owlice

A Black-crowned Night Heron rests at the edge of calm water, facing right in close side profile. The stocky bird has a smooth black crown and back, pale gray wings, and a creamy white face and chest. Its bright red eye stands out sharply against the pale head, and a stout dark bill points forward over the water. The heron sits low beside a small gravelly hard surface, with soft blue and green reflections and faint tree shapes mirrored in the water behind it.

🦉🪶

Black-crowned Night Heron

#birds

Lovely shot!

A Black-winged Kite perches upright on a thin bare branch against a soft blue sky, its body facing left and head turned to look somewhat behind it; we see its head in profile. The small raptor shows pale gray and white plumage with bold black patches on the shoulders and wings, a short hooked black bill, and bright orange-red eyes. Its yellow feet grip the branch while its long gray wings and tail taper neatly behind, giving the bird a poised, alert look. Sunlight falls on the bird's wings, face, and feet; its breast and the back of its head are in shadow.

A Brown Thrasher perches on a slender diagonal branch, its body facing the camera, its head looking to the left of the photo. It's slightly floofed up. The bird shows warm rufous-brown upperparts and a pale buff chest boldly marked with dark teardrop-shaped spots. Its bright yellow eye stands out against the softly blurred green foliage in the background, while its long tail hangs below the branch.

A Turkey Vulture perches on a knobby bare branch against a clear blue sky, his whole body facing us, and his wings partly spread, almost as if they are his bathrobe and he is holding it open. The vulture is looking at us with his left eye. The large dark bird shows blackish-brown plumage with some greenish iridescence, pale silvery flight feathers beneath the wings, and a bare red head with a hooked pale bill.

A Ground Woodpecker stands upright on a pale lichen-covered rock, its back to the camera; it is facing left with its long pointed bill angled up. The bird shows a gray head and throat, mottled olive-brown body feathers, and a bright red patch along the folded wing. Its alert eye looks upward, possibly watching another bird above, while the softly blurred warm brown background suggests rocky hillside terrain.

🦉🪶

Four #photogenic #birds

Black-winged Kite
Brown Thrasher
Turkey Vulture
Ground Woodpecker

#BirdoftheDay

A close-up portrait of a Common Ostrich facing the camera. Its long bare neck rises into a fluffy pale crown of feathers, with large brown eyes and long dark eyelashes on either side of its pinkish beak. The bird’s slightly tousled facial feathers and curious expression give it a comical look, while the softly blurred green landscape behind it keeps attention on the ostrich’s expressive face.

🦉🪶

She has style, she has grace
Holy moley, what a face!

(Common Ostrich)

#BirdOfTheDay #photogenic #birds

What a great pic!

Definitely all the birds' fault, as they are all such pretty birds, and sometimes so shiny bright!

(Thank you!)

One of my favorite parks! I love going there.

Lovely capture!

A Malachite Sunbird perches near the top of a small leafy shrub, facing right against a clear pale blue sky. The slender bird gleams metallic emerald green, with darker wings and an extremely long narrow tail extending behind it. Its long, strongly curved black bill points forward as it sits upright among thin branches and small leaves, the bright sunlight highlighting the bird’s iridescent green plumage. What a shiny bird!

A Green Honeycreeper perches on a moss-flecked branch, facing left. The small bird shows bright lime-green plumage with darker green wings and tail, a slender slightly curved bill that is yellow with a black tip, and a vivid red eye. Its body leans forward as if alert; the softly blurred forest background has patches of similarly vibrant green.

Its back to us, a Green-crowned Brilliant perches upright on a thin pale branch, with its head looking to the right. The hummingbird shows iridescent emerald-green plumage across its crown, back, and upper breast, contrasting with darker wings and tail. Its long, straight black bill points forward, and faint white speckling is visible along the throat. The softly blurred background of gray trunks and green foliage contrasts well with the bird’s shimmering green colors.

A Green-winged Pytilia perches on a broken tree branch, facing right. The small finch shows a gray head, coral-pink bill, olive-green wings with a yellowish patch, and finely barred underparts with small white spots on the chest. Its long reddish tail extends behind it, and the softly blurred tan background highlights the bird’s delicate markings and warm colors.

🦉🪶

Four #Green #Birds
Malachite Sunbird
Green Honeycreeper
Green-crowned Brilliant
Green-winged Pytilia

#BirdOfTheDay

A Ruff wades in shallow water, facing right and away from the viewer, its head lowered to probe the mud. The medium-sized shorebird shows intricately patterned brown, buff, and black upperparts, pale underparts, and bright orange legs. Its slender bill touches the water’s surface as it forages among small clumps of vegetation, and the still water reflects the bird’s legs.

