Ben J. (Proteros)
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proteros.bsky.social
Ben J. (Proteros)
@proteros.bsky.social
28 followers 30 following 61 posts
I'm a hobbyist nature photographer in Sydney specialising in Australian native birds and flora with interests in conservation, paleontology and ecology. 🌿💚

All my content is 100% authentic (no Gen-AI) and licensed under CC-BY-SA unless stated otherwise.
Posts Replies Media Videos
proteros.bsky.social
Dickinsonia costata my beloved
#ediacaran #ediacaranbiota #proterozoic
nhmbryozoa.bsky.social Paul D. Taylor @nhmbryozoa.bsky.social · 2d
#FossilFriday Fine specimen of the problematical fossil Dickinsonia costata from the Ediacaran. On display at the South Australia Museum, Adelaide.
December 28, 2025 at 4:12 AM
proteros.bsky.social
He go: :D
teamswiftparrot.bsky.social Dr swift parrot @teamswiftparrot.bsky.social · 12d
Check out this gorgeous little gang gang cockatoo 😍
Grey cockatoo baby with a red head and a beak in the shape of a smile
December 28, 2025 at 4:10 AM
proteros.bsky.social
There is still beauty in this world. Just look at the wonderful array of shapes and colours in our #Australiannativeplants

#Nature has always prevailed, and will continue on in spite of what life throws at it.

(Species descriptions in alt text)

#photography #naturephotography #plants #flora
A closeup photograph of a Mountain devil (Lambertia formosa) inflorescence among its own foliage in its natural bushland habitat. The small cluster of bright red and orange long, tubular flowers are surrounded by orange and yellow bracts. The leaves are dark green on top, pale light green and hairy underneath with a prominent midvein and downturned margins, and a tiny pointed apex or tip. Photo taken October 2025 in the Royal National Park south of Sydney A closeup photograph of the inflorescence of a yellow drumsticks (Isopogon sp.) in its natural environment. The tiny yellow flowers are arranged on a globular green structure which will mature to form a "cone" which resembles the ball of a wooden drumstick, giving the species its common name. The flowers mature from the bottom-up, with the lowermost flowers being open and the uppermost being tiny emerging buds. Photo taken October 2025 in the Royal National Park south of Sydney A closeup photo of the pink inflorescenses of a Kunzea (Kunzea sp.) in its natural environment on a blurred background, emphasizing the shape and colour. These strange flowers are related to the well-known bottlebrushes (Callistemon and Melaleuca genera) and tea trees (Leptospermum.) They have clusters of multiple elongated stamens which gives the flower much of its colour, surrounding a single pistil. Photo taken November 2025 in Katoomba, Blue Mountains A closeup photo of the multiple flowers on a smokebush (Conospermum longifolium) among many other low-growing plants in its natural habitat. The background is blurred and out of focus, keeping the focus on the many clusters of flowers. The tiny white flowers are arranged in dense cluster inflorescenses that appear on long, upright stalks. Photo taken October 2025 in the Royal National Park south of Sydney
December 28, 2025 at 3:56 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Here's to hoping the last few days of the year will be peaceful and that 2026 will be a fresh start.

No more wars, no more violence and no more AI and corporate greed making people's lives miserable.

Together, we can all make the world a better place. Be kind and stand up for peace and justice.
December 28, 2025 at 3:12 AM
proteros.bsky.social
I didn't do much on Christmas this year. I spent time with and had a lovely home-cooked lunch with some of my family. I also had lunch with fellow garden volunteers a few days prior.

Christmas doesn't have to be bustling to be joyful. It can be as simple as spending time with the people you love.
December 28, 2025 at 3:08 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Sorry for my late post. I hope you all had a very merry Christmas, and I would like to wish you all a happy New Year too. ❤️
December 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Reposted by Ben J. (Proteros)
davidcsimon.bsky.social
I spotted the first baby King Parrot of this breeding season yesterday!
#birds
Photograph of a juvenile Australian King Parrot on a power line. It is mostly green, with red belly and undertail coverts, a bright orange beak, and dark eyes. Same subject, but on a different power line standing next to an adult male King Parrot (red neck/head, darker green, black tail). The juvenile is begging from the male. Same as the previous photo, but cropped to a narrower field and showing the male feeding the juvenile.
December 21, 2025 at 2:06 AM
proteros.bsky.social
I really don't like how #bluesky only allows short posts of 300 characters. It really limits my ability to make long and thoughtful posts.

I might have to switch to including large paragraphs in photos, but then that will distract away from the actual photos I want to post with long descriptions.
December 23, 2025 at 11:33 PM
proteros.bsky.social
I would like to show my deepest condolences to the Jewish community here in Australia one week following the devastating antisemitic terror attack that claimed 15 innocent lives and injured many more.

Hatred, violence and any form of discrimination has NO place here and will NOT be tolerated. (1/5)
December 21, 2025 at 11:08 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Indeed, fantails are some of the birds ever.
tinylongwing.bsky.social Lauren @tinylongwing.bsky.social · 14d
A personal favorite Waymakers throwback for today's #ArtAdventCalendar, this Willie Wagtail is so full of personality! The entire group of fantails are just the best birds ever.

