birding

Feb. 13, 2026. Southwestern USA

No dead trees here, just a male chaffinch looking for 🪱.

Different Dead Tree, same park, same grey skies, as yesterday.

Egyptian Goose on its favourite dead tree - and to me the damp weather has emphasised the interest of the tree over the goose.

Midwest USA. January 2026.

I was a bit surprised this was in focus at all, never mind quite pleasingly sharp (to me) on the wing patterns, which point to 1st year moults.

Location: Southwest Ohio, USA

The UK this February, carrying on from January, is damp and grey - so getting any sort of photo is a pleasure.

Where: Mississauga, Ontario Date: 2026-02-06 11AM Gear: Sony A6700 + Tamron 150-500mm

Where: Mississauga, Ontario Date: 2026-02-06 12PM Gear: Sony A6700 + Tamron 150-500mm

On my search for an elusive kingfisher, I stumbled upon a well camouflaged water rail literally splashing around in the shallow water in a mix of bathing and looking for food - or at least it’s how I interpreted it!

I see a lot of these tiny avian dinosaurs, but never close enough for my liking - I don’t have a garden nor a feeder. This time it happened! I would have liked a less busy background but this was it and I don’t like removing branches in post.

Landed about 2m away at eye height, and just stayed there. Didn’t seem scared at all, so I could get fairly close :)

I visited Papua last year and got really lucky spotting some of the rarest birds in this special Island.

This was taken from waaay too far away and here is where the resolution limit of my camera says no to further cropping.

The return of one of the pairs of house finches who nest in the awning above my kitchen window, I presume. This one was giving it quite a thorough look.

Source:

The Netherlands, January 2026

Netherlands, February 2026

Southwestern USA, January 2026

Midwest USA, September 2025.

Midwest USA, September 2025.

Southeast US. Got a pair of them that like to hang out sometimes.

Southern California. There’s a small “wetlands” nearby that acts as a desert oasis, so occasionally marsh birds come hang out in the front yard.

Midwest USA, October 2025

“It’s not raining, be happy!”

Midwest USA, September 2025.

Midwest USA, September 2025

Midwest USA, September 2025.

In Southern California from back in May

Seen around FW zoo at 8AM. A crow was losing his shit on a branch next to this specimen.

I don’t think I have ever captured a bird in a more classic birdy profile.

Midwest USA, October 2025

They wanted my bread.

Southeast US.

Midwest USA, October 2025

Midwest USA, September 2025.

Hanging out on my fence here in Southern California

Southeast US. This fellow always hangs on the feeder like that.

My Mum gave some birds seeds and I added due to some being a bit hostile. Never seen so many Cardinals at once, this was exciting to watch. Thought I share a picture.

He had just finished eating a squirrel

One of the more interesting visitors to the feeders during this silly blizzard. For some reason my R10’s autofocus really has trouble with them in particular, at least in these conditions. I gave up and winged it. This was the best I got through the window.

Not to be confused with the moss covered, three handled family credenza.

He’s got the spirit, though.

These little dudes have a great call.

Brisbane, Australia

The snow has really been great for birdwatching!

Got some snow and ice here in the southern US. I hope everyone that is affected by this big winter storm system stays warm and safe!

Two bird learnings for today. I’ve had trouble identifying a couple of birds for a long while. Using a telephoto lens really helped.

Southeast US

Not really a special bird here in the Netherlands, but I liked the picture :)

It was still too cold to hunt this morning when I spotted it. It did have an eye on a bird feeder in case a dove got too careless.

The birds in the park were also in a fractious mood (windy days seem the worst for that).

A Red Kite in Prospect Park, Reading, UK today was swooping in low having spotted something on the ground - I was pleased to catch this as it made off - no lazy glide here!

Midwest USA. December 2025.

Bless this little potato for posing perfectly for me.