David C. Simon
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davidcsimon.bsky.social
David C. Simon
@davidcsimon.bsky.social
2.4K followers 280 following 1.3K posts
Australian artist, writer, wildlife photographer, dungeon master, and bird-nerd. Autistic and depressed, but video games help.
All photos are my own unless otherwise credited. All subjects are wild and living unless otherwise noted.
No AI please.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by David C. Simon
rosemarymosco.com
Baby pigeon mystery.
My pigeon book is here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rosem...
A six-panel comic. In panel 1, text says "People often wonder, why don't I see baby pigeons? Here's where they're hiding:" and there's an egg with an arrow pointing to a question mark, then an arrow pointing to an adult pigeon. Panel 2 says "Pigeons don't nest in trees. They nest in sheltered spaces on or in buildings. This keeps their babies safe from weather and predators." There's a pigeon nesting in a sheltered cavity in the side of a building. Panel 3 says "The hidden babies look like this: like moldy potatoes, but cute" and there are two baby pigeons looking, well, like moldy pink and gray potatoes with yellow fuzz. Panel 4 says "Older baby pigeons hide in plain sight. When they leave the nest, they're adult-sized, but they're still young and learning" and a fledgling pigeon is flying out of a building saying "aaaaaa". Panel 5 says "Here's how to identify these young pigeons" and shows a fledgling pigeon with arrows pointing to these features: eyes may be gray-brown, pale-edged feathers, smaller "nose" (cere), subdued hues, and looks worried. Panel 6 says "Scientifically speaking, though, all pigeons are sweet babies" and there are three very cute round pigeons, a gray, white, and red one, with arrows pointing to them to make things look scientific.
November 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I returned to Mt Tomah yesterday. The wattlebirds left the Puya flowers unguarded for a few minutes and this Eastern Spinebill managed to slip in under the RADAR.
#birds
Photograph of an Eastern Spinebill on a puya flower spike. The bird is a small, slender honeyeater in black, orange, brown, and white, with bright red eyes and a long curved black beak. The puya flowers are teal with orange anthers, and the spike dwarfs the diminutive bird. Same subject, wider angle showing how small the bird is in relation to a cluster of the puya flowers. Same subject, but cropped to and focused on the bird's face, showing its bright red eye reflecting the sun, and orange pollen around its neres and on the end of its beak. It is poking its tongue out which appears forked but is more like a brush, for soaking up nectar.
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I returned to Mt Tomah yesterday. The wattlebirds left the Puya flowers unguarded for a few minutes and this Eastern Spinebill managed to slip in under the RADAR.
#birds
Photograph of an Eastern Spinebill on a puya flower spike. The bird is a small, slender honeyeater in black, orange, brown, and white, with bright red eyes and a long curved black beak. The puya flowers are teal with orange anthers, and the spike dwarfs the diminutive bird. Same subject, wider angle showing how small the bird is in relation to a cluster of the puya flowers. Same subject, but cropped to and focused on the bird's face, showing its bright red eye reflecting the sun, and orange pollen around its neres and on the end of its beak. It is poking its tongue out which appears forked but is more like a brush, for soaking up nectar.
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
My multifocals arrived and they're good for everything except sitting at the computer, so I've just ordered some computer glasses.

All together I've spent over $1,500 this past fortnight for the luxury of... ::checks notes:: ...being able to see.
November 11, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
ianzpotter.bsky.social
Happy There Is A Circulatory System Walking Through The Kitchen Day to all who celebrate.
It's an artistic representation of a circulatory system walking through a kitchen, as drawn by Dave Gibbons and written about by Alan Moore. It happens a lot 'round here.
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I found an Australian Emperor dragonfly chilling on a wattle leaf in my backyard last night. Wingspan was about 11cm.

