cranky ol’ Auncle Allie
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turtlesoup.bsky.social
cranky ol’ Auncle Allie
@turtlesoup.bsky.social
1K followers 180 following 1.1K posts
Cartoonist, illustrator, fanperson. Budding professional science writer & hobby naturalist/nature photographer. They/them. http://linktr.ee/alliekleber

Expect lots of bird photos (and sometimes plants, bugs, etc).

GenAI is not welcome here.
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turtlesoup.bsky.social
A little recent #birdart, as a treat?
A postcard-sized hand-drawn mixed-media (color pencil & art marker) drawing of a female belted kingfisher perched on a fallen/drooping old tree, her head turned to the side and a little crown floating above her head. A postcard-sized hand-drawn mixed-media (color pencil & art marker) drawing of a male ruddy duck in non-breeding plumage floating in blue water, facing the viewer with a word balloon containing a big red question mark.
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
It feels a little early to be calling Weird Duck Time just yet, but then again ... hooded mergansers are here now. And they're quite possibly my favorite weird/winter resident ducks of all, with their delightful hairdos and absurd courtship displays. 🪶
A male hooded merganser mid-courtship display, with his body canted backwards and up, his neck puffed up and crest raised, and his bill open. He's a small diving duck with a skinny black bill, black mohawk-like crested head with a huge white spot on each side, black-and-white striped wings, white breast, rufous sides, and bright yellow eyes. A female hooded merganser swimming in profile with a water drop hanging from the tip of her bill. She's a small copper-colored duck with a skinny yellow bill tipped in black, amber eyes, and a mohawk-like crest (currently lowered). A female hooded merganser swimming through wind-ruffled water in profile, crest raised. The water matches her coppery coloration. A pair of male hooded mergansers swimming in profile, parallel but a bit offset. The closer duck has his neck notably puffed up (part of the courtship display).
November 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
A middle-aged pale-skinned person dressed up as Gomez Addams, giving the camera a rakish look. Their brown hair is slicked back, they have on a fake black mustache, and they're wearing a black pinstripe blazer over a dark pink shirt and black tie. There's a plastic Thing sitting on one shoulder.
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Tough week. Here are a few shots from a restorative walk I took on Sunday, featuring a great blue heron (with lunch), maple foliage, an American red squirrel (I love them! it's not mutual), and a surprisingly late black-and-white warbler. I would like to be back there now. 🪶
Close-up shot of the head and neck of a great blue heron, in profile, with a small fish (a black crappie) hanging from its beak. It's a large bluish-grey heron with a stripe of white and darker-blue feathers down its throat, a long pointed bill, and round yellow eyes. A branch of brightly mottled yellow-and-scarlet maple leaves on a sunny day. An American red squirrel paused on all fours on a diagonal dead tree, looking towards the viewer. It's a small reddish-orange squirrel with a white underside, round ears, a white circle around its eye, and a white muzzle. This one has some VERY bright red in its moderately bushy tail. A male black-and-white warbler, a little puffed up with cold, crouching on a worn dead tree in profile and in bright sunlight against a backdrop of pinkish-red fallen leaves. It's a small warbler striped in black and white all over with a thin, slightly downcurved beak and a white circle around the eye.
October 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Doing some sketching at home today ... to color next time I'm at my studio (where my markers and color pencils live).
A simple outline pencil sketch of a female belted kingfisher perched on a broken-off branch with her head turned to the side. A simple outline pencil sketch of a ruddy duck floating on calm water and staring ahead, with a word balloon containing a single question mark. A simple outline pencil sketch of a chickadee clinging to a tiny twig almost upside-down, peering at its broken-off end with its beak a little open.
October 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
The earliest vanguard of Weird Duck Time has arrived! Delightful diving ducks that we only see from October-March or April: ruddies and ring-necks. #birds 🪶
A male ruddy duck in non-breeding plumage, floating in a lake and facing directly towards the viewer. He's a small diving duck with a dark brown cap and back, lighter brown chest, white cheeks, and an enormous scoop of a dark brown bill. A male ring-necked duck in breeding plumage, floating in profile on still, pale (overcast) waters above a slightly foreshortened reflection of himself. He's a compact diving duck with a black head, breast, back and rump, white/grey sides and tail, a grey bill with a large white ring towards the tip and a white base, and bright yellow eyes. A pair of ring-necked ducks swimming away from the viewer at a three-quarter angle, several feet apart, in pale calm water. Small diving ducks, he's black-and-grey while she is brown all over, darker on the back and top of her head, with a pale stripe on her face at the base of her bill. A male ruddy duck in non-breeding plumage floating in blue water, in profile, and stretching horizontally, one wing partially unfolded.
October 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Made some new #birdart this weekend - a common grackle, and an ovenbird. Both based on my own photos.
Sketchbook page with a mixed-media (color pencil & Copic marker) drawing of a common grackle perched on a bare tree branch, head turned to the side and some iridescence showing on its head and throat. Postcard-sized mixed-media (color pencil & Copic marker) drawing of an ovenbird perched on a birch branch, head and tail up alertly. It has a word balloon, which just reads "!"
October 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
At the end of the college-wide communications meeting, the director of career development told me I look very "dark academia" today. 🤨
A bespectacled middle-aged nonbinary white human standing beside an institutional brick building, wearing a black three-piece suit with a dark purple brocade-pattern shirt and a pastel purple necktie and holding a small notebook. They have a wry/confused expression.
October 2, 2025 at 3:24 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Someone heard me leaving my reps slightly emotional voicemail messages, got up, came over and got in my face to demand attention. ❤️
A gray tabby cat standing straddling the lap of a person lying in bed, face near a laptop screen. A gray tabby cat sitting on his side at the corner of a bed, three paws resting on the arm/elbow of a light-skinned person beside him. A gray tabby cat viewer from above where he sits on his side on a bed with blue sheets, three paws resting on the arm of a light-skinned human beside him.
September 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
I need a quick mood boost, and maybe you do too, so - here are some excellent #birds and other critters from a walk around Mount Auburn Cemetery on Saturday. The hawk was TINY - I thought sharpie, but I guess he's just a very small Coop. 🪶
An eastern chipmunk pausing half in shadow, with its cheek oucheds stuffed full and its forepaws resting on a low stone monument, staring directly into the camera. It's a small, adorable brown rodent with a white underside. Head-and-shoulders close-up of a Cooper's hawk perched in a tree, its head turned to face so far to the side that it's almost fully facing from its back. It's a small hawk with a dark cap and wings, rusty orange-and-white barred chest, and red eyes. A gray catbird perched on an evergreen shrub in profile, beak open to complain. It's a small grey bird with a black cap and tail-tip. A fresh-looking monarch butterfly perched on and feeding from a white daisy among many, its wings mostly spread and antennae down. It's a bright orange butterfly with black patterning on its wings; its body and the edges of its wings are black with large white spots.
September 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
You guys ... you did it. Gen's GoFundMe is at 100%. (I have closed it to further donations.) I can breathe easy, knowing that I can fully cover his surgery in November.

Thank you so much to those of you who donated and/or boosted. I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me. 😭💖
A gray tabby cat snoozing, sprawled on his size on a plaid fleece blanket with his forepaws resting on a light-skinned human thigh.
September 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Good morning! I'm stuck in the office today, and missing my very good remote-work assistant.

Speaking of Eugenides, I am floored to say that the fundraiser for his care is now at 95%. If I can raise another $521, he'll be completely covered for his surgery. I have no words for my gratitude.
Photo taken from the perspective of a light-skinned person lying on a bed with blue sheets, with a laptop in their lap, and a gray cat sitting on his side beside them with his tail extended to drape across their arm at the elbow and alongside it to the keyboard, where the tip curls up. The room beyond features a couple of large bookcases and a clothing-draped desk chair.
September 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Last night: buddy, I'm about to go to sleep, what are you ...
Eugenides: *posing like he's modeling for a heroic statue*

(I don't know if all this attention is going to his head or what. I'm not going to start calling you Attolis, mister. Sorry.)

www.gofundme.com/f/gen-sad-ki...
A gray tabby cat, lit from the far side by warm golden light, viewed from a little below (literally the view of the human he's standing on, ahem) as he stands alertly and stares straight ahead.
September 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
(Supportive companionship +danger! + great contentment.)
A grey tabby cat cleans one of his forepaws, sitting curled up on a green plaid fleece blanket tucked up against someone's legs. A laptop is just visible in the foreground; in the background, a crumpled-up Fairisle-style ghost sweater, and a cat tree. A tabby cat lies on his side with his four paws all stretching out, staring towards the viewer as though peeking from behind one of his own legs, looking ... intent. A gray tabby cat curled up on a lap covered in a rocketship-patterned fleece blanket, eyes closed in contentment and head tilted back as a light-skinned hand pets his throat.
September 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
I haven't been able to get out much for the last week or so, but I enjoyed a brief visit with a small group of wild turkeys in a neighborhood park yesterday! I couldn't tell if they were flinging some of the apples around intentionally, or just losing their grasp, but it was entertaining. 🪶 #birds
September 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Also. 👅
A gray tabby cat lying on someone's lap, head up and tongue out, licking his chops ("mlem").
September 20, 2025 at 12:17 AM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
A sleepy boy.

