Katie🦋
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automationair.mad-sky.net
Katie🦋
@automationair.mad-sky.net
440 followers 220 following 1.3K posts
Visual Kei/anime fan. Geek. Casual gamer. Crazy cat lady. Birder. Cranky old bangya. Test engineer. FFXIV AST main. Photographer (mainly #birds). She/her. 日本語も大丈夫です

https://ko-fi.com/crimsonbutterfly
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automationair.mad-sky.net
Hello, I’m not dead, just still recovering from my Japan trip and adjusting to the sudden fall weather I’ve returned to. Slowly going through photos, which are mostly of brown-eared bulbuls, but I got some good ones at least!
A brown-eared bulbul perched on a branch, back to the camera as it looks up and to the left against a backdrop of green and yellow leaves
October 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Was hit by someone who ran a red light as I was making a left turn. I’m ok, but I’m worried my car is totaled. I love my little car 😭
A crunched up front bumper of a light blue Toyota car A front bumper hanging off of a light blue Toyota car A front bumper hanging off of a light blue Toyota car. Liquids from the car have spilled out onto the road.
September 12, 2025 at 1:49 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Didn’t have my good cam as I was just out downtown for dinner and didn’t expect many birds, but came across a purple martin roost on the walk back! It was about 7pm and there were hundreds flitting about. It was amazing to see in a bustling downtown area
Purple martins lining tree branches against an evening sky A tree full of purple martins and a few starlings bathed in streetlights
September 6, 2025 at 3:58 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Going out of town for the weekend but stopped to see some late-arrival American avocets yesterday evening. Beautiful birds. #birds
An American avocet in a pond with its wings up, ready to take off to the left. Another is out of focus behind it.
September 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Today cooled a bit so I went for a walk. Not only was the park full of the songs of yellow-billed cuckoos (photos to come) but the butterflies were out and about. Got photos of a beautiful red-spotted purple and a monarch as they took short breaks
A red-spotted purple butterfly resting on gravel, wings outstretched he’d to show the light and dark blue bands fading to black, with touches of orange at the front tips A monarch perches on a vine, wings held in a wide V-shape, showing the beautiful orange and black colors
August 21, 2025 at 4:11 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
I didn’t get the greatest photos today - I was tired and the heat haze was awful - but I got three lifers when I only set out to get one. A swallow-tailed kite, a black-bellied plover, and a pair of American avocets! Added a photo of one of the black-necked stilts I found the other day also
#birds
A swallow-tailed kite (left) flying with a juvenile Mississippi kite (right) on a partly cloudy but sunny day A black-bellied plover walking along the edge of a small pond, one leg in the air as he searches for food One of the American avocets found today, wading in a pond and looking to the right, the curl on its beak apparent from the side angle A black-necked stilt stands in a pond, head tilted and looking up at the sky, one leg bent back slightly
August 20, 2025 at 3:03 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Sometimes your straight out of camera JPG is just perfect. No notes. #birds
A killdeer walking on rocks, back to the camera with one foot up, head turned to the left so its face is visible
August 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
It’s finally cooled down a bit and I went out to the park today, but the wildfire smoke from Canada has made the air quality poor which ended up giving me a migraine 😔 On the plus, I’ve been seeing the Mississippi Kites in my neighborhood again! I’ve missed them since last year ❤️ #birds #raptors
A Mississippi kite on a bare tree branch against a cloudy sky, back to the camera but looking to the side A Mississippi kite on a bare tree branch against a cloudy sky, back to the camera but looking down at it A Mississippi kite on a bare tree branch against a cloudy sky, back to the camera but looking behind it A Mississippi kite on a bare tree branch against a cloudy sky, back to the camera but looking to the side
August 1, 2025 at 4:34 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
While there we did his bloodwork. His thyroid is good, while his kidney disease is just at stage two. He was diagnosed with CKD a number of years ago so I’m thrilled it hasn’t progressed all that much. Vet said overall he looks great for seventeen years old!
Phantom, a grey cat, laying on a pleather loveseat with a blue blanket. He’s on his side with one paw curled up in front of his face. Both the blanket and the loveseat suffer from cat claw scars.
July 28, 2025 at 4:26 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Yesterday I had a thought… with the weather being so hot, there probably won’t be anyone fishing at the lake where the yellow-crowned night herons were spotted, so maybe they’ll be out and not hiding.

I made the drive, and my intuition paid off! I saw not one, but three (only got pics of 2) #birds
A yellow-crowned night heron looking to the right among the vegetation at the edge of a lake A juvenile yellow-crowned night heron bathed in golden evening light against the backdrop of the lake, a few tall blades of grass in the foreground A yellow-crowned night heron repositioning a once-regurgitated crayfish for easier swallowing A juvenile yellow-crowned night heron standing atop a log at the lake’s edge, grass in the foreground
July 23, 2025 at 2:28 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
I want to go out and take pics but…
July 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Searching for weeks for the yellow crowned night heron that’s been spotted in this area. I come around the corner to see this in the path in front of me. I get excited for a moment….

Wait, why aren’t you in football mode!? You got my hopes up! #birds
A black crowned night heron standing in some grass, neck stretched up straight, looking straight forward. Odd not to see it in its normal hunched over football shape.
July 18, 2025 at 3:57 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
A little late, but some pictures of the scissor-tailed flycatcher babies from Saturday! There were four in the nest and mom and dad were busy keeping them fed #birds
A scissor-tailed flycatcher flying in towards their nest, four babies with beaks open waiting for food popping out from the nest itself An adult scissor-tailed flycatcher feeding one of its nestlings a dragonfly as another beside it tries to steal a bite as well Three scissor-tailed flycatcher nestlings in their nest. The one on the left looks grumpy, the middle one is sleeping, and the one on the right looks inquisitive A female scissor-tailed flycatcher perched on the end of a branch, watching for a good bug to feed her babies
July 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Went to check in on the barred owls today. The male was shy and fled as usual, but I caught the female looking around from a very small tree, just a few yards off the path and not very high up, giving me a great vantage point. She loves to pose and isn’t skittish 🦉 #birds #owls
A barred owl clinging to a thin diagonal branch of a small tree, looking over her shoulder to her left, green leaves blurred behind her
July 5, 2025 at 7:06 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Went out for a little bit today before the oppressive heat comes back, and watched this red-shouldered hawk hunt worms in a community garden while another squawked from the trees #birds #raptors
A red-shouldered hawk perched on a fence post, face pointed towards the camera, against a green background of trees
July 2, 2025 at 4:40 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Went to check on the scissor-tailed flycatcher pair yesterday. They were busy bringing bugs to their nest, where I heard little chirps of their nestlings, but couldn’t see them yet. I’ll check back in a week or two to see if they’ve fledged!
A male scissor-tailed flycatcher perched on a single branch in the middle of a farm field, body turned to the side A male scissor-tailed flycatcher perched on a single branch in the middle of a farm field, looking forward as it searches for bugs
July 1, 2025 at 2:53 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Anyone more familiar with blue jay behavior than me know what’s going on here? It’s a cute little interaction, I’m just curious! #birds #bluejay
June 26, 2025 at 12:53 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Some more #thursjay photos of a Blue Jay raiding the peanut bowl. Hard to get shots because they’re so quick most of the time! #birds
A blue jay from the back coming in for a landing with its wings spread downward and tail up and flared, showing its under tail coverts as it aims for a blue bowl of peanuts A blue jay from the back coming in for a landing with its wings spread up and back and tail flared out as it lands on the edge of a blue bowl of peanuts A blue jay from the back, perched on the edge of a blue bowl of peanuts, its tail flared out and showing the bright blue feathers A blue jay perched on the side of a blue bowl of peanuts, holding one in its beak as it looks at the camera
June 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
I thought I was hearing a catbird earlier, but it sounded a little off.. turns out it was just a fledgling blue jay yelling for some food! A cute little guy and such a vivid blue 🥰 #birds
A fledgling blue jay perched on the branch of a bush, back to the camera and head turned to the right
June 19, 2025 at 2:31 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
One of the coolest rock dove patterns I’ve seen so far. I love you rocker bird
A white and black rock dove with red eyes and tufty feathers on its head
May 15, 2025 at 8:06 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Me: probably can’t do any birding during my Toronto layover

Random house sparrow in the terminal: wanna bet?
A house sparrow perched atop an arch over a restaurant in Toronto’s Pearson airport terminal
May 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Good mourning! Started off today’s banding with a mourning warbler! What a nice treat! It’s my last day volunteering before I head to Japan on Tuesday. Weather is lovely for it.

Of course walked down to use the bathroom and don’t have my camera and a great-crested flycatcher poses nicely…
A great-crested flycatcher perched on top of a mostly filled in tree in front of a blue sky
May 11, 2025 at 11:49 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Another surprise today: a Baltimore Oriole! These birds breed here but tend to stay higher up, so they don’t get in our nets often. This beautiful guy decided to highlight our day. Thanks for stopping by! #birds

All birds handled by trained volunteers and with the proper federal and state permits
A male Baltimore Oriole held by a bander in a photographer’s grip: he is looking towards the camera A male Baltimore Oriole held by a bander in a photographer’s grip: he is looking away from The camera with his tail flared to show the color
May 6, 2025 at 12:54 AM
automationair.mad-sky.net
We were graced by this lovely lady today! She flew into our nets and I was able to extract her. Our bander in charge was elated. Flickers are so cute ❤️ #birds

All birds handled by trained volunteers and with the proper federal and state permits.
A female yellow-shafted northern flicker being held by a bird bander in a photographer’s grip
May 4, 2025 at 9:39 PM
automationair.mad-sky.net
Went out yesterday to see an extremely lost fork-tailed flycatcher. These guys are native to central and South America but this one ended up in the Midwest! Glad I made the trip #birds
A fork-tailed flycatcher perched on a bare branch in a field, back to the camera, with yellow flowers in the foreground A fork-tailed flycatcher perched on a bare branch in a field, back to the camera but looking over its shoulder, with yellow flowers in the foreground A fork-tailed flycatcher perched on a bare branch in a field, back to the camera but looking over its shoulder, with yellow flowers in the foreground A fork-tailed flycatcher taking off from a bare branch in a field, back to the camera and wings out in flight, with yellow flowers in the foreground
April 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM