iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Andy_Allen

Gary Keenan @gerardpkeenan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

#birdoftheday #AtOneWithNature A Black Vulture in blue sky. A Blue Necked Tanager. A Bay Headed Tanager. A Scrub Tanager.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

The Dawning of a Good Hair Day Snowy Egret at Los Angeles River, Los Angeles, CA #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A white heron-like bird wading through the shallows of the LA River, its hair blowing in the breeze, backlit by the early morning sun.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Red Winged Blackbird at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, LA, CA I had to overexpose this photo considerably to capture the details in the feathers. I thought it was too blown out to be usable, but it made a good high key edit. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A medium sized black bird against an almost white, overexposed background. It has a patch of bright red on its shoulders, and a smaller patch of orange just below that.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

A Snowy Egret preening itself, backlit by the early morning sun. Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles, CA. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A backlit white Snowy Egret against a dark background.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Caspian Tern at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. Terns are not common this far from the coast; this was a lone visitor, snacking off the fish in the lake. It would fly around slowly and then occasionally drop like a stone onto its prey. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A white seagull-like bird with a black cap on its head and a pointed, red beak. The sky behind is blue with a light, high haze.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Early morning, an adult Coyote approaching the Los Angeles River. They often walk this route, crossing the river where it’s shallow, to take their prey to the den. This is an unfortunate rabbit, though I’ve seen them with many different small to medium mammals. #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A full size Adult Coyote, padding along a river side trail. The early morning sun is lighting the Coyote up as it walks through a patch of warm, golden light from the left.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

This was late in the summer in L.A., when all the wild roses had turned to rose-hips. I imagine this Gulf Fritillary butterfly flitting from hip to hip singing “Where have all the flowers gone.” (Pete Seeger 1955) #Insects #macro #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

An orange and white butterfly, its wings folded back, is perched on a rose-hip (the seed pod remaining on a rose stalk once its petals have fallen. Clearly there is no nectar for it to feed on any more. It is placed to left of the frame, to the right is the leaves and stalks of the wild rose bush.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

It’s been miserable rain here in Los Angeles this past week, and we have another week to go it seems. So here’s a Great Tailed Grackle against the blue summer sky to think about instead. Taken this summer at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

The Grackle in the picture is a medium sized black bird, against the backdrop of a pure blue Southern California sky. Much of the bird’s size is its long tail feathers that get larger towards their end. The black plumage is wonderfully iridescent, with green and magenta highlights where the sun hits it.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

A rather bedraggled hummingbird - it was perched in the sun, drying and preening itself from the moisture of the earlier heavy dew and fog. Fall morning at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

Wide portrait of a rather wet humming bird, brown and bedraggled, sitting on a branch warming itself in the early morning sun. The sky behind is blue, and there is some out of focus, mottled foliage in the background.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

A Checkered White butterfly in flight at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #Insects #macro #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

This picture depicts a white butterfly with black spots taking off from a small yellow flower. The brown background is slightly out of focus

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

A pair of Turkey Vultures in opposite sync at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. A warm late summer day and these two were cruising around the reserve, looking for food or a thermal to ride. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

Two Turkey Vultures flying towards the camera, one with wings up and the other with them down; flying together in opposite sync. The background is a wide blue sky, with some foreground foliage, out of focus, at the bottom. In the top right are some faint clouds.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

I spied this Belted Kingfisher through a small opening in the foliage, just enough to shoot through. They are nervous, skittish and fast, so this was a welcome natural blind. Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A small blue, white and brown bird with a long, sharp beak. The bird is perched on a lone stick and viewed through the woodland foliage.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

A mature Peregrine Falcon at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve. An overcast but bright day plus the falcon on a conveniently low perch provided a great opportunity for a high key photo. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A portrait of a sleek falcon, beautiful brown back to the camera, but looking back over its shoulder. It’s perched on the branch of a dead tree, surrounded by the white high-key background. To the right of the picture a far tree can just be seen in the haze.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Typically these beetles prefer to scuttle to safely under a leaf rather than pose for the camera. This one was much more obliging and I was able to get this shot. Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle; Los Angeles River at Studio City, L.A. #Insects #macro #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A reddish brown beetle with small lighter spots and a round body like a large lady bug sits face-on to the camera on the edge of a deep green leaf. Other leaves surround the beetle in the background.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

