Kerrie Ann Gardner
@kerriedoodles.bsky.social
Artist, writer, naturalist, photographer and wonderer. Enchanted by the natural world but angered by our treatment of it. Always happier outside. Often found gazing at the sky.
Website: www.kerrieanngardner.co.uk
Website: www.kerrieanngardner.co.uk
Watching a cumulus congestus transforming into a cumulonimbus endlessly fascinating. As soon as the upper regions reach the tropopause (the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere) they start to spread out, forming an incus, the well known anvil shape of a storm cloud.
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Watching a cumulus congestus transforming into a cumulonimbus endlessly fascinating. As soon as the upper regions reach the tropopause (the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere) they start to spread out, forming an incus, the well known anvil shape of a storm cloud.
I’m dreaming of doing this again. For the last few weeks the weather’s been too rough, but hopefully it’ll settle down soon. 🤞🏽
Soft pastel on Pastelmat.
Soft pastel on Pastelmat.
November 4, 2025 at 6:41 AM
I’m dreaming of doing this again. For the last few weeks the weather’s been too rough, but hopefully it’ll settle down soon. 🤞🏽
Soft pastel on Pastelmat.
Soft pastel on Pastelmat.
I’m pretty sure I heard my first Redwing last night…
October 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I’m pretty sure I heard my first Redwing last night…
I haven’t created any art for a loooong time. My inner critic got too loud, causing me to abandon art entirely. But a few months ago I took up a new hobby - and whoosh! Inspiration flooded in, and I felt compelled to take up my soft pastels again. 🪂
September 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I haven’t created any art for a loooong time. My inner critic got too loud, causing me to abandon art entirely. But a few months ago I took up a new hobby - and whoosh! Inspiration flooded in, and I felt compelled to take up my soft pastels again. 🪂
Before the stormy weather passed through this morning there were some fantastic clouds around. An early show of Asperitas clouds gave way to a fiery sunrise. Worth standing in the rain for!
September 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Before the stormy weather passed through this morning there were some fantastic clouds around. An early show of Asperitas clouds gave way to a fiery sunrise. Worth standing in the rain for!
Gosh, I’ve been really rubbish at posting on Bluesky. Here’s a sketch of a Nightjar egg to say sorry.
May 28, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Gosh, I’ve been really rubbish at posting on Bluesky. Here’s a sketch of a Nightjar egg to say sorry.
LOOK WHO JUST FLEW OVER OUR HOUSE!
March 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
LOOK WHO JUST FLEW OVER OUR HOUSE!
*Atmospheric Optics*
‘E’ is for Earth’s Shadow. Visible at twilight opposite the Sun, Earth’s Shadow is seen as a dark wedge on the horizon below the Belt of Venus. Its umbra extends 870,000 miles into space. It also gives us lunar eclipses. Total lunar eclipses turn the Moon bright red!
‘E’ is for Earth’s Shadow. Visible at twilight opposite the Sun, Earth’s Shadow is seen as a dark wedge on the horizon below the Belt of Venus. Its umbra extends 870,000 miles into space. It also gives us lunar eclipses. Total lunar eclipses turn the Moon bright red!
February 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
‘E’ is for Earth’s Shadow. Visible at twilight opposite the Sun, Earth’s Shadow is seen as a dark wedge on the horizon below the Belt of Venus. Its umbra extends 870,000 miles into space. It also gives us lunar eclipses. Total lunar eclipses turn the Moon bright red!
‘E’ is for Earth’s Shadow. Visible at twilight opposite the Sun, Earth’s Shadow is seen as a dark wedge on the horizon below the Belt of Venus. Its umbra extends 870,000 miles into space. It also gives us lunar eclipses. Total lunar eclipses turn the Moon bright red!
*Atmospheric Optics*
‘C’ is for Crepuscular Rays. These are the sunbeams which shine out from gaps in clouds. Particles in the air scatter the light and make the beams visible. This phenomenon is also know as ‘God Rays’, as if a celestial being is casting them out as a symbol of hope.
‘C’ is for Crepuscular Rays. These are the sunbeams which shine out from gaps in clouds. Particles in the air scatter the light and make the beams visible. This phenomenon is also know as ‘God Rays’, as if a celestial being is casting them out as a symbol of hope.
February 17, 2025 at 5:34 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
‘C’ is for Crepuscular Rays. These are the sunbeams which shine out from gaps in clouds. Particles in the air scatter the light and make the beams visible. This phenomenon is also know as ‘God Rays’, as if a celestial being is casting them out as a symbol of hope.
