the photographer to give it s somewhat quizzical, tho some might say gormless, look. The ground is predominantly earth and rocks with some clumps of green vegetation in the background

Canon R5 100mm f7.1 1:1250s ISO800

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · last mo.

What can you see Mum? Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Crested Duck chick going #quackers , Port Stanley #FalklandIslands Canon R5 500mm f8 1:2000s ISO800 #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #EastCoastKin #ArtYear

photograph of a mother and chick crested duck swimming close to an outcrop of a concrete wall the mother duck with mottled brown feathers has her head partly submerged with the water just up to her red eye as she forages for food in the shallow sea the chick, a patchwork of brown and tan watches closely there are water droplets on its head

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · last mo.

At the Buraco das Araras in the Cerrado #Brazil the Macaws were just starting to come in for the night. The two on the end of the branch had already managed to push one rival off and went on to bully the other 3 into leaving. #BirdOfTheDay #LifeInTheBalance #Birds #Stunday #EastCoastKin #Artyear

Photo of a group of blue and Red Macaws fighting over a branch to rest for the night on the right are 2 newcomers, just landed, wings still open pushing forward aggressively. On the left 2 macaws are trying to stand their ground (unsuccessfully) while a third at the back is slipping off its chosen perch and a 4th has already lost the flight and is dropping down with open wings at the bottom of the photo.
It was a feisty argument 😂

Jarl Graham Kirk. Photo of me 1965 @grawitmik.bsky.social · last mo.

Found this one from a couple of weeks ago. Not brill quality, used camera phone. But gives an idea of the hours of calm fun I have just watching nature in my garden.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · last mo.

I am not #Rotund I am merely full of Sandeels! Puffin this May in the #ShetlandIslands hiding behind the thrift outside its burrow. Canon R5 270mm f7.1 1:1250s ISO400 -1.0EV #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #UKBirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #ColorADay #GreenSat

Photo of a clown faced Puffin lying on a grassy bank facing the camera but partly hidden by the grass to the side and the front. Its red beak is shining in the sun and, lying down, its body is round.
In the foreground are out of focus pink buds of the thrift plant

Pam Williams @pamkeenwilliams.bsky.social · last mo.

Got 5 pics of this Cardinal cooling-off. I really like them all so here is #1. #birds

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · last mo.

"It was a bit far from the beach, but there was this little circle of 4 stones & I couldn't pass it up could I?" 2 banded plover taking advantage of the only stones amongst the grass and mud at the goose pond. #FalklandIslands #BirdOfTheDay #BirdsInTheirElement #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Birds #EastCoastKin

Photo of a 2 Banded Plover, a small wader with a chestnut brown head and back and a white front banded with black, sitting on a scrape in a hollow between 4 stones. The nest was a long way from the beach near a large pond mainly inhabited by geese, and on the route travelled each day by the penguins on their way to and from the sea. The bird was well camouflaged and we were nearly on top of it before noticing, it, it however took no notice of us and sat tight in its hollow that would have protected it from most feet
Canon R5 270mm f7.1 1:1250s ISO 800

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#Black and bathed in late afternoon sunshine Aptly named Black Vulture in the #Brazil #Pantanal looking magnificant! Canon R5 500mm f8 1:2500s ISO5000 #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #ThrowbackThursday

Portrait photo of a Black Vulture taken in the Pantanal in Brazil.
A large Black bird with a bald head and neck and large hooked beak, it is sitting on a dead tree trunk in the orange glow of the late afternoon sunshine

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Fulmar just chilling amongst the pink (but with one eye watchful) #ShetlandIslands last month. Canon R5 500mm f7.1 1:1250s ISO800 #BirdOfTheDay #SilentPresence #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Birds #UKBirding #EastCoastKin #Stunday #BloomScrolling

Photo of a fulmar, a seabird with bright white head, neck and chest, and grey wings and tail. It is sitting on a grass covered cliff slope in a small hollow shaped like a tent and surrounded by thrift - small pink flowers on short stems that are found in sea habitats. The bird has its beak tucked under one wing but its only visible eye is open as it watches whats going on

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I.... just....can"t.... quite..... reach....... no matter how #sharp your claws are its so tricky to scratch when your legs are this stubby 😂 King #Penguin #FalklandIslands Canon R5 500mm f9 1:4000s ISO800 #BirdOfTheDay #birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #EastCoastKin #BlueSkyArtShow

King Penguin Contortionist! photo shows a King Penguin standing on sand, balancing on one leg and its stiff short tail trying to scratch the back of its neck with its right foot. Its neck is bent all the way over so its head is completely upsidedown and its left flipper is sticking out to help counterbalance the precarious position.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Short Eared Owl #busy being nosey 😂 Very useful to have eyes in the back of your head or simply be able to turn your neck 180deg round and 90deg down 😵‍💫 #BirdOfTheDay #BorrowedPlaces #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #FalklandIslands #Raptors #Owls #BlueSkyArtShow #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #ColorADay #GreenSat

Photo of a short eared owl, modelling for the paparazzi before setting out on an evenings hunting. With its mottled brown and tan back to the camera it has turned its head for the over-the-shoulder pose rather enthusiastically resulting in the face being completely flush with the back and the head at more that 90 degrees to the upright. It is standing on a greenhouse tunnel frame which has not been covered with sheeting the background is an out of focus hedge

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The CEO of Swallows Inc had perfected the long hard stare of disapproval. We withered under that gaze. canon R5 500mm f7.1 1:1000 ISO1000 #BirdOfTheDay #LookingAtYou #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ShetlandIslands #Birds #UKBirding #FlyDay #EastCoastKin #ArtYear @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social

Photo of a swallow with a look of great displeasure on its face, beak squeezed shut eyes laser focused on the photographer, annoyance and disappointment oozing out of every feather. It knows it's boss with its dark red face and chin its beautiful blue head back and wings and its clean white shirt (not ironed tho I note) It stands unchallenged on a weathered fence post

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Do you mind! I've just got out of the bath. Avert those eyes! Turnstone Having a #BadFeatherDay in the #ShetlandIslands last month with @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social Canon R5 500mm f7.1 1:3200s ISO800 #BirdOfTheDay #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Birds #UKBirding #EastCoastKin #ArtYear

Photo of aTurnstone with ruffled feathers having just shaken off excess water after bathing in a small freshwater stream running to the beach out of picture to the left.
turnstone are smallish plump waders with mottled black and brown wing crown and back feathers that acts as perfect camouflage. this one is showing its white lower back and rump feathers which are normally only clearly seen in flight. it is staring at the camera with its black and white face

Guess what’s next.@rosesharply.bsky.social · 2mo ago

‘Zubu’= completely.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

As I stood trying to photograph a distant Shrike I heard a rustle in the trees besides me, this beautiful Siskin dropped in, grabbed a few caterpillars and left 💛 #BirdOfTheDay #HiddenInPlainSight #Birds #UKBirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Shetland with @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social #EastCoastKin #ArtYear

Photograph of a siskin upside-down in a young tree partly hidden by the leaves. Its Black cap and yellow cheeks helping its camouflage behind the light green spring foliage
Canon R5 500mm f7.1 1:500s ISO800

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Magellanic #Penguins contemplating their waddle up the beach with bellies full of food, their #reflections in the wet sand. #FalklandIslands 2026 Canon R5 300mm f13 I/2500s ISO800 -0.3EV #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #EastCoastKin #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ArtYear #ColorADay #Pink(feet)Mon😆

A collection of 6 Penguins at the waters edge, their backs to the sea, just stepping out on their way up the wet sand to their burrows above the high tide line in the base of the Tussac grass.
Their white bellies are reflected in the water. Their pink eye-ring and pink patches on their feet show up against the black. The white curved stripes from their forhead backward behind the eye and then forwards again under their chin and the black and white stripeon their chest identifies them as Magellanic.

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

💕 the soft #texture of this Falkland Flightless Steamer Duck chick nestled up to its mum on the sand. Like many of the #FalklandIslands birds they were unbothered by humans sharing their beach space Canon R5 365 f10 1:1250s ISO500 #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #EastCoastKin #ArtYear

Close up photo of a Falkland flightless Steamer Duck chick sitting on brown seaweed directly in front of its mother. The chick still has its fluffy down of a pale grey brown colour, Its eye is open and shining in the sun, its beak is a grey-green in contrast to its parent's beak which is yellow

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Long shot of the puffins at #RSPB Sumbrugh Head #Shetland showing the #texture of last years dead grass, on the cliffs, which they also collect to line their burrows #BirdOfTheDay #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Birds #UKBirding #EastCoastKin #ColorADay #RedWed

Photograph of 2 puffins sitting outside their burrows which are tunnelled into the earth on the tops of cliffs. Many of the burrow entrances are hidden by the abundance of last years years, now dead and yellowed, long grass. The bottom puffin is sitting sideways showing off its bright red bill and orange feet. The top puffin has its back to the camera with its head turned to preen a wing
Canon R5 500mm f7.1 1:1250s ISO800

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

EXCUSE ME, Rob. Did you say any duck would do?, Well I'm off because I'M not just Any Duck... pah, never been so insulted in my life... Check out that beak CanonR5 500mm f7.1 1:500s ISO800 #BirdOfTheDay #Anatidae #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Shetlands #Scotland #EastCoastKin #ArtYear #colorADayBlueTues

Photograph of a Mallard, a common species of duck in the UK, walking away from the camera one orange leg raised and its yellow beak open sa it quacks loudly. Its beautiful iridescent green and blue head and neck is shining in the little sunshine that was for a short time trying to force its way through the clouds and banish the rain which has made the grass wet.
The ducks beak is interesting as on the lower beak you can see the ridges that presumably help it grip the aquatic plants and grass that make up part of its diet, the very tips of similar ridges can be seen just poking from the upper beak

Janet Roch @cumberlandjc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

1 Common (left) and 2 Arctic tern settling down for the night in the dying sunset (see ALT) #RSPB Spiggie Loch #Shetlands last week with @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social Canon R5 500mm f10 1:500s ISO3200 #BirdOfTheDay #T #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Birds #UKBirding #ColorADay #PinkMon #EastCoastKin #ArtYear

Three tern sitting on an old wooden fence by the side of the RSPB hut at Loch Spiggie in the Shetland Isles. The tern on the left is a Common Tern which compared to an Arctic tern has a black tip to its red beak. It is also very slightly bulkier, has slightly longer legs (so I'm told!), has a dark grey wedge on its wings and its outer tail feathers are slightly shorter, the latter 2 attributes best seen in flight. Arctic tern (the right hand 2) do not have the black end on their bright red beak. Behind the birds the sunset is reflected on the out of focus water of the Loch