mica (the mineral)
@micathemineral.bsky.social
natural science illustrator, museum exhibit designer, naturalist, outdoorswoman, rock climber, birder, polar enthusiast, she/her 🏳️🌈 https://linktr.ee/micalow
For today's #BirdOfTheDay alternate theme, #SmallBirdsBigPersonality, we have this american tree sparrow giving me a cheeky look. I love photographing sparrows, they're never boring! 🪶 #birdphotography
December 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
For today's #BirdOfTheDay alternate theme, #SmallBirdsBigPersonality, we have this american tree sparrow giving me a cheeky look. I love photographing sparrows, they're never boring! 🪶 #birdphotography
I saw a very very lost scissor-tailed flycatcher today in MA. There's probably little hope for this poor guy to ever make it back where he belongs, so I feel lucky (and a little sad) to have seen him while he's still with us. 🪶
December 7, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I saw a very very lost scissor-tailed flycatcher today in MA. There's probably little hope for this poor guy to ever make it back where he belongs, so I feel lucky (and a little sad) to have seen him while he's still with us. 🪶
My paper trip lists were qualitative accounts of the birding experience.
My childhood sighting records contain excited asides about what the bird was doing when I saw it...except they weren't asides, not really. They were an integral part of the record.
My childhood sighting records contain excited asides about what the bird was doing when I saw it...except they weren't asides, not really. They were an integral part of the record.
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
My paper trip lists were qualitative accounts of the birding experience.
My childhood sighting records contain excited asides about what the bird was doing when I saw it...except they weren't asides, not really. They were an integral part of the record.
My childhood sighting records contain excited asides about what the bird was doing when I saw it...except they weren't asides, not really. They were an integral part of the record.
A bunch of little snow buntings at Parker River NWR this week. They're just about the cutest. 🪶 #birdphotography
November 15, 2025 at 9:19 PM
A bunch of little snow buntings at Parker River NWR this week. They're just about the cutest. 🪶 #birdphotography
This is such a good point, I'm always looking for weird angles to use as ref, but never think to upload them myself. You've inspired me to upload this snow bunting butt to Macaulay right now.
November 14, 2025 at 11:29 PM
This is such a good point, I'm always looking for weird angles to use as ref, but never think to upload them myself. You've inspired me to upload this snow bunting butt to Macaulay right now.
lifer king eider! 🎉🪶 I’ve been chasing this duck for two years and I finally saw one, even if it took a trip to maine to do it! He’s so handsome!!! 🥹
November 13, 2025 at 3:10 AM
lifer king eider! 🎉🪶 I’ve been chasing this duck for two years and I finally saw one, even if it took a trip to maine to do it! He’s so handsome!!! 🥹
Finally sat down and did some photo editing, some sunday sparrows for you. #birdphotography 🪶 #wildlifephotography
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Finally sat down and did some photo editing, some sunday sparrows for you. #birdphotography 🪶 #wildlifephotography
Saw the very lost brown booby 🪶 on Cape Cod (!!!) on my second try, but managed to mess up my shutter speed without noticing, so what I have is a variety of levels of blur and not a single nice shot. Ah, the joys of bird photography... 🫠
November 9, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Saw the very lost brown booby 🪶 on Cape Cod (!!!) on my second try, but managed to mess up my shutter speed without noticing, so what I have is a variety of levels of blur and not a single nice shot. Ah, the joys of bird photography... 🫠
Unfortunately I, too, love checking things off a list.
October 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Unfortunately I, too, love checking things off a list.
I went for a birding hike this weekend and there were a ton of red-breasted nuthatches yank-yank-yanking at me the whole way. Love those little guys. 🪶🐡 #sciart #procreate
October 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I went for a birding hike this weekend and there were a ton of red-breasted nuthatches yank-yank-yanking at me the whole way. Love those little guys. 🪶🐡 #sciart #procreate
Belated day 2 of #SciArtSeptember: Canopy. Some longleaf pines with recent fire scarring. 🐡🎨
September 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Belated day 2 of #SciArtSeptember: Canopy. Some longleaf pines with recent fire scarring. 🐡🎨
why are all the brown-headed nuthatches going crazy? hmm 🤔
September 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
why are all the brown-headed nuthatches going crazy? hmm 🤔
pictured: covered head to toe and some excellent mosquito habitat (birds optional)
September 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
pictured: covered head to toe and some excellent mosquito habitat (birds optional)
Let’s go birding! Today’s goal: summer tanager in coastal NC.
so far: Great horned owl, many MANY woodpeckers, herons galore, approx. 1 million mosquitos, some beautiful longleaf pines.
so far: Great horned owl, many MANY woodpeckers, herons galore, approx. 1 million mosquitos, some beautiful longleaf pines.
September 4, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Let’s go birding! Today’s goal: summer tanager in coastal NC.
so far: Great horned owl, many MANY woodpeckers, herons galore, approx. 1 million mosquitos, some beautiful longleaf pines.
so far: Great horned owl, many MANY woodpeckers, herons galore, approx. 1 million mosquitos, some beautiful longleaf pines.
