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my-dad.bsky.social
Dad
@my-dad.bsky.social
57 followers 170 following 42 posts
I may not be your dad, but I'm here to talk.

Bird-nerd, animal lover, gamer, book-wyrm, handyman, & dad.


pictures posted are taken on either my canon rebel t5 with kit lenses, or my oneplus11 phone.
Posts Replies Media Videos
my-dad.bsky.social
New lifer part 2 with the yellow-throated warbler. They're apparently rare in central Iowa. I had first assumed it was a magnolia warbler, but I'm happy I was wrong.
#birds #naturephotograpy #ornithusiast
ebird describes this bird as: A slender, long-billed warbler with distinctive pattern. Look for yellow throat, black mask, and black streaks on sides. All plumages are very similar; females and immatures often show a light buffy wash on the sides ebird describes this bird as: A slender, long-billed warbler with distinctive pattern. Look for yellow throat, black mask, and black streaks on sides. All plumages are very similar; females and immatures often show a light buffy wash on the sides
September 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
A quick birdwatching outing after dropping the kids off at school. New lifer number 1: black-throated green warbler.
#birds #naturephotography #ornithusiast
described on e-bird as: Bright yellow face with olive cheeks, crown, and back. Only breeding males have solid black throat. In all plumages, look for dark streaks on white flanks and yellow wash on vent. described on e-bird as: Bright yellow face with olive cheeks, crown, and back. Only breeding males have solid black throat. In all plumages, look for dark streaks on white flanks and yellow wash on vent.
September 2, 2025 at 7:15 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
Somebody is mad that I greased the bird feeder pole
#birds
June 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
#birds #naturephotography #ornithusiast
A turkey vulture perched in a distant tree seems to be watching a squirrel that is blurry in the foreground of the image. The squirrel is eating newly growing leaf buds.
April 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
Spring may be here, but the spring migrators have been elusive so far... [yellow-rumped warbler]
#birds #naturephotography #ornithusiast
A yellow-rumped warbler peeks over a large lichen covered treebranch. Its white head with black eye stripe and black streaked breast are all that are visible. New leaf buds are blurry in the imaged foreground.
April 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Dad
zanchose.bsky.social
Bats are important, wonderful, beautiful creatures.
April 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
What do we think y'all? Rough winged swallow? Bank swallow? Seen today 18April2025 in central Iowa, USA.

