TARA SMITHSON -Wildlife & Nature 📸
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tarasmithson.bsky.social
TARA SMITHSON -Wildlife & Nature 📸
@tarasmithson.bsky.social
3.9K followers 300 following 3K posts
Photographing nature is my happy place. 📸🌳🦉🪶🇦🇺🦘🐨🪃

Photos are my own.

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Instagram.com/tarasmithson1

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TARA SMITHSON -Wildlife & Nature 📸 @tarasmithson.bsky.social · Dec 12
Feeling down? Go on a nature walk; you will feel 23% better. Be creative. Help someone else. (That's a good'n.) Talk to someone you can say anything to. Nothing stays the same forever, good or bad. You will get through it.

#mentahealth #birds #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography
A superb fairy wren, exhibiting a light blue and black head and neck, white abdomen, and brown wings, is perched on a slender branch of a tree with spiny leaves. The background features orange, purple, and pink hues. A Pacific black duck, exhibiting a striped face and predominantly brown plumage, is perched on the edge of a reflective pond, with a grassy bank and purple wildflowers in the background. A white egret, displaying its characteristic fluffy wing plumage, is wading in a calm brown lagoon reflecting the submerged trees. The scene depicts a beach at dusk, featuring dark brown sand to the left and a contrast between vibrant yellow clouds and a grey, blue-tinged sky which is reflected in the ocean.
tarasmithson.bsky.social
This Bell Miner gave me the #StareDown when I was walking through the bush.
🐦🌳👀

#BirdOfTheDay #staredown #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
​A close-up photograph of a small, plump, olive-green bird(a Bell Miner) perched on a bare, dark, thin diagonal tree branch. The bird has yellow markings around its eyes and a bright yellow beak. Black eyes and black stripe under its beak. Its body is primarily a dull olive-green or moss-green colour, with darker, grayish-brown feathers visible on its wings. It is facing directly toward the viewer, giving it a curious and slightly intense expression. The background is soft and blurred (bokeh), showing muted colours of green and white, suggesting trees and leaves.
November 17, 2025 at 11:34 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
This Rainbow Lorikeet just hung out on my deck one rainy day. 🌈🦜☔

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia #parrot
​A close-up, high-detail photograph of the head and upper body of a Rainbow Lorikeet (a colorful Australian parrot). The bird is facing left, with its bright red-orange eye clearly visible. The feathers on its head are a deep, iridescent blue, transitioning to a vivid lime-yellow-green on the nape. The prominent chest area is a striking band of bright red and orange, contrasting sharply with the predominantly rich, deep green feathers covering the rest of its back and wings. The beak is a pale, slightly pink-orange color. The bird is set against a soft, shallow depth-of-field background of muted green and brown.
November 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Black-shouldered Kite was just hanging out near the car park and no noticed. 🦅🅿️ Everyone just walked past.
🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

#birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #BirdOfTheDay
​A majestic, mostly white bird of prey, a Black-shouldered Kite, is perched atop a weathered, light brown wooden post or log stump. The bird is shown in a profile view against a soft, pale blue-grey sky. It has bright white plumage on its head, chest, and underside, contrasted by striking black patches on its shoulders (the leading edge of the wing). Its eyes are a prominent deep ruby red, and its talons are bright yellow.
November 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
This Osprey was #paddling in the shallows of a reef. 🛶🌅 Just having a fun time as the sun went down. 🌊

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia #Sunlit #wading #Paddling
A majestic osprey is caught in a moment of intense action, standing in shallow, reddish-brown and blue toned water. The raptor's massive, dark brown wings are fully spread and lifted high, illuminated by warm sunlight from behind, emphasizing its white and dark-feathered body. The bird is facing right and slightly down toward the water. It is in sharp focus against a soft, blurred background of blue ocean waves.
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Why do swans always look graceful and peaceful?

