iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

An #EasternKingbird who I posted a different set of photos of a few months back. Looks good in the prairie environment! June 2026 in Elgin, IL (Fitchie Creek FP) #birds

050

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 6h

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BlueSkies - any bird against a blue sky. Behold, the majestic #CommonSwift! The last time I saw one was a mixed flock with Pallid Swift, so identifying was basically impossible. This location, only the Common is around, so an easier ID! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

1220

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 19h

Why not a #HoodedCrow twofer today to match my earlier friend. Here is one ready to flight off a small branch. July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

060

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 22h

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #WingsOpenNotFlying, birds with their wings open when not flying and this young #RedTailedHawk is just about considering to take flight. Catching a bird right before lift off is always a fun one! August 2026 in Elgin, IL (Hawthorne Hill NC) #birds

0120

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 04/10/2026

A #HoodedCrow loafing around a park -- just like me! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

0112

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 04/10/2026

A #PurpleMartin in flight and perched. I have often seen PUMA around nest boxes folks put up to support them, but this was the first time in the middle of a preserve with no such boxes. They darted to and fro, catching some insects to eat. July 2026 in McHenry County, Ill (Boone Creek) #birds

080

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 03/10/2026

#BirdOfTheDay theme is #Black&Red and a bit to my surprise, instead of a woodpecker I am going with this #EurasianMoorhen who red bill and shaded near black colors spoke to me for this one. Keep on running around friend! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

1241

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 03/10/2026

A #RedWingedBlackbird perched behind a lovely green backdrop. A smaller nature preserve in my area right by the Fox River affords many great looks and backdrops of greens and browns to help accentuate our birdy friends. June 2026 in St. Charles, IL (Ferson Creek Fen NP) #birds

061

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 03/10/2026

A #GreatTit looking...well...great! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

030

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 02/10/2026

#BestBeaks as #BirdOfTheDay theme; a bird with a beak/bill with striking colours, bold profiles or an interesting shape. The colors may not be crazy on the #RoseBreastedGrosbeak beak, but it lives up to the gros (great) beak name! July 2026 in Galena, IL #birds

0110

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 02/10/2026

An end of season #EasternKingbird right before they all depart for warmer grounds. I'll miss their tyrannical rule but know they will return next Spring to check their dominion. Sept 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

071

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 01/10/2026

A #RedWingedBlackbird letting me know its thoughts. July 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

170

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 01/10/2026

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Black&White; any shot in black and white. I need to add a bit of grey into the mix for this #WhiteWagtail -- a species with 9 identifiable subspecies (!) so it feels like a split is in its future to separate some of those out. July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

1140

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 30/09/2026

A #MuteSwan preening. We all gotta do some maintenance! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

051

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 30/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfTheMonth. This #GreatHornedOwl landed on my neighbor's roof, so of course I had to hop out and let it watch me watching it! September 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

0152

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 29/09/2026

Another bevy of closeups of my #TreeSwallow friend here. The rain seemed to make us both a bit less eager to move, so I got to stick around with it for awhile! June 2026 in St. Charles, IL #birds (Ferson Creek Fen NP)

070

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 29/09/2026

#BirdOfTheDay is #EFG, birds beginning with any of those letters (1st name). How about a twofer of a juvenile and adult male #EurasianBlackbird. Like many members of Turdus (see: American Robin), the juvenile is more patterned! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

0141

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 28/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BokehBirds - any bird captured with a soft, muted or blurry background. This inquisitive #GreatTit seems likely to qualify! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

1131

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 28/09/2026

The best #NorthernHouseWren shots I have yet! These birds are pretty bouncy, so getting clean shots, let alone close ones, are a real treat! July 2026 in Galena, IL #birds

0101

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 28/09/2026

A juvenile #AmericanRobin looks quite pretty! June 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

031

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 27/09/2026

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Seabirds; any bird found at sea or the coast. This array of #BrownPelican were coming down the coast in OBX and happened to line up nicely with my spotting scope! March 2023 in OBX, NC #birds

0110

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 27/09/2026

#EasternKingbird taking flight. June 2026 in Elgin, IL (Fitchie Creek FP) #birds

010

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 27/09/2026

The #EasternTowhee is strikingly pretty bird. Shame I mostly hear rather than see them! May 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

0153

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 27/09/2026

Thanks Rob! Was fortunate to run into these turkeys right before they all faded into the woods. My biggest joy of bird photography is finally getting some decent photos of more common birds that just elude my efforts!

