cranky ol’ Auncle Allie
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turtlesoup.bsky.social
cranky ol’ Auncle Allie
@turtlesoup.bsky.social
1.1K followers 180 following 1.2K posts
Cartoonist, illustrator, fanperson. Budding professional science writer & hobby naturalist/nature photographer. They/them. http://linktr.ee/alliekleber

Expect lots of bird photos (and sometimes plants, bugs, etc).

GenAI is not welcome here.
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turtlesoup.bsky.social
Hey friends, I miss you. :/ As it turns out, my sweet boy is "medically complex" (the vet's words) and we are playing whack-a-mole with all kinds of unexpected symptoms and tests. I owe a proper update, but if you have some change and want to help, I do need it: www.gofundme.com/manage/gen-s...
A "black" (brownish/greyish) tabby cat in a black t-shirt sprawled out on his side between layers of blanket (a cloud-and-star printed duvet on one side, a green plaid fleece throw on the other), eyes closed, looking content.
February 3, 2026 at 6:08 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Wish I could have gotten decently crisp shots, but still. WILD TURKEY BORB. #birds 🪶
A wild turkey perched high in a tree amid bare branches, in profile. Its feathers are puffed up and it looks VERY round.
January 27, 2026 at 4:11 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Not the most amazing quality (it was very overcast, and my camera kept trying to focus on snowflakes), but - some of my neighbors, undaunted by the storm and freezing weather yesterday afternoon. #birds 🪶
A tufted titmouse clinging to dead plant stalks against a cracked cement wall, body titled downwards at a diagonal. It's a small grey songbird with a white face, breast and belly, a black patch over its beak, a pointy crest, and warm streaks of peachy yellow peeking out from beneath its wings. A red-tailed hawk perched in profile among bare tree branches, viewed at a truncated angle from below, its feathers very puffed out with cold. It's a stocky buteo hawk, mostly brown with a white belly and breast with some sparse brown barring. A mourning dove perched on a twig amid some flying snow, body puffed up and head lifted and turned to the side to stare at the viewer. It's a pinkish dove with grey wings and white undertail coverts. A pair of house finches munching on seeds from a green hanging feeder. They're small brownish finches with brown-streaked white breasts and bellies; the male has bright scarlet plumage on his head and beneath his wings.
January 27, 2026 at 4:07 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Post a picture YOU took, just a picture, NO description.
Photo shows a brightly (and unrealistically)-painted statue of a turkey standing on a brick plaza under a cloudy sky.
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
My first bird sighting for 2026 was a red-tailed hawk, perched high in a tree a little ways down my street. (Really, it was two hawks - as the first bird and I regarded one another, a second hawk flew in and perched in the next tree over.) Felt like a good way to start the year. #birds 🪶
An adult red-tailed hawk perched among bare branches on a bright, sunny winter day, in profile. It's a stocky buteo with a mostly-white chest and belly, a warm brown head and back, brown eyes, and a curved grey beak. An adult red-tailed hawk perched among bare branches against a deep blue sky on a sunny winter day, its body in profile and its head turned directly towards the viewer. An adult red-tailed hawk perched among bare branches against a deep blue sky on a sunny winter day, its body in profile and its head turned a little in the opposite direction, cocked, one large brown eye apparently fixed on the viewer. An adult red-tailed hawk perched on an evergreen branch in partial sunlight, with its head in shadow and another stripe of shadow across its body. Its body is facing away from the viewer at a three-quarter angle, and it is looking back over its shoulder. The coppery-red color of its tail feathers is just visible.
January 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Happy New Year's Eve, friends. I thought about doing a highlights post, but even though I had many lovely moments this year (and the photos to go with) ... 2025 was awful and I'm just glad it's ending. Here's a little late December magic to end it on. #birds 🪶 ✨
A snowy owl sits hunkered down in a snowy cornfield, body turned at a three-quarter angle and eyes closed. It's a large, white owl with dark barring across its chest and wings, and in a sort of "headband" on its forehead. Bare branches of shrubs coated in clear ice, with frozen droplets hanging down here and there. A juvenile sharp-shinned hawk perched on a bare tree at a three-quarter angle, erect, with snowy evergreens blurry in the background. It's a tiny, blue-jay-sized hawk with a pale streaks on its white breast, a yellow eye, thick, widely-spaced bars on its longish tail, and a mostly brown head and back. A photo of a waxing half-moon in a black sky.
December 31, 2025 at 4:56 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Heading home!
Photo of a grey/brown tabby cat in. Red harness sitting in a lap in the back seat of a car. He is looking dubiously over his shoulder at the photographer/owner of the lap, who is holding onto him via a red plaid leash.
December 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
I brought Eugenides home to my parents' house (for Christmas) for the first time ever. I was a bit nervous, but he's made himself at home. ❤️
A gray-brown tabby cat in a red harness standing on a bookshelf with his forepaws resting on the shelf in front of the books, and his hind paws on top of some of them, staring alertly off to the side. A gray-brown tabby cat sleeping draped over someone's legs (covered in a royal blue rocketship-themed fleece blanket) on a red couch with a red plaid blanket draped over it and colorful cushions.
December 25, 2025 at 10:46 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
This time of year can be pretty challenging even when the world isn't so on fire. I hope you'll enjoy these very puffed-up snow buntings from my walk around Castle Island yesterday! #birds #borb 🪶
A very puffed-up, plump-looking snow bunting in non-breeding plumage perched at the edge of a cement wall overlooking blue water. It's a small white, brown and cream songbird with a little orange wedge-shaped beak and black feet. A snow bunting in profile, preening its chest feathers with its little wedge beak. A snow bunting facing away from the viewer at a three-quarter angle with its head turned to the side, its body feathers very puffed out and a little ruffled. A snow bunting with its feathers very puffed up and rounded, in profile.
December 21, 2025 at 11:54 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Things continue to be very rough, but here's my silly little bit of nerd joy for the week.

I'm not really an action figure person per say, but I've also been waiting for this one to exist for about thirty years. It's a tiny piece of plastic but it's also a tiny piece of magic that way. 🤷🏻
A Marvel Legends Phoenix (Rachel Summers) action figure standing on a shelf of graphic novels and comic book trade paperbacks. Titles visible behind her include ElfQuest, Excalibur and Finder.
December 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
I have just reluctantly reopened my GoFundMe for Eugenides, and posted a long update (scroll down to find it) on how his medical situation has changed and why we still need help, as well as how the original donations are being applied.

My poor sweet boy.

www.gofundme.com/f/gen-sad-ki...
A happy gray-brown tabby cat in a gray t-shirt snuggling amid fleece blankets, eyes closed in appreciation. A gray-brown tabby cat in a gray t-shirt looking up from the round bed he's curled up in beside a window, as if to ask, "excuse me, did you want something?" A gray-brown tabby cat in a gray sleeveless t-shirt stands on a royal blue fleece blanket, with a space and rocketship pattern. It is clearly laid across someone's lap, and he's standing with one forepaw on each leg. A light-skinned hand is scritching him under the chin, and his head is turned a little, eyes closed in enjoyment.
December 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
When you see this, post an image from your gallery describing your mental health
A photo of two feet resting on their heels on a dirt path, taken by the person they belong to, who is seated slightly off the ground. Each foot wears a shoe from a different pair, though as both are dark grey sneakers, the fact that they don't match may not be immediately obvious. One has teal accents; the other is a darker grey, once black, and has a split seam on the outer side.
November 29, 2025 at 5:55 AM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
At least he looks very handsome in his new shirt (to stop him licking his new continuous glucose monitor)?
A grey/brown tabby cat sitting up alertly on his back legs, in profile, on top of a low cat tree. He's wearing a black tank top t-shirt.