A Great Egret stands among floating lily pads in shallow water, facing left with its long neck curved forward. The large white wading bird shows a bright yellow bill, pale eye, and black legs. One leg is lifted with its toes spread near the side of its neck, scratching an itch, while the other leg supports its body. The calm water and scattered green lily pads form a soft background around the bird.

A Northern Jacana wades through shallow water, facing left with one long leg lifted mid-step. The bird shows a dark iridescent green back, rich chestnut body, black head and neck, and a bright yellow bill with a yellow frontal shield. Its extremely long toes spread across the water’s surface near sparse aquatic plants. The blue water reflects light around the bird as it searches the shallows.

A Long-billed Dowitcher stands in shallow water, preening with its long straight bill tucked into the feathers along its back. The medium-sized shorebird shows mottled brown and gray plumage and pale legs. Its reflection appears clearly in the still blue water beneath it, creating a near mirror image of the bird.

🦉🪶

Four #birds #StandingInWater

Ruff
Great Egret
Northern Jacana
Long-billed Dowitcher

I once made (awkward) small talk with Lili Kraus at a dinner we both attended. I declined when invited to do the same with Nelson Freire at a private reception, something I've regretted, as he looked absolutely miserable because no one was talking to him.

A Baltimore Oriole perches on a cut branch in the foreground beside a feeder baited with a halved orange and a banana, surrounded by lush green leaves. Behind it looms a much larger Gray-headed Chachalaca with an ominous expression. The small songbird hero is unaware that the towering jungle monster behind it is about to claim the buffet for itself. COMING SOON: “Attack of the Giant Chachalaca!” — In a quiet tropical garden, one bird will hope to feast… while the one will terrorize.

🦉🪶

Two #birds for #MixedPairs

But it's really a bird monster movie poster

I know how he feels!

Nice shot!

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Five year Astro career development fellowship in Oxford open for applications, broadly in survey astronomy including transients and cosmology. College teaching and research. Do think about joining us. Happy to answer questions! 🔭

That's very kind, Alan; thank you!

Two Yellow-billed Ducks swim away and to the right of us, one trailing slightly behind the other. The ducks show dark gray heads and finely patterned brown-and-cream bodies, with bright yellow bills edged in black. The lead bird has its head tucked down, while the trailing bird holds its head upright and is looking at us. Green aquatic plants float on the surface, and reeds rise in the background as soft ripples reflect the birds’ shapes.

🦉🪶

Two Yellow-billed Ducks

#birds

A Yellow-necked Spurfowl stands on sandy ground in open habitat facing right, its head turned slightly to look at the camera. The large, brown gamebird shows intricately patterned feathers with pale edging, a bright yellow throat patch bordered by darker markings, and a reddish-orange patch of bare skin around the eye. Low green plants and dry soil form a softly blurred background, highlighting the bird’s detailed plumage and vivid facial colors.

A Yellow-billed Stork stands on bright green grass, facing left. The large white wading bird shows a long, slightly downcurved yellow bill and reddish facial skin around its eye. Its body is mostly white with black flight feathers visible along the folded wings, and its long legs are pinkish-red. Sunlight highlights the large layered feathers on its back and wings.

A male Common Yellowthroat perches on a slender vertical stem, facing left but looking at the camera. The small songbird shows a bright yellow throat and chest, olive-brown upperparts, and a bold black mask bordered above by a pale whitish band. Its thin legs grip the stem as its tail angles slightly upward. The background is a soft blurred green.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler perches on a horizontal tree branch, facing left. The small songbird shows slate-gray upperparts, a white throat, dark cheek patch, and bold white wing bars. A bright yellow patch stands out on its side. Bare branches and a blue sky form a softly blurred background.

🦉🪶

Four #Birds, #SideView

Yellow-necked Spurfowl
Yellow-billed Stork
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler

#BirdOfTheDay

Wonderful shot!

That's so kind; thank you!

Thank you, Alan; that's very kind!

🦉🪶

Two more #birds in #PerfectLight

Pine Warbler
European Robin

A Karoo Prinia perches on the tip of a leafy shrub, facing right with its bill open mid-song. The small bird shows gray-brown upperparts, pale underparts with fine streaking on the throat and breast, and a slender slightly curved bill. Its long tail angles downward behind it, and warm backlighting outlines feathers on the bird's head, back, and tail with a soft glow. The softly blurred green background emphasizes the Prinia’s alert posture and singing pose.

