"Where are all the bugs? Why aren't my mates flitting all around? Why am I here, anyway?" An American Barn Swallow ponders life by the lake on a mid-summer's eve. #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #NegativeSpace #Solitude

The blend of textures of barren branches of which eagles are so fond, the soft layering of its brown feathers combined with its fierce eagle demeanor meet today's #Texture spec methinks. #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

Here's the erstwhile job applicant of a few days back now foraging for a spot of lunch, post interview. (see reply below for his story) #Anatidae #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

Dear Sir: Please accept my application for the Assistant Pond Manager position in your back woods. Attached you will find my vita and a picture. Thank you. Respectfully, ... #HeadShots #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

This very diligent Purple Finch (or is it a Cassin's) doing its best to suss out a whole seed amongst the detritus below the feeder on an otherwise glum early Spring day. #Grassland #Red #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

A contemporary offering to his mate's & the Scarlet Tanager post of the last few days, this guy begs for your attention now that he gets a BotD #scrollback opportunity (Thanks, guys!). #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

In case you were wondering why we're named Grosbeak... [crack, chomp, chomp — yum] #Feeders #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

"Just washed my feathers and can't do a thing with 'em." #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Ruffled

This jaunty fellow is likely checking out the bird feeder's suet cakes off to the right of the blooming cherry tree before swooping in to grab its share. #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #FeathersInFoliage

The very definition of a "Snowbird" (US & Canadian slang for Winter humans going to warmer climes), an Arctic breeding Sanderling checking out its shadow, Destin, FL. #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #WadersOuttaWater

Showing away on a beautiful day. #InMotion #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

"How you like them dapples, buster?" #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Dappled

Let's eat! #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Pairs

A follow-on to my BotD post on parenting "Teenager", here is the lucky teen getting his #Mouthful after talking Mom into feeding him his supper. #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

Teenager: "Hey, Mom, what's for supper?" #Parenthood #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

Hard to find any bird much 'brown-er' than this Mallard hen resting in my backyard on a rainy April afternoon (perfect weather — if you're a duck!) #BeautyInBrown #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

BURRRRRRP! Sheesh — that last bit of carrion was a bit much, I guess. #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #WellTimed

You can smile for passport photos, you know... #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #PassportPhoto

The Madness of King Gorge:

After a mousey snack I'd tossed his way, this fine young Red Tailed hawk hopped up on my grape trellis even closer to me to say "Thanks!" [OK, in my dreams, maybe.] #manmadeperch #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

Loved this doc on our feathered woodsmen.

Here ya go, Sweetie— Thanks, Mom! [Given their sedate, austere beauty, it's easy to overlook the fact that Loons are active piscine predators.] #Snacks #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

This little guy won with most 'Likes' by you fine folks. (I like it,too!) #BestoftheMonth [July 2010, Inner Farne sanctuary, Northumberland, England] #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

The whole fam damnly out and about: attentive parents, perky little followers, a sunny late Spring day at 'the lake' — life is blessed. #AdultsWithChicks #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

Caught this guy looking for a better spot along the shore to grab lunch. (Hope there's enough blue to qualify my contrib to the incredible collection of Blue Heron pics found here.) #Blue #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching

This young Red-Tailed hawk obligingly devoured a mouse I'd found trapped in my garage and tossed at him while he posed for pics on my shed roof. I love Nature... #Eating #BirdOfTheDay #Wildlife #ECK #Birding #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #PhotographyIsArt

"Don't look now but it's that idiot drifting by on the pontoon again." "Yeah." #BirdOfTheDay #OpenBeak #Birds

Answering the eternal question: "Why in the world are they called Red-BELLIED woodpeckers anyways?!" #Tricolor #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

Does a Mommy's preen of pesky droplets count? (The babe's just learning to submerge and its coat isn't fully waterproof yet.) #BirdOfTheDay #Preeners&Scratchers #Birds

#BirdOfTheDay #Migratory #birds Migratory? What bird in Minnesota isn't? Ha ha, no fools they. But here's one we always hope migrates back our way each Spring [please, oh please!]. On the lookout for a bug or worm to snatch up and carry back to the birdhouse for its perpetually ravenous brood.

To my (newfound!) friends whose really terrific bird pics I now treat myself to each & every day, below please find a gift link to a photo article in The Atlantic on our favorite topic. To me these pics are aspirational: maybe someday, if I just keep looking, camera in hand... #birdoftheday #birds

"You there, on the drifting pontoon, state your business or move along." #BirdoftheDay #LookingAtMe #Birds

A Geordie Jackdaw — eein' me bait an Broon. [Eyeing my lunch and Newcastle Brown Ale) Ever present, never seen. #birdoftheday #grounded

"What'd you do with the kid?" "Nothing — haven't seen him. I thought YOU were watching." (ed. note: The small ripples between our couple shows where babe has just practiced submerging.) #BirdOfTheDay #MarriedCouples #Birds

A trio of Bonaparte's gulls enjoying the gentle breeze and surf n' sun of Emerald Beach of Destin, FL. #birds #birdoftheday #landmeetswater

He rocks in the treetop all the day long Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singin' his song Rockin' robin (Tweet tweet tweet) ----- Eying having yet another ripe Mulberry on Summer's day. #BirdOfTheDay #Robins

A grey day in the park yesterday was brightened when a passerby mentioned he had seen an owl a few hundred yards in the direction we were headed and we found it! #birds #photography #birdphotography #Raptors #owl 🦉 A Barred Owl (my first attempt at ALT Text)

Joie de vivre. #BirdOfTheDay #Splash #Birds

Hey, you with the camera! Those damn orioles have snarfed all the jelly — get with the program if you want the prettier bird showing up here! #Birdoftheday #feeders #Birds

Our resident Northern Flicker loads up on a gray winter's day. #BirdOfTheDay #GreyDay #Birds

This Purple Finch and his friends decided they liked our back yard (and feeders!) so much they hung around most of the season. We were glad to have them. #BirdOfTheDay #SongBirds #Birds

Hey, pictureman, who you calling ugly?! Ya know you ain't no Mona Lisa yourself! #BirdOfTheDay #headshots #Birds

Hiding behind this twig and peeking to see if the way is clear to that feeder with its black oil sunflower and yummy safflower seeds. #BirdOfTheDay #TwigsAreUs #Birds

Do gulls perch? This Laughing Gull has FOUND the perfect perch. It's a step up from padding around down on the sand with its buddies, and easier than soaring around all day. But is it 'perching' —or 'roosting'? Let us not be pedantic here and say close enuf. #birdoftheday #perfectlyperched #birds

Caught this little fella 15 years ago posing for a #BirdOfTheDay #WingsOpenNotFlying theme that did not yet exist. (Our world is an amazing place.) [July 2010, Inner Farne sanctuary, Northumberland, England] #Birds

A little family of Trumpeters, looking a bit dishabille after foraging in the turbid waters of a slough, show off their successful breeding season for all to see. #birdoftheday #longnecks #birds

My best side, having a spot of jam. #BirdOfTheDay #SideProfiles #Birds

Tough to beat a swan for photogenicity (?); um, photogeniety? um, no; photogenesis (nope); photogenity? ... oh, the hell with it, here's the beautiful bird: #photogenic #BirdOfTheDay #Birds

"Can't a bird get a little privacy around here?!!" #BirdOfTheDay #StandingInWater #Birds

Backyard feathered shed inspector: “Sir, are you aware this support pillar is sagging some?” Me: “Yes, thank you. Could you please do something about the excess of rodents running around here?” #birdoftheday #steppingout #birds