010

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 26/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Pairs, pairs of the same species and the Alt theme is #Green, photos with Green in the backgrounds not on the birds. How about a #WildTurkey with a juvenile to satisfy both! I see WITU when driving, but this is a first closer up I have! Sep 2026 #birds (Rock Cut SP)

1171

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 26/09/2026

A male #BaltimoreOriole peeking out on a Spring day. May 2026 in Elgin, IL (Hawthorne Hill NC) #birds

080

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 26/09/2026

A #GreatCreastedFlycatcher wondering what happened to this bird house. May 2025 in Ames, IA #birds

030

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 25/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme, which is #Borbs, birds looking plump, just like this #EurasianBlueTit who as a bonus is also sticking out their tongue! Borb away, friend! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

0130

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 25/09/2026

A #CaspianTern craning its neck to survey the water. June 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

050

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 24/09/2026

A #WillowFlycatcher, or at least that was a sound I heard in the general direction of this confusable empid! May 2026 in Ames, IA (Ada Hayden) #birds

052

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 24/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #TheDivers and the alt is #BirdStare and this #Osprey qualifies for both. It just came out of the water after a failed attempt and...it just kept looking at me as it flew across the pond, by me, and then kept side eyeing me too! Is this how birds feel when we watch? Aug26

1110

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 23/09/2026

An adult #EurasianMoorhen. Floofy white tail and colorful bills make for quite a sight! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

060

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 23/09/2026

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Raptors; any bird of prey. A #EurasianKestrel darting over a city park in Vienna was a fun sight. Did not see many raptors, but glad to see this one! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

1150

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 22/09/2026

(Nearly) synchronized swimming from these #MuteSwan! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

030

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 22/09/2026

#BirdOfTheDay theme is #Redheads, any bird with Red on its head/beak. Why not a Northern Illinois twofer of a male #HouseFinch and a #RedHeadedWoodpecker? June and July 2026 in Illinois #birds

0312

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 21/09/2026

Nothing quite like a Great Egret in that lighting. What a fantastic and magical shot.

110

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 21/09/2026

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #LightAndShadow, any bird capture that has both -- and I have a lot of those! This #EasternWarblingVireo shows just how much a bird even in the same spot with the same light can have quite the light/shadow range! Aug 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

0110

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 21/09/2026

Breakfast? At least for this #CaspianTern! June 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

0120

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 21/09/2026

A male #CommonYellowthroat standing still long enough to get good looks? Sign me up! June 2026 in Elgin, IL (Otter Creek FP) #birds

1133

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 20/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #CaptionThatBird 🪶 "Why yes, this statue did capture my likeness perfectly." - #GreatTit July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

A Great Tit bird on top of a statue of the legendary composer Schubert. The bird, mistakenly or perhaps vainly, thinks the statue reflects its likeness. While the bird has remarkable features -- a yellowish wash on its breast and a black cap and streak down its belly -- it bears only a very (very, very) passing resemblance to Schubert. I would readily listen to the melodies of both, though!

0140

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 20/09/2026

A #TreeSwallow in the rain. June 2026 in Elgin, IL (Ferson Creek Fen NP) #birds

070

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 20/09/2026

I think this #GreatCreastedFlycatcher was laughing at me? May 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

050

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 19/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #Elegant; any elegant looking bird. The #MuteSwan always strikes me as classy, especially against a darker backdrop evoking a black-tie event that it is perfectly dressed for. July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

2163

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 19/09/2026

A photo that contains both a male #CommonYellowthroat and #AmericanGoldfinch in the backdrop. Peeking out from behind the brush is a classic trait that makes the COYE impossible to find once leafs show up! May 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

051

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 19/09/2026

An #EasternPhoebe exchanging a knowing glance with me. June 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

060

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 18/09/2026

A female #ScarletTanager may not be scarlet but greenish-yellow is a nice look! May 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

060

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 18/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Paridae. A #GreatTit has conquered this tree, triumphantly putting one foot forward! July 2026 in Vienna, AT #birds

0190

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 17/09/2026

A #RedEyedVireo posing just long enough to catch a few frames. May 2026 in Elgin, IL (Burnidge FP) #birds

060

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 17/09/2026

The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ODG, any Owl, Duck or Goose, so how about a female #WoodDuck in flight! May 2026 in Elgin, IL #birds

0281

Andrew Kaizer @andrewkaizer.com · 16/09/2026

A #TreeSwallow in flight. Good luck played a major role in catching this one at the right time! May 2026 in Northern Illinois (Coral Woods FP) #birds

090