Author | Lightnews

Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 6h

Daryll Marie is asking for raptor photos - here is a beautiful one! Red-shouldered hawk just beginning to cover its eye with the nictitating membrane.

#birds #raptor #naturephotography #redshoulderedhawk #nictitatingmembrane

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 21h

This may have been the last migrating ruby-throated hummingbird coming by this year. I kept up two feeders and another yard denizen took advantage of an ant guard. 😀

#birds #nature #rubythroatedhummingbird #greenfrog #amphibian #naturephotography

Small bird with long beak looking at nectar source flower

Small bird with long beak drinking nectar from flower

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 2d

A juvenile red-headed woodpecker flies overhead.

#birds #red-headedwoodpecker #birdinflight #nature

Bird flying overhead with spread wings and tail

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 2d

The resident Eastern chipmunks are busy gathering acorns and other food for their winter stores.

#nature #easternchipmunk #mammals #naturephotography

Small brown rodent with white stripe down its side balancing against a rock

Small brown rodent with stripe down its side with paws held together in front of its mouth

Small brown rodent with stripe down its side with paws held together in covering its mouth

Small brown rodent with white stripe down its side standing in front of a rock

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 4d

The young fawns who came by with their mothers in the spring are now heading to maturity; this young buck has budding antlers.

#mammals #white-taileddeer #fawns #naturephotography

head shot of fawn with budding antlers, seen from side

head shot of fawn with budding antlers, facial view

head shot of fawn with budding antlers, looking up

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 6d

Interesting that sea ice was the favorite!

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 6d

A spotted beet webworm moth - first time I have seen one. We still have enough species so that it's possible to discover creatures new to us.

#moth #insect #webwormmoth #nature

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 7d

This morning, the temperature was 47 F/6 C. The resident leucistic Carolina chickadee likes to drink from ant guards (for hummingbird feeders) but this morning used one as a perch for puffing up its feathers to deal with the cold.

#carolinachickadee #birddealingwithcold #birds #leucisticbird

Small bird perched on ant guard with puffed up feathers

small bird with puffed up weathers to cope with the cold morning temperature

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 8d

Oh, I don't want to "like" this post but I am so very sorry for this transgression. I'm constantly changing passwords, which is annoying for remembering, but I think it helps. And Aura has been helpful. Good luck!

Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 8d

A leucistic Carolina chickadee enjoying safflower seeds in my yard. My home-made suet is also a favorite.

#birds #carolinachickadee #leucisticbird #chickadeefeeding

small white and black bird eating safflower seed at feeder

small white and black bird perched on feeder eating suet

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 9d

The brown thrashers don't always want to share a perch with mourning doves. Despite their crabby nature though, I appreciated one giving his warning signal yesterday so I didn't step on a rat snake at my woodpile. 😊

#birds #brownthrasher #mourningdove #avianaggravation #blackratsnake #reptiles

Brown thrasher berating mourning dove who wants to perch on pole

Brown thrasher berating mourning dove who wants to perch on pole, but who only stays a moment

Black rat snake heading for woodpile and that I fortunately did not step on

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 10d

A pair of common yellowthroat warblers were having a lot of success in feeding at a swampy area.

#birds #commonyellowthroatwarbler #warbler #birdsforaging

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 11d

Love photographing all wildlife, not only birds (who are often easier to spot). This greater meadow katydid stayed still for a minute or two. 😊

#nature #insects #bugs #greatermeadowkatydid

Close-up view of katydid's head with large white eyes

Katydid perched on stem looking down and stretching out its very long antennae

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks for commenting! I actually wished the photos had been sharper but the little bird was moving around constantly and always behind leaves and branches. Don't feel bad about not getting the photos you wanted - just means you have something to look forward to! (That's what I tell myself.😊)

Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 11d

Getting to see a chestnut-sided warbler during migration was a real treat.

#birds #chestnut-sidedwarbler #warbler #birdmigration

Small perched bird with yellowish cap and open beak

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 12d

So glad that the ruby-crowned kinglets have arrived to spend the cold months here in North Carolina. 😊

#birds #ruby-crownedkinglet #kinglet #nature

Tiny bird perched on branch reaching and eating berries

Tiny bird perched on branch eating berry

Tiny bird perched on branch having just eaten a berry

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 13d

World Migratory Bird Day ended 90 minutes ago but still want to share this Cape May warbler migrating through North Carolina. Always fun to see migrants passing through!

#birds #birdmigration #capemaywarbler #worldmigratorybirdday

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 17d

When I opened my living-room shades this morning, this is who flew in (and managed to empty the front yard of all other birds). The visit was brief as two neighborhood American crows chased the Cooper's hawk away.

#birds #raptor #cooper'shawk #perchedbird

Fierce-looking gray raptor perched on bird-feeder pole with back to viewer

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Marieke dB @mdb2024.bsky.social · 20d

The brown-headed nuthatches were curious as to why the downy woodpecker was inside the bluebird nest box. The downy often spends cold nights inside a bluebird box.

#birds #brownheadednuthatch #downywoodpecker #nestbox