Mirabilia Magpie (she/her)
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curiousliving.bsky.social
Mirabilia Magpie (she/her)
@curiousliving.bsky.social
480 followers 1.9K following 180 posts
Bird/nature photography nerd, lover of spreadsheets, off the beaten path explorer. Weaving passions for knowledge, nature, social justice, empowerment, everyday miracles & beauty into a curious Way Forward outside the lines.
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curiousliving.bsky.social
I am pretty sure I have had an expression much like that of this White-winged dove Cafter returning from a vacation looking for #birds in and around the Chiricahua Mountains and seeing the latest headlines.
Close up of a brown/gray dove with a bright red eye surrounded by a sky blue ring. Bird has medium long thinnish dark beak and black patch on cheek. Bird’s head is leaning slightly away from camera and the look suggests the emotion of unpleasant surprise and disbelief.
September 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
I had a peeping tom this afternoon who was completely unbothered when I got up to get my camera and take several photos through the glass door #birds
Mostly black and brown bird closeup. Photo shows the head (turned to the right) and upper back of the bird. Bird has a dark crest which is flattened back, white horizontal striping on the face, and a longish dark beak.
August 16, 2025 at 7:19 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Juvenile male Costa’s hummingbird, taken at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon near Green Valley, Arizona. #birds
small hummingbird with pale underside, greenish grey back, black bill, and the first few purple gorget and crown feathers showing. Bird is perched on a twig in front of a gray background and is looking toward camera with head turned slightly to the side so only one eye visible.
August 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
As part the SE Arizona Birding Festival, I joined 3 accessible outings for my first time birding as part of an organized group. Having more than just my own eyes was a treat as was meeting some nice folks. Lists yet to be tabulated/ photos sorted but this reflection was a nice surprise. #birds
small mostly pale bird with distinctive face strips in white, black, and chestnut. Bird has pink feed and is perched on small rocks at the edge of the of the water. The bird is clearly reflected in the water.
August 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Grateful that someone let me grab a photo while they were visiting. #birds
Black and white bird with a long black tail and grey legs standing in front of a clay colored dish and green succulent plant. Bird is seen in profile with its head turn looking back over its body and tail
June 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
White-winged doves can be bullies at the feeders but this one was looking lovely in the early morning light. Taken at Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, Hereford, Arizona. #birds
Medium sized bird on a perch in front of a mostly blue background. Bird is mostly a grayish tan with white wing edges, red feet and legs, and a bright blue patch around it reddish eye.
June 24, 2025 at 11:13 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
I took a much needed break from all the bad things happening in the world to visit Las Cienegas NCA, Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, and Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds. I added at least two lifers (White-tailed Kite, and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Here is an Anna’s Hummingbirds from Ash Canyon. #birds
Small hummingbird with a bright fushia head and a mostly pale belly. Perched on a bare twig with thorns looking almost straight at the camera in front of a blurry leaf background.
June 23, 2025 at 10:50 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Not a productive photo or bird day but a chance to explore Tohono Chul before it got too hot. I found a few spots likely to be favorites for meincluding the area where I finally got an identifiable photo of a Lucy’s warbler one of the life birds I have added since arriving in AZ. #birds
small grey bird with a lighter chest and belly and dark legs perched on the edge of a metal container into which water is falling.
June 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
One of the round-tailed ground squirrels who have been entertaining and distracting me the last couple of days. The adults like this one are cute but the young are cute magnified. Sadly the babies are not cooperating when it comes to photos. Taken through a glass door.
Small tan ground squirrel with a lighter underside, in proportion to its body large eye and ear. Standing on landscape gravel/rocks in profile with its head turned slightly toward the camera.
June 14, 2025 at 1:50 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Two lifers today but only one with a photo. This Bronze Cowbird was taken at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon. The second was my first Harris Hawk while driving to Saguaro NP East early this morning. #birds
Dark bird perched on a branch with a blurred background of brownish ground. Bird is looking to the right of the photo. It has a red eye and thick dark bill. The bird has a somewhat sinister look.
June 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Grateful for a summer next that exceeds my expectations. Three days and a “yard” bird count of over twenty.
Peaceful scene of a table and chairs on a covered porch looking into desert scrubland and a view of Mount Lemmon in the distance.
June 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Lucky spot if not great photo of the day was this Swainson’s hawk nesting along the road at Smith Reservoir in Colorado. More exciting but a worse photo was finally managing to spot a Pinyon Jay to add it to my life list. It made me work for it but an identifiable photo was managed.
May 4, 2025 at 7:57 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
I spent a delightful few hours at Monte Vista NWR today. This Wilson’s Snipe was one of my favorite subjects. #birds