‘C’ is for Crepuscular Rays. These are the sunbeams which shine out from gaps in clouds. Particles in the air scatter the light and make the beams visible. This phenomenon is also know as ‘God Rays’, as if a celestial being is casting them out as a symbol of hope.
*Atmospheric Optics*
‘C’ is for cloud iridescence. This colourful optical phenomena appears on clouds close to the Sun or Moon. It’s caused by diffraction (small water droplets or ice crystals scatter the light) and is also called irisation, after the Greek goddess of rainbows, Iris.
‘C’ is for cloud iridescence. This colourful optical phenomena appears on clouds close to the Sun or Moon. It’s caused by diffraction (small water droplets or ice crystals scatter the light) and is also called irisation, after the Greek goddess of rainbows, Iris.
February 16, 2025 at 9:33 AM
*Atmospheric Optics*
‘C’ is for cloud iridescence. This colourful optical phenomena appears on clouds close to the Sun or Moon. It’s caused by diffraction (small water droplets or ice crystals scatter the light) and is also called irisation, after the Greek goddess of rainbows, Iris.
‘C’ is for cloud iridescence. This colourful optical phenomena appears on clouds close to the Sun or Moon. It’s caused by diffraction (small water droplets or ice crystals scatter the light) and is also called irisation, after the Greek goddess of rainbows, Iris.
*Atmospheric Optics*
Today we move on to the letter ‘C’ beginning with a Circumzenithal Arc (CZA). This phenomenon is caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. It looks like an upside-down rainbow & is sometimes called a ‘smile in the sky’.
Today we move on to the letter ‘C’ beginning with a Circumzenithal Arc (CZA). This phenomenon is caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. It looks like an upside-down rainbow & is sometimes called a ‘smile in the sky’.
February 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Today we move on to the letter ‘C’ beginning with a Circumzenithal Arc (CZA). This phenomenon is caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. It looks like an upside-down rainbow & is sometimes called a ‘smile in the sky’.
Today we move on to the letter ‘C’ beginning with a Circumzenithal Arc (CZA). This phenomenon is caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. It looks like an upside-down rainbow & is sometimes called a ‘smile in the sky’.
*Atmospheric Optics*
Still on the letter ‘B’, tonight I’m focusing on the Brocken spectre; the magnified shadow of an observer cast on a cloud opposite a light source. This shadow is surrounded by a halo known as a glory. It’s named after the Brocken, a mountain in Germany where it’s often seen.
Still on the letter ‘B’, tonight I’m focusing on the Brocken spectre; the magnified shadow of an observer cast on a cloud opposite a light source. This shadow is surrounded by a halo known as a glory. It’s named after the Brocken, a mountain in Germany where it’s often seen.
February 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Still on the letter ‘B’, tonight I’m focusing on the Brocken spectre; the magnified shadow of an observer cast on a cloud opposite a light source. This shadow is surrounded by a halo known as a glory. It’s named after the Brocken, a mountain in Germany where it’s often seen.
Still on the letter ‘B’, tonight I’m focusing on the Brocken spectre; the magnified shadow of an observer cast on a cloud opposite a light source. This shadow is surrounded by a halo known as a glory. It’s named after the Brocken, a mountain in Germany where it’s often seen.
*Atmospheric Optics*
Time for the letter 'B', starting with The Belt of Venus.
This atmospheric phenomenon is caused by backscattering. It's a band of pink seen close to the horizon during twilight. Look west before sunrise and east after sunset. The dark blue area below it is Earth's shadow.
Time for the letter 'B', starting with The Belt of Venus.
This atmospheric phenomenon is caused by backscattering. It's a band of pink seen close to the horizon during twilight. Look west before sunrise and east after sunset. The dark blue area below it is Earth's shadow.
February 8, 2025 at 6:12 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Time for the letter 'B', starting with The Belt of Venus.
This atmospheric phenomenon is caused by backscattering. It's a band of pink seen close to the horizon during twilight. Look west before sunrise and east after sunset. The dark blue area below it is Earth's shadow.
Time for the letter 'B', starting with The Belt of Venus.
This atmospheric phenomenon is caused by backscattering. It's a band of pink seen close to the horizon during twilight. Look west before sunrise and east after sunset. The dark blue area below it is Earth's shadow.
Reposted by Kerrie Ann Gardner
I don't want to be on ghastly x anymore but it's where a lot of my sales come from so this post is a brazen request for shares to spread the word about my work on a kinder platform that isn't run by a dangerous megalomaniac!
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sara...
#selfemployedartist #ukgifthour #shopindie
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sara...
#selfemployedartist #ukgifthour #shopindie
February 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I don't want to be on ghastly x anymore but it's where a lot of my sales come from so this post is a brazen request for shares to spread the word about my work on a kinder platform that isn't run by a dangerous megalomaniac!
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sara...
#selfemployedartist #ukgifthour #shopindie
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sara...
#selfemployedartist #ukgifthour #shopindie
*Atmospheric Optics*
Time for aurora!
In a nutshell, aurorae are produced when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The different colours are caused by various gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
It’s one of my favourite atmospheric optical phenomena - magical! ✨
Time for aurora!
In a nutshell, aurorae are produced when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The different colours are caused by various gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
It’s one of my favourite atmospheric optical phenomena - magical! ✨
February 6, 2025 at 8:06 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Time for aurora!
In a nutshell, aurorae are produced when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The different colours are caused by various gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
It’s one of my favourite atmospheric optical phenomena - magical! ✨
Time for aurora!
In a nutshell, aurorae are produced when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The different colours are caused by various gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
It’s one of my favourite atmospheric optical phenomena - magical! ✨
*Atmospheric Optics*
Apologies about this photograph, as it doesn’t showcase this phenomenon particularly well, but here are some faint anti-crepuscular rays. These beams can be seen opposite the sun, converging toward the antisolar point. They are caused by cloud shadows and atmospheric haze.
Apologies about this photograph, as it doesn’t showcase this phenomenon particularly well, but here are some faint anti-crepuscular rays. These beams can be seen opposite the sun, converging toward the antisolar point. They are caused by cloud shadows and atmospheric haze.
February 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Apologies about this photograph, as it doesn’t showcase this phenomenon particularly well, but here are some faint anti-crepuscular rays. These beams can be seen opposite the sun, converging toward the antisolar point. They are caused by cloud shadows and atmospheric haze.
Apologies about this photograph, as it doesn’t showcase this phenomenon particularly well, but here are some faint anti-crepuscular rays. These beams can be seen opposite the sun, converging toward the antisolar point. They are caused by cloud shadows and atmospheric haze.
*Atmospheric Optics*
Still on the letter ‘A’, tonight it’s Alpenglow, from the German word Alpenglühen, which means ‘Alps glow’. Alpenglow refers to the reddish colour seen on mountain peaks at dawn and dusk.
Have you seen Alpenglow? Please share your pictures if you have, I’d love to see. ⛰️
Still on the letter ‘A’, tonight it’s Alpenglow, from the German word Alpenglühen, which means ‘Alps glow’. Alpenglow refers to the reddish colour seen on mountain peaks at dawn and dusk.
Have you seen Alpenglow? Please share your pictures if you have, I’d love to see. ⛰️
February 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Still on the letter ‘A’, tonight it’s Alpenglow, from the German word Alpenglühen, which means ‘Alps glow’. Alpenglow refers to the reddish colour seen on mountain peaks at dawn and dusk.
Have you seen Alpenglow? Please share your pictures if you have, I’d love to see. ⛰️
Still on the letter ‘A’, tonight it’s Alpenglow, from the German word Alpenglühen, which means ‘Alps glow’. Alpenglow refers to the reddish colour seen on mountain peaks at dawn and dusk.
Have you seen Alpenglow? Please share your pictures if you have, I’d love to see. ⛰️
*Atmospheric Optics*
Another ‘A’ today - Alexander’s Band.
If you look closely at a double rainbow, you’ll see a darker area between the primary & secondary bow. This is Alexander’s Band. It appears darker because light in this area is being scattered at angles which don’t reach the viewer’s eyes.
Another ‘A’ today - Alexander’s Band.
If you look closely at a double rainbow, you’ll see a darker area between the primary & secondary bow. This is Alexander’s Band. It appears darker because light in this area is being scattered at angles which don’t reach the viewer’s eyes.
February 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Another ‘A’ today - Alexander’s Band.
If you look closely at a double rainbow, you’ll see a darker area between the primary & secondary bow. This is Alexander’s Band. It appears darker because light in this area is being scattered at angles which don’t reach the viewer’s eyes.
Another ‘A’ today - Alexander’s Band.
If you look closely at a double rainbow, you’ll see a darker area between the primary & secondary bow. This is Alexander’s Band. It appears darker because light in this area is being scattered at angles which don’t reach the viewer’s eyes.
*Atmospheric Optics*
Still on the letter 'A', today I'm sharing airglow.
Airglow is caused by atoms & molecules in the upper atmosphere which, having been excited by sunlight during the day, emit light at night as they shed excess energy. This is called chemiluminescence.
(Cont'd in alt text.)
Still on the letter 'A', today I'm sharing airglow.
