Richard A. Fleming
@donflan.bsky.social
Birder, writer, artist, sound-recordist. Author of Walking to Guantánamo. Following mostly traveling birders and posting mostly bird travels.
Pinned
Richard A. Fleming
@donflan.bsky.social
· Mar 11
Surf scoters are the most metal bird out there. If you disagree, post a bird that's more metal. #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025
This is Gould’s Jewelfront, an absolutely spectacular hummingbird I was lucky enough to see yesterday on my birthday at the remote but wonderful La Isla Escondida, in Putumayo, Colombia. #birdsseenin2026 #birding
January 20, 2026 at 6:32 AM
This is Gould’s Jewelfront, an absolutely spectacular hummingbird I was lucky enough to see yesterday on my birthday at the remote but wonderful La Isla Escondida, in Putumayo, Colombia. #birdsseenin2026 #birding
Reposted by Richard A. Fleming
One thing I've learned since my partner got into birding. I no longer have a favorite bird.
January 17, 2026 at 5:28 PM
One thing I've learned since my partner got into birding. I no longer have a favorite bird.
Streak-throated Bush-tyrant, giving an exemplary view of its streaky throat this morning at Montserrate, 1000 meters above the plains, and the city, of Bogotá, for #birdsseenin2026 #birding
January 17, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Streak-throated Bush-tyrant, giving an exemplary view of its streaky throat this morning at Montserrate, 1000 meters above the plains, and the city, of Bogotá, for #birdsseenin2026 #birding
Rough-legged #Hawk at Staten Island’s Brookfield Park. There is a major influx of these handsome raptors to the region this winter—usually seeing one requires a long, dawn, drive to the “black dirt” region of Orange County, NY. #birdsseenin2026
January 15, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Rough-legged #Hawk at Staten Island’s Brookfield Park. There is a major influx of these handsome raptors to the region this winter—usually seeing one requires a long, dawn, drive to the “black dirt” region of Orange County, NY. #birdsseenin2026
Reposted by Richard A. Fleming
Ornithology For Beginners
The bird that feeds from off my palm
Is sleek, affectionate, and calm,
But double to me, is worth the thrush
A-flickering in the elder-bush.
#DorothyParker #Parker
January 15, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Ornithology For Beginners
The bird that feeds from off my palm
Is sleek, affectionate, and calm,
But double to me, is worth the thrush
A-flickering in the elder-bush.
#DorothyParker #Parker
This is the underside of the rear end of a razorbill (that’s a #bird), very often all you see when you try to photograph one. These petite auks seem to spend 90% of their time underwater. Spot one, and if you’re fast you can get your camera up just in time for them to disappear! #birdsseenin2026
January 14, 2026 at 7:11 PM
This is the underside of the rear end of a razorbill (that’s a #bird), very often all you see when you try to photograph one. These petite auks seem to spend 90% of their time underwater. Spot one, and if you’re fast you can get your camera up just in time for them to disappear! #birdsseenin2026
A phenomenally beautiful immature-plumaged Bonaparte’s Gull dancing over the water just off one of the Coney Island jetties a few days ago. These tiny, elegant gulls are a highlight of the winter #birding season in #Brooklyn #birdsseenin2026
January 14, 2026 at 4:26 PM
A phenomenally beautiful immature-plumaged Bonaparte’s Gull dancing over the water just off one of the Coney Island jetties a few days ago. These tiny, elegant gulls are a highlight of the winter #birding season in #Brooklyn #birdsseenin2026
Yesterday while blundering around in an old hard-drive I found a cache of #bird photos I had totally forgotten about! I’ve become borderline obsessed with documenting all my #eBird sightings, so I immediately added this Common Green Magpie to my Malaysian list for #birdsseenin2011 !!! #birding
January 13, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Yesterday while blundering around in an old hard-drive I found a cache of #bird photos I had totally forgotten about! I’ve become borderline obsessed with documenting all my #eBird sightings, so I immediately added this Common Green Magpie to my Malaysian list for #birdsseenin2011 !!! #birding
Spectacular first winter Iceland Gull on Staten Island this afternoon, my first for Richmond County. Found a few days ago by my friend Anthony C, but not there yesterday when I looked for it. Today, success! #birds #birdsseenin2026 And to think some people just call them all “seagulls.”
January 13, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Spectacular first winter Iceland Gull on Staten Island this afternoon, my first for Richmond County. Found a few days ago by my friend Anthony C, but not there yesterday when I looked for it. Today, success! #birds #birdsseenin2026 And to think some people just call them all “seagulls.”
The legendary boardwalk and pier at Coney Island offer some of Brooklyn’s best seabird-watching in winter. Yesterday Common Eider, Black and White-winged scoters and Common Loon were all working the water directly off the pier. #birding #birdsseenin2026
January 9, 2026 at 11:10 AM
The legendary boardwalk and pier at Coney Island offer some of Brooklyn’s best seabird-watching in winter. Yesterday Common Eider, Black and White-winged scoters and Common Loon were all working the water directly off the pier. #birding #birdsseenin2026
This photo from New York harbor yesterday is of both species of scaup, our confusing duo of Aythya ducks. These are mostly Greaters, but can you find the (minimum) 3 Lesser Scaups here? #birdsseenin2026 #birding
January 7, 2026 at 11:51 AM
This photo from New York harbor yesterday is of both species of scaup, our confusing duo of Aythya ducks. These are mostly Greaters, but can you find the (minimum) 3 Lesser Scaups here? #birdsseenin2026 #birding
The photos aren't ready for Nat Geo, but give me time. Here are a few for the USA #birdsseenin2026 list--I see some heavy early contributions from the UK, and we are already badly behind! #birds Ring-necked Duck (with Ruddy); Northern Pintail; Tree Sparrow (with Song); Black Scoter (with Brant).
