A couple of Lesser Goldfinches taking a moment to stop and eat the flowers. The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Birds&Flowers, birds standing with flowers, set by @robcrank68.bsky.social. Taken two days ago in our Oakland, California backyard.

Regal looking Red-shouldered Hawk in our backyard in Oakland, California, for today's #BirdOfTheDay. Possibly covers both #PerfectPoise, photographs where balance and posture tell a story, and the Alt of #MomentsOfMajesty Elegant, regal or commanding poses. Set by @alan678.bsky.social.

I'll go with @robcrank68.bsky.social's Alt theme of #OpenBeaks, birds with their beaks open. Here's a White-crowned Sparrow singing at Mendocino Headlands State Park in Mendocino, California.

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #AmongTheRipples, birds on water per @alan678.bsky.social, here’s an upended Mallard duck at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, California.

This Stripe-throated Bulbul at Mae Wong National Park in Thailand is looking up to snag a succulent berry. For @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #UpAndDown birds looking up or down.

You try preening with such a long beak. An Anna's Hummingbird in our Oakland backyard for today's alt #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Contortionist, birds getting into strange shapes, set by @alan678.bsky.social.

In our Oakland backyard we have two birdbaths, an Upper Spa and a Lower Spa, and many enthusiastic bathers. Here's on Oak Titmouse in the lower spa. For @robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BathTime, any bird taking a bath.

A cute (not usually associated with seagulls) Bonaparte's Gull at the Moore Creek Trail at Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, California on June 2. For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Lifer Capture, the last new to you bird seen, per @alan678.bsky.social. Santa Cruz had great birding sites.

Merlin calls this bird the Common Hoopoe (imagine calling this bird common) but I much prefer Eurasian Hoopoe. Taken at Khlong Si Yat Reservoir, ⁨Chachoengsao⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩. For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Orange, per @robcrank68.bsky.social .

Here's a young Bushtit at our kitchen window in Oakland, California, probably looking for bugs. He's a #Cutie for @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme.

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay Theme of #Ebony&Ivory, birds that have Black & White plumage (thank you @robcrank68.bsky.social) here are stilts on two continents: a Black-winged Stilt at Bang Pu, Samut Prakan, Thailand, and a Black-necked Stilt at Merced National Wildlife Refuge in California.

Tada! Birding is good for the brain!! www.inc.com/jessica-stil...

Here's coming at you! A young Great-tailed Grackle with wings spread at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, California. For @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #WildMotion, Dynamic wildlife behaviour, freezing a second which is full of energy.

I'm amazed at the wide variety of ducks. Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Quackers, any Duck will do. Here are two: a Cinnamon Teal at Cosumnes River Preserve and a Green-winged Teal at Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, both in California. Set by @robcrank68.bsky.social.

I'll go with the Alt theme of #SunriseSunset, bird captures taken during either, set by @robcrank68.bsky.social. This is a Pair of Sandhill Cranes in filght at sunset at Llano Seco Unit Wildlife Viewing Area near Chico, California. Fabulous birding spot. #BirdOfTheDay

For today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme of #RedBeakFeetEyes, any bird with a Red beak, Feet or Eyes Not Feathers (thank you @robcrank68.bsky.social) I'll go with one of the most common water birds in California, the American Coot, this photo from Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, California.

I can't resist a second post today for @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #TheArtOfSurvival, birds finding food, avoiding predators, enduring weather or raising young. Here's a Black-crested Bulbul eating a berry at Fang Hot Spring, part of Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park in Thailand.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme (per @alan678.bsky.social) is #TheArtOfSurvival, birds finding food, avoiding predators, enduring weather or raising young. I'll go with this Black Phoebe chowing done on a bee on our roof in Oakland, California. I love their acrobatic captures of insects.

A male Common Yellowthroat giving a good look at his bright sunshiny throat.

Of all the birds in our Oakland, California garden, the Bushtits seem to be the most prone to ending up in interesting positions. For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme – #LifelnTheBalance, celebrating birds captured in precarious or unexpected positions, set by @alan678.bsky.social.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme per @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Rotund, birds looking rather plump, with the Alt theme of #BlueSkies, birds were you can see Blue Skies. This Lesser Goldfinch in our Oakland back yard satisfies both.

I love these little warblers.

An Ashy Drongo at the Mae Sa Valley Garden Resort in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, Thailand. For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #GreyDay any bird with grey in its plumage, set by @alan678.bsky.social.

I wonder if bird parents ever think, "Hmm, maybe I'll keep this one for myself," when it comes to a particularly juicy catch? Not this one. It was immediately delivered to the nest. Northern House Wren #BirdOfTheDay #LittleBrownBirds #food #ECK #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

This Bewick's Wren nested in our Thai spirit house in the backyard in Oakland, California and was very busy feeding its young ones, for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #LittleBrownBirds as well as the the Alt theme of #Food, set by @robcrank68.bsky.social.