🦢🕊️🤍

#SwanDay #BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
​A close-up photograph of the head and neck of a Black Swan. Its beak is facing right. The swan's plumage is a dense, textured black, contrasting sharply with its striking, bright red bill. The bill features a prominent white band at the tip. The swan's eye,centred in the frame, is also red. The background is dark, blurred water, suggesting the swan is partially shadowed or emerging from a darker area of a pond or lake.
November 9, 2025 at 10:03 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Here's a #fluffy Grebe to start your day, floating around like its King of the Lagoon. 🪶👑🦢

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia #fluffy #Fluffy
​This close-up photo shows a downy grebe chick floating on dark green, rippling water, facing slightly toward the camera. Its feathers are fluffy and high on its wings and at the top of its head, giving it a spiky appearance. The plumage is a mix of purplish-brown and darker tones. Most striking are its bright, yellowish-orange eyes, which stand out against the dark green line patch of feathers below them. The bird appears puffed up and round.
November 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
White-faced heron ready for its #closeup. 🪶📸🦢

#BirdOfTheDay #closeup #closeups #birdphotography #birds #birdsofaustralia #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5
A close-up portrait of a White-faced Heron against a blurred green background. ​The bird features slate-grey body and neck plumage, a dark grey-blue crown, and a distinct white face and throat. Its eye is bright yellow with a dark stripe extending towards the long, black, pointed beak. The bird is positioned facing to the left in profile with its head slightly bowed, highlighting the curve of its neck.
November 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
First rule about fight club is you fight on the deck. 🥊😠

Magpie vs Currawong. 🐦🦅

#birds #magpie #currawong #nature #wildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Pied currawong has a quick chat, then flies off (in slow motion) 🗣️🐦 ⏳

Video taken with phone camera. 📱📸

#birds #currawong #nature #wildlife #bird #Australia #nature #wildlife #urban #phonecamera
November 4, 2025 at 4:38 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
I had some very territorial magpies on my deck once, so I befriended a couple with some dried meal worms. 🐦🪱 This is what was said when I ran out of meal worms one day. 😅👩‍🎤

#birds #magpie #BirdOfTheDay #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #birdvideo #Australia #phonecamera
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
This incredible pigeon was hanging out with all the greyish rock pigeons near a beach. 🐦🏖️ It stood out from the rest. 🤩

#Pigeon #Pigeons #BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
A beautifully speckled pigeon, mostly white with patches of dark brown and grey on its wings and tail, stands in profile on a mossy, sunlit light brown rock. Its legs and feet are a striking red, and the background is blurred green foliage.l and brown rockery.
November 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Here's a photo for #SquirrelSaturday that I snapped in Seattle. 🐿️🌲 Can he be more adorable? 🥰

#squirrelsaturday #squirrel #squirrels #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography ##wildlife #Canon #animals #cute #adorable #Seattle #Washington #USA
Close-up, portrait-style photograph of an Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in a Seattle park. The squirrel is clinging to the rough, dark vertical bark of a tree trunk, with its grayish-brown fur visible. It has large, dark eyes and is looking intently and directly into the camera. The background is completely out of focus (soft bokeh) in muted shades of green and brown.
November 1, 2025 at 11:43 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Brown thornbill #Hiding in the forest. 🐦 🌳🌲

I see you! 👀👋

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia #hiding
A close-up photograph of a small, fluffy Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla) centered in dense green foliage. The bird is brown and faces right in profile, with soft light illuminating its head and dark eye. It is framed by blurred, vibrant green ferns and leaves in the foreground and background, giving the photo a shallow depth of field and an intimate, natural mood.
October 31, 2025 at 11:11 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
I took this photo of a Superb Starling as it was hiding in a shrub. I stuck the lens in over the top and through.🐦📸🌿

#OddAngles #BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife
The photo, taken from a slightly elevated perspective (looking down), captures a Superb Starling perched on a branch. ​The bird is shown in a close-up profile, and the beak faces the upper left. Its plumage is highly iridescent, featuring a metallic emerald-green head and throat that contrasts with a deep, glossy blue-purple back and wings. Its eye is cream coloured with a black pupil. There's a visible patch of vibrant yellow and orange feathers on its side, near the bend of the wing and back. The background is a soft, dark blur of purples browns and greens.
October 30, 2025 at 2:36 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
The gentle story of the woods. 🌳🌲🍄 An open beak, a shimmering iris, and the ancient pattern of feathers melting into the forest's palette. 🐦👁️🎨 This Satin Bower bird sings goodnight from Australia. 🇦🇺🎶😴

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography
​A Satin Bowerbird is perched on a lichen-covered tree branch in a forest setting. ​The bird is shown in profile, facing to the right with its beak open. It has striking bright blue eyes and a stout, brownish-black bill. The bird's upperparts (head, back, wings, and tail) are a mix of dark, glossy brown and iridescent olive-green. Its chest and belly are pale yellow with heavy, dark scalloping or barring, giving it a spotted or speckled appearance. The background is a soft blur of green foliage and dappled sunlight.
October 30, 2025 at 7:45 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Don't wait for a clear blue sky to start living; sometimes the most beautiful stories are written under the pressure of the storm. 🌩⛈️🌀🕯🚈✨

#ColorOfTheDay #YellowThu #clouds #sunset #sunsets #blueskyphotography #photography #inspiration #joy #peace #storm #nature #naturephotography #Australia
This is a photograph of a dramatic, dark silhouette of tree branches and leaves against a bright, ominous sky. ​The sky dominates the background and is an intense, fiery shade of orange and gold, suggesting a thick atmosphere or a specific time of day like a late sunset. The colours range from deep, burnt orange in the heavy clouds on the left and top to a brighter, almost golden-yellow light source shining through the centre. ​The dark, near-black silhouette of an Australian eucalypt tree is prominent on the right side and along the top edge, creating a sharp contrast with the vibrant sky. The image has a very apocalyptic, smoky, or intense wildfire aesthetic due to the overwhelming golden-orange colour palette.
October 30, 2025 at 7:23 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
"Hey, when I said I wanted some fast food, this isn't what I was talking about." 🍔🍟🤔

#BirdOfTheDay #gulls #funny #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5
Two seabirds are captured mid-flight against a bright, white sky. The upper bird is a white coloured tern with black markings on its head and long, pointed wings outstretched. It is flying left and is carrying a small, silver fish in its beak. The lower bird is also a white seabird, a gull, flying upwards towards the centre. It has its beak open (calling out), and its wings and tail feathers show light brown/grey colouring. It's trying to steal the fish from the tern.
October 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Australian Pelicans hanging out by the reef, waiting for the rock fisherman to leave them a morsel of fish. 🎣🐟🐦

#Twosday #BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia #pelican
Two Australian Pelicans standing on a textured, sandy-brown rock platform. The pelicans, positioned near the left and right edges of the frame, are mostly white with black flight feathers on their wings. They both face slightly to the right, showing their long, pinkish bills and white heads. The left one beak is facing camera, and eyeing the photographer, the other has its head turned left, looking at its fellow pelican. The background is dominated by the deep blue ocean with white waves breaking just behind them, under a clear, lighter blue sky. The photo has a shallow depth of field, making the birds sharp and the background softly blurred.
October 28, 2025 at 8:53 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
It's late in the afternoon here in Australia. Time to wind down and get some dinner just like this White-faced Heron. 🌅 🐦🐟🍽😋

#BirdOfTheDay #Heron #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia #heron
A White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) stands in shallow, muddy water, facing to the right. The bird is predominantly pale blue-grey with fine, textured feathers. Its long, slender legs and feet are a striking bright yellow. The heron has a long, dark bill and bright yellow eyes with a distinctive white patch covering its face, from the forehead to below the eyes. The background is softly blurred (bokeh), featuring warm, earthy tones of brown and gold, suggesting a late afternoon or golden hour setting in a natural wetland environment. The water in the foreground reflects the bird's yellow legs and the warm background light.
October 27, 2025 at 6:04 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay is the #Egret

I have a few egret shots, but this is my favourite. 🦢📸😊 It's a little different. 🧐✨🖼️

#birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
A Great Egret (a large, all-white heron) is captured in mid-flight, taking off just above a body of water. The egret is facing directly away from the viewer, showing its large, feathered wings spread wide in a beautiful, arching shape. Its head is barely visible at the top centre, and its long, dark legs and black talons are dangling above the softly rippling, light-reflective water. The background is blurred into a muted, creamy sepia tone, which highlights the crisp white texture of the egret's feathers and gives the image an ethereal, high-key quality. A few dark, trailing plant fronds are visible on the left side, providing a subtle contrast to the bird and the light-filled water. Water droplets can be seen between its feet.
October 27, 2025 at 5:24 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
One of my favourite hibiscus flowers is blooming on the deck this morning. 🌺🌸🌼

#flower #flowers #plants #flowerpowwr #nature #hibiscus #tropical #summer #tropicalflower #inbloom #photography
A macro photograph fills the frame with a brightly colored tropical hibiscus flower. The petals are a brilliant yellow that blends into a fiery orange-red toward the centre. The throat of the flower is a deep fuchsia or magenta. A slender, red style (pistil) extends from the centre, topped with light yellow, pollen-dusted anthers (stamens). The background features a blurred blue sky, green foliage, and a small patch of textured light brown brick.
October 27, 2025 at 12:08 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Little Black Comorants don't worry about Monday on a Sunday.🐦🤔😊

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
Two Little Black Cormorants are perched side-by-side on a thick, dark brown, horizontal arched tree branch. Both birds have sleek black heads, necks, and chests. Their backs, displaying a detailed, silvery-blue-grey scalloped pattern on their feathers, are mostly turned towards the camera. Both cormorants have turned their heads sharply to look towards the right. They have long, pale bluish-white bills and striking green eyes, with a visible area of bright blue-green skin near their eyes. The background is a soft, warm, out-of-focus brown, which makes the detailed texture and color of the birds stand out sharply.
October 26, 2025 at 7:01 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Peaceful Sunday for this Pacific Black Duck.🦆🦢🕊️

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
A Pacific Black Duck stands on a large, textured brown rock at the edge of a body of water. The duck is facing to the left but has turned its head back to look toward the photographer. It has dark brown plumage, a pale face, and a distinct dark stripe running from its bill, through its eye, and extending toward the back of its neck. A bright, iridescent teal-green speculum (a patch of feathers) is visible on its wing. The background is a soft-focus, muted brown and grey water surface. The lighting is soft and focused on the duck, which is in sharp detail.
October 26, 2025 at 6:52 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
Baby Welcome Swallow ready for some bugs from Mum or Dad. 🐦🐛😊

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
Close-up photograph of two juvenile swallows perched on a rough, brown rock outcrop under a bright, clear sky. One bird in the foreground, facing the camera, has its mouth wide open in a bright orange-yellow gape, possibly begging for food, with its wings slightly spread. The second juvenile is partially visible behind it. In the blurred, dark foreground, the out-of-focus back of an incoming adult swallow is visible, suggesting it is flying in to feed the young. The background is a soft, light blue-grey, suggesting an overcast or high-key sky.
October 26, 2025 at 6:32 AM
tarasmithson.bsky.social
The parent Welcome Swallow feeds the one who begs the hardest or is best positioned first. 🐦🌱😊 🐣🍽️🐥

Welcome Swallow #2 📸

#BirdOfTheDay #birds #birdphotography #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #Canon #R5 #Australia
A close-up action photograph showing three Welcome Swallows during feeding time, set against a pale, washed-out sky. Two fledgling swallows are perched on a rough, textured, brown rock in the foreground. They are both facing left and stretching their necks with their bright yellow-orange mouths wide open, begging for food. The young bird on the left has a reddish-orange throat and is directly underneath a third, adult swallow. The adult is flying in from the left with its wings fully spread, its dark blue-black upper body and pale underside visible. It appears to be transferring food directly into the open mouth of the fledgling on the left. The background is a soft, light, out-of-focus grey-blue and white.
October 25, 2025 at 11:02 AM