Photo Credit: ©Gregory Rothman 2026 This is a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), a compact, stocky heron often seen around wetlands. Imagine a medium-sized bird perched on a branch, gripping it with sturdy, pinkish legs. Its body looks somewhat hunched and rounded, not long and slender like many other herons. * The back and crown (top of the head) are a deep slate-black, giving it a “capped” appearance. * Its face and underparts are pale—creamy white to light gray—creating a sharp contrast with the dark cap. * The bird has a thick, pointed black bill, shorter and stouter than many herons. * One of its most striking features is its bright red eye, which stands out vividly against the pale face. * From the back of its head extend long, thin white plumes, like delicate ribbons trailing behind. * In this moment, the bird has one wing partly spread, showing soft gray feathers layered like overlapping scales. The overall impression is of a sturdy, slightly compact heron with bold contrast between dark and light colors and a piercing red eye. ⸻ Scientific Name: Nycticorax nycticorax * Nycticorax comes from Greek: * “nyx” = night * “korax” = raven * So it roughly means “night raven.” Why “Night Heron”? They are primarily nocturnal feeders. Instead of hunting during the day like most herons, they become active at dusk and through the night, often standing still at the water’s edge waiting to ambush prey. Interesting Facts * Red eyes glow at night: Their eyes can appear even more intense in low light, helping them see in dim conditions. * Patient hunters: They often stand motionless for long periods, then strike quickly at fish, frogs, or insects. * Short neck (for a heron): Unlike taller herons, their neck appears tucked, giving them a more compact silhouette. * Wide diet: They eat fish, crustaceans, insects, small mammals, and even bird eggs. * Global traveler: This species is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. * Di…

A Black Crowned #NightHeron Lands on a perch to collect twigs for its nest as it is that time again.
#EastCoastKin #ECK #PhotographersUnited #Birds #BirdOfTheDay #PetalsandPerches or alt #whattheflock

It’s been a minute. Traveling. Bad connections. But here is. Bird and leaf and light #birdoftheday
#eastcoastkin #photographersunited
#bird #finch

This planet — with all its troubles — is worth caring for.

That should be our single purpose, as a species: To be stewards of this magnificent world, ensuring it thrives long into the future.

The best explanation why millions of Americans worship and support a convicted felon and sexual predator...

Thank you, Rob.

#RedCrownedCrane ( #GrusJaponensis) dancing in the Snow in Hokkaido.

#BirdOfTheDay theme today is #weather

#EastCoastKin #Cranes #Birds #photographersUnited #foto

Two large Eagles are flying low over a gray, slightly choppy ocean surface. They are Steller’s sea eagles, identifiable by their striking black-and-white plumage, massive wingspans, and bright yellow-orange beaks and talons. In the foreground (right side), one eagle is gliding just above the water with its wings fully extended. Its head is angled downward, focused forward, a fish clutched in its talons. Behind and slightly above it (left side), a second eagle is descending with wings spread wide and feet extended forward, as if preparing to snatch the fish or compete for it mid-air. Its posture suggests aggression or opportunistic behavior. The scene conveys motion and tension: the lower bird is escaping with its prey, while the upper bird is attempting to intercept. The muted tones of the sea contrast with the bold black, white, and yellow of the birds, making them stand out sharply. Photo Credit: Gregory Rothman 2018

A couple of #Steller’sEagles doing what they do.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay from
@robcrank68.bsky.social
theme is #LargeBirdsInFlight, birds LARGER than Ducks in flight. Alt Theme is #Gulls

#HaliaeetusPelagicus
#EastCoastKin #Birds #foto #WildLife #Nature #Raptors

Video: Opinion | Trump’s Positive Thinking Won’t End This War President Trump’s Wednesday night address about the war in Iran is evidence of how poorly his war of choice is going, the columnist Jamelle Bouie argues.

Trump’s Positive Thinking Won’t End This War www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...

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Just so everyone remembers . . . .
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Senator Chris Murphy, "The Strait of Hormuz was open before the war began"

"We are now seeking to solve a problem that we created"

"This is insanity"

Wow!

Wow!

Thank you Rob

The image shows a close-up of several penguins gathered on a rocky, uneven shoreline. In the center, one penguin is lying low against the ground, its body stretched forward protectively over a small, white egg nestled among pebbles. Its beak is open, as if calling or warning, and its head is turned slightly downward toward the nest. The penguin’s coloring is sharply contrasted: a black back and head, a white belly, and a bright orange beak. A thin white stripe arches across the top of its head above the eyes. Around it, other penguins stand and move about. One in the foreground faces away from the viewer, showing its rounded back and short tail. Others in the background are slightly out of focus, creating a sense of a busy nesting colony. The ground is rough and brown-gray, covered in small stones and patches of dirt, suggesting a cold, coastal habitat. The overall scene conveys a protective nesting moment within a crowded penguin colony. Photo Credit:©Gregory Rothman 2015

To me there is no place more magical than Antarctica.

