close up photo of a chocolate merle schnoodle dog looking directly into the camera.
Happy 5th Gotcha Day to Dizzy!!
Here she was April 1, 2021!
I think she's maybe gotten even cuter!
#DogsOfBluesky #becurious
close up photo of a chocolate merle schnoodle dog looking directly into the camera.
Happy 5th Gotcha Day to Dizzy!!
Here she was April 1, 2021!
I think she's maybe gotten even cuter!
#DogsOfBluesky #becurious
#BirdOfTheDay today is #snacking - enjoy these Black-headed Grosbeaks as they belly up to the Grape Bar!
Birds in my yard like oranges...LOVE grapes (because, of course! Way more expensive π)
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
colourful purple background with science doodles, a white square with images of heart, brain, Dr Jo in scrubs, and a scalpel
Prepping a dissection heart and brain anatomy experience for Home Educators to get hands-on this Easter! As a neurobiologist, I love exploring the brain - and getting to see a heart up close really puts the structure and function into context.
#ScienceIsEverywhere #BeCurious #DrJoScience #Anatomy
pink background and testimonial saying how great Dr Jo is
It's #TestimonialTuesday
I love working with people. Here's what others say about working with me.
#DrJoScience #STEMed #STEMeducation
#PriSci #PrimaryScience #ScienceActivities #Testimonial #TuesdayTestimonial #BeCurious #DrJo #SLT #CPD #TeachersFollowTeachers
photo looking up into the silhouetted top of a big leaf maple with 5 purple finch and two band tailed pigeons. The pigeons are enormous.
How big are Band-tailed Pigeons? Here's a pair hanging out with some purple finch. They are not doing well "blending in"
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
photo of a sheepadoodle dog and a black miniature schnauzer laying next to each other on a blue patterned rug. their heads are up and they are looking at the camera. the schnauzer has his left paw across the sheepadoodle's front paws - it's adorable.
Was looking thru the kitchen window at birds, turned around to see this!π₯Ίπ
*ded*
#DogsOfBluesky #becurious
photo of a male rufous hummingbird perched on a small fig branch. he is floofed out and his flared gorget is refracting coral, red-orange and orange. he is in profile facing 1/4 to the right. his eyes are half closed.
So angry! So tired! So ANGRY! So tire.....
*ded*
#Birds #becurious πͺΆ
Yard was eerily quiet today as 1 million (give or take) Golden-crowned Sparrows migrated this morning.
*Thought* Rufous had moved on too...they...have not π
#Hummerpalooza2026 #birds #becurious πͺΆ
photo of a male rufous hummingbird perched on a horizontal rose branch. he is facing the camera looking to the left in 3/4 profile. his gorget is refracting red, orange and a hint of green.
Friday evening there were only 4 male Rufous in the yard - 3 of them were out in the sun guarding and being...Roufousy. This Mr. opted to quietly sit in the bramble in the shadows.
#birds #becurious
photo of a male anna's hummingbird perched on the leaf bud on top of a fig branch. he is in profile facing left, the sun is behind him so his head and gorget feathers appear to be black - except a tiny patch on his left side which are getting just enough light to refract fuchsia.
Backlit male Anna's Hummingbird is a whole different bird! π
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
HUGE apologies for my camera's refusal to focus...but
#Hummerpalooza2026 Round II is ON
At *least* 5 more males and ??? females showed up today.
This is two out of 5 feeders π
I'm sure they're headed your way soon @jhmsparky.bsky.social
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
photo of a male rufous hummingbird in flight. he is mostly in silhouette you can see some of the rufous color in the flared tail feathers. he is in profile facing upper right.
Gotta make the best of the angle and lighting you get!
Mr. Rufous hummingbird.
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
Photo of a western gray squirrel in a V of the trunk and large branch of a moss covered big leaf maple. there is a spray of ferns growing out of the moss below. the squirrel is facing the camera looking slightly to the left.
Western Gray Squirrel in peak PNW setting checking in for #SquirrelSaturday #mammals #becurious π¦
#BirdOfTheDay options are #Blue or #Stripes - Steller's Jay has both options covered!
#birds #becurious
photo of a turkey vulture soaring against a cloudless blue sky. their wings are angled a bit up and they are flying to the right.
First Turkey Vulture photo of 2026 (they've been around a couple/few weeks - finally they were flying low over the yard).
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #WingsOpenNotFlying.
Perfect for Peak Cormorant!
#birds #becurious
photo of two male flickers taken through window. one male is pressed up against the window back to camera looking up at second male flying right at him.
photo of two male flickers taken through window, male who just flew at second male who was backed up against window is full out attacking second male with his beak, wings are still open - it's a fly-by.