A Red Tailed Hawk, momentarily hovering over the edge of the L.A. River - no doubt looking for voles along the bank. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A Red Tailed Hawk, wings outstretched, almost-hovering over the slope of the Los Angeles River bank. The grass and trees in the background are washed out by the rising L.A. sun, but the Red Tail, lit from behind, glows as the sun filters through its feathhers. The color of the red tail is especially deep and bright.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

A little bit of sexy-time in the trees; two Monarch butterflies linked together at the abdomen, mating. Nice to know they’re making more Monarchs for the future. Taken at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #Insects #macro #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A single slim branch with two Monarch butterflies hanging from it, facing away from each other. They have their wings closed, displaying the yellow underside of the wing, covering their joined abdomens as they mate. The background is a bright Bokeh of greens and blues as the sunlight filters through the trees.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

An Osprey wheeling around to dive on potential lunch - my contribution to #raptor #birdoftheday. Taken at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A large white and black fish eagle against a blue sky. The wings are fully spread and we see the underside of body and wings as it turns to drop onto a fish in Haskel Lake, Sepulveda Basin.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

A female Great Tailed Grackle strutting her stuff on a concrete bench at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles, CA. As active, noisy and impressive as the male grackles are I think it’s these that are really in charge! #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A large light brown bird, a little smaller than a crow, with a long brown tail, strutting right to left with its foot lifted to take its next step. The background, just out of focus, is of bright yellow mustard blooms.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

In between zipping around at up to 30mph (apparently) you might get lucky and have a dragonfly perch up close on a convenient twig. I got lucky. Taken at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #Insects #macro #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A bright blue Dragonfly with green eyes perched on a bare stick at the edge of Haskell Lake. The background foliage is blurred and the golden hue suggests that this is early morning sunlight.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Ash Throated Flycatcher at the Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A larg-ish light brown and gray flycatcher with a slight crest and distinctive rust red wings and tail.

I had not seen this bird before this summer and it took me a while to figure out what it was. It was larger than I expected for a flycatcher but handsome nonetheless.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Great Blue Heron early morning at the Los Angeles River near the Sepulveda Dam, L.A. (As usual, more info in ALT text.) #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

Black and White version. A Great Blue Heron standing on a boulder in the L.A. River - hunched up in its full breeding plumage, looking grumpy. This old GBH is king of its patch and fiercely defends this area of the river from any threats. At this time there were four other GBHs sitting a ways away on the rail atop the dam, far above the river, waiting for it to leave so they could come back and fish. (I hadn’t seen that many GBHs there at one time - it reminded me of the holding patterns waiting to land at LAX on a busy day.)

Color version. A Great Blue Heron standing on a boulder in the L.A. River - hunched up in its full breeding plumage, looking grumpy. This old GBH is king of its patch and fiercely defends this area of the river from any threats. At this time there were four other GBHs sitting a ways away on the rail atop the dam, far above the river, waiting for it to leave so they could come back and fish. (I hadn’t seen that many GBHs there at one time - it reminded me of the holding patterns waiting to land at LAX on a busy day.)

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

A young Coyote crossing the Los Angeles River at Sepulveda Dam, L.A. This is one of the juvenile Coyotes from the family that maintain their territory around this part of the river. #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A lean, full size young Coyote, paddling through the L.A. River at a shallow part. The early morning sun is lighting the Coyote up as it walks through a patch of warm, golden light from the left.

Despite sitting low behind the scrub the Coyote was well aware of me, likely even before I saw it. It kept an eye on me as it went past, but didn’t seem too intimidated by my presence.

I had earlier that morning photographed the Mom on the same route carrying prey - going home to feed the latest brood no doubt.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Gray Bird Grasshopper; Los Angeles river at Studio City, LA. (Photography info in alt text) #Insects #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

This is a pretty big grasshopper - about as big as my thumb, and took 10 frames of focus bracket to get any decent depth of field. This was the first time I attempted such a large stack - made all the more complicated by being completely manual. I haven’t got the steadiest hands, so it took a lot of fiddling around to align all the frames to be able to do the stacking. I’m very pleased with the result in the end though.

Fujifilm X-T5
Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Macro
Godox V350 + AK Diffuser
1/125 sec - f/10 - iso 800
ACR + Photoshop

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

An early morning Great Blue Heron descending to the Los Angeles River at Sepulveda Dam, L.A. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A Great Blue Heron, silhouetted against a deep orange early morning sky, glides down to the Los Angeles River with wings outstretched and legs dangling.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

A juvenile Great Tailed Grackle at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. Not quite as sleek as its adult counterparts, but it’s doing well in the attitude department. And look at those claws! #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A high key photo of a large, fluffed up brown bird with a large beak and long tail. It’s changing direction on it’s perch; looking to the right over it’s shoulder.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

This is a Gulf Fritillary butterfly, taken at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. There is a small flower-filled meadow at the South of the reserve that catches the morning sun and makes the butterflies glow like they’re internally lit. #Insects #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A glowing orange butterfly patterned with white spots, flying close over white wild flowers, against a blurred green background.