November 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
They're BACK. 🪶 Visiting the American Coots at Chestnut Hill Reservoir has become a significant highlight of November for me. Just as everything is getting really cold, dark and bare, these delightfully goofy #birds arrive and delight me with their antics. (Something I really needed this weekend.)
An American coot in profile, floating in calm water near a patch of floating oak leaves with a great billful of pondweed. It's a rotund black water bird with a little tuft for a tail, a pointed ivory bill, red eyes, and a (just barely visible) red "shield" at the top of the bill, between the eyes. An American coot floating in calm blue water with its head turned towards the viewer and one eye obscured by shadow, making it look goofily ominous. A pair of American coots; one with a little pond weed in its bill, contemplating the water, and another swimming rather avidly up from behind. A coot floating in profile amid fallen oak leaves, leaning forward to peer intently at the water.
November 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Hey friends. So, I just posted an update on Gen's GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/gen-sad-ki...

The tl;dr is that his surgery has had to be postponed because he is in diabetic relapse. This is ... very frustrating and exhausting, and also expensive. That said, we have a plan and it's not a disaster.
A brown/grey (technically black, confusingly enough) tabby cat reclining on a white-and-blue comforter (on someone's lap) in golden lighting, head turned to the side, looking relaxed.
November 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
A little recent #birdart, as a treat?
A postcard-sized hand-drawn mixed-media (color pencil & art marker) drawing of a female belted kingfisher perched on a fallen/drooping old tree, her head turned to the side and a little crown floating above her head. A postcard-sized hand-drawn mixed-media (color pencil & art marker) drawing of a male ruddy duck in non-breeding plumage floating in blue water, facing the viewer with a word balloon containing a big red question mark.
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
It feels a little early to be calling Weird Duck Time just yet, but then again ... hooded mergansers are here now. And they're quite possibly my favorite weird/winter resident ducks of all, with their delightful hairdos and absurd courtship displays. 🪶
A male hooded merganser mid-courtship display, with his body canted backwards and up, his neck puffed up and crest raised, and his bill open. He's a small diving duck with a skinny black bill, black mohawk-like crested head with a huge white spot on each side, black-and-white striped wings, white breast, rufous sides, and bright yellow eyes. A female hooded merganser swimming in profile with a water drop hanging from the tip of her bill. She's a small copper-colored duck with a skinny yellow bill tipped in black, amber eyes, and a mohawk-like crest (currently lowered). A female hooded merganser swimming through wind-ruffled water in profile, crest raised. The water matches her coppery coloration. A pair of male hooded mergansers swimming in profile, parallel but a bit offset. The closer duck has his neck notably puffed up (part of the courtship display).
November 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
A middle-aged pale-skinned person dressed up as Gomez Addams, giving the camera a rakish look. Their brown hair is slicked back, they have on a fake black mustache, and they're wearing a black pinstripe blazer over a dark pink shirt and black tie. There's a plastic Thing sitting on one shoulder.
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Tough week. Here are a few shots from a restorative walk I took on Sunday, featuring a great blue heron (with lunch), maple foliage, an American red squirrel (I love them! it's not mutual), and a surprisingly late black-and-white warbler. I would like to be back there now. 🪶
Close-up shot of the head and neck of a great blue heron, in profile, with a small fish (a black crappie) hanging from its beak. It's a large bluish-grey heron with a stripe of white and darker-blue feathers down its throat, a long pointed bill, and round yellow eyes. A branch of brightly mottled yellow-and-scarlet maple leaves on a sunny day. An American red squirrel paused on all fours on a diagonal dead tree, looking towards the viewer. It's a small reddish-orange squirrel with a white underside, round ears, a white circle around its eye, and a white muzzle. This one has some VERY bright red in its moderately bushy tail. A male black-and-white warbler, a little puffed up with cold, crouching on a worn dead tree in profile and in bright sunlight against a backdrop of pinkish-red fallen leaves. It's a small warbler striped in black and white all over with a thin, slightly downcurved beak and a white circle around the eye.
