Brian Hoffman
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buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Brian Hoffman
@buzzhoffman.bsky.social
270 followers 590 following 66 posts
College professor and archaeologist
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buzzhoffman.bsky.social
American White Pelicans waking up #OnTheEdge in a southwestern #Minnesota pond. My contribution to today’s #BirdOfTheDay #birds #naturephotography
A compacted pod of a dozen American White Pelicans on a grey, foggy mourning. They were photographed as they were beginning to stir, some with open beaks as they shook their heads. They have the horn or flat plate on top of their orange beaks that marks breeding season.
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
My contributions to #birdoftheday and #birdonawire are a Brewer’s Blackbird and a Field Sparrow. Both seen at #KeystonewoodsWMA. It was a beautiful early summer day with lots of bugs for the #birds. I likewise had over 70 wood ticks by the end. #worthit.
A male Brewer’s Blackbird with greenish sheen to its body, purple sheen on its head, and bright yellow eyes hangs on a grey wire fence while grasping squirming insects in its beak. A brown and tan Field Sparrow flaps its wings as it balances on a barbed wire fence. In its beak it holds a black bug with long legs.
November 22, 2025 at 8:51 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Northern Lights!!!!
Night scene with well-light suburban houses and northern lights shining in the sky above. Multi-colored aurora and tree branches in silhouette.
November 12, 2025 at 3:42 AM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Got out to #CrexMeadows in western Wisconsin on Sunday to watch the #SandhillCranes flying in at sunset. So impressive. Probably a couple thousand arrivals in a little over an hour. Took over 1000 pictures! #birds #wildlifephotography
A flock of seven Sandhill Cranes with their long, spindly legs extended coming in for a landing. Sky and the birds have a rosy hue from the setting sun. A flock of six Sandhill Cranes with their long, spindly legs extended coming in for a landing amongst a large number of other cranes in a sedge meadow. Meadow and the birds have a rosy hue from the setting sun. A flock of 12 Sandhill Cranes flying against blue sky withe scattered clouds. Three Sandhill Cranes flying in the foreground with more cranes flying in the background as they arrive at their evening roosting spot.
October 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Got a glamorous and not so glamorous photo of this Double-crested Cormorant today. Love those gorgeous blue eyes. Surprised by the flying stream of bird poop in the next photo. #birds #nature #photography
Cormorant in all black feathers with pale orange beak and turquoise blue eyes is clinging to a dead branch while looking back over its shoulder. Cormorant perched on a dead branch while releasing a long stream of milky white poop.
September 14, 2025 at 1:37 AM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Had a great time at the #MinnesotaStateFair. Ate all my favorite foods including cream puffs, poutine, and corn dogs. Visited the DNR fish pond, the fine arts center, and the always fun animal barns.
Ducks in cages being viewed by visitors at the Minnesota state fair.
August 31, 2025 at 7:43 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Warblers are on the move here in Minnesota. A great time to be out #birding. #birds #warblers #migration
A Golden-winged Warbler hangs upside down with a small grub in its beak. An American Redstart on a woody branch. Its white eye ring gray head, yellow breast, and white belly stand in contrast to the defuse green leaves in the background. A Chestnut-sided Warbler forages in a maze of thin woody branches. This bird lacks the chestnut side of breeding season males but has a beautiful greenish-yellow top, yellowish-white wing bars, and a bright white eye ring.
August 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Heard a raptor cry while out birding in the Rice Creek Preserve. Started taking photos to help ID. Unexpectedly I caught this interaction between an osprey & eagle. Too far for a good shot but still exciting to catch. The osprey was likely defending its nearby nest. #bird #nature #talons 🪶
Distant photo of an aggressive interaction between an Osprey and Bald Eagle. The osprey is diving at the eagle with its talons extended. The eagle is flying upside down with its talons extended up towards the approaching osprey and its beak open in a scream. Second photo in a series capturing an aggressive interaction between an Osprey and Bald Eagle. In this shot the osprey has started to pull out of its dive on the eagle. The eagle is still flying upside down but is twisted as it tracks the osprey’s flight.
August 5, 2025 at 1:19 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Hiking through our nearby woods I came across a family of noisy House Wrens. I watched as the young birds chased each other around until an adult showed up with a bug in its beak. I got some nice photos as the birds positioned themselves and the lucky one got to eat. Fun. #birds #nature #wildlife
An adult Northern House Wren, holding a fly in its beak, has the eager attention of two nearby fledglings. All three birds are on different branches with the surrounding leaves brightly backlit by the sun. An adult Northern House Wren is offering a small insect to its fledgling hat is perched on a lower tree branch. The adult is positioned upside down while the fledgling has a wide open beak to receive the meal. Leaves provide a bright green background.
July 31, 2025 at 9:43 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Traveling (and birding) through the Netherlands and Denmark. Lots of little birds this morning including this sweet Lesser Whitethroat near Skagen.
A small bird in a leafy bush. The bird is a Lesser Whitethroat with a gray head, brown wings and tail, cream breast, and of course a white throat. A out of focus spider web in the background adds an extra element.
July 21, 2025 at 7:51 AM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
The recovery of Trumpeter Swan populations in Minnesota is one of the great wild bird successes of my lifetime. Extirpated from the state by the end of the 19th C, conservationists beginning in 1966 worked through decades of challenges to re-establish these amazing birds. So grateful. #birds 🪶
A swan preening its white feathers with its large black bill. The bird is resting on the shore of a wooded lake next to the brown trunk of a downed tree. The brilliant white bird is set against a dark green forest, with the bird and tree trunk reflected in the water.
