Daniel Martin
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fizbin.bsky.social
Daniel Martin
@fizbin.bsky.social
1.3K followers 180 following 4.7K posts
One of many, many people with this particular "real name".

You might know me from... IDK. College? Did we work together once? Prodigy's old math forum? debian-devel? A certain social MUSH? xoogler slack? "Making Light" comments? (he/him)
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fizbin.bsky.social
Had a 1:1 zoom meeting yesterday, was talking about upcoming projects, said "excuse me a second", and grabbed my camera.

I was then very good and went back to the meeting, even though the bird circled around to the other side of the tree for a bit and I didn't have many Carolina Wren shots. 🪶
A small brown bird perches on a bit of peeling bark on a river birch. It has the little white line above the eye that lets you know this is a Carolina Wren. The background is unfocused great and dark green. ƒ/8.0; 1/125 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
February 4, 2026 at 12:42 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today from @alan678.bsky.social is #BackyardBirds, birds you see close to home.

When I first started using the Merlin app, the first birdcall I learned was of the Northern Cardinal.

Cardinal Borb here was outside my home office window yesterday.

#birds #photography
A very round red bird perches on a thin tree branch, head slightly towards the camera. Seriously, he looks like a red sphere with a red line for a tail stuck on one end a tiny red triangle of a head stuck on the other. The background is an unfocused jumble of brown and white. Burlington County, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/500 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
February 4, 2026 at 12:16 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Reflections, and I just don't have many of those. I'll try to get some more once everything melts around here.

I do have this far-distance shot of a Great Egret, but this is really pushing the limit of my gear.

#birds #microfourthirds
A distance shot of tall grasses at the edge of a body of water. Near the water, a white bird stands straight up, most of its reflection visible beneath it. Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Noord, Aruba ƒ/7.1; 1/400 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
February 3, 2026 at 12:16 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #openbeak: birds with beak open.

This Yellow Warbler from Aruba just perched near where I was already photographing other birds and sang his little heart out.

#birds #photography #mocrofourthirds
A yellow bird with brown stripes across the chest perches on a smooth tree branch surrounded by bright green leaves. The bird's head is thrown back a bit and its mouth is open. Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Noord, Aruba ƒ/8.0; 1/250 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
February 2, 2026 at 11:43 AM
fizbin.bsky.social
So apparently one of the possible collective nouns for #robins, especially for American Robins in winter, is a "Worm" of Robins.

Here's one, whatever you call it, in 13°F weather (-11°C)

#birds #photography #microfourthirds
Eleven American Robins gathered on a shingle roof around a patch of melting snow. Burlington, NJ, USA ƒ/8; 1/500 s; 234 mm; ISO 320
February 1, 2026 at 10:29 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #ShortLeggedBirds.

Even standing up, a Dark-eyed Junco is a short legged bird, and when perched the legs just disappear.

#birds #microfourthirds
A round bird with a white chest/belly and slate gray head and back feathers perches on a small pine tree branch looking vaguely like something out of "My Neighbor Totoro". All around the bird are branches with short bristled needles. St. Mary's Church, Burlington, NJ, USA ƒ/6.3; 1/125 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
February 1, 2026 at 1:20 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
According to @robcrank68.bsky.social , today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Ducks.

Here's a White-Cheeked Pintail from Aruba, with the shadow figure of a Muscovy Duck in the deep background.

#birds #microfourthirds
A brown duck with dark brown spots over its body and bright white cheeks stands on the ground in front of some water. In the background, closer to the water, two shadow-covered legs and a body in shadow can be seen. Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Noord, Aruba ƒ/7.1; 1/640 s; 300 mm; ISO 320
January 31, 2026 at 12:21 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Okay, I have at least one more photo I can do for a second week of #ForestFriday, but I don't know if I'll have another next week; had to dive into the archive back to May to find this one.
A ground-level view of a forest scene with greenery lit by sunlight in the distance, and a trail visible at the bottom of the frame. Black Run Preserve, Evesham, NJ, USA ƒ/5.6; 1/640 s; 300 mm; ISO 500
January 30, 2026 at 5:35 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #FavouriteOfTheMonth, your favorite bird capture/s from January.

Pretty sure the obvious choice is this American Robin coming in for a landing that I earlier used as a #Robin #ForJanet.

#birds #photography #microfourthirds
An American Robin about to land on a small twig. Its wings are stretched back, lit by sunlight shining through them, and its feet are stretched out to grab the branch in front of it. All of the twigs/branches are covered in snow. At the top right of the picture, there's a bit of snow in the air thrown about when the bird took off from the place it was patched before. Rancocas Nature Preserve, Evesham, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/640 s; 300 mm; ISO 400
January 30, 2026 at 1:22 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #EyeContact: when the eye steals the frame.

I was having some trouble with this since nothing came to mind immediately, but many corvids have eyes that pop against their dark feathers, so here's a Jackdaw from Scotland.

#birds #microfourthirds
A black bird perched on the edge of a tar/asphalt roof, shot from below. It's one yellow eye stands out. Behind the bird is clear blue sky. Stonehaven, Scotland, UK ƒ/6.3; 1/800 s; 150 mm; ISO 200
January 29, 2026 at 3:22 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Iridescent, birds with Iridescent Colours.

I think that the only birds with iridescence I see much around here are adult starlings, since I've never caught a hummingbird in the sunlight.

#birds #photography
A shiny black bird, with a few brown feathers on the wings and its chest covered in tiny white spots, perches on a twisted metal wire. The bird's head is twisted to look right. The background is a clear blue sky. Burlington county, NJ, USA ƒ/10; 1/250 s; 300 mm; ISO 250
January 28, 2026 at 11:46 AM
fizbin.bsky.social
You know what you did
An American Robin on some gravel looking straight at the camera. It does not appear pleased. Burlington County, NJ, USA
January 27, 2026 at 6:57 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
According to @alan678.bsky.social, the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #BrownIsBeautiful: celebrating subtle brown tones in birds.

Fortunately I just captured this Carolina Wren on Saturday cleaning out the bottom of a walnut half that a squirrel had discarded in the yard.
A round bird, light brown (almost yellow) on bottom, dark brown on top, stands on some gray gravel next to a walnut half. The bird has the white streak above its eye that is classic Carolina Wren. Burlington County, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/160 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600 A round bird, light brown (almost yellow) on bottom, dark brown on top, stands on some gray gravel with its head stuck deep into a walnut half. Burlington County, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/160 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
January 27, 2026 at 4:58 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
I keep hearing Carolina Wrens around, but almost never see them out the window.

I did get lucky Saturday with this one that stuck around for a while getting the last bit of meat out of a walnut piece a squirrel had left behind.
A round dark brown and light brown bird sits next to about half a walnut on some gray gravel. The bird has a distinctive white streak above the eye. Burlington County, NJ, USA A dark brown and light brown bird stands on some gray gravel with its head shoved most of the way into a walnut half. Burlington County, NJ, USA
January 27, 2026 at 2:19 AM
fizbin.bsky.social
The power of this is strong, and the reason I created this annual calendar reminder:
A portion of a Google Calendar event. It says: Reread Funranium rant Saturday, July 18, 2026 Annually on July 18 https://www.funraniumlabs.com/2011/12/life-lessons-from-the-land-of-q-clearances/
January 26, 2026 at 5:10 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Robins #ForJanet, and although the alternate theme is for a Janet who loved European Robins, I hope her widower will accept this American Robin coming in for a landing.

#birds #photography #microfourthirds
An American Robin coming in for a landing in a snowy scene. Its wings are stretched back and out, with sunshine shining through them. Just visible at the right of the image is some scattered snow from the branch the Robin took off from. Rancocas Nature Center, Westampton Twp, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/640 s; 300 mm; ISO 400
January 26, 2026 at 11:06 AM
fizbin.bsky.social
Per @alan678.bsky.social, the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #poise.

It was a bit hard to decide on this, but here's a Northern Cardinal from this past June posing elegantly on a gravestone.
A red bird with black face mask and bright red beak perches on the top of a cross-shaped stone grave marker. In the background behind the bird is a the back of a very out-of-focus car. The bird has a few silvery blue feathers in the middle of its wings. St. Mary's Church, Burlington, NJ, USA ƒ/5.6; 1/1000 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
January 25, 2026 at 3:12 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Swans, but I don't have any, so going with the Alt theme of #Pigeons&Doves.