(Why are YOU so tuckered out, buddy? I'm the one doing all the work! 😅😽)
A gray tabby cat draped across the lap of a prone person in black jeans and a purple paisley top. His chin is down and shoulders up, with one paw visible beside him.
September 20, 2025 at 12:15 AM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
What a rollercoaster these last two days have been. Even at the updated/final goal amount, my GFM is at 71%! Thank you again to everyone who gave, and everyone who shared.

I'm not done, obviously, but I have a busy busy on-site day at work and I'm exhausted.

Please keep sharing. Love you guys. ❤️
A gray tabby cat curled up, partly on a fleece space blanket and partly on a lap, his nose resting on one back leg with his tail neatly tucked along it as well.
September 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
It's a lot of money, I know. If we can make it to the goal, I'm going to give away some original art to a few randomly chosen donors. (Examples of the kind of art below, but these would be new.) And endless gratitude for every. Single. One.
A postcard-sized color drawing of an alert-looking male northern cardinal in snow, with a word balloon reading "... excuse you?" A hand-drawn birthday card with an eastern bluebird perched upright on a blooming yellow stalk of agrimony, with green cursive reading "Happy Birthday" and a heart. A small hand-drawn card showing a black-capped chickadee perched on a branch, with a vaguely-rendered human brain in the background.
September 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
This is who I'm asking for. He's the light of my damn life, and I need to take care of him. ❤️‍🩹
A grey tabby cat sprawled on a lap under blankets, looking blissed out as a light-skinned human hand scritches him behind one ear. A grey tabby cat perched on a blanket-covered lap beside a laptop, eyes large and green, ears alert. A grey tabby cat curled up on a round blue cat bed in a white wooden frame/structure, all his big beautiful paws in a pile in front of his sleeping face. A grey tabby cat sitting on a small black suitcase on a hardwood floor, mouth open and eyes closed in loud protest.
September 17, 2025 at 10:32 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Waiting is difficult.
A gray tabby cat sits beside an open laptop on someone's lap, paws resting on their leg, appearing to stare at the contents of the screen. A gray tabby cat sits beside an open laptop on someone's lap, paws resting on their leg, head up and still staring screenwards. A gray tabby cat sits beside an open laptop on someone's lap, paws resting on their leg, head dipping a little. A gray tabby cat sits beside an open laptop on someone's lap, paws resting on their leg, and chin resting on the edge of the laptop and the cushion it sits on.
September 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Cardinals so often seem delightfully cranky and judgemental to me. Perfect for some quick #birdart to unwind after a long day. 😮‍💨
Postcard-sized drawing in color pencil and art marker of a male northern cardinal in profile in a pile of snow, crest and tail both erect, beak open, and a sketchy word balloon reading "... excuse you?"
September 16, 2025 at 12:09 AM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Bonus unedited photo, because I'm feeling very frustrated with my lack of skill translating traditional media to a digital format. At some point I'll get around to improving, but my setup is limited right now.
Photo of a sketchbook open to a mixed-media drawing (color pencil and art marker) of a male red-winged blackbird perched on a crabapple branch beside a cluster of blossoms, his feathers puffed, tail fanned and epaulets displayed in classic territorial posture, and his beak open to yell (according to the text behind his head), "KING OF THE TREEEEEE". The verso page shows marker bleedthrough from the drawing on its other side, of a male indigo bunting perched on a blooming goldenrod plant.
September 15, 2025 at 12:09 AM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
For the final week of my #birdart project with @elleskinner.bsky.social, we picked the Red-Winged Blackbird! I don't see them much this time of year, but they're one of my favorite EXTREMELY SHOUTY signs of spring. My partner and I have our own interpretation of their well-known territorial call. ;)
Mixed-media drawing (color pencil and art marker) of a male red-winged blackbird perched on a crabapple branch beside a cluster of blossoms, his feathers puffed, tail fanned and epaulets displayed in classic territorial posture, and his beak open to yell (according to the text behind his head), "KING OF THE TREEEEEE"
September 15, 2025 at 12:02 AM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Plus, an outtake of sorts. Alas, stick happens ... #birds 🪶
A female or immature ruby-throated hummingbird perched on a horizontal branch, stretching its neck and head upward with feathers bulging dramatically, doubling its height and making it look almost bobble-headed. Its face is pointed upwards. Sadly, another small branch partially obscures the shot, covering much of the beak.
September 8, 2025 at 3:10 PM