🪶 #BirdArt #SciArt
Digital illustration of a Willie-Wagtail, an Australian fantail species. He has a black head and black tail and a white belly, cute white eyebrows, and is boldly stepping forward - these birds have lots of attitude!
December 14, 2025 at 2:18 AM
proteros.bsky.social
The world might be in a very dark place right now, but just know that there is still hope.

Know that there is still beauty.

Know that there is still life. (1/5)
December 13, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Ben J. (Proteros)
teamswiftparrot.bsky.social
Check out the baby monobrow of this kid blue-winged parrot 🥲
December 8, 2025 at 9:58 AM
proteros.bsky.social
A portrait of a Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) brilliantly illuminated by the light of the sun.

They are perhaps one of the most colourful, cheerful and iconic bird species of the eastern coast of Australia.

#birdphotography #australianbirds #parrots #photography #lorikeet
A close-up portrait of a Rainbow lorikeet, (Trichoglossus moluccanus) a brightly coloured parrot with a blue streaked head, a red beak, red eyes, a lime green nape, a green back and a red and orange breast. It is exposed to natural sunlight, giving it a golden glow. The background is unlit, entirely blurred and out of focus, emphasizing the bird's colours.
December 8, 2025 at 4:41 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Gang-gang cockatoo my beloved
davidcsimon.bsky.social David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 21d
Graced by the presence of the Gang-gang Gang once more.
#birds
Photograph of an immature male Gang-gang Cockatoo attempting to right itself on a bare branch. One foot is raised and its wings are spread for balance. It is a small grey cockatoo with some of its bright red head/crest plumage. Its flight and tail feathers have light yellow bars, and its belly and undertail coverts are barred in yellow and orange. Photograph of a different individual on the same branch from a different, tighter angle - from the belly up. This bird looks very similar but the barring on its belly is more vividly orange. It is looking at the viewer with its beak open - which could be interpreted as smiling or laughing, but in reality was because the bird was trying to cool down by panting on a hot day.
December 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Ben J. (Proteros)
vandacorp.bsky.social
The rainbow lorikeets have just started visting the yard now that the neighbouring banksias have finished flowering.

#Australia #Canberra #spring #october #birds #photography #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdingAdventures #Ornithology #lorikeet #bird
Rainbow lorikeet
October 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Look at them
LOOK AT THEM

They're such beans. I love them. 💚
teamswiftparrot.bsky.social Dr swift parrot @teamswiftparrot.bsky.social · Nov 11
Cute day of superb parrot babies 😍
December 5, 2025 at 10:35 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Since I'm new here, I thought I'd post one of my favourite photos of all time!

Here's a male red-rumped parrot, (Psephotus haematonotus) otherwise known as a grass parrot, enjoying a tasty snack as he forages in the lawn next to a footpath.

#birdphotograhy #australianbirds #parrots #photography
A photographic image of a male red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) standing on bright green mowed grass with a grey concrete footpath in the background. The bright emerald-green parrot has a golden belly, brown eyes and a blade of grass in his shiny dark-grey beak.
December 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Check out this beautiful image of a temperate rainforest landscape in Canada! 💚🌲🌿

This photographer has many other similarly beautiful works.
December 5, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Reposted by Ben J. (Proteros)
vandacorp.bsky.social
Early morning visit from the king parrots this morning. They started chirping away from around 06:30.

#Australia #Canberra #spring #october #birds #photography #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdingAdventures #Ornithology #parrot #bird
Female king parrot
October 17, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Reposted by Ben J. (Proteros)
silverdory.bsky.social
Double ducks west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC. Didn't see a lot of large duck orchids (Caleana major) on my couple of brief East Gippsland trips this year but did see scattered plants in full flight at a couple of locations. #orchids #inthefield #ozplants
Large duck orchid (Caleana major) west of Mallacoota, East Gippsland, VIC
November 27, 2025 at 4:15 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Gotta love sulphur-crested cockatoos and their comical antics. That, and how photogenic they are!

They truly are one of the birds of all time! 🤣
vandacorp.bsky.social James van der Moezel @vandacorp.bsky.social · Nov 17
Sulfur-crested cockatoos love to put on a good show. These are frames I've pulled from Nikon ZR footage I captured while testing it out in the yard.

#Australia #Canberra #spring #birds #photography #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #Ornithology #bird #Nikon #NikonZR #cockatoo
December 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
proteros.bsky.social
(1) Generative AI slop might be able to mimic what writing, photography and art *looks* like, but it will NEVER be able to copy what it *feels* like to make it. A soulless computer system that spews out content will *never* be able to replicate the passion behind real creative work.

#antiai #aislop
December 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
proteros.bsky.social
Flaplings!! 🥺
stavrossk.bsky.social Stavros Svensson Kundromichalis @stavrossk.bsky.social · 25d
Darwinopterus modularis flaplings getting ready for the big leap 😬🤞

#pterosaur #paleoart #sciart #jurassic
Three Darwinopterus modularis flaplings getting ready for to test their wings
December 3, 2025 at 8:09 AM
proteros.bsky.social
Hello everyone, this is my first post here on Bluesky! I hope this site is a good as it is promised.
November 21, 2025 at 9:15 AM