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birdygesserit.bsky.social
E (outdoor edition)
@birdygesserit.bsky.social
160 followers 4 following 100 posts
Making bird plans.
@bennygesserit.bsky.social nature photography alt.

DC metro area. Most photos taken on a Nikon d3500.
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birdygesserit.bsky.social
Big bunch of Eastern Jack-o'-lantern mushrooms. 🎃🍄

Besides their orange color, they earn their name by way of their bioluminescent gills, which are thought to glow to attract insects, which will then spread the mushroom's spores.

(13 October 2025 / Rock Creek Park / Washington, DC, USA)
a clump of mushrooms with bright orange caps and light orange stems, rising up from the forest floor dirt at the edge of a tree trunk
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Male Pileated Woodpecker hanging upside down, high up in (what I believe is) a serviceberry tree. 🪶

(15 November 2025 / near C&O Canal Lock 25 / Poolesville, Maryland, USA)
a photograph of a male pileated woodpecker hang upside down on twig that is bare of leaves, eating berries. the photo was taken on a cloudy day, and the sky in the background is light grey.
November 20, 2025 at 8:16 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Turkey Vultures with the remains of a White-tailed Deer.

(By the way, "buzzard" is a misnomer! Buzzards are a completely different type of bird that don't even live on the North American continent.) 🪶

(14 November 2025 / River Road / Potomac, Maryland, USA)
November 17, 2025 at 2:01 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Cedar Waxwing showing off its matchsticks while grabbing the last berries of the season. 🪶

(16 November 2025 / near C&O Canal Lock 25 / Poolesville, Maryland, USA)
a cedar waxing, photographed from the rear as it sits on a bare branch, with its head turned so its head can be seen in profile. the background is out of focus and is mostly tan.
November 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Reposted by E (outdoor edition)
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A watchful Tree Swallow (male) rests atop a cattail (also known as bulrush).

(1 June 2025 / Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary / Lothian, Maryland, USA)
A tree swallow photographed from the side, with its head turned towards the photographer. The swallow sits atop a walking cane-shaped cattail flower. 🐦🪶
July 23, 2025 at 2:37 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Juvenile American Kestrel (male) looking every part the sleepy teenager who just rolled out of bed and is looking for something to eat. 🪶

(10 October 2025 / Federal St. & N. Highland Ave. / Baltimore, Maryland, USA)
photograph of a juvenile kestrel (side profile), still molting its baby plumage, perched on a bare branch. photograph of a juvenile kestrel (seen from the front), still molting its baby plumage, perched on a bare branch.
October 11, 2025 at 10:17 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Barred owl grooming, taking a break from asking the age-old questions "Who cooks? Who cooks for you?" 🪶

(11 October 2025 / Sligo Creek Parkway / Takoma Park, Maryland, USA)
A photograph of a barred owl gnawing at something on its leg.
October 11, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by E (outdoor edition)
tomhentoff.bsky.social
Turkey vulture this morning in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve in Alexandria, Virginia. 🪶
Vulture perched on a dead tree.
October 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A yellow-crowned night heron holding its wings out, a pose thought to be thermoregulation and/or to kill parasites on their wings. 🪶

(4 July 2025 / Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens / Washington, DC, USA)
A large bird stands in green grass. The bird is still and upright, with its wings curved in front of it in a downward swooping fashion. Its long beak is slightly open.
September 25, 2025 at 1:12 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Cinnabar chanterelles like tiny flames.

(13 July 2025 / Rock Creek Park / Washington, DC, USA)
Bright orange, tiny mushrooms along a tree root, surrounded by forest floor leaf litter and green moss. 🍄 #mycology
September 25, 2025 at 12:54 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A few recent frogs. 🐸

(14 September 2025 / Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge / Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
A frog with just its head above water. A frog with just its head above water. A frog with just its head above water. A frog with just its head above water.
September 25, 2025 at 12:40 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Forster's terns with winter/non-breeding plumage. During the summer/breeding season, the top of their heads down to their eyes are jet black. 🪶

(14 September 2025 / Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge / Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
a photograph of birds sitting atop weathered wooden poles that are jutting up from still water. there are marshy reeds in the background. this is all reflected in the still water.
September 23, 2025 at 2:52 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
This broad-winged hawk swooped right in front of my car as I was slowly down a dirt road, landing about 10 feet away in a tree. I was thankful it was patient and brave as I grabbed my camera from the back seat. 🪶

