Four woodcock chicks lie on the ground "frozen" into position to avoid predators, three of the chicks lie on their back, feet up. The black and white dorsal pattern of one chick is harder to distinguish than the white bellies of the other three chicks.

I flushed a #woodcock that began a distraction display. I stood still looking for a nest or young. Not seeing either, I walked away about 2 steps and saw these 4 chicks. Yes, all 4 chicks are alive, they freeze when disturbed. When the hen flushed, she apparently knocked 3 chicks over.

🪶 #birds

Opinion | The Greatest Threat to Our Elections Is No Longer Foreign

An informed opinion that we should heed . . . #election #nokings #democracy

I think that Marchese was referring to AI and the potential it gives others to manipulate our feelings, but I'm not sure. I had the same question as you.

Michael Pollan Says Humanity Is About to Undergo a Revolutionary Change

A link to a gift article in the NYT that you may enjoy. It is an interview with author Michael Pollan.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/m...

Beautiful shot of this species! Many do not recognize it.

It's wonderful when all the stars align!

It's another beautiful day in #Virginia. Please #vote!

Pine Mt in SW Virginia

You did a great job on that painting!

This from Google AI: The process for a white-tailed deer to complete the molt of its summer coat (and grow its winter coat) typically takes just a few weeks. Key details about this seasonal change: Timing: Deer generally begin shedding their thin, reddish-brown summer coat in August and September. Speed: The entire process of shedding and replacing the coat is generally described as happening rapidly or in just a few weeks (often cited as two to three weeks). Progression: The molt usually starts at the deer's head and progresses down the neck to the chest and sides, with the haunches and hind legs being the last to change. Factors Affecting Rate: Deer that are in good physical condition tend to molt earlier and faster than those in poor condition. For example, does that are still nursing fawns may shed their coat later than bucks or non-lactating does because lactation is energetically very demanding, and molting also requires significant energy.

This photo, taken on September 5th, shows the difference between summer and winter pelage color of white-tailed deer.
🦊 #Mammals #photography #wildlife

Save until you can buy one of the top-rated ones. It will add much to your birding experience.

I do!

A male Montezuma Quail showing his harlequin face pattern and bright spotted body plumage.

A male Montezuma Quail showing his harlequin face pattern and bright spotted body plumage. The much plainer hen is in the upper right corner of the image.

This is not the greatest photo, but one I was so pleased to get. A pair of quail came down mid-morning to a waterhole on a mostly dried up creek near Portal, AZ. I had only heard Montezuma Quail and had fleeting glimpses of them flying before this encounter. 🪶 #birds #photography #wildlife

An Elegant Trogon perched on a branch showing its dark head, yellow bill, red eye-ring, and red belly. This neotropical migrant only comes into the USA in southern Arizona during the breeding season.

I had such better looks at Elegant Trogon this year than I had seen before. This is another species that just barely makes it into the states during the breeding season. 🪶 #birding #photography #wildlife

I donate photos and will look in my archives to see what might work for you. Any species that you are still looking for now, or do you have what you need?

A brilliant hummingbird perched on a shrub twig showing its red bill and iridescent green and blue plumage.

I'm slowly making my way through photos from our western trip. Hummingbirds attract many birders to se. Arizona and I am no exception. This one is the Broad-billed Hummingbird, a tiny one found in the USA only in se. Arizona and sw. New Mexico. 🪶 #birds #photography #wildlife

From my morning walk today. #Fall is in the air. The leaves are colorful up on the mountain, though you can't really see it in this photo. #landscape #photography

He pretty well sums up my thoughts about what's happening here, For What It's Worth.

It is disappointing!

Thank you for sharing the experience with your granddaughter! I have some of those coins in my collection.

Fall #wildflowers ironweed and spotted jewelweed.

Great photo! You even got the striping on the throat, one of the field marks separating Northern from Louisiana Waterthrush.

A Common Loon in the water shows its black head, red eye, black and white checkered back, and dark green breast below its collar. A stout bill and strong legs make this bird a fishing catching predator.

I saw some beautiful loon video while watching YouTube today and then remembered that I had some loon photos from a trip last year. I am seriously behind in sharing photos. I found it in my catalog and here is the result. 🪶 #birds #photography #wildlife

A small warbler with a bright yellow head and black nape and bib perches in a mesquite in Cave Creek Canyon near Portal, Arizona.

The first Hermit Warbler that I saw was way in the top of a huge conifer on Mount Lemmon many years ago. This cooperative male hung around our campground last May in Cave Creek Canyon. It foraged in a blooming mesquite there for days. 🪶 #birds #photography #wildlife #Arizona

an old house that is falling apart with an old wood fence. There are 2 trees to the left of it and mountains in the background.

"Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away."
-Ismail Haniyeh

💙🏡💙 till next time

I hope it was some birder owling!

Rural Retreat birder Judy Moose found American Avocets at Rural Retreat Lake yesterday evening. She let me know as Marsha and I were headed out for an afternoon walk, so we went to the lake and saw these beautiful birds, a rarity here. Thank you, Judy! 🪶 #birding #photography

A portrait of a Steller's Jay perched on a pine branch in Rustler Park near San Simon, Arizona. The blue of the wings and back is not shown in this image, only seen here on its shoulders. Two white stripes of feathers on the forehead lead to a prominent crest on the crown.

I was 13 when I first saw a Steller's Jay while camping at Philmont Scout Ranch. I had seen it in Peterson's field guide and hoped to see it there. Steller's Jay remains one of my favorite jays. 🪶 #birding #photography #wildlife

Thank you for helping!