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stevenmarx.bsky.social
Steven Marx
@stevenmarx.bsky.social
800 followers 390 following 900 posts
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stevenmarx.bsky.social
Per @alan678.bsky.social: Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #NaturesPantry birds interacting with berries, seeds, or flowers. Sorry for the repeats, but never know what I’m going to need one day to the next. 😃 #birds #photography #sonyalpha
Red winged blackbird on a branch, facing left, bending over with head upside down, picking berries off th branch. Green leaves on the branch partially obscuring the head and rest of the bird. Dark eyed junco eating seeds we put out for that purpose. Closeup, filling the frame with a few scattered seeds visible. Ground is snow covered where there aren’t seeds. Bright red male Northern cardinal sitting on a bare branch holding a tiny dark berry on the end of its beak. Bird is in middle distance with blurred foliage in the background, including a few green leaves.
December 16, 2025 at 5:41 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme as set by Alan @alan678.bsky.social
is #HeronsandEgrets. Love these magnificent dinosaurs. #birds #photography
Great blue heron in flight, flying to the left, green trees in background. Bird in middle distance. Great egret flying away from camera, view from behind and to the right. Wings straight out, head and eye just visible below right wing. Green foliage visible in the background. Two egrets perched on branches at the edge of some still water. Smaller snowy egret on the left also slightly further away, great egret on the right. Both birds viewed in profile facing left. Great blue heron in flight, flight to the left, viewed from the side and slightly behind.
December 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Looks like #DucksOnOneLeg is today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social. Let’s just focus on the duck in front.
December 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Good morning the #BirdOfTheDay theme today from @alan678.bsky.social is #splashes any bird with splashing water in frame. I like it when I have to scroll back through the archives to find some.

Gull (probably ring-billed but not sure)
Chinstrap penguins
Double-breasted
Ducks (mallards?)
Gull taking off with a medium sized fish in its mouth. Feet still in the water, wings up as it works to take off. Moving diagonally away from camera to the eight. Right side of gull visible. Chinstrap penguins porpoising in the water, swimming to the left, in the middle distance. Three penguins are out of the water with water splashing behind them, one furthest left and closest to camera is half in the water, descending. Waves visible in foreground and background. Double breasted cormorant landing on water, feet just on the water, wake behind it from where it first hit. Wings up, head hidden. In the middle distance, moving to the left. Greenish water all around. Group of about nine mallards taking off, backs to camera, splashes still in the water from the takeoffs. Water clear in the foreground, frozen in the background.
December 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #AlansNemesis (kingfishers) and Alternative is #Gulls. As kingfishers are also a nemesis of mine, I’ll focus on the gulls.
December 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #SideViews.
Downy & Red-headed woodpeckers, Great Egret.

#birds #photography #sonyalpha
December 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #NestBuilders birds with nest materials. American Robin in my backyard, building a nest.
American Robin sitting on a telephone wire, facing camera, lots of dried grass in its beak for a next. Head facing right, beak and part of face obscured by the grass in its mouth.
December 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #birdoftheday theme set by @robcrank68.bsky.social is #BirdsOnTwigs. I feel like this is a test of our definitions of twig vs. branch. 😀

Male & female Western Kingbird, Indigo Bunting, and Rufous-tailed hummingbird. #birds #photography #sonyalpha
Male western kingbird on a brown branch. Brown foliage blurred in the background. Closeup of bird, facing camera, head turned to left, right eye looking at camera. Female western kingbird on a twig, facing right in profile. Indigo bunting on a small branch, back to camera, right side of head visible. Green and brown foliage blurred in the background, additional small branches in foreground. Rufous tailed hummingbird on a twig, back to camera, raindrops visible falling in the background. Head turned to right, right side visible. In middle distance.
December 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #movement
Double-breasted cormorant
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Bald eagle
Turkey vulture being chased by I believe a kingfisher.

#birds #photography
Double breasted cormorant in profile flying to the right over water, wings down, tips almost touching the water. Emiquon NWR Ruby throated hummingbird about to land on a zinnia flower. Both feet out about to touch the pink flower, wings forward slowing for landing. Green foliage in the background. Peoria, Illinois Four to five year old bald eagle flying to the left, head slightly cocked to the left. A few out of focus leaves on a branch in the lower right. Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary Turkey vulture being chased by a kingfisher. Camera looking up, kingfisher just behind the middle of the left wing. Both birds with wings spread. Solid bright sky background.
December 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is all about #Borbs, Birds looking round.
Mourning Dove and Dark-eyed Junco, classic borbs. #birds #photography
Mourning dove sitting on a branch, facing camera, body puffed up from the cold. Looking at camera with head slightly coked to its right. Dark eyed junco on the ground, close up, mostly filling the frame. Some seed on the ground by it, bird facing right, head turned towards camera with right eye visible. Sal open, eating, with chaff on its mouth.
December 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #LookingAtYou #birdoftheday theme is from @robcrank68.bsky.social.
Rufous-tailed hummingbird, unimpressed
Lesson’s Motmot
Palm tanager
Blue &white swallow
December 3, 2025 at 10:49 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
From @alan678.bsky.social, today’s #birdoftheday theme is #Stripes. At least one of these is a repeat but it fits so well. 😀
Downy Woodpecker; Blue Jay; Fiery-billed Aracari; Great Kiskadee
#birds #photography #sonyalpha
Downy woodpecker on a tree holding some sort of shell or casing in its beak. Facing right in profile, bright sky behind, dark tree trunk and some blurred leaves in the foreground. Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria, Illinois Blue jay perched on a branch, facing right, view from slightly behind with head turned to right, facing camera with right eye. Blurred brown and green foliage in background, branches in foreground slightly blocking parts, sun from behind left lighting up some of the left fringe of the jay. Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria, Illinois. Fiery-billed Aracari in a tree, camera facing up, front of bird visible, facing about three quarters to the left. Leaves and branches partially blocking the view, with bright sky behind. Birding Paradise, Paraíso, Panama. Closeup of Great Kiskadee, facing camera, head and most of body visible. Facing slightly to its left. Bright yellow body standing out against darker background. Boquete, Panama.
December 2, 2025 at 5:14 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme by
@robcrank68.bsky.social is #Reflections. Enjoy.
December 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #BerriesandBeaks. You may have to zoom, but they do all have berries. 😀

Flame-colored tanager
Red-winged blackbird
Northern Cardinal

#birds #photography #sonyalpha
Flame colored tanager with a berry in its mouth. Facing left, tail hidden by green leaves in the foreground. Dark background. Boquete, Panama. Red winged blackbird on a tree branch, head down, picking berries off the branch. Body and beak partially hidden by branch and leaves. Facing left, camera looking up. Male northern cardinal on a thin, bare branch, body looking puffed up, with a small, dark berry held in the tip of its beak. Shot from the front, head turned slightly to the left.
November 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Gannets. Northern Gannet from on board the Queen Mary 2, last summer. #birds #photography
November 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today @alan678.bsky.social’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #MorningLight. A bluebird in morning light at Wildlife Prairie Park, Peoria(ish), Illinois. #birds #photography
Bluebird sitting on a wire fence, facing right into the rising sun, its front lit by the sun, the back still in shadow. Blurred green trees in background. Wildlife prairie park, outside Peoria Illinois
November 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Apparently #BirdOfTheDay from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Headshots. Enjoy and play along.
Lessons Motmot closeup of head and part of body, looking at camera, view three quarters of the right side of face and head. Paraído, Panama. Great blue heron headshot, view of the right side of head and part of neck, mostly in profile. Greek water behind. Canada goose headshot, part of neck included, brown grass hanging out of bill. View of right side of head, looking at camera. Patchy snow and brown grass in background. Headshot of Lilac-crowned Amazon parrot that showed up in our yard one day. Was eventually rescued and rehomed. Left side of head in profile. Peoria, Illinois.
November 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today from @alan678.bsky.social l is #OnTheEdge, any bird at the edge of a body of water. Another variety pack for this one. #birds #photography
Great egret landing on the edge of a body of water, wings out, back to camera. Rippled reflection on the water in the foreground, brown foliage and soil in the background. Emiquon NWR Willet on the shoreline, water behind. Bird in profile facing left Three Canada geese goslings on the shoreline of the Illinois River. One has its head beneath the rear bed of another, all three facing the water. Tail of an adult visible in the upper right. Greater (I think) yellowlegs in the evening, autumn sunlight. Emiquon NWR.
November 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #HangingAround, which is 'Birds at Unusual Angles.’ You knew it was going to be nuthatches, didn’t you? 😀 #birds #photography
White breasted nuthatch upside down on a tree branch, three quarters view from front, right side visible. White breasted nuthatch standing sideways on a vertical tree branch, bird is basically horizontal with the head to the right, facing camera.
November 25, 2025 at 9:19 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDayTheme from @alan678.bsky.social is #warblers, and I’m using this buff-rumped warbler again because I think it’s the only warbler I’ve got. #birds #photography #sonyalpha
November 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Gr @robcrank68.bsky.social, today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Mr&Mrs. These bald eagles are definitely a couple, you can tell by the arguing. Followed them and their family last winter on the Illinois River at Peoria. #birds #photography #sonyalpha #baldeagles
Bald eagle couple on the partially frozen Illinois River at Peoria. Both eagle facing right, one on left vocalizing, beak wide open appearing to yell at other eagle. Second eagle has head thrown back, facing up, appearing to reject the yell of the first eagle. Bald eagle couple on the partially frozen Illinois River at Peoria. Mix of open and frozen water in front and behind. Smaller, male eagle on the left, looking at large, female on the right. Female looking back at male, with a seemingly disapproving look on its face. Same as previous picture, but male on the left has beak open, calling to the female, who had its head slightly down and cocked towards the male.
November 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #BirdOnAWire. My favorite is the Blue-and-white swallow, because Merlin’s description ends “often found on telephone wires,” and sure enough.

2x Blue-and-white swallows
Mourning doves
Red-tailed hawk

#birds #photography #sonyalpha
Group or blue and white swallows sitting on telephone wires with the morning sun hitting them from the left. Blurred green trees in the background. Boquete, Panama. Closeup of a blue and white swallow sitting on a telephone wire, body in profile facing left, head turned facing camera. Boquete, Panama. Two mourning doves on a wire, facing opposite directions, Greek tree blurred in background. Ted tailed hawk perched on a telephone wire, facing away from camera. Hunched over looking at the ground, looking like it’s about to take off. Gray sky in background. Chillicothe, Illinois.
November 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #GroundedGulls. Seems most of my full shots are in flight, the last two go back in the archives. #birds #photography
Ring billed gulls on a dock, with one attempting to land on the back of another, presumably for mating. Others standing, several with their heads tucked into their wings. Peoria, Illinois on the Illinois River. Western gull standing on a telephone pole, three quarters view from the front left. Dull blue sky behind. Crescent City, California. Laughing gull (possibly), on a beach with shells scattered all around. Body towards camera from front right, gull looking down for food. Sanibel, Florida.
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
I know, right? Wikipedia summarizes it best:
November 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
stevenmarx.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #Thrushes and the alternative is #waders. Thanks for the reminder that what we over here call robins are in fact thrushes. Moves it from impossible to easy. 😉 #birds #photography
American Robin sitting on a telephone wire with grass in its mouth for making a nest. Facing camera, head turned to the right, left side of head and front of body and tail visible. Morning light coming from the left, blue sky in the background American Robin on a fence fluffed up, shaking itself off, nictating membrane closed, facing left. American Robin chick sitting on an outdoor grill, Neal open, three quarters view facing camera facing right. American Robin standing in Greek grass, facing left in profile, worm in its beak.
November 20, 2025 at 9:21 PM