They're normally very active and flighty so I was delighted to get so close with my macro lens.
#insects #invertebrates
Photograph of a large dragonfly, lateral view, holding onto the end of a wattle leaf. The dragonfly is mostly yellow, but it is patterened with black, green, brown, and iridescence. The same subject, dorsal view, showing the wings spread wide and the symmetrical patterning on the long thin abdomen. Same subject, close-up focusing on the head and upper thorax. The dragonfly is actively cleaning its eyes by rubbing them with one of its forelegs. In full screen view it's possible to discern countless tiny hairs on its exoskeleton as well as the individual facets of its eyes.
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I found an Australian Emperor dragonfly chilling on a wattle leaf in my backyard last night. Wingspan was about 11cm.

They're normally very active and flighty so I was delighted to get so close with my macro lens.
#insects #invertebrates
Photograph of a large dragonfly, lateral view, holding onto the end of a wattle leaf. The dragonfly is mostly yellow, but it is patterened with black, green, brown, and iridescence. The same subject, dorsal view, showing the wings spread wide and the symmetrical patterning on the long thin abdomen. Same subject, close-up focusing on the head and upper thorax. The dragonfly is actively cleaning its eyes by rubbing them with one of its forelegs. In full screen view it's possible to discern countless tiny hairs on its exoskeleton as well as the individual facets of its eyes.
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Baby Brown Thornbill!!!
#birds
Photograph of a juvenile Brown Thornbill - a very small passerine bird - perched on a thin branch. The bird is fluffy and round, with a light belly, striated breast, brown head, and brown wings and tail. Its gape is light yellow and its eyes are dark, indicating its immaturity.
November 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Baby Brown Thornbill!!!
#birds
Photograph of a juvenile Brown Thornbill - a very small passerine bird - perched on a thin branch. The bird is fluffy and round, with a light belly, striated breast, brown head, and brown wings and tail. Its gape is light yellow and its eyes are dark, indicating its immaturity.
November 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
It's that time of year again: The Puyas are flowering at the Botanic Gardens in Mt Tomah!

The Wattlebirds (Red and Little) have bright orange faces from all the pollen, while the Bowerbirds are eating the bulbs themselves, creating small pollen explosions.

#birds
Photograph of a Red Wattlebird among Puya flowers. The wattlebird is mottled and striated in brown and white, with a yellow belly, red wattles on its cheeks, and bright red eyes. There is a large quantity of orange pollen on its face. The flowers are turquoise with orange stamens. Photograph of a Little Wattlebird perched on a lateral puya flower spike. It is similar to the Red Wattlebird, but smaller, with no wattles, and light grey/purple eyes. The front of its face is absolutely caked on orange pollen. Photograph of a male Satin Bowerbird on a Puya flower spike with a flower bud in its beak. The bird is satin black with a light beak and violet eyes, and there is an explosion of orange pollen in front of its body, like fireworks.
November 7, 2025 at 2:28 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
It's that time of year again: The Puyas are flowering at the Botanic Gardens in Mt Tomah!

The Wattlebirds (Red and Little) have bright orange faces from all the pollen, while the Bowerbirds are eating the bulbs themselves, creating small pollen explosions.

#birds
Photograph of a Red Wattlebird among Puya flowers. The wattlebird is mottled and striated in brown and white, with a yellow belly, red wattles on its cheeks, and bright red eyes. There is a large quantity of orange pollen on its face. The flowers are turquoise with orange stamens. Photograph of a Little Wattlebird perched on a lateral puya flower spike. It is similar to the Red Wattlebird, but smaller, with no wattles, and light grey/purple eyes. The front of its face is absolutely caked on orange pollen. Photograph of a male Satin Bowerbird on a Puya flower spike with a flower bud in its beak. The bird is satin black with a light beak and violet eyes, and there is an explosion of orange pollen in front of its body, like fireworks.
November 7, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
secondwindgroup.com
It was always about the "right" politics in video games, and the silence of video game companies is defeaning.

An extra episode of Unpacked is available now from @nickjcal.bsky.social.
It Was Always About the "Right" Politics in Video Games | Unpacked
YouTube video by Second Wind
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
One of our regular Crimson Rosellas.
#birds
Photograph of a bright red parrot, portrait from the shoulders up. It has brown eyes, a white beak, and blue feathers on its cheeks and wings.
November 4, 2025 at 12:54 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
One of our regular Crimson Rosellas.
#birds
Photograph of a bright red parrot, portrait from the shoulders up. It has brown eyes, a white beak, and blue feathers on its cheeks and wings.
November 4, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
#birds
Photograph of a large white parrot from the shoulders up. It has a bright yellow crest which is currently raised so that each individual crest feather is spread out and discernible.
November 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
#birds
Photograph of a large white parrot from the shoulders up. It has a bright yellow crest which is currently raised so that each individual crest feather is spread out and discernible.
November 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I'm not doing much photography while I wait for my new glasses to arrive, but some subjects don't require perfect vision - just point your lens at the screaming.
#birds
Photograph of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo on a tree branch - a large white parrot with yellow crest feathers and yellow under its wings and tail. It is facing the camera with its wings spread back, its crest raised, and its beak open (with its tongue visible) as it screams loudly. Many Australians know the soundtrack to this photo.
October 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
ockeroid.bsky.social
And while you're at it, scroll down further to uncheck this
Screenshot of youtube settings: Third-party training UNCHECKED CHECK BOX. Allow third-party companies to train Al models using my channel content If you select this option, YouTube may share your videos with a third-party company provided that you and all other applicable rights holders have chosen to allow that company. The training permission status of all videos will be available through a publicly accessible interface. Learn more
October 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I'm not doing much photography while I wait for my new glasses to arrive, but some subjects don't require perfect vision - just point your lens at the screaming.
#birds
Photograph of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo on a tree branch - a large white parrot with yellow crest feathers and yellow under its wings and tail. It is facing the camera with its wings spread back, its crest raised, and its beak open (with its tongue visible) as it screams loudly. Many Australians know the soundtrack to this photo.
October 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
St Andrew's Cross spider (Argiope keyserlingi).
Theories abound about why some orbweavers decorate their webs with lines or crosses, but we don't really know.
#spiders #invertebrates
Photograph of a medium-sized orbweaver spider at the centre of its web. The spider is dark orange with distinctive yellow stripes and dots on its abdomen, and light orange bands on its legs. There are lines in the web made of zig-zagging silk radiating out from the spider at roughly 4 and 10 o'clock.
October 31, 2025 at 3:28 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
St Andrew's Cross spider (Argiope keyserlingi).
Theories abound about why some orbweavers decorate their webs with lines or crosses, but we don't really know.
#spiders #invertebrates
Photograph of a medium-sized orbweaver spider at the centre of its web. The spider is dark orange with distinctive yellow stripes and dots on its abdomen, and light orange bands on its legs. There are lines in the web made of zig-zagging silk radiating out from the spider at roughly 4 and 10 o'clock.
October 31, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Australasian Swamphen (known as a Pūkeko across the ditch).
#birds
Photograph of a medium-sized rail standing in a relatively calm lake reflecting the sky. The bird is black and dark blue with a bright red beak and shield on its forehead. Its legs are orange and it has one raised so its remarkably long toes are held above the water.
October 30, 2025 at 4:03 AM
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Australasian Swamphen (known as a Pūkeko across the ditch).
#birds
Photograph of a medium-sized rail standing in a relatively calm lake reflecting the sky. The bird is black and dark blue with a bright red beak and shield on its forehead. Its legs are orange and it has one raised so its remarkably long toes are held above the water.
October 30, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
davidcsimon.bsky.social
This young male Satin Bowerbird has developed some of his first mature black satin feathers... around his eyes so it looks like he's wearing eyeliner or mascara XD
#birds
Photograph of a immature male Satin Bowerbird perched on a bare tree branch with green foliage in the background. The bird is mostly olive and jade green with brown and yellow. Its beak is creamy white (the biggest giveaway that it's an immature male, rather than a female), and its eyes are violet. The same subject, cropped to the bird's head and shoulders, with the bird's head turned so that the other eyes is visible. A row of very small dark feathers is starting to form under the eye.
October 28, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Reposted by David C. Simon
shoshiroll.bsky.social
Valve isn't nice or your friend, its just that no one has a gun to their head demanding they meet some made up growth goal every year or else. So they just do what works and makes money with as little risk as possible. Like a normal fucking business.
October 29, 2025 at 2:01 AM