(19 September 2025 / Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge / Rock Hill, Maryland, USA)
a photograph of a broad-winged hawk perched in a tree, taken from the hawk's right side. this hawk has black wings and a white spotted breast, and dark lines below its eyes, similar to an American kestrel. a photograph of a broad-winged hawk perched in a tree, taken from the hawk's right side. this hawk has black wings and a white spotted breast, and dark lines below its eyes, similar to an American kestrel.
September 23, 2025 at 2:09 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Monarch butterfly on some late-season yellow crownbeard. 🦋

(19 September 2025 / Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge / Rock Hall, Maryland, USA)
a photograph showing a profile view a monarch butterfly resting on small yellow bud-like structures with scant yellow petals attached. the sky is light blue in the background.
September 23, 2025 at 1:16 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A common watersnake catching some rays. 🐍

(22 September 2025 / Marshy Point Nature Center / Middle Point, Maryland, USA)
a greyish-brown snack resting on some dried-out marsh reeds. there is muddy water below it.
September 23, 2025 at 12:46 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A hummingbird clearwing moth on swamp milkweed. 🦋

From my first film-only nature outing! Taken on a Canon AE-1, 50mm f/1.8, 1/500, Fujifilm 400 color negative.

(5 August 2025 / Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens / Washington, DC, USA)
a chunky brown moth with black and clear wings on small pink blossoms
September 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A common buckeye in a bed of boneset.

(1 September 2025 / Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge / Woodbridge, Virginia, USA)
a brown, tan, and orange butterfly atop small white flowers
September 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A great spangled fritillary on field(?) thistle. 🦋

(1 September 2025 / Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge / Woodbridge, Virginia, USA)
a brownish-orange spotted butterfly perched on a fluffy purple thistle.
September 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by E (outdoor edition)
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A sunny Western Honey Bee.

(11 July 2025 / McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area / Poolesville, Maryland, USA)
a photograph of a large sunflower bloom, with a honey bee gathering pollen from the center 🐝🌻
July 24, 2025 at 2:51 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A sunny Western Honey Bee.

(11 July 2025 / McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area / Poolesville, Maryland, USA)
a photograph of a large sunflower bloom, with a honey bee gathering pollen from the center 🐝🌻
July 24, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Reposted by E (outdoor edition)
tomhentoff.bsky.social
Leafhoppers I’ve photographed in Washington DC this summer. 🐞
Clockwise from top left: broad-headed sharpshooter, red-banded leafhopper, potato leafhopper, versute sharpshooter, citrus flatid planthopper, Japanese maple leafhopper, coppery leafhopper, yellow-striped leafhopper.
July 19, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by E (outdoor edition)
tomhentoff.bsky.social
Washington DC wildlife:

Spined assassin bug this morning on Rodman Street. Definitely glad they’re tiny.
Assassin bug on leaf.
July 22, 2025 at 8:09 PM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
A watchful Tree Swallow (male) rests atop a cattail (also known as bulrush).

(1 June 2025 / Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary / Lothian, Maryland, USA)
A tree swallow photographed from the side, with its head turned towards the photographer. The swallow sits atop a walking cane-shaped cattail flower. 🐦🪶
July 23, 2025 at 2:37 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Trooping Crumble Cap mushrooms, also known as Fairy Inkcap, have 143 mating types (the fungal equivalent of sexes). Each mating type can reproduce with members of any of the other 142 mating types!

These tiny troopers often carpet dead wood.

(14 July 2025 / Rock Creek Park / Washington, DC, USA)
a close-up photograph of a small bunch of seven trooping crumble cap mushrooms growing out of soil and deciduous forest detritus. 🍄
July 23, 2025 at 2:18 AM
birdygesserit.bsky.social
Swamp Milkweed in bloom, and a Monarch Butterfly caterpillar dining on it.

(21 July 25 / Huntley Meadows Park / Alexandria, Virginia, USA)
a close up of bunches of swamp milkweed flowers, some in bloom and some simply buds a monarch Butterfly caterpillar perched on the stem of a swamp milkweed plant 🐛
July 23, 2025 at 12:35 AM