Here's an Indian Pond-Heron amongst the water lilies in Kaeng Krachan, Thailand. It's for today's main #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Birds&Buds, any bird capture with flowers in the frame, with a bit of blurry background for the alt of #Birds&Bokeh (set by @alan6789.bsky.social).

Snow Geese at the Colusa NWR Check Station on Lone Star Road in Arbuckle, California. This works for @robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay Alt Theme of #White, birds with mainly White plumages and almost for #Touchdown, birds at the moment of landing whether on water, land or branches.

Here's a twofer, today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BirdsInTheirElement (birds thriving within their habitat) and the alt of #Feather&Light (showing the beauty of plumage in natural light). These are Indian Cormorants at Bueng Boraphet Bird Park in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.

I'll go with the Alt theme of #Paridae for today's #BirdOfTheDay set by @robcrank68.bsky.social. These Oak Titmice were kind enough to set up their feeding on a Lady Banks rose in our garden in Oakland, California.

This Cooper's Hawk, shown here consuming one of our other feathered friends and taken last September, is an occasional visitor to our Oakland backyard. He'll do for @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Raptors. The chickenwire on our apple tree is to discourage the voracious squirrels

A Black-necked Stilt taking the next step for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #OutForAWalk set by @robcrank68.bsky.social. Photo was taken at Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt, California.

I have yet to get a "best" photo of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo with it's improbable tail feathers, but here's a capture from at Huay Tung Tao lake in Chiang Mai, Thailand for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Black set by @alan678.bsky.social.

Long legs looking longer because of the reflection – a Painted Stork at Bang Pu in Samut Prakan, Thailand. For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #LongLegs, bird with long legs, and the Alt theme of #MultiColour, birds with 4 or more colours, set by @robcrank68.bsky.social.

Hard to choose for ‪@alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme for today of #InFlight, birds in flight, so I'll post two from Thailand earlier in the year: an Osprey at Bueng Boraphet in Nakhon Sawan and a flock of Whistling Ducks at Thale Noi in Phattalung. Both are fabulous birding sites.

We had a White Ringneck Dove live with us for 23+ years after finding him lost on the street. He had a mate for some of that time and the preferred nesting material was twisty ties. For today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme of #Nesting set by @robcrank68.bsky.social.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme, set by the inimitable @alan678.bsky.social (who along with @robcrank68.bsky.social deserves our unending gratitude for hosting) is #TheGathering. These Bushtits are having a confab in our Oakland, California backyard birdbath.

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in California is a great place to see Snow Geese & Ross's Geese in season. It's so awesome when a flock takes off. Here's two pictures 40 minutes apart in a past November. For today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme of #Geese set by @robcrank68.bsky.social

This is well worth a read. It’s a complete interview of Scott Pelley, recently fired from “60 Minutes” for daring to stand up for the truth. Perfect illustration of how democracy dies, if we let it. robertreich.substack.com/p/trump-fire...

I never thought I'd think of a seagull as cute until I saw this Bonaparte's Gull at the Moore Creek Trail at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California. For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of celebrating #WorldOceansDay set by @alan678.bsky.social.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme – #BranchingOut set by @robcrank68.bsky.social – here's a Great Hornbill at the Bang Krang campsite in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand this February. The campsite is 30 km up a twisty, bumpy 4-wheel drive road. I got over 2,000 steps on my iPhone from the drive.

@alan678.bsky.social has set today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BorrowedPlaces. Here's a Dark-eyed Junco on a sign on the Moore Creek Trail at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California. I'm just back from a 3-day trip there: lots of good spots for birding.

This female Mallard at The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California is not amused. For today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme of #LookingAtYou, any bird staring at you, courtesy of @robcrank68.bsky.social.

One more for the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BadFeatherDay, set by @alan678.bsky.social. This young Wood Duck just growing into his adult feathers is from Neary Wildlife Refuge in Santa Cruz. Taken on Tuesday, I just now loaded it onto the computer. .

We have two birdbaths at our home in Oakland, California: the lower spa and the upper spa. This California Towhee is in the lower spa for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BadFeatherDay, set by @alan6789.bsky.social.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #FirstWingbeat — capturing the instant of take-off – here's a Song Sparrow taking flight at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary in California.

A Red Collared Dove in Phetchaburi, Thailand for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #NegativeSpace, set by @alan678.bsky.social.

I'll go with this slightly demonic looking Eared Grebe at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, California for @robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Podicipedidae.

Here's a Snow Goose at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in California for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Anatidae, any of the Species will do, set by @robcrank68.bsky.social.

Two for @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BirdOnAWire. One even works for the alt (#T). First up, a White-throated Kingfisher along the edges of Sam Roi Yot National Park in Thailand. Next, an American Kestrel at Merced National Wildlife Refuge in California.

Marsh Wrens are often heard but not seen. Not this one at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, California. Posted for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #SingForYourSupper, any bird singing, set by @alan678.bsky.social.