January 6, 2026 at 12:25 AM
The photos aren't ready for Nat Geo, but give me time. Here are a few for the USA #birdsseenin2026 list--I see some heavy early contributions from the UK, and we are already badly behind! #birds Ring-necked Duck (with Ruddy); Northern Pintail; Tree Sparrow (with Song); Black Scoter (with Brant).
Another early get for Brooklyn #birdsseenin2026 is this American Pipit, generally quite common in season but easily overlooked and only infrequently found walking around on the ground. Usually we detect flyovers, calling, so I was glad to see this one strutting in the Plumb Beach marsh. #birding
January 5, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Another early get for Brooklyn #birdsseenin2026 is this American Pipit, generally quite common in season but easily overlooked and only infrequently found walking around on the ground. Usually we detect flyovers, calling, so I was glad to see this one strutting in the Plumb Beach marsh. #birding
Just say “no” to gunboat diplomacy.
January 4, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Just say “no” to gunboat diplomacy.
I have to admit I was really hoping 2026 would bring about regime change—it’s just that I didn’t have #Venezuela in mind!
January 4, 2026 at 1:05 AM
I have to admit I was really hoping 2026 would bring about regime change—it’s just that I didn’t have #Venezuela in mind!
Lark Sparrow, never common or even uncommon in New York City, is a great way to start the #brooklynbirding year! #birdsseenin2026 #birding This individual seems to be trying to make it through the winter - although it hadn’t been seen since 11/23 I’m certain it’s the same #bird reported then!
January 3, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Lark Sparrow, never common or even uncommon in New York City, is a great way to start the #brooklynbirding year! #birdsseenin2026 #birding This individual seems to be trying to make it through the winter - although it hadn’t been seen since 11/23 I’m certain it’s the same #bird reported then!
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Another 2025 #birding highlight, and another owl, was this Cape Eagle Owl, large, spectacular, and very scarce. Gratitude to Garret Skead for hipping me to the location, on the Western Cape, South Africa, where a pair emerged in the purple gloom of dusk. #birdsseenin2025
December 30, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Another 2025 #birding highlight, and another owl, was this Cape Eagle Owl, large, spectacular, and very scarce. Gratitude to Garret Skead for hipping me to the location, on the Western Cape, South Africa, where a pair emerged in the purple gloom of dusk. #birdsseenin2025
We were sitting on the patio at our hotel in Costa Rica when I heard what sounded like someone shaking a huge piece of sheet metal out back. That could only be this #birdsseenin2025. Photo courtesy of Sandra Schmid, because mine were just dark blobs. #birding
December 30, 2025 at 12:38 AM
We were sitting on the patio at our hotel in Costa Rica when I heard what sounded like someone shaking a huge piece of sheet metal out back. That could only be this #birdsseenin2025. Photo courtesy of Sandra Schmid, because mine were just dark blobs. #birding
It’s not much of a photo, but this Chestnut Piculet was high on my list of most-wanted #birds on a brief “long weekend” trip to Cartagena in March. #birdsseenin2025 This tiny, stunning cinnamon woodpecker was definitely among my favs of the year.
December 29, 2025 at 11:19 AM
It’s not much of a photo, but this Chestnut Piculet was high on my list of most-wanted #birds on a brief “long weekend” trip to Cartagena in March. #birdsseenin2025 This tiny, stunning cinnamon woodpecker was definitely among my favs of the year.
Next up in my end of year favorite #birdsseenin2025 in no particular quantity or order is the Chestnut-banded Plover, endemic to Africa and one of the birds I only managed to see once in #southafrica last August. A specialist of salt-pans. #birding
December 26, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Next up in my end of year favorite #birdsseenin2025 in no particular quantity or order is the Chestnut-banded Plover, endemic to Africa and one of the birds I only managed to see once in #southafrica last August. A specialist of salt-pans. #birding
It’s that time year again so I’m posting an arbitrary number of
my most exciting bird sightings in no particular order. First up is South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane. #birding #birdsseenin2025 in the Western Cape.
my most exciting bird sightings in no particular order. First up is South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane. #birding #birdsseenin2025 in the Western Cape.
December 24, 2025 at 12:08 AM
It’s that time year again so I’m posting an arbitrary number of
my most exciting bird sightings in no particular order. First up is South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane. #birding #birdsseenin2025 in the Western Cape.
my most exciting bird sightings in no particular order. First up is South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane. #birding #birdsseenin2025 in the Western Cape.
Somehow #Duolingo has figured out that the main reason I’m studying #Portuguese is so I can go #birding in #Brazil. “I come to see the birds and the trees”
December 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Somehow #Duolingo has figured out that the main reason I’m studying #Portuguese is so I can go #birding in #Brazil. “I come to see the birds and the trees”
The “last” of the #Thanksgiving turkey, 2 gallons of home-crafted stock, pressure-canned. I would have it all in quarts, but the rest of my jars are fully loaded with last August’s tomatoes. Quality soups in our future! #canning
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
The “last” of the #Thanksgiving turkey, 2 gallons of home-crafted stock, pressure-canned. I would have it all in quarts, but the rest of my jars are fully loaded with last August’s tomatoes. Quality soups in our future! #canning
Reposted by Richard A. Fleming
Life bird #1200: Mediterranean gull. Bird photography is my passion. 🪶
November 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Life bird #1200: Mediterranean gull. Bird photography is my passion. 🪶