#ScratchersAndPruners
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freedomtodoubt.bsky.social
Thanks again Rob!
Was just joshing with you last time re pruning vs preening & now also wondering if you by #ScratchersandPruners was referring to birds in the moult which to me who studies bird behaviour is a fascinating but vulnerable period for birds & a process rarely talked abt by birders.
December 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
izandra.bsky.social
A late #BirdOfTheDay for #ScratchersAndPruners (preeners?), a Northern Shoveler
A male northern shoveler preens his chest, stretching his neck and folding it so that his very long shoehorn-shaped bill can reach his chest. He stands on a sort of thick floating net tube, possibly a debris barrier?
December 16, 2025 at 6:47 AM
kellylenihan.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay theme of #ScratchersAndPruners
December 16, 2025 at 5:20 AM
diplopodracer.bsky.social
Another one for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #ScratchersAndPruners, I have this shot from the weekend of a Heron near the top of a tree having a scratch (Pt. Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA 12/13/25)

#birds #birding 🪶
Two large herons are near the top of a pinecone filled conifer tree. One is at the top of the image sitting staring out over Puget Sound, and the other near the bottom right of the image is scratching its face.
December 16, 2025 at 4:44 AM
birdguy66.bsky.social
This #GreatBlueHeron is my #BirdOfTheDay for #ScratchersAndPruners
#birds
#birding
December 16, 2025 at 3:29 AM
madrinkwater.bsky.social
🖤
#BirdOfTheDay #ScratchersAndPruners #birds #kestrel #naturephotography #photography 📷 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social
A Kestrel perched on a palm tree trunk preening. Its head is turned and tucked into its left wing and its right eye is covered by a light greenish nictitating membrane. Its left leg is up, and its yellow claws are curled. Its right cheek is white and tan with a bold black stripe, and its belly is white with heart-shaped black spots.
December 16, 2025 at 2:50 AM
caseysisterson.bsky.social
Pelicans grooming themselves after a busy day hunting for fish.

#BirdOfTheDay #ScratchersAndPruners #birds #BirdPhotography
December 16, 2025 at 1:39 AM
steddybirds.bsky.social
Found this turkey to join the #ScratchersandPruners lineup for #BirdOfTheDay today! #birds #wildturkey #nature #birdphotography 🪶
A female wild turkey, standing in the grass facing right, twists her neck all the way around to preen her tail feathers.
December 16, 2025 at 1:26 AM
toptags.bsky.social
🔥 BlueSky trending hashtags (30m):

#trêsgraças #nsfw #art #furryart #hazbinhotel #birds #oc #furry #photography #furrynsfw #birdoftheday #commission #scratchersandpruners #thegoonershandbook #nature
December 16, 2025 at 1:00 AM
toptags.bsky.social
🚀 BlueSky trending hashtags (15m):

#trêsgraças #furryart #nsfw #commission #art #birdoftheday #oc #scratchersandpruners #trump #photography #porn #hazbinhotel #goon #traditionalart #birds
December 16, 2025 at 1:00 AM
dan-kulkosky-nyc.bsky.social
A #HerringGull by the #Thames for #BirdOfTheDay #ScratchersAndPruners

#Birds #BirdPhotography #Gulls

#London #England #WeAreRoamers

#Photography #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersOfBluesky
December 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
steddybirds.bsky.social
A lot of people have something against gulls, but we can be quite cute when we’re #ScratchersandPruners for the #BirdOfTheDay theme! #birds #gulls #nature #birdphotography 🪶
A herring gull, standing on a beach and facing away from the camera, twists its head back to the right side to rub it and its bill against its wing as it preens a bit. Photo taken in South Dartmouth MA
December 16, 2025 at 12:48 AM
lowekeyone.bsky.social
"Hey, you pelicans, maybe if you line up and groom, you can be on #BirdOfTheDay!" #ScratchersAndPruners #birds #photography
An egret watches five pelicans grooming.
December 16, 2025 at 12:45 AM
landguyminor.bsky.social
Guineas gonna guinea. My sister's "kids".
#BirdOfTheDay #ScratchersAndPruners
Guineas cleaning their feathers in the shade of their porch.
December 16, 2025 at 12:33 AM
gonzocubfan.bsky.social
4 for #BirdOfTheDay #ScratchersandPruners

A couple of scratchers and a couple pf preeners. I tried for variety.

#birds #ornithology #photography #BirdPhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Anhinga #MandarinDuck #SnowyEgret #Chestnut-mandifledToucan
A male Anhinga in full breeding plumage scratches himself on his neck. He is perched on a branch of a leafless tree with an out-of-focus green background behind the many libs of the tree. A Mandarin Duck drake reaches up to begin scratching. He is standing in shallow water, in front of a number of large, rounded rocks. A Snowy Egret spreads its left wing over its head and turns its head upwards to preen the feathers on the underside of the wing. The egret is perched atop a palm tree. A Chestnut-mandibled Toucan preens the feathers on its partner who is faced the other way, away from the camera. The are perched in a tree, and out-of-focus behind them, a Montezuma Oropendola can be seen on a brach behind the Toucans.
December 16, 2025 at 12:31 AM
mycousinselek.bsky.social
#birdoftheday #scratchersandpruners #Nikon

This sweet little hummer was preening in the backyard 10+ years ago. Mr. Shoveler was taken at Ridgefield NWR.
A male Northern shoveler awkwardly scratches his head with one orange foot A male Anna's hummingbird preenes on a branch
December 16, 2025 at 12:07 AM
leiler-laz.bsky.social
Well, the only #scratchersandpruners #birdoftheday I have was taken by an iPhone, but the Little Blue Heron was still fetching.
December 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
colynmartin.bsky.social
It’s #birdoftheday time, and here are a couple of #ScratchersandPruners. 🪶

#birding
#photography
#birdphotography
#nikon
#hoodedmerganser
#greatblueheron
December 15, 2025 at 11:30 PM
allanwithll.bsky.social
Lovely set of images for your #ScratchersAndPruners funny #BirdOfTheDay theme Rob. Do birds prune?! 🤷‍♂️
Here’s a Waxwing tidying itself up after getting a soaking earlier.
#Birds
#BirdingScotland
#BirdTherapy
#UKwildlife
#NatureCantWait
#StateofNature2023
#wildlifephotography
#EastCoastKin
December 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
voxrox.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay
#EastCoastKin

( #ScratchersAndPruners )

In my neck of the woods, we use the term "preening." Pruning means to trim plants. This Green-Winged Teal Duck is preening in Eugene, Oregon last week.

#Birds #Wildlife
#Birdwatching
#Ducks #Oregon
#Photography
#WestCoastKin
#ArtOfPhotography
A close-up photo of a Green-Winged Teal Duck in water, preening (cleaning) itself. The duck is in water, in Eugene, Oregon, during December. 📷 Suzette Van Meter
December 15, 2025 at 11:06 PM
trusttheroad-24.bsky.social
For Bird Of The Day...

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ScratchersAndPruners (any bird Scratching or Pruning itself), and the Alternative is #Drinkers (any bird taking a Drink).

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #ukbirding #BirdLife
#photographersofbluesky
Barred Owl preening chest Duck splashing about Duck preening Great Blue Heron preening
December 15, 2025 at 10:56 PM
jon5cents.bsky.social
🪶Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme by Rob @robcrank68.bsky.social is #ScratchersAndPruners. Here is a female anhinga (also known as snakebird) from a few days ago, full body and closer in. Turrialba, #CostaRica
#birds #photography
An anhinga, a large bird with a long, slender neck, is curving its neck down to use its beak on its upper body. An anhinga, a large bird with a long, slender neck, is curving its neck down to use its beak on its upper body.
December 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
patrodg.bsky.social
Here is a Roseate Spoonbill for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme
#ScratchersAndPruners
#Birds 🪶
A pink and white roseate spoonbill is pruning its feathers against a dark background
December 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
awiner.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ScratchersAndPruners (any bird Scratching or Pruning itself). This Gray Treepie in Taipei was checking out its underwing. 🪶
Gray Treepie - a long-tailed crow relative - holding one wing outstretched
December 15, 2025 at 9:51 PM
howieschomer.bsky.social
Today’s #birdoftheday theme is #scratchersandpruners.

“”Ibis I could reach that spot”…
Three Ibises standing in a pond at water’s edge picking their feathers with their beaks. They are white with orange legs and beaks and their bodies are reflected in the water.
December 15, 2025 at 9:47 PM