October 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Doing some sketching at home today ... to color next time I'm at my studio (where my markers and color pencils live).
A simple outline pencil sketch of a female belted kingfisher perched on a broken-off branch with her head turned to the side. A simple outline pencil sketch of a ruddy duck floating on calm water and staring ahead, with a word balloon containing a single question mark. A simple outline pencil sketch of a chickadee clinging to a tiny twig almost upside-down, peering at its broken-off end with its beak a little open.
October 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
The earliest vanguard of Weird Duck Time has arrived! Delightful diving ducks that we only see from October-March or April: ruddies and ring-necks. #birds 🪶
A male ruddy duck in non-breeding plumage, floating in a lake and facing directly towards the viewer. He's a small diving duck with a dark brown cap and back, lighter brown chest, white cheeks, and an enormous scoop of a dark brown bill. A male ring-necked duck in breeding plumage, floating in profile on still, pale (overcast) waters above a slightly foreshortened reflection of himself. He's a compact diving duck with a black head, breast, back and rump, white/grey sides and tail, a grey bill with a large white ring towards the tip and a white base, and bright yellow eyes. A pair of ring-necked ducks swimming away from the viewer at a three-quarter angle, several feet apart, in pale calm water. Small diving ducks, he's black-and-grey while she is brown all over, darker on the back and top of her head, with a pale stripe on her face at the base of her bill. A male ruddy duck in non-breeding plumage floating in blue water, in profile, and stretching horizontally, one wing partially unfolded.
October 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Made some new #birdart this weekend - a common grackle, and an ovenbird. Both based on my own photos.
Sketchbook page with a mixed-media (color pencil & Copic marker) drawing of a common grackle perched on a bare tree branch, head turned to the side and some iridescence showing on its head and throat. Postcard-sized mixed-media (color pencil & Copic marker) drawing of an ovenbird perched on a birch branch, head and tail up alertly. It has a word balloon, which just reads "!"
October 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
At the end of the college-wide communications meeting, the director of career development told me I look very "dark academia" today. 🤨
A bespectacled middle-aged nonbinary white human standing beside an institutional brick building, wearing a black three-piece suit with a dark purple brocade-pattern shirt and a pastel purple necktie and holding a small notebook. They have a wry/confused expression.
October 2, 2025 at 3:24 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
Someone heard me leaving my reps slightly emotional voicemail messages, got up, came over and got in my face to demand attention. ❤️
A gray tabby cat standing straddling the lap of a person lying in bed, face near a laptop screen. A gray tabby cat sitting on his side at the corner of a bed, three paws resting on the arm/elbow of a light-skinned person beside him. A gray tabby cat viewer from above where he sits on his side on a bed with blue sheets, three paws resting on the arm of a light-skinned human beside him.
September 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
turtlesoup.bsky.social
I need a quick mood boost, and maybe you do too, so - here are some excellent #birds and other critters from a walk around Mount Auburn Cemetery on Saturday. The hawk was TINY - I thought sharpie, but I guess he's just a very small Coop. 🪶
An eastern chipmunk pausing half in shadow, with its cheek oucheds stuffed full and its forepaws resting on a low stone monument, staring directly into the camera. It's a small, adorable brown rodent with a white underside. Head-and-shoulders close-up of a Cooper's hawk perched in a tree, its head turned to face so far to the side that it's almost fully facing from its back. It's a small hawk with a dark cap and wings, rusty orange-and-white barred chest, and red eyes. A gray catbird perched on an evergreen shrub in profile, beak open to complain. It's a small grey bird with a black cap and tail-tip. A fresh-looking monarch butterfly perched on and feeding from a white daisy among many, its wings mostly spread and antennae down. It's a bright orange butterfly with black patterning on its wings; its body and the edges of its wings are black with large white spots.
September 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM