Tom Spine
@tomspine.bsky.social
Bird photographer. Avid motorcyclist. Deadhead. Bald and grey. Used to work at Digital Equipment Corporation, Sun Microsystems, IBM, Autodesk, and Dassault Systèmes (SolidWorks).
“But that was a long time
And no matter how I tried
Those years just flow by
Like a broken down dam”
~ John Prine, Angel From Montgomery
And no matter how I tried
Those years just flow by
Like a broken down dam”
~ John Prine, Angel From Montgomery
July 4, 2025 at 6:08 PM
“But that was a long time
And no matter how I tried
Those years just flow by
Like a broken down dam”
~ John Prine, Angel From Montgomery
And no matter how I tried
Those years just flow by
Like a broken down dam”
~ John Prine, Angel From Montgomery
I tend to think of sparrows as petite birds, but the Lark Sparrow is noticeably larger than, say, Song Sparrows or Chipping Sparrows. They also have a completely unique facial pattern, sometimes described as quail-like. I think this is a male, calling out for the girls.
June 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I tend to think of sparrows as petite birds, but the Lark Sparrow is noticeably larger than, say, Song Sparrows or Chipping Sparrows. They also have a completely unique facial pattern, sometimes described as quail-like. I think this is a male, calling out for the girls.
This Long-billed Thrasher really knew how to have a good time when it came to playing in the water hole.
June 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This Long-billed Thrasher really knew how to have a good time when it came to playing in the water hole.
Post-bath, a soaking wet Pyrrhuloxia pauses in a nearby bush.
May 31, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Post-bath, a soaking wet Pyrrhuloxia pauses in a nearby bush.
The Pyrrhuloxia is a desert specialist, and is sometimes called the “desert cardinal.”
May 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The Pyrrhuloxia is a desert specialist, and is sometimes called the “desert cardinal.”
Now that migration season is in full swing, Yellow Warblers can be found throughout most of North America.
May 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Now that migration season is in full swing, Yellow Warblers can be found throughout most of North America.
A resident of Mexico, Central America, and South America, in the U.S. the Green Jay is found only in south Texas.
May 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
A resident of Mexico, Central America, and South America, in the U.S. the Green Jay is found only in south Texas.
Immature male Painted Bunting, trying in vain to attract a female.
May 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Immature male Painted Bunting, trying in vain to attract a female.
A male Golden-fronted Woodpecker showing us its signature golden-yellow belly.
May 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A male Golden-fronted Woodpecker showing us its signature golden-yellow belly.
Northern Bobwhite on the run.
May 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Northern Bobwhite on the run.
I am transfixed by the Bronzed Cowbird. Such masterful use of the black and blue color palette. Gorgeous layering of feathers. A perfect choice of eye color to provide color contrast. An overall lovely job by nature’s design department.
May 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I am transfixed by the Bronzed Cowbird. Such masterful use of the black and blue color palette. Gorgeous layering of feathers. A perfect choice of eye color to provide color contrast. An overall lovely job by nature’s design department.
The Crested Caracara looks like a hawk, behaves like a vulture, and is technically a falcon. When asserting dominance, they throw their heads back while making a guttural, rattling vocalization.
May 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The Crested Caracara looks like a hawk, behaves like a vulture, and is technically a falcon. When asserting dominance, they throw their heads back while making a guttural, rattling vocalization.
Today is as good a day as any to appreciate the Turkey Vulture.
May 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Today is as good a day as any to appreciate the Turkey Vulture.
Another photograph of a male Bronzed Cowbird fluffing up its neck feathers. They go from a normal looking plain black bird (albeit with intense red eyes) to something out of an Elizabethan novel in the blink of an eye.
May 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Another photograph of a male Bronzed Cowbird fluffing up its neck feathers. They go from a normal looking plain black bird (albeit with intense red eyes) to something out of an Elizabethan novel in the blink of an eye.
Male Bronzed Cowbirds fluff up their neck feathers when they are trying to intimidate other males or impress the girls.
May 13, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Male Bronzed Cowbirds fluff up their neck feathers when they are trying to intimidate other males or impress the girls.
The Northern Bobwhite is the most common of the six native species of quail found in North America.
May 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The Northern Bobwhite is the most common of the six native species of quail found in North America.
In three days in the Rio Grande Valley I saw a good number of female and juvenile male Painted Buntings, but this was the one and only adult male that showed up. Fortunately, he stuck around the water hole for a good ten minutes, so I have quite a few shots of him posing and bathing.
May 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In three days in the Rio Grande Valley I saw a good number of female and juvenile male Painted Buntings, but this was the one and only adult male that showed up. Fortunately, he stuck around the water hole for a good ten minutes, so I have quite a few shots of him posing and bathing.
Since l was last in the Texas Rio Grande Valley region in 2018, literally hundreds of windmills have sprouted in the ranch and farm lands. I just had to pull over for this view on my way to the airport this morning.
May 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Since l was last in the Texas Rio Grande Valley region in 2018, literally hundreds of windmills have sprouted in the ranch and farm lands. I just had to pull over for this view on my way to the airport this morning.
More Long-billed Thrasher bathtime fun.
May 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
More Long-billed Thrasher bathtime fun.
From this afternoon's photo session at Santa Clara Ranch. A Greater Roadrunner pauses for her close up.
May 6, 2025 at 2:04 AM
From this afternoon's photo session at Santa Clara Ranch. A Greater Roadrunner pauses for her close up.
Long-billed Thrasher enjoying the water this morning at the Santa Clara Ranch.
May 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Long-billed Thrasher enjoying the water this morning at the Santa Clara Ranch.
So, moving on from my Wood Duck series, this happened this morning in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Crested Caracara.
May 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
So, moving on from my Wood Duck series, this happened this morning in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Crested Caracara.
Every time I think, "That's it, I'm done with the Wood Duck series" I come across another one that I can't resist.
April 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Every time I think, "That's it, I'm done with the Wood Duck series" I come across another one that I can't resist.