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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Sunset on the Comanche National Grassland in southeast #Colorado. We were searching for the not-so-elusive brown tarantula. We saw four! #Stunday

Multi-colored (pink, orange, and shades thereof) clouds above a gravel road.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Currently attempting a crossing of the mighty Arkansas River on Colorado State Highway 71, just north of Rocky Ford in southeast Colorado.

A river is shown, with a paved bridge crossing it. The sky is cloudy.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This red-tailed hawk was not-so-subtly escorting the bald eagle out of the hawk's territory near Fort McDowell, #Arizona, last spring. I cropped the photo to include a natural satellite. #BirdOfTheDay #Raptors #Birds

Two birds are pictured in flight; the one in front is smaller and reddish-brown, and the one in back is dark brown with a white head. The moon is pictured in the lower right corner. The Arizona sky is clear and blue.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Depending on their diet, male house finches can have yellow or orange feathers on their heads and chests, but they are most often #Redheads. This fellow was in Grants, #NewMexico, a couple of springs ago. #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

A small gray bird with red feathers on its head and chest is perched in side view in a tree. It has a fairly robust beak for its size. House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) are natives to the American southwest and Mexico, but they were also introduced to the east coast of the United States. Their bodies measure 5.1 to 5.5 inches (13-14 cm), weigh 0.6 to 0.9 ounces (16 to 27 grams), and have wingspans of 7.9-9.8 inches (20 to 25 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Good morning to all! This Swainson's hawk was keeping an eye on things from its perch atop a utility pole along a state highway just north of Arriba, Colorado, earlier this month. We've seen quite a few of these lovely raptors this summer. They migrate to Argentina for the winter. #Birds #Colorado

A larger hawk is perched on a horizontal utility pole brace, generally facing the camera. It is mostly tannish-white, with darker brown feathers on its wings and neck. Swainson's hawks (Buteo swainsoni) have body lengths of 18.9-22.1 inches (48-56 cm) and weigh 24.4-48.2 ounces (693-1,367 g). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

As the sun was setting, this mute swan was quietly making its way around a western #Michigan lake last month. This species is not native to the United States: it was introduced from Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries because the birds look good on water. #BirdOfTheDay #LightAndShadow #Birds

A large nearly all-white swan is swimming in a body of water. It has black markings adjacent to its bill, which is orange. Mute swans (Cygnus olor) have body lengths of 50.0-59.8 inches (127-152 cm), weigh 194.0-504.4 ounces (5,500-14,300 g), and have wingspans of 81.9-93.7 inches (208-238 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A sharp-lookin' juniper titmouse greets the day at Lathrop State Park in southern Colorado. #BirdOfTheDay #Paridae #StateParks #Colorado

A small, all-gray bird with a distinctive head crest is perched at the top of an evergreen juniper tree. Juniper titmouses (Baeolophus ridgwayi) have body weights of 0.3-0.8 ounces (10-22 g).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ODG, any owl, duck, or goose. This was my first common goldeneye, seen swimming in the Las Vegas Wash last winter. This is a hen; the drakes have emerald-green heads. #Birds #LasVegas

A medium-sized duck is swimming in a watercourse. It has a brown head, white and gray body, and a bright yellow eye. Common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) have body lengths of 15.8-20.1 inches (40-51 cm), weigh 21.2-45.9 ounces (600-1,300 g), and have wingspans of 30.3-32.7 inches (77-83 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The lighting was terrible and the bird was a long way off, but I still held on to this photo taken in Mesilla, #NewMexico, last spring. Even without any color, its profile easily identifies it as a curve-billed thrasher, and it's appropriate for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme, #Silhouette. #Birds

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

This pair of ring-necked ducks was hanging out on the shoreline of the Las Vegas Wash in southern Nevada. #BirdOfTheDay #Mamas&Papas #Birds

A pair of ducks is standing in very shallow water. The drake, in front, has a black head and chest, with a gray undercarriage. The hen, in back, has a mostly brown body with some white on her undercarriage. Ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) have body lengths of 15.3-18.1 inches (39-46 cm), weigh 17.3-32.1 ounces (490-910 g), and have wingspans of 24.4-24.8 inches (62-63 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The American robins were helping themselves to chokecherries in the shadow of Wyoming's Devils Tower (yes, no apostrophe) when we visited the national monument last year. #Mouthful #BirdOfTheDay #NationalParks

A laccolithic butte comprising hexagonal columns is pictured against a mostly cloudy sky, with pine trees in the mid-foreground. Devils Tower National Monument. The butte is 867 feet above the ground.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This white-faced ibis was strolling about Cochise Lake in Willcox, located in southeastern Arizona, last spring. Very interesting #Birds, with a bit of #Iridescence on their wings and tail. #BirdOfTheDay #Arizona

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ABCD, or any bird whose name begins with one of those letters: here's a black-billed magpie checking in from Lathrop State Park in southern Colorado. This photo was taken in one of the park's campgrounds a couple of years ago. #Birds #StateParks

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Today's theme of #BirdBuddies, two species of birds sharing the same space; here's a northern shoveler couple with an American wigeon in the background. In the foreground, a bonus American coot is doing coot things. These #Birds were at Lake Cochise near Willcox, Arizona, last spring. #BirdOfTheDay

In the middle ground of the photo, two large-billed ducks are swimming in shallow water. The male one in front has a green head and white chest, and a nearly black bill. The female one has a brown head and an orange bill. Behind those two ducks is a different species of duck; this one has a grayish head and a blue bill. In the foreground, a dark-gray waterbird has its head submerged.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I enjoyed spending a few hours at the 32-acre ABQ BioPark's botanic garden last April, and saw this male wood duck catching a few winks near the park's big pond. #BirdOfTheDay #BirdNaps #Albuquerque #NewMexico #Birds

A male duck with an emerald-green head, brown chest, white stripes on its head and outlining its chest has its bill tucked inside its right wing. The duck's eye is closed, because he's sleepin'. Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) have body lengths of 18.5-21.3 inches (47-54 cm), weigh 16.0-30.4 ounces (454-862 g), and have wingspans of 26.0-28.7 inches (66-73 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Good morning to all! A couple of years ago, this cactus wren in Kingman, Arizona, was atop a utility pole and regaling the neighborhood around our campground with its morning song, which sounds like someone trying and failing to start a car. Cactus wrens are the state #Birds of #Arizona.

The head and chest of a smaller bird perched at the top of a wooden utility pole. The bird is light tan and gray, with darker speckles of brown feathers and brown stripes on its head. Its beak is open and its throat feathers are ruffled as it sings. Look up the sound of a cactus wren if you've never heard them! Cactus wrens (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) have body lengths of 7.1-8.7 inches (18-22 cm) and weigh 1.1-1.7 ounces (32-47 g). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

One of my favorite birds of the southwestern United States, phainopeplas usually stand out pretty distinctly against their desert environments – including the #Arizona sky. This one was at McDowell Mountain Regional Park east of #Phoenix. #BirdOfTheDay #Contrast #Birds

An all-black bird with a red eye and jaunty head crest is perched on a juniper branch. The Arizona sky in the background is clear and blue. Phainopeplas (Phainopepla nitens), sized between a house sparrow and a robin, have body lengths of 7.1-8.3 inches (18-21 cm), weigh 0.6-1.0 ounces (17.9-28.1 g), and have wingspans of 10.6-11.4 inches (27-29 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This beautiful great egret was on the hunt at our Tucson, Arizona, campground in March of 2023. #ItsAllWhite #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

A large white wading bird is on the shore of a small body of water. The bird, which has a long neck, long yellow bill, and long black legs, is crouched intently and looking at something in the water. Great egrets (Ardea alba) have body lengths of 37.0-40.9 inches (94-104 cm), weigh 35.3 ounces (1,000 g), and have wingspans of 51.6-57.1 inches (131-145 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Good morning to all, and I hope everyone has a great September! I enjoyed watching this Gambel's quail while on a walk in Deming, #NewMexico, this past April. #Birds.