As delightful as today was, I am so looking forward a month from now . I will have lots of new places to explore and a different set of birds to photograph
May 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
The look I am giving the day and it is only 6:30 am #birds Anhinga closeup. Taken at Merritt Island NWR in early 2020.
Closeup of a pale tan bird with a red eye surrounded by a bright blue ring. Bird looks suspicious and irritated.
April 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Trying again to post without typo in hashtag and with alt text.

My summation of this week. What a roller coaster it has been. #birds
Close up of screaming osprey shot from below looking up into the wide open beak. Interior roof of beak clearly visible and eyes look frantic and wild
February 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Most of the birds today, including thousands of Sandhill Cranes, and even more Canada/Cackling geese for were too far away for decent photos but this Cinnamon Teal was cooperative and less far away. Grateful for National Wildlife Refuges and the increase in #birds as spring approaches.
Cinnamon brown duck with dark bill, bright red eye, and dark back and tail feathers.
February 24, 2025 at 12:30 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Current mood represented by this Reddish Egret (taken at Merritt Island NWR in Jan 2020) #birds
Reddish egret standing in water starting directly into the camera with feathers on head standing up. Facial expression of egret looks pissed off.
January 21, 2025 at 1:23 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Birds were scare (not surprising) and skittish today but the moon was lovely.
"Close up" of full moon against a clear navy sky.
January 13, 2025 at 1:17 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Western Grebe chick taken at Tulelake National Wildlife refuge in northern California. #birds

One of my goals for the next couple of weeks is to get my photos into some semblance of order but I keep getting distracted by memories of all the amazing public lands I have been blessed to visit.
A fluffy looking grebe chick with white face, neck, and chest. Top of head and back are light grey. Chick is looking directly at camera while swimming in slightly choppy water.
December 21, 2024 at 1:48 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Violet-crowned hummingbird. A life list addition seen at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, AZ.

Sadly I was not able to get a shot with the light highlighting the violet crown. Maybe next year.

#birds
Hummingbird with a dark back, white chest, and bright red bill drinking from a feeder.
December 19, 2024 at 1:35 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
and another from Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary- male Broad-billed Hummingbird. #birds
Hummingbird perched on small branch in profile showing distinctive red beak. Feathers range from dark grey through shades of green and blue with touches of nearly purple.
December 18, 2024 at 3:20 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Gila woodpecker taken in September 2024 at Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary near Hereford, Arizona.
Medium-sized bird with tawny head and underside Wings and tail are black and white patterned. Bird is in profile facing to the left and perched on a dead branch
December 18, 2024 at 1:53 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Seeking solace in memories of birds such as this Lesser Goldfinch taken at Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary near Hereford, Arizona. #birds
Bright yellow bird with black cap perched on the tip of a branch.
December 17, 2024 at 3:39 AM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Another hummingbird, a Rufous I think, from my trip to Portal, Arizona. #birds
Small hummingbird with rust colored sides, green cap, and short straight bill perched on the dried stalk of the dried bloom stalk of agave plant. The sky is intensely blue and clear.
December 15, 2024 at 11:55 PM
curiousliving.bsky.social
Another of my life list additions from my September trip to Arizona, a Blue-throated Mountain Gem seen at Cave Creek Ranch near Portal. #birds

There are many reasons that moving to Arizona is illogical for me but the pull is strong.
Slender hummingbird with grey underside, green fading to black wings, a blue throat, a green cap and white-eye strip perched and drinking from a feeder.
December 11, 2024 at 1:54 AM