#birds #naturephotography #ornithusiast
A comparison of four similarly blurry photos of a brown and white bird flying over water.
April 19, 2025 at 2:52 AM
my-dad.bsky.social
Red-Breasted Merganser was a nice addition to my life list. There were around 30 of them diving in a bit of faster moving water between shore and the stony island seen in the background.
#birds #naturephotography #ornithusiast
a trio of red-breasted mergansers, two male and one female, swimming near the stony shore of a river island. Males have a red-brown chest, white neck band, and green head with a shaggy Mohawk. females are brown and gray. Both males and females have long thin orange bills.
April 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
American white pelicans just below RedRock dam in Iowa.
#birds #naturephotography #ornithusiast
a group of more than 20 white pelicans standing or resting on a stony island in a river. the orange legs, and yellow beaks contrast their bright white feathers, and murky brown water nearby.
April 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
I only managed this shot because it was almost as if this chickadee was lost in thought. A partially eaten seed resting on a branch under it's feet. Although they're fairly common, I'm always happy to see a chickadee, and I was thrilled to get this great photo.
#birds #photography #ornithusiast
a black-capped chickadee looking to the left while perched on a thin treebranch. It's holding a pecked-open sunflower seed between its feet, resting on its twig perch. The chickadee has a black head and chin, with an acute triangle of feathers starting at its beak, running under its eye, to then wrap around the back of the head. it has white breast feathers, and gray and black wings. Its perched on a small twig, with gray, and yellow-green lichen growing on other nearby twigs
February 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
This pine martin was an un-targed highlight of my trip to @saxzimbog.bsky.social . A coopers hawk drove off the mixed flock of redpolls, pine siskin, chickadees, and nuthatches we were watching and as we were turning around to leave, my brother spotted it.
#naturephotography #photography
a hazy, blurry photo of a large weasel called a pine martin. it's brown fur stands out against the snow it's sitting in. The photo was taken through grass, underbrush, and some tree branches. The pine martin seems to have a food item in its mouth.
February 27, 2025 at 10:52 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
I don't have the best camera, or lenses, but I make due. This is one picture that could have been a bit better focused, but I still love it.
This redpoll was watching a flock of siskins at a birdfeeder, before being scared off by what I believe was a cooper's hawk.
#birds #photography #ornithusiast
A male redpoll sitting near a cluster of lichen on a treebranch. Most of its feathers are light gray, with black and white wings. It has a dark red patch on its forehead, and some light red feathers along the top of its breast.
February 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
While red-breasted nuthatches are native around me in Iowa, it took a trip to northern Minnesota to finally add it to my life list.
#birds #photography #ornithusiast
a red-breasted nuthatch perched on the edge of a wooden birdfeeder. it has a black head, with a white streak that runs from it's bill, over its eye, down to its neck. Its back and wings are blue-gray to black, and it's breast feathers are a light reddish-brown color. The background is of blurred pinetrees.
February 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
This male white winged crossbill was a nice surprise. It was tough to get a clear picture of him while he harvested pine-nuts. I remember learning about their unique beak morphology in school, and it was so much fun seeing it in action.
#birds #photography #ornithusiast
a male white winged crossbill working a pinenut from a small pinecone it harvested. It's perched on a pine branch, using it's crossed bill to wedge open the pinecone, working the pine nut free with it's tongue. The white winged crossbill is a mostly reddish pink color. Its black wings accented with a small patch of white.
February 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
The great gray owl was the main motivator for our trip to northern Minnesota. It was hard to tell when it was looking my direction, but fortunately if you take enough pictures, one or two are bound to look okay.
#birds
a large great gray owl looks past the viewer, perched on a thin treebranch.. Its dark gray and brown feathers contrast the light gray overcast sky in the background. The white chin feathers were the only way I could tell the owl might have been looking my direction
February 27, 2025 at 10:16 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
A male redpoll standing among a flock of pine siskin near @saxzimbog.bsky.social from last weekend's birding trip.
Taken on Canon Rebel T5 with 75mm-300mm kit lens.
#birds
a male redpoll standing on snow, surrounded by a flock of pine siskin. The redpoll's dark red forehead, and light red breast feathers contrast the pine siskin's brown, white, and yellow feathers.
February 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
The best photo I managed to capture of the Northern Hawk Owl I saw at @saxzimbog.bsky.social last friday.
Taken on Canon Rebel T5 with 75mm-300mm kit lens.
A northern hawk owl staring at the photographer through a maze of tree branches. It's brown and white breast feathers are puffed out to combat the cold weather.
February 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
I went on my first trip last weekend specifically for birding. I went to @saxzimbog.bsky.social with my dad and brother, and ended up adding 11 species to my life list in about 24hrs. It was a blast, and great to meet so many fellow birders. Image: Evening Grossbeak.
#addBirder #birds #photography
A male evening grossbeak perched on a birdfeeder that looks like a log cabin. It has a gray-brown head with a bright yellow patch of feathers that look like a unibrow. Its beak is off white. The gray-brown color of the head fades into a bright yellow body, interrupted by white, then black streaks of wingfeathers. There are tree branches in the foreground and background. The overall color of the image suggests an overcast day.
February 27, 2025 at 9:51 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
Finally, at the age of 34, I've beaten my first Pokemon game. I've always been interested, but wasn't allowed to play the games as a kid. I finally got around to picking up a DS and I hope to beat one game from each generation. Wish me luck!

#pokemon #gaming #abouttime
February 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
my-dad.bsky.social
Happy popcorn day!
#popcorn #movie #sonicthehedgehog
A 3.5 gallon bucket filled with popcorn, held while waiting for my partner and gremlins in the bathroom. Ugly red movie theater carpet in the background.
January 19, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Dad
cwebbonline.com
For the people in the back…
January 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Reposted by Dad
sarahmackattack.bsky.social
Every one of these cards has a fact about the animal on the front, *and* an action people can take to protect that animal.

We’re looking at cute art.
We’re learning about cool bugs.
We’re caring for our wildlife.

What are you waiting for?? Get this year’s valentines here
squidfacts.net
4 cards opened to reveal the facts inside with full-color illustrations within. Each has two blocks of text, one with a fact and one with an action item. I can’t currently read them at this resolution. The insect of the card is also in there hanging out near the to: and from: space.z there’s also a space for notes
January 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Dad
garyott.bsky.social
This is the moment of contact as a RedTail hawk knocks a bald eagle of it's perch. The RedTail has both legs out and down and both wings up and out. It hits it with it's breast bone. #birder
January 13, 2025 at 1:51 AM
my-dad.bsky.social
Just got back from a family vacation in Albuquerque. Go figure Iowa's weather followed us. I still managed to add 6 birds to my life list though.
#birds #Albuquerque #Iowa
January 13, 2025 at 2:28 AM
my-dad.bsky.social
We just got back from vacation and I think Orsetto missed us. #cat #cute
Brown tan and white cat with a black spot on his nose, gazing at photographer while cuddling on blanket on photographers lap.
January 13, 2025 at 2:18 AM