Airglow is caused by atoms & molecules in the upper atmosphere which, having been excited by sunlight during the day, emit light at night as they shed excess energy. This is called chemiluminescence.
(Cont'd in alt text.)
February 2, 2025 at 12:56 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
Still on the letter 'A', today I'm sharing airglow.
Airglow is caused by atoms & molecules in the upper atmosphere which, having been excited by sunlight during the day, emit light at night as they shed excess energy. This is called chemiluminescence.
(Cont'd in alt text.)
Still on the letter 'A', today I'm sharing airglow.
Airglow is caused by atoms & molecules in the upper atmosphere which, having been excited by sunlight during the day, emit light at night as they shed excess energy. This is called chemiluminescence.
(Cont'd in alt text.)
*Atmospheric Optics*
'A' is for afterglow.
As far as I understand it, afterglow refers to an intense red glow along the horizon after the sun has set. It's caused by dust in the stratosphere.
This, near Lyme Regis, UK, is one of the best examples I've seen.
Have you seen it, too?
'A' is for afterglow.
As far as I understand it, afterglow refers to an intense red glow along the horizon after the sun has set. It's caused by dust in the stratosphere.
This, near Lyme Regis, UK, is one of the best examples I've seen.
Have you seen it, too?
February 1, 2025 at 5:18 PM
*Atmospheric Optics*
'A' is for afterglow.
As far as I understand it, afterglow refers to an intense red glow along the horizon after the sun has set. It's caused by dust in the stratosphere.
This, near Lyme Regis, UK, is one of the best examples I've seen.
Have you seen it, too?
'A' is for afterglow.
As far as I understand it, afterglow refers to an intense red glow along the horizon after the sun has set. It's caused by dust in the stratosphere.
This, near Lyme Regis, UK, is one of the best examples I've seen.
Have you seen it, too?
Alphabet of Atmospheric Optics, anyone?
Perhaps I should explain. I often photograph the sky yet most of my pictures are squirrelled away. But what better place to share them than on a platform called Bluesky?
So, all this month, I'll endeavour to share my pics of atmospheric optics. 😎
Perhaps I should explain. I often photograph the sky yet most of my pictures are squirrelled away. But what better place to share them than on a platform called Bluesky?
So, all this month, I'll endeavour to share my pics of atmospheric optics. 😎
February 1, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Alphabet of Atmospheric Optics, anyone?
Perhaps I should explain. I often photograph the sky yet most of my pictures are squirrelled away. But what better place to share them than on a platform called Bluesky?
So, all this month, I'll endeavour to share my pics of atmospheric optics. 😎
Perhaps I should explain. I often photograph the sky yet most of my pictures are squirrelled away. But what better place to share them than on a platform called Bluesky?
So, all this month, I'll endeavour to share my pics of atmospheric optics. 😎
Reposted by Kerrie Ann Gardner
Yesterday spellbound by a huge flock of finches—mainly linnet, with chaffinch, goldfinch & brambling too. Hundreds! Streaming to & fro between thick hedgerow & brassica-seed crop. The sight, the sound! Felt joy, wonder—& sadness.
@kerriedoodles.bsky.social—all the thoughts & emotions (Linnets blog).
@kerriedoodles.bsky.social—all the thoughts & emotions (Linnets blog).
January 30, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Yesterday spellbound by a huge flock of finches—mainly linnet, with chaffinch, goldfinch & brambling too. Hundreds! Streaming to & fro between thick hedgerow & brassica-seed crop. The sight, the sound! Felt joy, wonder—& sadness.
@kerriedoodles.bsky.social—all the thoughts & emotions (Linnets blog).
@kerriedoodles.bsky.social—all the thoughts & emotions (Linnets blog).
I will never not be amazed at the intricacy of Jack Frost’s masterpieces. This is the artwork he left on my car windows overnight. It’s a fractal marvelment!
January 25, 2025 at 9:27 AM
I will never not be amazed at the intricacy of Jack Frost’s masterpieces. This is the artwork he left on my car windows overnight. It’s a fractal marvelment!
Just heard my FIRST SINGING BLACKBIRD OF THE YEAR! 🎶
January 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Just heard my FIRST SINGING BLACKBIRD OF THE YEAR! 🎶
With my limited knowledge on such things, it seems to me that a lot of the UK has ideal conditions for nacreous clouds to form today. Has anybody seen any? And can any meteorologists confirm if I'm correct, please?
January 14, 2025 at 8:53 AM
With my limited knowledge on such things, it seems to me that a lot of the UK has ideal conditions for nacreous clouds to form today. Has anybody seen any? And can any meteorologists confirm if I'm correct, please?