@robcrank68.bsky.social has said “ today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #OpenBeak. Alt Theme is gulls.

#Gentoo #Penguins #PygoscelisPapua #EastCoastKin #Birds #Antarctica #photographersUnited
#Birds

I’m buying a round of treats for those pups

AI, faux, falso, falsch, nep, falsk, falskt, falskur, fałszywy, falešný, falošný, hamis, fals, фалшив, ψεύτικο, sahte, фальшивый, фальшивий, مزيف, מזויף, جعلی, नकली, নকল, پھیکا, போலி, నకిలీ, വ്യാജം, ನಕಲಿ, 假, 偽, 가짜, ปลอม, giả, palsu, peke, bandia, mbumbulu, vals, ሐሰት, been abuur, bréagach, meallta, ffug,faltsu

A small bird of prey—a kestrel—is perched on a bare, slightly curved tree branch. Its wings are lifted and partially spread, as if it’s just about to launch into the air. The feathers on its wings show a pattern of gray, black, and white bands, while its back and chest are warm reddish-brown with dark spots. The bird’s head is turned slightly to the side, revealing a sharp, hooked beak with a yellow base and dark tip. Its eyes are large, dark, and focused, giving an alert, intent expression. Distinct dark markings run down from its eyes like narrow streaks. Its talons—bright yellow with black claws—grip the branch firmly, suggesting tension just before takeoff. The background is softly blurred and pale, possibly a cloudy sky or a light-colored wall, with a few thin twigs visible, making the kestrel stand out clearly in the foreground. Overall, the moment captured is one of poised energy—the bird balanced between stillness and flight. Photo credit:©Gregory Rothman 2026

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #tricolour, birds with three colours or more. Alt is #YearRound birds. The #AmericanKestrel the smallest Falcon in the US & third smallest falcon in the world
#Raptor
#FalcoSparverius
#Birds
#EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #UrbanWildlife #NorthPond

Love it! Nice work!!!

This is an underwater close-up of a communal tunicates - small, soft-bodied marine organism with a striking, almost surreal appearance. At the center is a smooth, deep-blue, tube-like structure that looks rubbery and slightly translucent. Several round openings puncture its surface—each one edged with a bright, glowing yellow-orange rim, like they’ve been carefully outlined with neon paint. These openings are arranged in a way that strongly resembles a face in 3/4 profile: • One large opening on the right looks like a wide eye • A smaller opening to the left receding is the left eye • A smaller opening beneath is the nose. • A larger opening beneath the nose looks like a mouth agape. • The overall expression can feel like a surprised cartoonish face staring outward. • a bigger blue bubble seems to be the body falling out of frame on the left. - the “creature” seems reclined and awed. Around the blue form, the background is filled with brownish seaweed, branching debris, and bits of reef, slightly out of focus. This contrast makes the vivid blue and glowing edges stand out even more dramatically. Overall impression: It looks like a bright blue, soft sculpture with glowing holes arranged like a curious, wide-eyed face peeking out from the reef—something between a sea creature and a piece of abstract art.

Some #RhopalaeaCaerulea, a type of sometimes communal tunicate, seemingly forming a face with an expression that is appropriate for this moment in time. #BlueSkyMonday #MacroMonday #EastCoastKin #PhotographersUnited #Scuba #oceanlife

:)

"This is not a conservative party. It's a nihilistic party ... This is mind-bending to some people... I think who are younger, may not understand it, but the conservative party today is the Democratic Party. Because as Democrats, we are trying to preserve, to conserve the things that we've created."

Matt, sadly I commended you on the most succinct description of the impact of last election.

Turns out the absolute last person you’d want running things in a serious, chaotic war is the same person voted out for revealing as much about himself during COVID. No foresight, 0.0 emotional intelligence, dangerously dumb.

We just held the stupidest election in USA history. Self-immolation.

“They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor.” — Tupac said it years ago… and here we are.

The Pentagon is now asking for an additional $200 BILLION for this war.

We always find the money for war.

But when it comes to housing, healthcare, or feeding people? Suddenly it’s crickets.

John Lillison!!!!! The greatest poet of all time!!!!!!