A mostly gray bird with a scaly-appearing neck, a black face, russet-brown head cap, and a black forelock is perched in some desert shrubbery. Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) live in the southwestern United States. They have lengths of 9.8 inches (25 cm) and weigh 5.6-7 ounces (160-200 g), with wingspans of 13.4-14.2 inches (34-36 inches).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This house finch was having breakfast in Deming, #NewMexico, this past April. The ocotillo, a plant native to the deserts of the American southwest and Mexico, was in bloom during our stay in Deming. The plants also attracted hummingbirds. #FlowerPower #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

A small brown bird is perched on a long thorny shrub stem. The stem has a blossom of bright-red blooms at the top of the photo. House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) are natives to the American southwest and Mexico, but they were also introduced to the east coast of the United States. Their bodies measure 5.1 to 5.5 inches (13-14 cm), weigh 0.6 to 0.9 ounces (16 to 27 grams), and have wingspans of 7.9-9.8 inches (20-25 cm).

The same small brown bird as in the previous photo, but she is now adjusting her position on the stem by taking a brief flight; her wings are outspread.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This killdeer was running around the campground when we first arrived in Seligman, #Arizona, in April of 2025. #BirdsUpClose #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #Route66

The head and chest of a shorebird that stays mostly on dry land. The bird is mostly light brown, with white and black stripes across its head, neck, and chest. It has a bright-orange ring around its eye. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) have body lengths of 7.9-11.0 inches (20-28 cm), weigh 2.6-4.5 ounces (75-128 g), and have wingspans of 18.1-18.9 inches (46-48 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

We spent a few pleasant days in western and northern #Michigan earlier this month, and I enjoyed the opportunity to see (and hear) some common loons. This one was on Lake Mecosta, and was the 100th bird species I've observed in 2026. #BirdOfTheDay #BestOfTheMonth #Birds

A bird with a specked brown and black body, black head, and red eye is swimming in water. It has a black and white vertically striped ring around its neck. Common loons (Gavia immer) have body lengths of 26.0-35.8 inches (66-91 cm), weigh 88.2-215.2 ounces (2,500-6,100 g), and have wingspans of 40.9-51.6 inches (104-131 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Coupla double-crested cormorants and a common merganser shared some space on the Las Vegas Wash this past January. The river returns treated water from Las Vegas back to Lake Mead, which needs every drop it can get. #BirdOfTheDay #Coastal&River #Birds

Three water birds in a water course are shown. In the foreground is a large and mostly black bird, perched on a rock and with its wings outspread. Beyond that is a duck with a gray and white body and a russet-brown head. In the background is another large black bird, also perched on a rock but with its wings folded in. Double-crested cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) have body lengths of 27.6-35.4 inches (70-90 cm), weigh 42.3-88.2 ounces (1,200-2,500 g), and have wingspans of 44.9-48.4 inches (114-123 cm). Common mergansers (Mergus merganser) have body lengths of 21.3-27.9 inches (54-71 cm), weigh 31.8-76.2 ounces (900-2,160 g), and have wingspans of 33.9 inches (86 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Good morning to all! We took an all-too-brief trip to western and northern #Michigan last week, where I was fortunate to see a number of common loons. I wasn't expecting this one to flex when it did, so its left wing is cropped off in this image but I still like the photo. They are pretty #Birds.

A black and white bird, swimming in a body of water, is facing away from the camera with its wings outstretched. Common loons (Gavia immer) are 26.0-35.8 inches (66-91 cm) long, weigh 88.2-215.2 ounces (2,500-6,100 g), and have wingspans of 40.9-51.6 inches (104-131 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A pretty house finch begins her day by munching on some chaste tree seeds in Seligman, #Arizona. While house finches are native to the American southwest, chaste trees are not -- but they make lovely ornamental plants and serve as a food source for house finches. #BirdOfTheDay #NaturalSeeds #Birds

A little brown bird (LBB) is perched on a chaste tree with a seed in her beak. Chaste trees are native to the tropical regions of our planet, and are used as ornamental plants in other places, like Seligman, Arizona. House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) are natives to the American southwest and Mexico, but they were also introduced to the east coast of the United States. Their bodies measure 5.1 to 5.5 inches (13-14 cm), weigh 0.6 to 0.9 ounces (16 to 27 grams), and have wingspans of 7.9-9.8 inches (20-25 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Many folks are unaware (I certainly was) that the area around Flagstaff in northern #Arizona is home to the largest contiguous ponderosa pine tree forest in the United States. Here's a northern flicker at the Arboretum at Flagstaff, elevation 7,150 feet (2,179 meters). #BirdOfTheDay #Woodland #Birds

A woodpecker is perched on a pine tree limb in the shade of a forest. It has a gray-brown speckled body, a brownish head cap, and a red swath of feathers under its long and gently curved beak. Northern flickers (Colaptes auratus) are 11.0-12.2 inches (28-31 cm) long, weigh 3.9-5.6 ounces (110-160 g), and have wingspans of 16.5-20.1 inches (42-51 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This pied-billed grebe's reflection was broken up by the ripples the grebe made in the Las Vegas Wash, just southeast of Las Vegas. The river returns water from metropolitan Las Vegas to Lake Mead. This photo was taken a couple of springs ago. #BirdOfTheDay #ReflectionsAndShadows #Birds #LasVegas

A small brown-gray water bird is floating in a body of water, swimming toward the camera and looking to its right. The bill of the bird is short, white, and thick; its eye is deep brown. Pied-billed grebes (Podilymbus podiceps) are 11.8-15.0 inches (30-38 cm) long, weigh 8.9-20.0 ounces (253-568 g), and have wingspans of 17.7-24.4 inches (45-62 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Desert shrubs typically have very thin branches, but they provide plenty of opportunities for little birds like this black-throated sparrow on which to perch. They weigh only 0.5 ounce (15 g). This sparrow was at Homolovi State Park in Arizona. #BirdOfTheDay #ThinPerches #Birds #StateParks

A small sparrow is perched on a very thin branch. The bird is gray, with white stripes above and below its eye. It has a black throat. Black-throated sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata) have body lengths of 4.7-5.5 inches (12-14 cm), weigh 0.4-0.5 ounces (11-15 g), and have wingspans of 7.7 inches (19.5 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Anna's hummingbirds are pretty common in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the winter. I photographed this one earlier this year at the fabulous Springs Preserve botanic gardens (and much more), just west of downtown #LasVegas. #Iridescence #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #Nevada

A very small bird is perched in a bare and thorny branch, set against a clear blue sky. The bird is mostly green, with an iridescent dark purple head and chin. Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna) measure 3.9 inches (10 cm) in length, weigh 0.1-0.2 ounces, (3-6 g), and have wingspans of 4.7 inches (12 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Reposted by Ken Goering

Janet Hill @saskajanet.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Put my hand on a bison rubbing stone today. It’s been sitting here since it was dropped by a retreating glacier at the end of the last ice age. The sides are smoothed from generations of bison rubbing on it. Good to think about that now and then

Large red granite boulder in the foreground. Grass extending to a distant horizon. The sky is bright blue with puffy white clouds.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Here's a closeup of a northern mockingbird for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme, #50ShadesOfGrey. This photo was taken several years ago at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas; they have one or two kajillion mockingbirds there. #Birds #LasVegas #Nevada

The head and neck of a bird with varying shades of gray feathers. The eye is brownish-yellow, and its beak is gently curved at the end. Northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) are 8.3-10.2 inches (21-26 cm) long, weigh 1.6-2.0 ounces (45-58 g), and have wingspans of 12.2-13.8 inches (31-35 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Warblers, here's a yellow-rumped warbler I photographed while walking around a cemetery in Holbrook, #Arizona, a couple of years ago. Sadly, the yellow rump isn't shown in this photo. Many cemeteries have lots of trees -- great for seeing birds! #Birds

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

When I think about today's #BirdOfTheDay theme, #AtOneWithNature, I am reminded of the white-crowned sparrows at Clark County Wetlands Park near Las Vegas. They perch in the saltbush alongside the park's trails, and they're great fun to watch. #Birds #Nevada

A small sparrow is perched at the top of a shrub with small pale-green leaves. The bird has a gray-brown body and head, with black and white streaks of feathers at the top of its head. The short and stout beakis orange. White-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) have are 5.9-6.3 inches (15-16 cm) long, weigh 0.9-1.0 ounces (25-28 g), and have wingspans of 8.3-9.4 inches (21-24 cm). Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I photographed this black phoebe five years ago at Albuquerque's BioPark as the bird perched on a sculpture in one of the park's ponds. It's a sharp-looking little flycatcher! This was taken with my old Canon T5i camera and Sigma 150-600mm lens. #BirdOfTheDay #BBirdName #NewMexico

A small bird is perched on a piece of gray sculpted metal. The bird is all black, except for a white-to-light-gray belly. It has a large head for its body size, and its beak ends in a sharp hook. Black phoebes (Sayornis nigricans) have body lengths of 6.3 inches (16 cm) and weigh 0.5-0.8 ounces (15-22 g)

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Good morning to all! Here's a red-winged blackbird, from St. Vrain State Park in northern #Colorado, several years ago. #Birds #stateparks

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Going with the alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Finches, here's a photo of a sprightly house finch at Denver Botanic Gardens last week. She's perched at the top of a tall arborvitae. I also saw a lot of barn swallows at the Gardens, but they wouldn't stay still for a photo. #Birds #Colorado

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Good morning to all! Here's a black-tailed gnatcatcher (my first and only) at Clark County Wetlands Park near Las Vegas. Their range is the far southwestern United States and Mexico. This was taken on a frosty March morning (for southern Nevada) several years ago. #Birds #Borbs #LasVegas

A small mostly gray bird is perched on some dried plant stalks. The bird has a round appearance, with a black cap and long-for-its-size black tail. The bird's eye has a white ring. Black-tailed gnatcatchers (Polioptila melanura) have body lengths of 4.3-5.1 inches (11-13 cm), weigh 0.2 ounces (5.1 g), and have wingspans of 5.5-5.9 inches (14-15 cm). (Measurement information for Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

For today's alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Ducktopia, ducks out of water, here's a pretty female ring-necked duck standing on the shore of the Las Vegas Wash several years ago. #Birds #LasVegas

A mostly brown duck with a gray bill that has a black tip followed by a white stripe is standing on small rocks next to a watercourse. Ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) have body lengths of 15.3-18.1 inches (39-46 cm), weigh 17.3-32.1 ounces (490-910 g), and have wingspans of 24.4-24.8 inches (62-63 cm). (Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I'm on something of an American goldfinch kick lately, having been fortunate to have seen several of them in recent weeks. This is the one that was in #SouthDakota, at Wind Cave National Park's visitor center. #Busted #BirdOfTheDay #NationalParks #Birds

A mostly bright yellow bird, looking at the camera, is perched on a dried flower blossom. The bird has a black cap and black feathers on its wings, white feathers under its tail, and an orange beak. American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) have body lengths of 4.3-5.1 inches (11-13 cm), weigh 0.4-0.7 ounces (11-20 g), and have wingspans of 7.5-8.7 inches (19-22 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay alternate theme is #Speckled; here's a greater roadrunner at Albuquerque's BioPark from five years ago. It was among the first roadrunners I'd ever seen, and I've happily seen many more. This was another photo taken with my Canon T5i and Sigma 150-600mm lens. #NewMexico #Birds

The head and neck of a mostly ground-based bird about the size of a common raven. It has brown and tan feathers in specked pattern with darker colors on its head crest. The beak is fairly long and sharply curved at the end. Greater roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) have body lengths of 20.5-21.3 inches (52-54 g), weigh 7.8-19.0 ounces (221-538 g), and have wingspans of 19.3 inches (49 cm). (Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