Cool! I can only tell from the back - lots of hybrids in my yard - some males have bright "V" some very pale...they do not like each other π
Usually their under feathers are orangey - a real blend! #birds #becurious πͺΆ
macro photo of a male rufous hummingbird with top half of his back covered in green feathers.
Meanwhile, I get Rufous like this...
Had one really green one last week, he moved on though, didn't get a good pic. #birds #becurious
photo of a well used paper back copy of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.
quote from the Letters of JRR Tolkien reading: "Anyway all this stuff is mainly concerned with Fall, Mortality, and the Machine. With Fall inevitably, and that motive occurs in several modes. With Mortality, especially as it affects art and the creative (or as I should say, sub-creative) desire which seems to have no biological function, and to be apart from the satisfactions of plain ordinary biological life, with which, in our world, it is indeed usually at strife. This desire is at once wedded to a passionate love of the real primary world, and hence filled with the sense of mortality, and yet unsatisfied by it. It has various opportunities of 'Fall'. It may become possessive, clinging to the things made as 'its own', the sub-creator wishes to be the Lord and God of his private creation. He will rebel against the laws of the Creator β especially against mortality. Both of these (alone or together) will lead to the desire for Power, for making the will more quickly effective, β and so to the Machine (or Magic). By the last I intend all use of external plans or devices (apparatus) instead of development of the inherent inner powers or talents β or even the use of these talents with the corrupted motive of dominating: bulldozing the real world, or coercing other wills. The Machine is our more obvious modern form though more closely related to Magic than is usually recognised." Letters #131 circa 1951
Today is National Read Tolkien Day (isn't that every day?)
I'm going with Letters - you should too!
Captured quote could've been written last week.
#JRRTolkien #becurious
close up photo of a male rufous hummingbird perched at the top of a bare fig branch. he is in profile facing right and looking upward. his gorget is refracting green and gold with a hint of orange at the lower right.
When the angle & light are *just* right you can see the green/gold refraction on Mr. Rufous.
You can ALWAYS see the anger.
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
photo at eye level with a california ground squirrel who is surrounded by spring plants. they are in profile facing right with their head turned back around looking just to the right of the camera. their cheeks are full and they have a couple of millet seeds on their mouth and chin.
Look, we've all been there - sometimes when you're packing in the lunch buffet you get a little on your chin!
Ca Ground Squirrel #mammals #becurious π¦
photo of a white crowned sparrow standing on a bit of driftwood in a black plastic pond. they are in profile facing left.
One of the ~4 weeks per year I get these cuties!! In theory they could stay and nest...but...they don't. I def enjoy them while I can!
White-crowned Sparrow #birds #becurious πͺΆ
photo of a crow on a mossy, diagonal maple branch. the crow is facing the camera angled slightly to the right, they have a chunk of suet in the tip of their beak.
Crow vs. Suet - that peanut buttery block never stood a chance.
#birds #becurious πͺΆ
And Black-tailed Deer illustrates the difference in their names.
#mammals #becurious
Close up photo of a female rufous hummingbird perched on the tip of a fig branch, there's a teeny green bud on the branch. The hummingbird is in profile facing left.
Simply not enough hours in the day for picture taking!
Look at this Ms.! She's just perfection!
Female Rufous Hummingbird #becurious #birdsπͺΆ
close photo of a male anna's hummingbird in flight - wings are super motion blurred, body slightly motion blurred, his head is tack sharp. he is in profile facing left. His gorget and head feathers are refracting fuchsia.
Never ceases to amaze me how *perfectly* still they can hold their heads in flight.
Male Anna's Hummingbird #birds #becurious πͺΆ
photo of a male rufous hummingbird at a distance, he is perched on top of a fig branch facing the camera and his gorget is brightly refracting yellow-orange and vibrant coral.
Despite their teeeeeny size you can always spot a male Rufous Hummingbird, no matter how far across the yard they areππ₯
#birds #becurious
photo of male black-chinned hummingbird on the red plastic flower of a hummingbird feeder. he is in profile facing left.
Went out as soon as it was light enough for pics to see if Anna'sXBlack-Chinned hybrid still around (he...was not)
THOUGHT I had him...then...nope! Straight up Black-chinned male π fueling up to keep migrating (also rare in my area, 2nd in 5 years).
1/2
#Hummerpalooza2026 #birds #becurious πͺΆ
It's #TestimonialTuesday
I love working with people. Here's what others say about working with me.
#DrJoScience #STEMed #STEMeducation
#PriSci #PrimaryScience #ScienceActivities #Testimonial #TuesdayTestimonial #BeCurious #DrJo #SLT #CPD #TeachersFollowTeachers
Great to see the roundup from @britsciassoc.bsky.social #ScienceWeek chats for @imascientist.org.uk.
I love the variety of curious questions! We had lots of great chats about the brain and animals... and the 5 second rule π
#ScienceIsEverywhere #BeCurious #DrJoScience