Oak titmouse, taken Sep. 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

What would the world be without chickadees? Chestnut-backed chickadee, Sep. 2025, #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

White-breasted nuthatch. August 2025, #SantaRosa, #California #birds #birdphotography #m43 #sonomacounty

I met this black-tailed #deer yesterday. Taken Sep. 2025 in #Santarosa, #California. #mammals #sonomaocunty #m43

Sonoma chipmunk gave me a perfect side view. Taken Aug. 2025 in #Philo, #California. #mammals #chipmunk #hendywoods #mendocinocounty #m43

This is so perfect.

Mammals use their larynx to vocalize, while songbirds have a syrinx at the junction of the bronchi. The two-sided syrinx lets birds make complex sounds, including mimicking human speech in the case of #crows. Taken Sep. 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Another view of yesterday's marsh wren. I find it quite handsome with its shades of brown and steaks of white and black. Taken Aug 2025 in #Petaluma, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Marsh wren in the fennel. Taken Sept. 2025 in #Petaluma, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

"Chipmunks are cute" is a tautology, I think. Sonoma #Chipmunk, taken Aug 2025 in #Philo, #California. #mammals #mendocinocounty #m43

More about the wrentit: genetic analysis put its closest relatives in Asia, a family of birds called parrotbills. Taken Aug. 2025 in #Mendocino, #California. #birds #birdphotography #mendocinocounty #m43

My first wrentit! It is neither a wren, nor a tit, bearing only superficial similarities to its namesakes. Their coastal habitat is shrinking due to human development. Taken Aug. 2025 in #Mendocino, #California. #birds #birdphotography #mendocinocounty #m43

Northern mockingbird, taken Aug. 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Do the white feathers on the breast of the scrub jay remind you of a pirate blouse? Or Purple Rain era Prince? Taken Aug. 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Conservatives in 1930's Germany viewed democracy as an obstacle, and dictatorship as the solution. Conservatives in 2025 USA: same.

Yesterday's white-breasted nuthatch, with oak-textured goodness. Taken Aug. 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California, governed by America's Favorite Governor. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

No up, no down, for the white-breasted nuthatch. Taken Aug. 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

What a shocker. youtu.be/A95ES8W9k1o?...

Young California Quail with its light brown camouflage, perfect for the dry season. Taken August 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Downy #woodpecker, at your service. Taken Aug. 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

This is why I stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦

This 2018 book is clearly a warning about MAGA. A few familiar themes: - Rural anti-intellectualism, anti-globalization, anti-urbanism, anti-secularism were exploited - The bigger the lie, the more believable it was - Politicians trying to stay in power woke up too late - No one expected the worst

California dreamin': downy woodpecker on the trunk of a Mexican fan palm. Taken Aug 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

This California towhee was busy feeding in the grass. I thought it was seeds at first, but it is clearly bugs. Taken August 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

A brown creeper on a pine. I find them by their high pitched peeps; they are almost always talking to each other. Taken August 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

With a heraldic pose, Anna's hummingbird auditions to be on money or a flag. I love how the redwood needles are bending under its weight. Taken Aug 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphtography #sonomacounty #m43

Photography would be easy if all birds cooperated like this song #sparrow. Taken August 2025 in #Petaluma, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

This female northern harrier gave me one pass at a decent photo. Usually that is all one gets. I'll keep trying to get the perfect shot. Taken Aug. 2025 in #Petaluma, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Returning to roost at sunset, red-winged blackbirds. Taken August 2025 in #Petaluma, #California #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Perhaps the last shot of the season in my yard? Anna's hummingbird, taken August 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

This is pretty much what happens every time I photograph a bird. I hope you get a touch of it when you view the image.

8 years and 17,784 puzzles later, I have reached a 2600 rating on chess.com. The evenly spaced plateaus are astounding. Ain't the human mind a curiosity? There are a still a quarter million people better than me 😅. #chess

My friend the black phoebe is back! Taken Aug 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Chestnut-backed chickadee in a redwood tree. I hear them almost every time I venture out, but they seldom get close enough for a photo. Taken August 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

This is one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever seen.

The morning sun ignites the eye of a young spotted towhee. Taken August 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

After watching this oak titmouse thrash this caterpillar against a twig, I thought, "what a little badass!" This little hunter helps keep our oaks healthy. Taken August 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Bewick's #wren out in the open before flying into the brush. Taken August 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Anna's #hummingbird showing a little tongue. Taken July 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

I am currently reading "The Death of Democracy" by Benjamin Carter Hett. It was published in 2018, during the first Trump administration. There are so many 1 to 1 correlations one can make from 1930's Weimar Republic to the USA in 2025. We are not as far gone, but the window is closing.

A juvenile northern mockingbird takes a break from berry picking with its siblings. Taken July 2025 in #RohnertPark #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

It's so cool that lesser goldfinch are just the right weight to balance at the end of a long stalk of grass to feed on its seeds. Taken July 2025 in #RohnertPark #California #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Anna's Hummingbird, taken July 2025 in #RohnertPark, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

A California quail heads for the blackberry bramble. The thick and thorny underbrush provides excellent cover. Take July 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Ben Franklin said the wild turkey is "a bird of courage." A mom stretches her wings with her chick nearby. Taken July 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

After this youngster begged, the parent ate the wasp. A little encouragement to start hunting for itself. Western Kingbird, taken July 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Western kingbird with a yellowjacket wasp. Taken July 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

Look at the colors on this beautiful boy. Acorn #woodpecker, take July 2025 in #SantaRosa, #California. #birds #birdphotography #sonomacounty #m43

#Alternating something we can’t begin to comprehend #BlueSkyArtShow #EastCoastKin #photography