Going with this gorgeous #pigeon I saw a few weeks ago in NYC.

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #PigeonSky
A rock pigeon with unusual coloring: mostly white feathers with a gray band around the chest and gray spots around the eyes. It's walking towards the camera on a cobblestone sidewalk. Manhattan (near Central Park West and 87th Street), New York City, NY, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/640 s; 300 mm; ISO 1000
January 24, 2026 at 1:24 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Actual photo of ground outside Minnesota, with the local stray cat who's adopted our yard as where she's going to hang out.
A white-and-dark cat looks back over her left shoulder with her head turned towards the camera. The cat's body is mostly white, but she has large dark patches on her back and head. The cat is sitting on a ground covered in small, grey pebbles. Several thin, bare branches are scattered across the foreground and background. Burlington County, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/125 s; 205 mm; ISO 400
January 24, 2026 at 12:24 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Oh, apparent #ForestFriday is a thing. Okay, I have one of those

#Forests #Trees #Photography
A look into a snow-covered pine forest that has the sign of being artificially reforested by having the trees in straight rows. Rancocas Nature Center, Westampton Twp, NJ, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/160 s; 100 mm; ISO 1600
January 23, 2026 at 8:30 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme chosen by @alan678.bsky.social is #walking, birds walking.

Though I could go with the same bird as yesterday, I'll go with a different shot from our trip to Aruba, this unhinged-looking Caribbean Grackle on the beach.

#birds #photography
An all black bird with a yellow eye is walking to the left of frame with its head turned so that it's looking up and over its left shoulder. It's giving off very chaotic crow energy. (But grackles are icterids, not corvids) Noord, Aruba ƒ/1.7; 1/3968 s; 6.9 mm; ISO 36 (Yes, that's a phone camera)
January 23, 2026 at 1:12 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Morning Minnesota!

Today's #MorningMinnesotaBird 🪶 is a Downy Woodpecker.

In winter, Downy Woodpeckers are frequent members of mixed species flocks. Like many Minnesotans, they know the safety of joining with their neighbors, no matter how different.

(Carleton College Arboretum, June 2025)
A small black and white bird stands vertically on a diagonal tree branch. There are scattered other bare tree branches in the background in front of a gray sky. Carleton College Arboretum, Northfield, MN, USA ƒ/8.0; 1/100 s; 150 mm; ISO 200
January 23, 2026 at 12:58 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #TailsUp, any bird with its tail raised.

I had more of a struggle with this than I expected to, but eventually found in my photos this Caribbean Mockingbird (slightly out of focus, sorry) acting out the theme.

#birds #photography #microfourthirds
A dark brown/gray bird walks along the ground with its tail held up raised in the air behind it. Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Noord, Aruba ƒ/7.1; 1/640 s; 300 mm; ISO 1600
January 22, 2026 at 5:36 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Morning Minnesota!

Today's #MorningMinnesotaBird 🪶 is an Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Buntings are only in the US seasonally, so at this time of year he likely is in Mexico. He still belongs in the US (and in Minnesota) just as much as any year-round Minnesotan.

(Carleton College Arboretum, June 2025)
A photo of a dark blue, almost black bird perches on a thin branch, back to camera. The bright gray sky washes out much of the picture. Carleton College Arboretum, Northfield, MN, USA ƒ/7.1; 1/400 s; 150 mm; ISO 200
January 22, 2026 at 12:59 PM
fizbin.bsky.social
Forgot about this one I took a decade ago with my phone:
The statue of Mary Tyler Moore (playing the role of Mary Richards) on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, recreating the scene from the end of the credits to the Mary Tyler Moore Show where she smiles and throws her hat in the air. Behind the statue are a view of two Minneapolis Skyway bridges. A few people are only just visible in the far background, but for some reason the mail was mostly deserted when I took this at 8:30 in the morning.
January 21, 2026 at 8:32 PM