A Spotted Sandpiper stands on a reddish-brown rock at the edge of blue water, facing left. The small shorebird shows olive-brown upperparts and a white breast and belly marked with distinct dark spots. Its slender orange bill is tipped in black, and its pale legs brace against the rock as it leans slightly forward. The softly blurred blue water in the background highlights the bird’s crisp profile and speckled underparts.

A Palm Warbler perches on a horizontal branch, its back to the camera; the bird is looking directly at the photographer over its left shoulder. The small songbird shows olive-brown upperparts, a rusty chestnut crown, and a bright yellow throat and undertail. Its pale eyebrow contrasts with a darker eye line. The background of tan leaf litter and hints of green vegetation is softly blurred.

A Golden-fronted Woodpecker clings to the side of a slanting tree trunk, head cocked slightly to the left. Its head and chest are in sunlight; the rest of the bird and the tree trunk are in shadow. The woodpecker shows a pale buff face and underparts, a bright yellow patch across the forehead, and a small red patch on the crown. Its eye is vivid red, and black-and-white barring is visible on the folded wings. The background of tan branches and foliage is softly blurred.

🦉🪶

Four #birds in #PerfectLighting

Karoo Prinia
Spotted Sandpiper
Palm Warbler
Golden-fronted Woodpecker

#BirdOfTheDay

A large flock of Ross’s Geese bursts into flight over a shallow marsh, flying left. The white geese show black wingtips and pale pink bills, their wings spread wide as they skim low above the water and dried grasses. The marsh reflects blue sky in patches between tan reeds, and more geese are visible in the distance. The sudden, coordinated takeoff was prompted by a Bald Eagle flying overhead.

Ten Cedar Waxwings perch in the bare branches of a small tree against a pale blue sky. The birds are spaced along the thin twigs at different heights, showing soft brown heads with swept-back crests, black masks edged in white, smooth buff chests, and bright yellow bellies. Their gray wings and tails hang neatly below the branches, and a few fresh green leaves appear near the lower part of the tree. The group’s upright postures and even spacing give the scene a calm, orderly feel.

Five Wattled Starlings perch facing to the right among the thorny branches of a leafy acacia. The birds show sandy-brown plumage with darker wings and pale bills, and faint yellow skin around the eyes. They are clustered at different heights along the thin, spiny branches dotted with small round green leaves and a few yellow blossoms. The soft green background keeps the focus on the birds’ alert postures and the intricate tangle of twigs.

A row of Forster’s Terns perches along a wooden railing in warm evening light. The birds face to the left, showing black caps, white faces and underparts, pale gray backs, and bright orange bills and legs. The nearest tern stands sharply in focus on a weathered wooden post, while the others recede into a soft blur behind it. Golden light highlights their smooth plumage and casts gentle shadows along the line of birds.

🦉🪶

#FourOrMore #birds

Ross's Geese
Cedar Waxwings
Wattled Starlings
Forster's Terns

#BirdOfTheDay

They are beautiful birds!

Wow, nice!!

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A male Lesser Scaup swims on golden-brown water, its body oriented to the right of the photo while it throws its head back in mid-shake. Water droplets arc from its dark head and pale bluish bill. The duck shows a black head and chest, finely patterned gray back and flanks, and darker rear. Ripples spread around the bird, and its reflection is visible beneath it in the softly rippling water.

A Mute Swan powers through deep blue water, its large white wings arched and slightly fluffed. The swan bends its long neck downward, tucking its head toward its body. Its bright orange bill with a black knob at the base is partially visible between the white feathers. Small ripples and splashes form along the bird’s side where its body meets the water.

A Forster’s Tern floats on blue water, facing left. The bird has a black cap, bright orange bill, white face and underparts, and pale gray wings. Its wings are partly lifted and its long, pointed tail extends behind it as water droplets fall around the bird. Ripples spread outward, and the tern’s reflection is partially visible in the water beneath it.

A Northern Shoveler swims away from the viewer on green water, its long neck extended and its head turned upward mid-shake. Water droplets scatter around the bird. The duck shows mottled brown plumage and a glimpse of bright blue on the wing, partly visible above the waterline. Concentric ripples spread outward from its body, and a few blurred leaves frame the scene at the edge of the image.

🦉🪶

Four birds with #WaterDroplets

Lesser Scaup
Mute Swan
Forster's Tern
Northern Shoveler

🦉🪶

#WingsOverWater

Common Tern
Lesser Yellowlegs
Osprey
Black-headed Gull

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