July 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Also lots of young White-tailed bucks with their antlers starting to emerge. Seen in Reservoir Woods, Roseville, Minnesota.
Close up photo of a young White-tailed buck looking at the photographer. Its antlers are just starting to emerge. A closeup photo of a young White-tailed buck in profile as it walks through a field of green ferns that are so tall that only the deer’s head is unobscured.
May 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
It’s a great time of year to be out in the woods. Lots of baby birds including this hen Hooded Merganser with nine ducklings. #birds 🪶
Female Hooded Merganser in a pond with an its surface covered with light green duck weed. The hen is mostly brown with a reddish brown ‘hood’ of spikey feathers. The ducklings are little brown puffs of feathers and tiny beaks.
May 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Excited to see a flock of White-winged crossbills foraging on conifer cones in our neighborhood yesterday. They are part of a winter irruption that brought them down to southern Minnesota. #birds 🪶
A pair of White-winged Crossbills foraging in a conifer. The tree has many large cones. A White-winged crossbill perched on a conifer branch. The bird’s bill has the characteristic cross-over arrangement.
April 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Wood duck in a pine tree.

I’ve never seen a male wood duck from this angle before except when in flight. It’s interesting how intricate and colorful are the feathers until you get below the waterline. Then it’s just plain white. #birds #🪶
A male wood duck is perched on a branch of a large red pine tree. Its bright red eye ring and colorful feathers stand out against the green of the surrounding trees.
April 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Watched this pair of Red-shouldered hawks loudly call to each other as they circled overhead for almost an hour. Made for a good day. #birds #🪶
A soaring hawk with wings outstretched flying towards the photographer. Its underwing feathers are rusty colored. The outer wing feathers and tail are barred black and white. The hawk is carrying a small mouse carcass in one foot. A second hawk is in the background out of focus.
March 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Spotted this Sharp-shinned Hawk while walking through Como Park in -10 F windchill. Always exciting to see these birds in our neighborhood. #birds
Backside of a small brown hawk sitting on a tree branch. The hawk is looking over its shoulder at the viewer. Its tail is slightly flared with broad bands of gray and black. The tail’s white tip is ratty and worn looking.
February 22, 2025 at 1:57 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Birded #SaxZimBog in Northern Minnesota this weekend. We were thrilled to find this Great Gray Owl. We watched it for quite a while as it scanned the snowy ground for critters. A lifer for both of us.

#birds #birding #SuperbOwlSunday #birdphotography
A speckled gray, brown, and white owl perfectly blends into its winter landscape. Its round head and piercing yellow eyes are turned towards the viewer.
February 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
A Brown-eared Bulbul perched in a tree. One of a dozen flying about a small park I visited during a layover in Incheon, South Korea. It was a fun opportunity to add a few birds to my life list. #bird
A gray-brown bird perched in a tree. It has a breast speckled with cream colored feathers and a reddish brown cheek. Its head is tilted to the side as it looks around.
February 4, 2025 at 9:16 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Back from Cambodia and decided to get outdoors. Found a bunch of Trumpeter Swans and Mallards on a nearby lake. Felt good to be home.
A pair of white Trumpeter Swans with black faces and feet. They’re on a patch of ice with water in the foreground and snowy ground on the background. One swan has curled its long neck to preen feathers on its wing. The other swan is nuzzling its partner. A Mallard hen photographed in flight over a mix of snow and icy water. A white Tundra swan running across the ice as it takes flight. Its big black feet kick a lights spray of snow.
January 23, 2025 at 5:05 AM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Face tower overlooking Angkor Thom’s north gate. These giant faces are a remarkable element of classic Angkor period architecture.
A stone tower with a giant face built around 900 ce. Large blocks of mostly grey stone form the wall and face tower. Closer examination of the stone wall reveals a number of additional faces and small carvings.
January 16, 2025 at 3:24 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
In Cambodia with my students studying heritage, preservation, tourism, and culture. Here we are with our guide, Professor Long Vudthy, at Preah Palilay on the north side of Angkor Thom.
A classic Angkor period stone tower with trees growing from the ruins. Students are clustered around our guide wearing his yellow shirt. A late afternoon sun is giving the site a nice warm color.
January 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet looking feisty.
A small bird clinging to a bare branch and looking straight at the camera. It has an olive grey back, smudgy yellow breast, white eye rings, and a dramatic crown of erect red feathers.
December 24, 2024 at 3:16 PM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
Birded the brand new Keystone Woods WMA and had a great time observing and photographing the surprisingly abundant Short-eared Owls. Seeing these amazing birds clearly demonstrates the importance of preserving large tracts of grassland habitat.
A brown and cream colored Short-eared Owl flying across a late fall grassland. The owl is looking towards the camera. A brown and cream colored Short-eared Owl banking as it glides across the smooth surface of a wetland surrounded by a late fall grassland.
November 26, 2024 at 1:48 AM
buzzhoffman.bsky.social
I was out birding late on 11/15. Just as I got back to my car I looked up and saw this. Super moon. Beaver moon.
Pale orange full moon rising above the dark silhouette of trees.
November 17, 2024 at 4:40 AM