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flippityflip.bsky.social
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@flippityflip.bsky.social
200 followers 220 following 260 posts
Tapir enthusiast. D&D nerd. PhD in CS. ML dev in Ads. Aspiring game dev. Chess noob. Novice birder. Mobile gamer. Cat 6 cyclist. Leftist political junkie. Awkward fucking dork. He/Him.
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flippityflip.bsky.social
Not bad for a city of 300K. I was glad to be there, and glad that one of my teens wanted to come. No matter how this ugly chapter of US history gets, I want my children to know that I stood up for what is right. #Pittsburgh #NoKings #TrumpIsAJagoff

www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh...
High aerial shot of the Oct 18 No Kings protest in Pittsburgh. A crowd of thousands can be seen filling the street and parking lotoutside the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh.
October 19, 2025 at 2:15 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
A tufted titmouse playing peekaboo. Very cute. #birds 🪶
A tufted titmouse perched on a branch, partially obscured behind a large green leaf. The titmouse has a cream colored belly, with rusty highlights on its flanks, with grey wings and tail, with a black patch above its short black bill.
September 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
This isn't the greatest shot of a kingfisher ever, but I love kingfishers, and this was my one chance to see one and I got the shot! Taken two weeks ago on the shore of Lac Inferieur while exploring the Bois de Boulogne in Paris #birds 🪶
A Common Kingfisher perched on the exposed roots of a tree overlooking the banks of a lake. The kingfisher is a small bird with vibrant teal upperparts and bright orange underparts.
August 28, 2025 at 12:21 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
New life lister! Too bad I didn't actually see the male she was calling out to. #birds 🪶
A female Indigo Bunting perched on a twig up in the green foliage. Unlike the blue males, this female has a light underbelly and brown wings.
July 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
The photo isn't great since he insisted on staying so high up in the canopy, but this Scarlet Tanager is one of THREE life listers I got today. Woo! #birds 🪶
The underside of a Scarlet Tanager perched on a thin branch, with green foliage in the background. The breeding male is a brilliant orange-red, except for its wings and tail, which are solid black.
July 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
"Watch closely while I show you how to find dinner!"

It was super fun to watch this red-bellied woodpecker interact with its two fledglings. It was also hilarious when one fledgling tried to peck and straight up just fell off the tree before flying off. 🤣