A glowing orange butterfly pictured from above, patterned with black spots and perched on white wild flowers, against a blurred green background.

A glowing orange butterfly patterned with black and white spots, perched on white wild flowers, against a blurred green background.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

A Great Egret on the LA River at the Sepulveda Dam, Los Angeles, CA. In the middle of grooming this bird spotted a possible snack and locked eyes on it. I was looking to make some black & white pictures and this one was perfect for it. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A Black and White photo of a large white Heron-like bird standing amongst water plants, turning and staring at something (edible no doubt) just out of frame.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

This little mantis was barely 1” long, hanging out on a tree leaf. This was a four frame manual focus bracket, stitched together in Photoshop. Taken by the Los Angeles river at Studio City, LA. #Insects #wildlife #photography #fujifilm #macro

A macro shot of a tiny, young, light brown Mantis, parallel to the camera, angled down towards the right of the picture. It is grasping on to the green, hairy stalk of a tree leaf.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

According to iNaturalist this butterfly is a Garden Whites. It looks much whiter on the top of its wings when they are open, but I like the subtle yellowish green of the underside too. Taken at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #Insects #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A small, delicate, off-white butterfly with its wings closed above its back, sitting on a deep green leaf. The background is very out of focus, creating a smooth blurred effect in the same deep green.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

American White Pelican at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, L.A. I don’t see these Pelicans perch often, they seem most comfortable in the water or air. Seeing their huge webbed feet I can understand how they can look so effortless while swimming so fast. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

An early morning shot of a large white Pelican perched on a partially submerged log showing its large, bright orange webbed feet. It is clearly basking in the bright morning sun shining from the left.

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Reposted by Andy_Allen

Nigels1 @nigels1.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

A wonderful short documentary on how America's most endangered songbird is saving a landscape and the efforts to save this bird from extinction. #birds 🪶 #nationalgeographic #thelittlebrownbird

youtu.be

The Little Brown Bird (Full Documentary) | National Geographic

YouTube video by National Geographic

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Juvenile Black-crowned Heron at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, L.A. Early, misty morning and this little guy was all floofed up against the chill. I like the way those couple of errant feathers pick up the sunlight. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A golden, early morning shot of a medium sized, mottled brown heron with piercing red eyes. there is a couple of stray feathers on it’s right wing that are sticking out and catching the early morning sun.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

California Towhee at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, L.A. With only a little light through the dense foliage I had to use 10,000 ISO! I wasn’t sure it would be useable, but the Fuji sensor and Camera Raw noise reduction gave a remarkably good result. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A dark close up portrait of a large gray-brown finch, its outline ringed by golden light. Some of the light can also be seen through small gaps in the foliage behind it.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Great Blue Heron at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve. Los Angeles. This from a spot in the reeds where the birds stand in the shade while softly backlit by the sun’s reflection off the water. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

Close up portrait of a Great Blue Heron atmospherically lit from behind and framed by a few reed leaves.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

American White Pelican at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. This is from early spring before they left for their breeding grounds. You can just see the breeding season ’horn’ starting to grow on the top of its bill. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A large white bird with a huge pink and yellow bill, swimming calmly on the dark water, lit by the early morning sun.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, L.A. I frequently don’t know the names of birds I have photographed and then have to fully search the Merlin app. And females or juveniles like this one are harder to identify. I hope I got it right. 🤞 #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A small grey bird, slightly lighter underneath than above, with a thin fairly long beak. It has a definite white ring around its eye. It is perched on a thorny branch backed by out of focus greenery.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Great Blue Heron, Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, L.A. It looks like GBH is doing the rooster thing at dawn, but it had just been preening and was shaking its head and clacking its bill trying to get rid of the fluff; some of which is visible in the picture. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

Normally a large blue and grey bird, in this picture the GBH is back lit by the morning golden hour sun and the whole picture, including the bird, is in set in gold and brown colors.