An osprey at St. Vrain State Park in northern Colorado. This was taken about 5 1/2 years ago with a Canon Rebel T5i and a Sigma 150-600mm telephoto lens, my first setup for serious bird photos which I got because I wanted some up-close photos of the park's raptors. #Firsts #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Both of these species were lifers for me last month, and the photos were taken a couple of minutes apart on July 2 in central-eastern #Colorado. A long-billed curlew is on the left, and, on the right, a young burrowing owl family was on the other side of the road. #BirdOfTheDay #BestOfJuly #Birds

A very small owl is flying a few inches above grasslands, and several other owls are on the ground very near it. Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) have body lengths of 7.5-9.8 inches (19-25 cm), weigh 5.3 ounces (150 g), and have wingspans of 21.6 inches (55 cm).

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EgretsAndHerons, so here are photos of a great egret hunting and a great blue heron roosting. Both of these were taken in the #LasVegas Wash several years ago. #Birds #Nevada

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #YourChoice, here's an image of a ring-necked duck I've always enjoyed. These ducks are plentiful in the Las Vegas Wash during the winter months, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in a few months. #Birds #Nevada

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Male wood ducks (left) are absolutely spectacular in their #MultiColour way, but the hens (right) are very pretty as well. These were photographed five years ago at the BioPark in #Albuquerque, #NewMexico. #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

A small duck is swimming behind a gray rock. The duck has an iridescent emerald-green head, dark brown chest, and multiple colors on its back and wings. It has a bright red eye. Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) have body lengths of 18.5-21.3 inches (47-54 cm), weigh 16.0-30.4 ounces (454-862 g), and have wingspans of 26.0-28.7 inches (66-73 cm). (Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #EmeraldBackdrop, here's a red-shouldered hawk that was perched on a bridge in the gardens of the #Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, #Oklahoma, several summers ago. This was a lifer for me, as was a northern cardinal I saw a little later in the gardens. #Birds

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Going with the alt #BirdOfTheDay theme, #ForJanet, here's an American #robin I photographed in Santa Fe, #NewMexico, last summer. Have a great weekend, everyone! #Birds

A songbird with a prominent russet-red chest and undercarriage is perched on top of a wooden fencepost. The bird has a black face and a bright yellow beak. It is facing the camera and looking slightly to its right. American robins (Turdus migratorius) are 7.9-11 inches (20-28 cm) long, weigh 2.7-3 ounces (77-85 g), and have wingspans of 12.2-15.8 inches (31-40 cm). (Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Good morning to all! Here's another bird I saw on our visit to Wind Cave #NationalPark in South Dakota last weekend. It was so far away that I couldn't tell what it was until I enlarged the image on my screen. It's my first cedar waxwing of 2026. Hopefuly the next one will be a little closer. #Birds

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Ken Goering @kengoering.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

These two herons (an American bittern on the left and a great blue heron on the right) were monitoring the Las Vegas Wash, located just southeast of #LasVegas, on the same March morning a couple of years ago. Herons are capable of exhibiting fairly intense stares. #EyeOfTheWild #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

The head and neck of a fairly tall wading bird. It is mostly brown, with white streaks of feathers on its neck and chest. The beak is long for the bird's size, and the eye is bright yellow. Green reeds are in the background. American bitterns (Botaurus lentiginosus) have body lengths of 23.6-33.5 inches (60-85 cm), weigh 13.1-17.6 ounces (370-500 g), and have wingspans of 36.2 inches (92 cm). (Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

The head and neck of a very tall wading bird. The bird's feathers are mostly gray and blue-gray, with darker feathers on the top of its head. The neck and beak are both very long, and its eye is bright yellow. Green reeds are in the background. Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) have body lengths of 38.2-53.9 inches (97-137 cm), weigh 74.1-88.2 ounces (2,100-2,500 g), and have wingspans of 65.8-79.1 inches 167-201). (Measurement information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's AllAboutBirds.org.)

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