A photo you took that brings you inner peace 📷🌸
August 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A photo you took that brings you inner peace 📷🌸
And finally, an important bit of wisdom from @theineptbirder.bsky.social—the most important part of any birding trip is baked goods.
Here are my consolation lack-of-lifer bagels.
Here are my consolation lack-of-lifer bagels.
August 22, 2025 at 3:04 PM
And finally, an important bit of wisdom from @theineptbirder.bsky.social—the most important part of any birding trip is baked goods.
Here are my consolation lack-of-lifer bagels.
Here are my consolation lack-of-lifer bagels.
high school marsh very birdy but solitary sandpiper-less. 😭 Several spotted sandpipers taunting me. Many green heron and eastern pheobe. I have called it because I need to get to work.
(I did finally locate the Secret Boardwalk though, so next time I can head directly to it.)
(I did finally locate the Secret Boardwalk though, so next time I can head directly to it.)
August 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
high school marsh very birdy but solitary sandpiper-less. 😭 Several spotted sandpipers taunting me. Many green heron and eastern pheobe. I have called it because I need to get to work.
(I did finally locate the Secret Boardwalk though, so next time I can head directly to it.)
(I did finally locate the Secret Boardwalk though, so next time I can head directly to it.)
Beaver pond: nada (too overgrown, water too deep)
Boat landing: six killdeer, a spotted sandpiper, three lesser yellowlegs, and assorted smaller peeps hiding in the marsh edges, but no solitary.
on to the marsh in front of the high school!
Boat landing: six killdeer, a spotted sandpiper, three lesser yellowlegs, and assorted smaller peeps hiding in the marsh edges, but no solitary.
on to the marsh in front of the high school!
August 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Beaver pond: nada (too overgrown, water too deep)
Boat landing: six killdeer, a spotted sandpiper, three lesser yellowlegs, and assorted smaller peeps hiding in the marsh edges, but no solitary.
on to the marsh in front of the high school!
Boat landing: six killdeer, a spotted sandpiper, three lesser yellowlegs, and assorted smaller peeps hiding in the marsh edges, but no solitary.
on to the marsh in front of the high school!
Gooood morning birders! Today we’re looking for a solitary sandpiper!
August 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Gooood morning birders! Today we’re looking for a solitary sandpiper!
a collection of screenshots of shame
July 30, 2025 at 8:05 PM
a collection of screenshots of shame
tiger swallowtail (eastern or appalachian, idk), mourning cloak, and some kind of dragonfly all spotted in western MD, where the bugs were being more obliging about posing for me than the birds were. 😅 #naturephotography #insects 🦋
June 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
tiger swallowtail (eastern or appalachian, idk), mourning cloak, and some kind of dragonfly all spotted in western MD, where the bugs were being more obliging about posing for me than the birds were. 😅 #naturephotography #insects 🦋
Gettysburg, on a summer night 162 years after the battle.
The field where tens of thousands died is filled with dancing fireflies. The cannons stand quiet, replaced by calling frogs rustling grass. It would have been impossible not to be moved by the peace of it.
#landscapepainting #procreate
The field where tens of thousands died is filled with dancing fireflies. The cannons stand quiet, replaced by calling frogs rustling grass. It would have been impossible not to be moved by the peace of it.
#landscapepainting #procreate
June 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Gettysburg, on a summer night 162 years after the battle.
The field where tens of thousands died is filled with dancing fireflies. The cannons stand quiet, replaced by calling frogs rustling grass. It would have been impossible not to be moved by the peace of it.
#landscapepainting #procreate
The field where tens of thousands died is filled with dancing fireflies. The cannons stand quiet, replaced by calling frogs rustling grass. It would have been impossible not to be moved by the peace of it.
#landscapepainting #procreate
Oh are we doing #SparrowSunday? In that case, here's a lark sparrow. 🪶
May 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Oh are we doing #SparrowSunday? In that case, here's a lark sparrow. 🪶
My 🪶 lifers this month: Bay-breasted warbler, northern bobwhite, and Swainson's thrush. Ah, the joys of bird photography. 🥲🫠
May 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
My 🪶 lifers this month: Bay-breasted warbler, northern bobwhite, and Swainson's thrush. Ah, the joys of bird photography. 🥲🫠
Been too busy moving and dealing with first-time homeowner stuff (!!!) to get out birding or make art much this spring, but I finally found a little time.
Lots of flycatchers out today, here's an eastern wood-pewee. 🪶
Lots of flycatchers out today, here's an eastern wood-pewee. 🪶
May 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Been too busy moving and dealing with first-time homeowner stuff (!!!) to get out birding or make art much this spring, but I finally found a little time.
Lots of flycatchers out today, here's an eastern wood-pewee. 🪶
Lots of flycatchers out today, here's an eastern wood-pewee. 🪶