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Reposted by Andy_Allen

Ted Zukoski @tedzukoski.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Hey, birders! If you're a scientist and care about wildlife, sign this letter opposing the Trump administration's proposal to amend the Endangered Species Act's definition of "harm" that would allow massive habitat destruction. A blatant attempt to speed extinction. #birds

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Black-necked Stilt at the L.A. River by the Sepulveda Dam, Los Angeles, CA. These strange little birds manage to be both cute and elegant; constantly walking and feeding, it takes patience to get a shot with their head up. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A small black and white wading bird, with a long black beak and extremely long pink legs.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Green Heron at Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge, L.A. I stopped to rest, a few hours into a morning visit, and this little guy struck a pose in front of me, lit by beautiful backlight. Sometimes you don’t have to walk around to find pictures, they come to you. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A Green Heron, perched on a branch, its body facing away from the camera. Its neck extended and its crest up as it looks to the left of the picture.
The background is a blurry blend of reeds and leaves, lit delicately by the morning sun.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

A female American Kestrel on a lone twig at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A long, thin tree branch curves up and left across the frame. On the right of the branch sits a small brown and cream raptor with dark eyes and a sharp beak. The background is a clear blue sky, lit high to the left from the sun.

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Reposted by Andy_Allen

Schtang POWL Whisperer @schtang.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

POWERFUL OWLS Thanks to TINA BROWN teal INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR BEROWRA meeting with myself and my colleagues, and thanks to The POST for cover this story in the press. It seems the environment and species protection has been forgotten this election. #birds #auspol #election2025

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Early morning GBH @ Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. Partly because of Spring and partly due to recovery from the fires the reserve is starting to see many more birds again, in particular the herons and egrets. They are such magnificent subjects. #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

The picture shows a Great Blue Heron taking off from the water at the edge of the lake, trailing water drops behind it. The scene is lit by the golden early morning sun, and the light can be seen filtering through the primary feathers at the end of the bird’s wings.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Phoebe in the morning. Black Phoebe perched on a concrete information station at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. (As always, extra thoughts in Alt text) #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

I have always shied away from including human-made objects in my wildlife photos, but I’m relaxing my view since I started shooting at a public wildlife reserve. There are too many worthwhile pictures of beautiful birds perched on man-made structures. So new rule; as long as the object doesn’t dominate the frame or obscure the subject I’ll consider it.

The picture shows a black flycatcher with a white underbelly perched on a concrete structure. The golden early morning sun lights the left of the frame, while the shadows on the right are tinted with blue.

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Great Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron with Canada Geese and Double-crested Cormorants at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, L.A. This reminds me of old paintings where the artist unrealistically crams a bunch of different species into the picture. But here it’s real! #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography

A dark scene, with early golden-hour sunlight shining through the mist and reflecting on the waters of the Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve lake. The picture is framed by tree branches hanging over the water, perched among which are a Great Egret, a Black-crowned Night Heron and two Double-crested Cormorants. Floating serenely on the water both in the foreground and back in the mist are a number of Canada Geese. Altogether an unlikely group to be in the same photo, but here they are.

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Reposted by Andy_Allen

Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

I bought coffee and bagels for my team as we were meeting to discuss our project and I had to foot the bill myself because food AT the meeting was not expressly in the budget, though the meeting itself was. Spending on federal grants is so, so strict. 🧪🌎🦑🦉🦊

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Wonderful thread. Fascinating info on a beautiful cat. Thank you @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social

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Reposted by Andy_Allen

Jason GRIZZLED Bittel @bittelmethis.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Pangolins! Beavers! Bison! Lyre-birds! All of them can help us reduce the impact of wildfires... if only we'd let them. Story by @annieroth.bsky.social for @biographic.bsky.social! 🧪🦊🦉 www.biographic.com/its-time-for...

biographic.com

It’s Time for Nature’s Fire Brigade - bioGraphic

When it comes to restoring land and preventing wildfires, some animals—like pangolins—have a lot to offer. Can helping them help us?

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Andy_Allen @andyallen.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

A Great Egret at Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Los Angeles. Early morning and there was only just enough light to get a clean shot. I’ll take it; it’s this kind of opportunity that makes getting up at an ungodly hour worth it. (Some backstory in ALT text.) #birds 🪶 #wildlife #photography #fujifilm

A large white ball of feathers with a beak poking out, nestled into tree branches and lit by the early morning sun.

I was crawling around at dawn, trying to get myself in position to shoot into the sun for backlighting. By chance I glanced behind me and saw a beautifully front-lit Great Egret, still sleeping in the trees, and there was just enough light to get the shot.

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