#birds 🪶
Two red-bellied woodpeckers through the foliage. Center-left is an adult woodpecker with white and black coloration on its back. It stares intently at a tree trunk. On a skinny branch off to the right is a fledgling, which is a bit fuzzier and gray.
July 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
What a messy eater! I watched this guy go to town until there was nothing left on the stalk! #birds 🪶
A Lesser Finch eating fluffy seed on the end of a stalk. The finch has a black cap, striking yellow underbelly, and an olive back with black and white highlights. The bird holds a seed with fluffy hairs in its beak. Some additional fluff is stuck to its head.
May 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
This Barn Swallow is pretty freaking adorable if you ask me. #birds 🪶
A Barn Swallow perched on a narrow reed in a marsh, with its face and breast illuminated by golden hour sun.
May 30, 2025 at 11:17 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
What in the #Pittsburgh hell is this? Apparently they were "on sale" so we "had to try them" or something... I'll report back later on this monstrosity.
A package of Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle Crunchy Cheetos.
May 28, 2025 at 1:25 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
Look at that cutie! Spotted near Shoreline Lake in East Palo Alto while on a work trip. Was cramming a camera into my carry-on worth it? I'd say so. #birds 🪶
A Black Phoebe perched on the flat top of a fence post. The small bird has almost fuzzy dull black feathers with a white underbelly. It had a small thin black beak and black eyes. The wooden fence post is sun bleached and the vegetation in the background is out of focus.
May 27, 2025 at 11:11 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
It was early morning and arguably the sun was in the wrong direction, but I rather like how this shot turned out! #birds 🪶
The dark silhouette of a Double-crested Cormorant swimming in the water. A small wake trails the bird's body, and the reflection of the bird's head can be seen on the water.
May 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
Traveling for work and got this new life lister! #birds 🪶
A Western Kingbird perched on a wire fence. A Western Kingbird perched on a branch with green foliage in the background.
May 11, 2025 at 9:31 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
I went out looking for warblers for my life list and got four new additions! They're rather uncooperative subjects for photography though - not like this cute little guy. #birds 🪶
A floofed up house sparrow perched on an old wood fence post. A house sparrow perched on an old wood fence post.
May 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
The warblers were out in force today, but this song sparrow was the most cooperative subject. #birds 🪶
A song sparrow perched on a tangle of small branches. The sparrow has coarse brown steaks, and is looking over its shoulder back at the camera. A song sparrow perched on a tangle of small branches. The sparrow has coarse brown steaks, and is lifting its head up to sing. A song sparrow perched on a tangle of small branches. The sparrow has coarse brown steaks, and is looking to the right.
May 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
I don't know why, but this side-by-side cracks me up. Guess I should have cranked up the shutter speed! #birds 🪶
A downy woodpecker perched on a reed. A downy woodpecker perched on a reed, but with a very blurry head from its fast pecking motion.
April 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
Bluejays may be assholes at the feeder, but they sure are pretty! #birds 🪶
A bluejay perched on a bare branch.
April 13, 2025 at 2:42 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
The wren was surprisingly still for a bit while I took this pic. Probably trying to remember if it turned off the oven before zipping off to go check. 🪶
A Carolina Wren perched on a branch. The wren is a small rusty brown bird with a short tail and a distinctive white eye stripe.
March 10, 2025 at 11:43 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
The same hawk after missing its quarry. It actually ended up tangled in the grass and after shaking loose came up empty taloned. 🪶
A Red-tailed Hawk on the ground. Its wings are outstretched and its talons are buried in tangled dry grass.
March 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
I'm certainly anthropomorphizing a bit, but this hawk looks downright sad. To be fair, moments before this, I watched it try and fail to catch some lunch and it was erm...not majestic 😅

#birds 🪶
A Red-tailed hawk perched a branch looking back over its shoulder. The hawk has a brown patterned back, with its namesake tail clearly visible.
March 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
The office got a new toy. Don't think I'll use it again, but it gave me a chuckle.

Also, for erm...reasons...my site has a thing with llamas.
A white mug with printed latte art of a llama wearing a baseball cap.
March 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
I spotted this little guy on my walk to work this morning. House Sparrows have been living alongside us for as long as we've had permanent settlements, so in some sense, I think they're a reflection of us. They're also quite pretty if you ask me. #birds 🪶
A male House Sparrow perched on a power line in front of a red brick house. The sparrow has bright brown wings with black streaks, a cream underbelly, and a black bib under creamy cheeks. The short black beak holds a yellow seed.
February 25, 2025 at 4:14 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
Photographing one of these hyperactive little guys has been tricky - they're so tiny and just won't stay in frame! They are cute though! #birds 🪶
A Golden-crowned Kinglet clinging to the trunk of a tree. The tiny songbird has olive-green plumage, a creamy underside, and a bright yellow crown stripe, bordered by black lines.
February 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
Right, but the king is a figurehead. The actual power rests with Prime Minister Musk, who is currently fucking with us all despite not having been nominated or confirmed by the Senate, and despite the fact that Congress never authorized DOGE or its any of its bullshit.
February 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
flippityflip.bsky.social
It was bitter cold today at Frick Park but that didn't stop this floofed up Downy from looking for lunch. 🪶
A Downy Woodpecker hanging on a narrow tree trunk staring intently at a small hole. The woodpecker has a fluffy white underbelly, black wings with rows of white spots, and a red spot on the back of its head.
February 17, 2025 at 9:53 PM
flippityflip.bsky.social
Strike a pose! #birds 🪶
A red-tailed hawk sitting on a branch looking off into the distance.
February 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM