Michael Babcock
@mbabco.bsky.social
He looks Bohemian with those head feathers. Here in Oakland, California we had a visit from a flock of Cedar Waxwings yesterday; they come for the ripe Hachiya persimmons. In the spring, they visit for the apple blossoms. I think of them as a gang of waxwings.
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
He looks Bohemian with those head feathers. Here in Oakland, California we had a visit from a flock of Cedar Waxwings yesterday; they come for the ripe Hachiya persimmons. In the spring, they visit for the apple blossoms. I think of them as a gang of waxwings.
Great photo. Here's a Northern Harrier in flight at Arcata Marsh and Sanctuary in Arcata, CA, captured just yesterday. Arcata Marsh is fabulous.
October 31, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Great photo. Here's a Northern Harrier in flight at Arcata Marsh and Sanctuary in Arcata, CA, captured just yesterday. Arcata Marsh is fabulous.
These guys gather in huge flocks, often roosting on one tree. It's fabulous when they all break into flight.
October 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
These guys gather in huge flocks, often roosting on one tree. It's fabulous when they all break into flight.
We also have a fair number of Brewer's Blackbirds.
October 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We also have a fair number of Brewer's Blackbirds.
Do you have a specific kind of blackbird in the UK? Here in California the most common one is the Red-winged Blackbird.
October 29, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Do you have a specific kind of blackbird in the UK? Here in California the most common one is the Red-winged Blackbird.
And here's an American Kestrel at Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, California. They rehabilitate injured birds and have a number of "Wildlife Ambassadors" that they would not survive in the wild.
October 25, 2025 at 11:19 AM
And here's an American Kestrel at Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek, California. They rehabilitate injured birds and have a number of "Wildlife Ambassadors" that they would not survive in the wild.
I love comparing species across continents. Your goldfinches are more colorful than ours but the American Kestrel is one of my favorite birds. Here's one at Merced National Wildlife Refuge in Merced, California.
October 25, 2025 at 11:17 AM
I love comparing species across continents. Your goldfinches are more colorful than ours but the American Kestrel is one of my favorite birds. Here's one at Merced National Wildlife Refuge in Merced, California.
Here’s from Oakland, California.
October 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Here’s from Oakland, California.
Reminiscent of the Chestnut-backed Chickadee found here in Oakland, California.
October 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reminiscent of the Chestnut-backed Chickadee found here in Oakland, California.
So cool. I had no idea hoopoes traveled so widely. This previous March in Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand we spotted a hoopoe flitting in the tree and spent a fair amount of time hoping he'd reappear. Finally did. So wonderful.
October 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
So cool. I had no idea hoopoes traveled so widely. This previous March in Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand we spotted a hoopoe flitting in the tree and spent a fair amount of time hoping he'd reappear. Finally did. So wonderful.
Regarding Johnson's "A lot of folks on your side are too."
October 2, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Regarding Johnson's "A lot of folks on your side are too."
@nycjayjay.bsky.social posted this last Saturday in his Just for Skeets and Giggles.
September 29, 2025 at 8:39 PM
@nycjayjay.bsky.social posted this last Saturday in his Just for Skeets and Giggles.
Here’s a fun site for you – Spurious Correlations. I’ll include one:
www.tylervigen.com/spurious-cor...
www.tylervigen.com/spurious-cor...
September 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Here’s a fun site for you – Spurious Correlations. I’ll include one:
www.tylervigen.com/spurious-cor...
www.tylervigen.com/spurious-cor...
I love seeing similar species in different locations. The most common goldfinch here in Oakland, California is the lesser goldfinch. We've got lots and this is the time of year when they descend en masse to eat flower seeds.
September 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I love seeing similar species in different locations. The most common goldfinch here in Oakland, California is the lesser goldfinch. We've got lots and this is the time of year when they descend en masse to eat flower seeds.
WAPO's version of a hard-hitting headline. Pathetic.
September 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
WAPO's version of a hard-hitting headline. Pathetic.
This quote from Heather Cox Richardson in her post today.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-...
September 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This quote from Heather Cox Richardson in her post today.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-...
This applies to Bluesky, too.
September 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
This applies to Bluesky, too.
Sigh. The latest Republican selective outrage/enforcement.
What percentage of shootings are done by young, white males? 90%? 95%?
I've got an idea: let's have a ban on young white males owning firearms.
What percentage of shootings are done by young, white males? 90%? 95%?
I've got an idea: let's have a ban on young white males owning firearms.
September 5, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Sigh. The latest Republican selective outrage/enforcement.
What percentage of shootings are done by young, white males? 90%? 95%?
I've got an idea: let's have a ban on young white males owning firearms.
What percentage of shootings are done by young, white males? 90%? 95%?
I've got an idea: let's have a ban on young white males owning firearms.
What's off about this photo is that he isn't orange.
September 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
What's off about this photo is that he isn't orange.
