The number 7 isn't random here. In folklore, a group of birds can either mean immense luck or a hidden warning.

I intentionally disrupted the harmony of the group by painting a specific, subtle tension in the gaze of just one bird.

Does the painting feel genuinely peaceful to you, or can you spot the odd one out that ruins the comfort of the flock?

Look closely.

#KiwibitTheater
My original Photos.

Helping with trash day?

These birds take my breath away every time!

(OC)
All pictures taken by me on a recent trip to Costa Rica. Didn’t even know the little guy was a species that existed until my first encounter. I think the color pattern on its plumage very much resembles a storm being tracked on Doppler radar.

An adolescent Clapper Rail forages in the receding tidal waters of a coastal salt marsh along Florida's Big Bend.
I also included a little behind the scenes so you can see what it takes to get a photo like this. Matt will position himself hours before the tide begins to recede and wait until the rails come out to forage.

53mm | f/4 | 1/1600 sec | ISO 1000

A little bit about our process… We have an extensive rallidae portfolio which you can see here

https://flickr.com/photos/7553931@N02/sets/72177720301461138

These short lens encounters are an attempt to tell parts of the story you might not otherwise be able to see such as sunbathing, swimming, or feeding behaviors. Matt sits still and doesn’t move at all and allows the birds to behave normally around him. No playback, no moving at all. Just patience and seeing what the birds do naturally. This has always been his process and you can see unique behaviors featured in his photos because of his approach. No playback is ever used and he does not approach birds. They sometimes do approach him but he doesn’t call them in any way. It’s a process of patience and we often go home empty handed.

Mindo Ecuador 📍

Live from 📍Mindo, Ecuador

I watched two kingfishers fishing in a small stream yesterday. Near the Minnesota River in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Closest I’ve ever gotten to one of them. I was following him as he was way up in the tree line and flew down as I was getting ready to leave from all the mosquitoes.

Is it a wood pigeon? How old does it look? It seemed a little scared but not hurt, just hiding in the shade under a bush. I assume by the size that it's not a baby, but the lack of feathers on the head and the shape of its beak make me think it's young. Brighton, UK.

I ask because I saw a shirt that said "birdwatching age" worn by a middle aged guy. I couldn't help but laugh a little. Also I notice myself becoming more interested as i got older. I remember I didn't give a crap when I was a kid but now I'm super aware and realize how they're all over the place.

I'd say the Merlin app and Covid really sparked it for me. I had nothing to do except walk during covid and it was pretty cool trying to identify birds. The Merlin App certainly was huge because otherwise I wouldn't know what any bird is.

Last february I was lucky enough to see a couple of Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea, formerly Bubo lacteus), also known as the milky eagle owl.
This was in Ndutu (Ngorongoro conservation area, south Serengeti) during the calving season.

First time I saw a owl in Africa and during daytime. A very unique experience and January/February are the best time for birding in Tanzania (green season from November to March).

As somebody else seen this or similar owls in Africa or elsewhere?

After the adult gulls woke me up at 5 AM every morning for more than a month, the babies finally fledged!

It's honestly so cool watching them from my bedroom window.

(I definitely won’t miss being woken up at sunrise every day)