Rummaging through some old photos this morning, I came across my one and only photo of an American kestrel. This picture was taken near Ririe Reservoir in southeast Idaho a couple of years ago. Kestrels are absolutely beautiful little falcons. #birds #idaho

This American widgeon hen was paddling about a pond in Albuquerque's BioPark a couple of years ago. I really appreciate the calming vibes that female ducks give off -- very serene ladies. #birdoftheday #ducks #birds #newmexico

I saw my first greater roadrunner of the year at Clark County Wetlands Park, just southeast of Las Vegas, last Friday. It was running on a road. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

One of my favorite #paddling birds, a pied-billed grebe, on the Las Vegas Wash last Friday. It was a mostly overcast day, but the sun came out for a little bit to highlight this little water bird. #birds #lasvegas #nevada #birdoftheday

Laissez Faire Christianity is a hell of a drug.

Looking positively prehistoric, this double-crested cormorant is drying itself on a rock in the Las Vegas Wash. Photo taken last week at Clark County Wetlands Park, southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

This male house finch was enjoying the sun at Clark County Wetlands Park earlier this month. He was in a group of fairly chatty finches – it was good to hear. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

A backlit black phoebe perches on a four-wing saltbush near the Las Vegas Wash at Clark County Wetlands Park earlier this month. All of the blurry spots around the bird are flying insects, which this flycatcher surely appreciated. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

A couple of double-crested cormorants sunning themselves in the middle of the Las Vegas Wash, under close observation by a common merganser. I saw 10 different bird species (list in the ALT text) on or above the water during my brief visit there last week – great diversity. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

This was a lifer for me last week: a black-crowned night heron, on a bank of the Las Vegas Wash in southern Nevada. As is its wont, an American coot is also on the scene. Yes, the wash is polluted with human trash from upstream but it still seems to support wildlife. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

Here was a bit of a surprise on our visit to Clark County Wetlands Park near Las Vegas yesterday: this coyote stood on the concrete path and stared at us for a bit, and then trotted onto an adjoining dirt trail. We had previously seen sign of them but never one directly. #wildlife #lasvegas #nevada

My dog and I returned to Clark County Wetlands Park yesterday and saw 13 different bird species. We enjoyed seeing two different individuals of verdins. These little birds are _tiny_: about 4 inches (10 cm) long and weighing .2 oz (6 grams) -- smaller than a chickadee. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

Using its mighty peculiar lobed feet, an American coot launches itself into the Las Vegas Wash last week at Clark County Wetlands Park. The waterway transports treated wastewater and runoff from Las Vegas back to Lake Mead about 20 miles downstream from where this photo was taken. #birds #lasvegas

This northern mockingbird was hanging out on a mesquite tree at Clark County Wetlands Park near Las Vegas, Nevada, last week. I didn't hear it make any calls, but I'm sure it has an impressive repertoire. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

I made my first visit of the year to Clark County Wetlands Park near Las Vegas last week and saw several different bird species, including this pretty female house finch. She was among several other finches flitting about in the trees, happily chirping away. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

This Anna's hummingbird hangs out on the regular next to the dog park in our Las Vegas campground. Seeing it in the same spot every morning is a great start to my day (and probably my dog's as well). #birds #lasvegas #nevada

A well-camouflaged mourning dove patrols the grounds outside the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center on December 27 last year. This is the last bird photo I took in 2025; I saw 96 different avian species during the course of the year. #birds #nationalparks #lasvegas #nevada

Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important. We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."

We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community. The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution. Don’t give up the ship.

We had a memorable interaction with invertebrates last weekend at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, home to a lovely butterfly habitat. talesofthegoddard.com/2025/11/18/b... #invertebrates #butterflies #lasvegas #nevada

This lovely little verdin was making its way through the green branches of the Botanical Garden at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada, last weekend. Very pretty little desert birds – I've seen only a very few of them in the last several years of being in the southwest. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

Here's my contribution to today's #birdoftheday theme, #CootsAndMoorhens: an American coot I photographed last year in the Las Vegas Wash. Dig those crazy feet! #birds #lasvegas

A Woodhouse's scrub-jay perches on a bare branch along the Kayenta Trail in Zion National Park last weekend. The steep walls of Zion Canyon would prevent the sun from reaching this tree for at least another hour. #birds #nationalparks #utah

This Anna's hummingbird had a steady perch just outside the dog park in our Las Vegas campground all winter last year. We arrived at the same campground for the winter yesterday, and I was really happy to see the little guy on the same treetop again this morning. #birds #lasvegas #nevada

I just love major league baseball. Sometimes it makes absolutely no sense, and it’s all the more entertaining for it.

A mountain bluebird monitors the goings-on at our campground's dog run in Parowan, Utah, last week. #birds #utah

A lovely mountain bluebird enjoys the last moments of the late-afternoon golden hour. Photo taken last week in Parowan, Utah. These birds added a lot of pretty color to our stay in Parowan. #birds #utah

When I saw this bird before photographing it, I thought it was a female house finch. However, it's a pine siskin, and it's a lifer! Photographed in Parowan, Utah, last week. #birds #utah

it’s said all the time but I think we should continue to hammer home how insane it is that we got dead-eyed bros trying to sell us robots that will free us from the supposedly cruel burden of “creative careers” instead of the actual cruel burden of “doing menial household chores”

A lesser goldfinch surveys the greater Fillmore, Utah, region earlier this week. Fillmore was intended to be the capital of the Utah Territory and construction started on a capitol building (still standing) in 1852. The legislature decided in 1856 to move the capital to Salt Lake City. #birds #utah

A small flock of wild turkeys at our campground in central Utah earlier this week. They weren't particularly interested in having their pictures taken. These are large birds: adult toms weigh an average of 17 pounds (7.6 kg) and adult hens average 9.4 pounds (4.6 kg). #birds #utah

I was afraid things were going to get a little chippy between these ring-billed gulls and American white pelican, but they worked out a solution to whatever was going on. Photo taken late last month on the Snake River at Massacre Rocks State Park near American Falls, Idaho. #birds #stateparks #idaho

I completely agree with this, and I’ll add that it also became okay to be a jerk in public because the nation’s chief executive was doing it all the time. And is doing it again.

A lark sparrow on one of the hiking trails at Golden Spike National Historical Park in northern Utah. The park commemorates the site where, on May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed. #birds #nationalparks #utah

We spent some pleasant hours strolling about Back Basin in Yellowstone National Park’s Norris Geyser Basin earlier this month, and I had some recollections of the spectacular sights and sulfurous smells. #nationalparks #wyoming talesofthegoddard.com/2025/09/24/b...

In southeastern Idaho, a double-crested cormorant and an American white pelican trade fishing tips and tricks on the Snake River as it flows through Massacre Rocks State Park. #birds #stateparks #idaho

A couple of house finches greet the morning at Ririe Reservoir in southeastern Idaho last week. A lot of the birds we saw were already in muted fall colors. #birds #idaho

It was rewarding to watch ospreys hunt over Ririe Reservoir in southeastern Idaho last week. This one was enjoying an early morning breakfast. (Don’t enlarge the photo if you’re squeamish about early osprey breakfasts; there’s a trout under its talons). #birds #Idaho

An American goldfinch and a housefinch share a laugh in the Juniper Campground at Ririe Reservoir in southeastern Idaho. They’re probably still at Site B-11 if you want to get in on the jokes. #birds #Idaho

A female American goldfinch, munching on sunflower seeds yesterday at Ririe Reservoir in southeastern Idaho. #birds

I agree with @willbunch.bsky.social Democracy has been dying at @washingtonpost.com since broligarch owner, Bezos, bent the knee to FOTUS. Corporate media has failed us. www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...

I literally subscribed yesterday, and only to read/support Sepinwall. Easy decision to uno, though.

American bison bull grazing in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley last week. Male bison like this one can weigh up to 2,800 pounds – a little less than the curb weight of a Toyota Corolla. He was in a herd of about 20 other bison very near the road. #yellowstone #nationalparks

Someone shot up my kid's school today, and our governor is paying tribute to a guy who thought that is an acceptable price to pay for having the Second Amendment. Jared Polis has failed Colorado.

I think it’s important to understand that a billion dollars is one thousand times more than a million dollars: a person with $999 million is still at least $1 million “poorer” than a billionaire. Those are unthinkable amounts of money.

While waiting for Daisy Geyser to erupt in #Yellowstone National Park yesterday, we saw Grand Geyser (L) start up. It's an impressive sight, even from 3/8 of a mile away. For scale, people on the geyser's benches can be seen in lower right. Daisy (R) erupted a few minutes later. #nationalparks

A common merganser scoots upstream on the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park's Hayden Valley. I took this picture last weekend; we also saw Canada geese, northern shovelers, and mallards on the river. #birds #yellowstone #nationalparks

I saw this song sparrow every morning of the two weeks we were camping in Custer, South Dakota, earlier this month. I kinda miss seeing (and hearing) the little guy. #birds #blackhills

We saw plenty of American robins on our visit to Devils Tower National Monument in northeastern Wyoming last Saturday. This one, with plenty of American robin company, was munching on chokecherries. We also glimpsed the tower itself (at right). #birds #nationalparks #wyoming