Thank you for that information about Shrimp trees. I will have to consider adding it to our bird "feeders".

Five pigeons stand on wide paved stairs covered in water. A sixth pigeon, standing on dry pavement at the top of the stairs and near the bottom of the frame, is partially visible.

Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #SplashingAround, any bird making a splash. The Alt Theme is #Green.

I've gone for the main theme with these pigeons.

July 2025. Porto Portugal.
#birds #pigeons #BirdsofPortugal

A male downy woodpecker perches on a deck railing sideways with tail to the left of the frame. The body is positioned diagonally in the center of the frame. The distinct red patch, specific to males, is clearly visible. The tip of the beak is covered in suet crumbs. The background is an out-of-focus green foliage.

A male downy woodpecker for #WoodpeckerWednesday.

#birds #woodpeckers #BirdsofNC #BackyardBirding

We saw our first ruby-throated hummingbird for this year, just five days ago. Saw him again on Monday. Hoping to see more of these wonderful birds in the coming weeks.

Thank you Alan. Had to dig deep to find this!

A flock of pigeons gathered on a city sidewalk. To one side, a row of water bowls — placed there for the birds — and to the other, two auto-rickshaws and a sedan parked along the road.

Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Petals&Perches. The alt is #WhatTheFlock any capture of three or more of the same bird.

I've gone for the alt with these #pigeons I saw in New Delhi, years ago.

January 1 2018. New Delhi India.
#birds

Thank you Rob.

A sparrow on a stone-paved ground, photographed from above it, body oriented vertically with the tail near the top.

A day late for #SparrowSunday.

July 2025. Porto Portugal.
#birds #sparrows

A brown-headed cowbird — positioned sideways with head pointing to the right — perches on the rim of a partially visible tray feeder in the right half of the frame. The background is an out-of-focus deck floor on which the feeder is sitting.

Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ComeEatWithMe, birds who have food in their beaks. The Alt Theme is #Turdidae.

A brown-headed cowbird for the main theme.

Possibly a repost.

March 7 2026. Charlotte NC US.
#birds #cowbirds

Thank you Rob.

Chicha Morada, a purple corn drink, in a tumbler with a straw and a lemon wedge. The tumbler is resting on a table surrounded by silverware and a restaurant menu.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPurple

Chicha Morada.

Photo taken in 2017. Lima Peru.

A basket full of purple sweet potatoes of different sizes.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekPforPurple

Purple Sweet Potatoes.

September 23 2023. Charlotte NC US.

Thank you frightopenclose!

And, awesome main and alt themes, by the way!

Thank you Alan! I think I served the ban by now! 😀

I found "A" to be the most difficult although now, I realize I have photos of at least 4-5 different species in this category.

An American Robin perches on a deck railing back toward the camera, head turned to its left.

A red-whiskered bulbul perches on a stone slab, facing the camera.

A Norther Cardinal perches on a tree branch, in profile.

A female Downy Woodpecker at a suet feeder.

Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ABCD, let’s do this, any bird beginning any part of their name with these letters. The alt is #CaptionThis.

I'm going for the bonus points:
An (A)merican Robin
A Red-Whiskered (B)ulbul
A Northern (C)ardinal
A (D)owny Woodpecker

#birds

‘How much have we missed?’: book tunes in to overlooked world of female birdsong Authors set out to correct under-representation of female sounds – and found some surprising revelations

#birds #books

Three house finches, two male and one female, perch at a tubular bird-feeder. The female finch is in the middle. One of the two males is out of focus and is diagonally below the female on the right. The remaining male is to the left of and slightly above the female. The female is in profile and facing left. The background is out-of-focus green foliage.

Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DucksOutOfWater, any Duck that is out of the water but NOT FLYING. The Alt Theme is #Finches, any Finch will do.

I've gone with the alt theme.

April 4 2026. Charlotte NC US.
#birds #BackyardBirding #BirdsofNC

A female Downy Woodpecker at one of our feeders. Sorry, the video is a little wobbly. Should've used a tripod.

April 15 2026. Charlotte NC US.
#birds #BackyardBirding #BirdsofNC #woodpeckers

A squirrel perched on a deck railing, head tilted downward with a peanut clenched in its mouth, set against a soft blur of green foliage.

#SquirrelSaturday #Squirrels

This is the scene on our deck every morning. Squirrels grabbing peanuts, running across and down the deck to stash them away in their secret locations.

April 14 2026. Charlotte NC US.
#Nature #Wildlife

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekOforOld

Palace: 114 years old
Photos: 17 years old

Mysore Palace, construction completed in 1912. Mysore Karnataka India.

Photos taken in June 2009.

Thank you for the kind words, Alan.

Love this photo! Great work!

A male house finch and a male downy woodpecker perch on separate bare branches of a tree, the woodpecker in the bottom center of the frame and the finch near the top right corner. Both face left. The background is a tangle of various branches and a light blue sky.

Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #FeederFriends. The alt is #Waders.

A house finch and a downy woodpecker, both waiting for me to get off the deck so they can raid the feeders.

March 25 2026. Charlotte NC US.
#birds #woodpeckers #housefinches #BackyardBirding

Beautiful, Rob! The Jay photo is outstanding!

Thank you Rob.

A red-bellied woodpecker peeks from behind a seed-filled tube feeder, a single seed clamped in its beak. The bird and the feeder fill the right half of the frame. The left half dissolves into an out-of-focus soft grey background.

A feral pigeon, positioned diagonally with head in the top left corner fills the frame. Sunlight illuminates the plumage on the bird's left side, highlighting the yellow eye and sharp black pupil.

Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #HeadShots and the Alt Theme is #Gulls.

A red-bellied woodpecker (March 2026. Charlotte NC US)
and a pigeon (July 2025. Porto Portugal) for the main theme.

#birds #woodpeckers #pigeons

A glass building in the shape of a cross sits on the far side of a lake.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekOforOld

The Palacio de Cristal, El Retiro, Madrid, Spain. Originally built in 1887.

Photo taken in September 2022.

A sprawling tree dominates the frame, its massive trunk sending long heavy branches outward in all directions. A canopy of trees fills the background, while the ground is carpeted in dry, reddish fallen leaves.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekOforOld

Angel Oak Tree, The largest Live Oak Tree east of the Mississippi. Approx: 400 - 500 years old.

"The tree is 65 feet high with a circumference of 25.5 feet, shading an area of 17,000 square feet."

Dec 24 2021. Johns Island Charleston SC US.

A male Northern Cardinal perches near the top of a branch along the left edge of the frame, head tilted slightly forward, facing right. Behind a branch in the center of the frame, a female Cardinal faces the camera, her body partially obscured. The background is a soft blur of green leaves against a somewhat pale blue sky.

Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #LeafandLight any bird captured in sunlight with leaves in frame. The alt is #CourtshiporConflict birds courting or squabbling.

A pair of cardinals for both themes!

#birds #NorthernCardinals #BirdsofNC #BackyardBirding