John McGowan
@jmc223.bsky.social
Retired teacher of Maths and Computing, lifetime Blackburn Rovers supporter for my sins and half of Birmingham folk music veterans "Malfunction". Keen photographer of all things but mostly landscapes, birds, butterflies, trains and planes.
Oh, by the way. On the eve of my birthday (not saying how old!) it seems I've just passed 100,000 likes on my pics since I joined Bluesky. I'm over the moon about that (sorry). Thanks to everyone who has followed, commented and liked over the last 18 months. Much appreciated.
February 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Oh, by the way. On the eve of my birthday (not saying how old!) it seems I've just passed 100,000 likes on my pics since I joined Bluesky. I'm over the moon about that (sorry). Thanks to everyone who has followed, commented and liked over the last 18 months. Much appreciated.
Heading to France (The Somme) and Belgium (Ypres) for my annual visit to the battlefields of WW1 tomorrow (15-02-26). I know it's a long shot but if anyone has the location of relatives who are buried around there I will try to get a picture for you. Name and cemetery would be needed.
February 14, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Heading to France (The Somme) and Belgium (Ypres) for my annual visit to the battlefields of WW1 tomorrow (15-02-26). I know it's a long shot but if anyone has the location of relatives who are buried around there I will try to get a picture for you. Name and cemetery would be needed.
On this day in 2024 - Ypres, Belgium taken from next to the Menin gate - 14-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon #belgium #ypres
February 14, 2026 at 12:38 PM
On this day in 2024 - Ypres, Belgium taken from next to the Menin gate - 14-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon #belgium #ypres
From the distant archives - a time capsule in itself! Dan-Air BAC 1-11 and a Morris Minor. Luton Airport - shot with a little instamatic just before I boarded for my first ever flight! Around 1980 #aircraft #aviation #aviationphotography #planespotting #photography #aircraftphotography #canon
February 14, 2026 at 12:34 PM
From the distant archives - a time capsule in itself! Dan-Air BAC 1-11 and a Morris Minor. Luton Airport - shot with a little instamatic just before I boarded for my first ever flight! Around 1980 #aircraft #aviation #aviationphotography #planespotting #photography #aircraftphotography #canon
Dunnock making itself look bigger!! Bartley Green Birmingham UK - 13-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 14, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Dunnock making itself look bigger!! Bartley Green Birmingham UK - 13-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
Greenfinch in the garden - Bartley Green Birmingham UK - 12-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography #birdoftheday
February 14, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Greenfinch in the garden - Bartley Green Birmingham UK - 12-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography #birdoftheday
On this day in 2023 - Long Tailed Tit in the garden - Birmingham UK - 13-02-23 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 13, 2026 at 11:43 AM
On this day in 2023 - Long Tailed Tit in the garden - Birmingham UK - 13-02-23 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
On this day in 2024 - Delville Wood on The Somme, France. Memorial dedicated to the South Africans who served in WW1 on the Western Front. #delvillewood #southafrica #worldwar1 #WW1 #monuments #TheSomme
February 13, 2026 at 11:39 AM
On this day in 2024 - Delville Wood on The Somme, France. Memorial dedicated to the South Africans who served in WW1 on the Western Front. #delvillewood #southafrica #worldwar1 #WW1 #monuments #TheSomme
House Sparrows in some parts are declining - not here fortunately. Got a dozen or so in the garden - Birmingham UK - 11-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 13, 2026 at 11:35 AM
House Sparrows in some parts are declining - not here fortunately. Got a dozen or so in the garden - Birmingham UK - 11-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
Great Tit - Birmingham UK - 13-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 13, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Great Tit - Birmingham UK - 13-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
On this day 10 years ago - the very short lived Northern Electrics livery on a Class 319 service through Leyland Lancashire UK - 12-02-2016 #railways #trains #railphotography #trainphotography #photography
February 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
On this day 10 years ago - the very short lived Northern Electrics livery on a Class 319 service through Leyland Lancashire UK - 12-02-2016 #railways #trains #railphotography #trainphotography #photography
On this day 10 years ago - a pair of Class 90 locomotives hauling a container train at Leyland Lancashire UK - 12-02-2016 #railways #trains #railphotography #trainphotography #photography
February 12, 2026 at 12:59 PM
On this day 10 years ago - a pair of Class 90 locomotives hauling a container train at Leyland Lancashire UK - 12-02-2016 #railways #trains #railphotography #trainphotography #photography
On this day 10 years ago - local passenger traffic arriving at Leyland Lancashire UK - 12-02-2016 #railways #trains #railphotography #trainphotography #photography
February 12, 2026 at 12:57 PM
On this day 10 years ago - local passenger traffic arriving at Leyland Lancashire UK - 12-02-2016 #railways #trains #railphotography #trainphotography #photography
On this day in 2024 - a scene from Northern France on the Somme with the remnants of shell holes and trenches still visible - 12-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon
February 12, 2026 at 12:53 PM
On this day in 2024 - a scene from Northern France on the Somme with the remnants of shell holes and trenches still visible - 12-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon
On this day in 2024 - Beaumont Hamel Northern France - 12-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon #battlefields #france
February 12, 2026 at 12:50 PM
On this day in 2024 - Beaumont Hamel Northern France - 12-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon #battlefields #france
On this day in 2024 - View across The Somme valley with The Sunken Lane at Beaumont Hamel on the left - 12-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon
#ww1 #worldwar1 #somme #france
#ww1 #worldwar1 #somme #france
February 12, 2026 at 12:48 PM
On this day in 2024 - View across The Somme valley with The Sunken Lane at Beaumont Hamel on the left - 12-02-24 #landscape #landscapephotography #canon
#ww1 #worldwar1 #somme #france
#ww1 #worldwar1 #somme #france
Blue Tits in the garden - Birmingham UK - 10-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 12, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Blue Tits in the garden - Birmingham UK - 10-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
On this day in 2018 - a favourite portrait of mine of a Goldfinch in the garden - Birmingham UK - 11-02-2018 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 11, 2026 at 10:48 AM
On this day in 2018 - a favourite portrait of mine of a Goldfinch in the garden - Birmingham UK - 11-02-2018 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
On this day in 2022 - Great Crested Grebe - Lifford Reservoir, Kings Norton Birmingham UK - 11-02-22 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 11, 2026 at 10:43 AM
On this day in 2022 - Great Crested Grebe - Lifford Reservoir, Kings Norton Birmingham UK - 11-02-22 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
On this day 2022 - a very unusual American visitor!! What it was doing in the West Midlands UK is anybody's guess! Ring Necked Duck - Lifford Res Kings Norton Birmingham UK 11-02-22 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 11, 2026 at 10:42 AM
On this day 2022 - a very unusual American visitor!! What it was doing in the West Midlands UK is anybody's guess! Ring Necked Duck - Lifford Res Kings Norton Birmingham UK 11-02-22 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
On this day in 2022 - spring was on the way!! Doesn't seem to be this year!! Cofton Church, North Worcestershire UK - 11-02-22 #photography #spring #canon #macro #naturephotography #nature #uknature
February 11, 2026 at 10:37 AM
On this day in 2022 - spring was on the way!! Doesn't seem to be this year!! Cofton Church, North Worcestershire UK - 11-02-22 #photography #spring #canon #macro #naturephotography #nature #uknature
Well that's one way to do it!! Birmingham UK - 08-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 11, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Well that's one way to do it!! Birmingham UK - 08-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
Great Tit having a drink! Birmingham UK - 08-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 11, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Great Tit having a drink! Birmingham UK - 08-02-26 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
Around this day in 2022 - Mistle thrush admiring its reflection - Rowheath Park Birmingham UK - 09-02-22 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography
February 10, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Around this day in 2022 - Mistle thrush admiring its reflection - Rowheath Park Birmingham UK - 09-02-22 #birds #ukbirding #uknature #ukwildlife #nature #ornithology #photography #birdphotography #canon #naturephotography