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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Sitting on one of my usual peaks waiting for Bighorn Sheep, I had the pleasure of sharing the sunrise with some Chukar partridge. No place like Northern Nevada! #birds #wildlifephotography

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

#birdoftheday is #corvidae! One of my favorites and a standout for looks alone: Stellar’s Jay. They are also extremely helpful for locating Pygmy Owl 😏…

The blue glow of the bird’s feathers in the predawn light is much like that of the light of a nuclear reactor at startup. A shimmery blue that seems to light itself, especially the twin flames of blue rising across the black forehead, part of a dark hood rising from shoulder to the sky far above the dark eyes. It sits, feathers expanded to hold the cold at bay for just a little longer.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

The #birdoftheday theme is #favouriteofthemonth. Normally during Bighorn Sheep photo season all I get are Rock and Canyon Wren hanging out on the cliffs with me. One gorgeous morning I was joined by Mountain Bluebird that allowed me to share a sunrise with them.

A rocky pinnacle set against a blurred background. The right hand side is gently illuminated by the rising sun, the left shadowed and covered with mint and chocolate chip lichen. The Mountain Bluebird is perched atop the rock and facing the sun.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

For today’s #birdoftheday theme of #eyecontact I went with an old favorite of mine. I had been told to keep a close eye on the juniper at the mouth of a NW Nevada canyon, and sure enough it paid off. My first Long-Eared Owl!

A twisted maze of dark and light, branches and juniper berries. Deep in the shadows is one illuminated eye boring a hole into your soul it is so brightly yellow. The other half of its face sits in shadow.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

#iridescent was the prompt for #birdoftheday. This Black-billed Magpie was cruising thru the gaps between sagebrush up and over a ridge.

The bird is black at the body with white shoulder stripes flowing backward along the junction with the shimmering blue wings. White wing tips balance the brilliant blue-green iridescence.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

The theme for #birdoftheday today is #poise. Did I alter this photo of a Common Merganser near Lake Tahoe? Maybe. Did I use Ai? Most definitely NOT, lol.

The duck stands atop a log in the water, one leg raised and both arms spread. It wears the headband of Daniel, à la the Karate Kid as it recreates the iconic crane pose.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Today’s #Birdoftheday theme is #walking. This juvie Black-crowned Night Heron was doing its best to make John Cleese proud cracking me up with its silly walk. Truckee River, Nevada

The bird, wings upraised in an odd posture, bounds across rock with its yellow legs at strange angles and toes stretched wide.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

#birdoftheday is #TailsUp. I humbly submit this Green-tailed Towhee doing its best golf club impression. Near Donner Pass, California.

Sitting atop a pile of decomposing wood sits a very oddly posed bird. It stares into the sunrise, chubby body lined directly towards the light, wings straight back and tail held upwards at a 45 degree angle.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

#feedingtime for #birdoftheday, here’s one of my favorite little guys, a Northern Pygmy Owl with a dragonfly meal. Video clip in comments showing its very hungry chicks after it landed with what’s left of a chipmunk, with vocalizations. Lake Tahoe, California

The diminutive owl sits on a branch facing us while looking to our right. In its jaws is the body of a dragonfly, 1.5 wings left. The length of the dragonfly is almost as tall as the owl is at the shoulders. Thankfully for the owl its feet are at least normal size, I.e. comically huge.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

For @alan678.bsky.social ‘s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #winterlight here is a Rock Wren inspecting the results of a Northern Nevada snowfall.

A rock coated in a layer of snow, sides bare. A small bird, tan over cream, stares uphill. The background is a twisted trunk of sagebrush, its trunk and leaves coated in snow.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

#longbeaks has me once again relying on the Canyon Wren for #BirdofTheDay. when I go out to this NW Nevada peak this Canyon Wren favors one rock for his two minute long daily solo. I kept putting my GoPro there and finally hit pay dirt. Is it better than my Canon? No. Is it fun being close? 😁

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Bighorn Sheep waking up (including yawns and stretches). A brief little moment of zen and respite from the doom of the scroll. #wildlifephotography #nevada #bighornsheep

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

One for #birdoftheday: #natural American Dipper watching the outflow from an alpine lake right at the last moment before a series of falls. Near Donner Lake, Ca

A blurred flow of water from bottom right towards the middle left, standing perfectly still is grey bird, head underwater facing into the stream.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

#Feathers&Form is the theme for #BirdoftheDay and this Say’s Phoebe came to mind. Near Pyramid Lake, Nevada

A piece of a rocky ridgeline at the bottom of the frame, shaped like the bottom portion of a triangle, browns and reds and some white from bird poo. The middle portion of our imaginary triangle is the blank background devoid of any texture or definition, even the muted brown is as underwhelming as could be. But the top of our triangle is made of the bird, its chest towards us as it faces our left. Its right wing points down tracing a line towards the left side of the triangle, while the uplifted left wing creates the very tip of the triangle. The wings glow with golden light from the sun beyond, as does the outline of its head in an almost golden crown. Dainty black feet dangle below.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

#foodfinds is a fun theme for #birdoftheday! I was at Taylor Creek at Lake Tahoe waiting for bear and had a blast just watching this Pied-billed Grebe swim among the salmon. It preferred the minnows.

The top view of a bird’s head, a perfect oval smoothly transitioning to a blunted beak. A minnow is held just below the water’s surface.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

#black&white is today’s theme for #birdoftheday from @robcrank68.bsky.social. I’m lucky enough to live next to one of the largest breeding colonies of American White Pelican in the Western US, so it’s not unusual to see these giants (2.9m wingspan!) land in surrounding bodies of water. Nevada

A golden sunrise reflects off a body of water, while two pelican (white with orange bills) sit calmly. A third floats down beside them, massive wings outstretched in landing (wings are white next to the body and black on the tips). Pinpoints of light are everywhere in the image. Bugs. Oh my god the bugs.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

#speckles&spots for #birdoftheday made me think of this Barn Owl. I kept seeing a Canyon Wren dive thru a crack in the rock shelf above a cliff, from below it was apparent the crack was huge! A little exploration and…OMG! Had time for a couple shots before it was gone. Northern Nevada

Tucked into a deep rock cleft an owl stands on a ledge, head leaning out to see what was making all the noise. Eyes staring into the camera, white facial disc, brilliant white breast with speckles of gold. Copious white shjt coating the rock below…

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

The full moon allowed me to hike in and navigate the ridgeline from above without the need for a headlamp, catching the Bighorn as they woke up and passed by me on their way up and around the ridge on their way to the feeding grounds 😆🤘. #washoe #bighorn #nevada

A confusing perspective of 6 Bighorn sheep lambs and another slightly older. They pass in a curving arc up and to the right between layers of rock.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

#goodlight is the theme for #birdoftheday and I’ll never not repost this! This was near the maximum, which was 85% occlusion for this area.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Watching these Bighorn Sheep play among the stone and lichen never gets old… Washoe County, Nevada #bighorn #washoe #nevada #wildlifephotography #wildlife #canon

A rocky piece of ridge line, bright green lichen on almost every piece of stone. Two Bighorn sheep stand atop the apex, while two lambs run across the stone face below them. To the bottom right a ewe stands with its eyes closed as a lamb touches its face.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Struck out on bighorn but any day on the mountain is a good one! I was joined by my usual companion on this particular peak, this Canyon Wren with the gorgeous pipes. I’ve been leaving my go-pro next to his favorite morning sing site and it FINALLY paid off. Two minutes of mountain zen. #birds

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Ugh. 1:30 my time and still counting sheep. So might as well post this one: this ewe lead her entire charge of lambs off a mesa right at us. 🤷‍♂️😜 #Nevada is awesome. #bighornsheep

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

#birdoftheday is #b&w so I just have to start the new year with a banger: a slow shutter and some careful curves brought out the most incredible Raven photo I’ve ever pulled off. So far.

White blurred wings trace across the black screen, while in the center of the image the Raven is visible surrounded by its spectral form. I guess you could say the core of the bird (its chest and head) is unblurred and in positive, while the blurred wings are in negative. It’s hard to describe in words. I tried?

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Reposted by @rp-photographic.bsky.social

Kat @katara27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

2026 Marks a new year and a new start for me. So to celebrate that ill be doing a 365 project, showing photos i take of things around me. So with that…. Day 1 - Stick Tomato Cave - Naracoorte #photography #365Project #Day1 #cave #nature #bskyphoto #photographersofbluesky @bskyphotos.bsky.social

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Shot of the year just a few days ago. She’s the dominant ewe of a Bighorn Sheep nursery band 60 strong. The rest of the band panicked by some unknown threat ran down and past us, leaving the matron alone to stare at us from above as we left her territory. #wildlifephotography #photography #nv

Bottom 1/3 is inky black, top two thirds is a silverburst of light spreading out from the center with a noticeable pillar in the center. The silhouette of a BigHorn Sheep ewe staring straight at the camera, her left horn broken off halfway down its length. A few sparse plants light up the transition between cliffside and silver sky. For the photo nerds this was at 1/16000 and f/16, ISO of 200 (for no particular reason other than auto ISO is the only way to go for wildlife…IMHO)

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

New Year’s Day two years ago brought a rarity to my corner of Nevada: an immature Vermillion Flycatcher! #BirdOfTheDay #BranchingOut

A cottonwood branch descends from the right downwards to the left. A chubby bird sits atop the branch, stubby flycatcher beak (black), a gray head with black eye, orange feathers breaking thru the crown of the head, then a brilliant orange glow erupts from the formerly white feathers of its round belly.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

#contrast is the theme for #birdoftheday so here’s a fun one. This snow goose was flying against a perfect white sky, and with a little careful editing…😄

The white goose is flying against a white sky, upwards and to our left. Top left: beak and eye are visible, the outline of the bottom edge of the neck is barely visible white on white. Bottom right is a foot, top right we see the black wing tips.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

#sideprofiles is the #birdoftheday theme so here’s a favorite side view. I was returning from trying to get shots of pronghorn in a severe February snowstorm when I saw this Golden Eagle. I waited for an hour in the snow for it to fly, it was totally worth it!

The eagle stands atop a sharply vertical wooden post, talons locked into the wood as the body lunges to the right, tail held high and wings stretched overhead, flight feathers spread to catch maximum air. Snow is thick in the air, the snowflakes make it look like galaxies and stars fill the eagle.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

#birdoftheday #grounded It was a tad bit windy in Northern Nevada yesterday so I sat myself in the most sheltered spot in this Canyon Wren’s territory as I waited for Bighorn Sheep. Sure enough he made his usual rounds but there was no way to safely fly! 🤣

The wren stands atop a rock, white chest facing the camera, head facing to our left, orange and black striped tail extending to the top right. Wind is blowing its feathers down to the skin, the bird looks half as plump as it should be.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Oh! This is a fun theme for #BirdOfTheDay: #AboutTheKids! Northern Pygmy Owl fledglings, Lake Tahoe

Three tiny owls huddle together on a conifer branch, facing their white breasts camera 10:00. Their faces are staring into the camera, their yellow eyes into your soul.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

California Bighorn Sheep walking an ancient sheep trail, leading down the exposed ridge into what would have been the water of Pleistocene Lake Lahontan. Coming to a place where the hardiest animals on the planet found refuge for tens of thousands of years to find refuge of my own is priceless.

A worn path in volcanic rock with notches leading from one side of the ridge to the other like rusty nicks in a knife blade. The roc is covered in green lichens. An ewe and two young sheep face the camera eyeing the trail

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Hashtags are being problematic I guess, so doing it this way! This Rock Wren had quite the view, if a bit bright with all of the fresh snow!

The vast majority of the image is white. Foreground is wind-swept snow stuck to mountain rock, just a tiny fragment of rock behind the wren proving there’s stone underneath. The wren sits facing to the left, feathers inflated to provide some insulation from the cold. Long slender beak, speckled tan over cream feathers.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Today’s #BirdoftheDay is #HeronsandEgrets. I’ve posted this before but never for Birdoftheday, the scene was at a tiny cooling pond in the middle of the desert in Northern Nevada south of Silver Springs. A combination of both Great and Snowy Egret and a natural shadow in the reeds.

Black and white image, extremely high contrast. A shadow in reeds creates a circle of dark water that perfectly fills the square image. Cutting horizontally thru the middle is a group of white birds and their reflections glowing against the dark water.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

The Bighorn Sheep have returned from the peaks for the winter to my favorite lichen-covered volcanic ridge. Trail cam in place at one of their favorite bedding sites and many, many photos to process! Washoe County, NV #wildlifephotography #travelnevada #washoe #nevada #bighornsheep #canon

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Belted Kingfisher, #alansnemesis , likely cackling at the target of his torment. I think. Lake Tahoe, California. #birdoftheday #kingfisher

The bird, head unusually large for its body, beak even more so, sits astride a small branch. Blue back and breast with a white belly. Mohawk lifted to the sky it turns towards the camera, beak open.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

It was a miserable season for bears at Tahoe this year, so I’m really looking forward to the weather showing up and pushing the local #Bighorn Sheep down to their winter range. Few things I enjoy more than being out in tough conditions with these ridiculously hardy animals. #wildlifephotography

A rocky snow-covered ledge and cliff rise to the right against a snow-white oblivion on the left. One sheep stares at the camera, while the larger looks down the line between earth and sky.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Today’s #BirdoftheDay theme is #BirdsOnTwigs so here’s one of my favorite twig-sitters, a sparrow that comes to the Great Basin to breed: the Black-throated Sparrow. Northern Nevada

Perched atop a twig rising out of a central mass of twigs in the center bottom, the bird stares to the right. Tan and grey with a deep black beard.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Well shoot, sounds like the #birdoftheday theme is actually #borbs. This Song Sparrow was just about as round as I’ve seen one…it was a bit cold!

A sparrow sits atop a branch, feathers puffed out into a nearly perfect circle, its head barely protruding from the round mass of feathers.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #movement. This Prairie Falcon caught the setting sun as it flared in for a landing, and it was too perfect an opportunity to make a composite showing the mechanics behind landing. Northern Nevada

Dark volcanic boulders hidden in shadow but a lone Prairie Falcon, white with black markings is caught in 7 frames placed into one image showing it approaching the boulder, flaring its wings and tail while arching upwards increasing the angle of attack, resulting in a delicate stall dropping the bird perfectly atop the boulder on the left. The whole sequence the feathers are lit up brilliant golden white by the setting sun.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

#birdoftheday is #songbird so why not actual song? I’ve only ever seen photos, but why not, here’s a Canyon Wren doing its thing in Northern Nevada!

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

The #birdoftheday theme is #lookingatyou and I don’t think I have a better example than my profile pic! A Northern Pygmy-Owl peeking out of its nest cavity at me. Next time I’ll make sure I’m NOT running mechanical shutter, sheesh!

A black and white image dominated by the intense stare of a tiny owl peeking out of a hole in a tree trunk. Beak glows threateningly white while white eyebrows accent the ferocious gaze. The tree trunk itself is dead, deep cracks in the bark spread like dark canyons across the surface of the tree. A lone dead branch extends over the hole.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

“Too close for tele, switching to macro…” #BirdOfTheDay is #stripes! While lying in wait for some Bighorn Sheep an entire covey of chukar walked thru my position. I unfortunately missed a lot of shots when they were too close. Minimum focus on the lens was just less than a meter. From the sensor.

Two stubby partridge-type birds stand on a rocky ridgeline, both bodies are facing away from the camera showing their brown and grey backs, but their fronts are still visible showing their stripes running vertically down their chests. The bird furthest away stares at the bird behind it waiting for it to catch up.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

For the #MorningLight theme for #BirdoftheDay I share a fun one: “Get your butt downstairs, breakfast is ready!” A 48hr fledged Northern Pygmy-Owl climbing thru the first light beams of the day to reach a waiting parent with a dragonfly. Near Lake Tahoe, California

The left side of the picture is blurred background. The right tree bark. In a bright patch of light in the center a tiny owl with comically large talons climbs down the trunk. Hidden below in shadow but barely visible is another owl, mouth holding a dragonfly.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

One of my favorites from the 11/11 storm. This small cloud lined up perfectly with the peak below it right as the salmon flash was at its most ominous. 😄 Northern Nevada.

A foreground, dark with barely legible brush and rocks that lead to a small rocky peak. The skies behind it are brilliant salmon, floating above the peak is a circular cloud, like an upside down jellyfish descending down from the glowing skies to touch or perhaps split apart on the peak…it’s an ominous scene. Birth? Destruction? Planetary shields defending our atmosphere from being stripped away by our raging star.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

For the #OnTheEdge prompt for #Birdoftheday I immediately thought of American Dipper as they spend so much time staring into the water, and I quickly came down to this as my favorite. This one was watching for Salmon eggs floating down Taylor Creek into Lake Tahoe.

A reddish-brown branch stretches across the top of a small waterfall in a creek, underneath the waves can be seen fall foliage and green algae. The dipper is a dark and non-descript bird sans for its practically missing tail. Don’t need it where it’s going, no sir. It’s a diver and the cold waters of the creek are its playground and its buffet all rolled into one. I digress. It stands perched on the left edge of the branch staring into the water.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

For the #birdoftheday prompt I had to go with the alternate of yellow-eyes over warbler. This Northern Pygmy-Owl fledged then within 5 minutes was hunting caterpillars. Lake Tahoe basin. #birds

A diminutive owl hidden behind smooth branches of red manzanita brush, stares into the camera. Dangling next to its head is a caterpillar, like a child standing next to a piñata.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

One for Rob’s #birdoftheday theme of #Mr&Mrs: wild Turkey from near Yosemite. The timing of the heads lining up into that heart shape like that was pretty awesome…

The male turkey walks thru the farm from left to right, further back from the camera than a female turkey strutting thru from right to left. His tail feathers are up, his wings down and spread to the ground in a showy display. Their heads intersect lining up like two perfect puzzle pieces forming a red and blue heart in the center of the frame.

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rp-photographic.bsky.social @rp-photographic.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Green-tailed Towhee singing the dawn atop a throne of dead sagebrush. Outside of Reno, NV #BirdOfTheDay #singing

A twisted and split branch of grey rises against a blurred background of desaturated earth tones. The bird sings with a red Mohawk punctuating its open-mouthed call. Bright yellow tail feathers stretch downward.

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