Vivienne Dunstan
@vivdunstan@mastodon.scot  ·  activity timestamp 6 days ago

Some #photos from my husband's mid day Friday walk beside the River Tay in West Ferry, #Dundee, #Scotland. #BroughtyFerry#Photography#Birds#Birding#BirdPhotography#BirdsOfMastodon

A small rocky outcrop fills the right/bottom parts of the picture. Its edge runs diagonally down from upper right to mid bottom left of the picture. Behind it, to the left/above, is blue river water, and in the distance two bridges can be seen crossing from left to right across the Tay - the newer road bridge visible at the front, and behind it the older railway bridge.
A small rocky outcrop fills the right/bottom parts of the picture. Its edge runs diagonally down from upper right to mid bottom left of the picture. Behind it, to the left/above, is blue river water, and in the distance two bridges can be seen crossing from left to right across the Tay - the newer road bridge visible at the front, and behind it the older railway bridge.
A small rocky outcrop fills the right/bottom parts of the picture. Its edge runs diagonally down from upper right to mid bottom left of the picture. Behind it, to the left/above, is blue river water, and in the distance two bridges can be seen crossing from left to right across the Tay - the newer road bridge visible at the front, and behind it the older railway bridge.
Swede’s Photographs
@Swede1952@universeodon.com  ·  activity timestamp 7 days ago

Yellow in the Undergrowth

Here’s a scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)—female, I believe. I captured this image years ago while she lingered in an oak tree just beyond my fence. It was the first time I’d photographed one, and I remember thinking: maybe I’ll see a male someday. Who knows.

If you’re captivated by indigo buntings and other members of the Cardinalidae family—better known as the cardinal family—step into my photo gallery for a visual feast. Come take a look:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife#nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography#ScarletTanager

"A female scarlet tanager perches on a bare, slender branch, mid-frame and mid-thought. Her plumage is a rich yellow—not neon, not pastel, but something grounded. The wings and tail are darker, olive-brown with hints of soot, like the forest pressed into feather. She’s built for blending in, but here she’s caught in a shaft of filtered light, and the camouflage becomes ceremony. Her beak is pale and pointed, angled slightly downward, and her eyes are small, dark, and steady. She faces left, posture balanced, as if weighing the air. No tension, no flair—just presence. The branch bends slightly under her weight, a quiet arc that anchors the scene. Behind her, the forest recedes into soft blur. Tree trunks rise like mottled columns, and leaves catch sunlight in uneven patches. The light is ambient, not dramatic—suggesting late morning or early afternoon. No spotlight, no chase. Just a moment held in rhythm. She is the brightest element in the frame, but not the loudest. Her yellow doesn’t shout—it hums. The image doesn’t ask for attention; it rewards it. In the bottom right corner, the photographer’s credit reads “Swede’s Photographs”—a quiet signature, like a field note tucked into the margin. Not branding, not intrusion. Just acknowledgment." - Copilot
"A female scarlet tanager perches on a bare, slender branch, mid-frame and mid-thought. Her plumage is a rich yellow—not neon, not pastel, but something grounded. The wings and tail are darker, olive-brown with hints of soot, like the forest pressed into feather. She’s built for blending in, but here she’s caught in a shaft of filtered light, and the camouflage becomes ceremony. Her beak is pale and pointed, angled slightly downward, and her eyes are small, dark, and steady. She faces left, posture balanced, as if weighing the air. No tension, no flair—just presence. The branch bends slightly under her weight, a quiet arc that anchors the scene. Behind her, the forest recedes into soft blur. Tree trunks rise like mottled columns, and leaves catch sunlight in uneven patches. The light is ambient, not dramatic—suggesting late morning or early afternoon. No spotlight, no chase. Just a moment held in rhythm. She is the brightest element in the frame, but not the loudest. Her yellow doesn’t shout—it hums. The image doesn’t ask for attention; it rewards it. In the bottom right corner, the photographer’s credit reads “Swede’s Photographs”—a quiet signature, like a field note tucked into the margin. Not branding, not intrusion. Just acknowledgment." - Copilot
"A female scarlet tanager perches on a bare, slender branch, mid-frame and mid-thought. Her plumage is a rich yellow—not neon, not pastel, but something grounded. The wings and tail are darker, olive-brown with hints of soot, like the forest pressed into feather. She’s built for blending in, but here she’s caught in a shaft of filtered light, and the camouflage becomes ceremony. Her beak is pale and pointed, angled slightly downward, and her eyes are small, dark, and steady. She faces left, posture balanced, as if weighing the air. No tension, no flair—just presence. The branch bends slightly under her weight, a quiet arc that anchors the scene. Behind her, the forest recedes into soft blur. Tree trunks rise like mottled columns, and leaves catch sunlight in uneven patches. The light is ambient, not dramatic—suggesting late morning or early afternoon. No spotlight, no chase. Just a moment held in rhythm. She is the brightest element in the frame, but not the loudest. Her yellow doesn’t shout—it hums. The image doesn’t ask for attention; it rewards it. In the bottom right corner, the photographer’s credit reads “Swede’s Photographs”—a quiet signature, like a field note tucked into the margin. Not branding, not intrusion. Just acknowledgment." - Copilot
Swede’s Photographs
@Swede1952@universeodon.com  ·  activity timestamp 7 days ago

City Royals

Here’s one for the pigeon lovers. These two rock pigeons—Columba livia, if you’re feeling scientific—are regulars in my backyard. I call them officers of the pigeon battalion, part of the morning flock that descends on my bird feeders with military precision. If you look closely, you’ll see what I call epaulets on their shoulders—markings that suggest rank, or at least attitude.

The pigeon in the foreground is easy to spot. He’s got a grizzle effect in his plumage, a genetic quirk that gives him those distinctive white patches. Like camouflage, but for a bird who doesn’t bother hiding.

I used to try discouraging their visits. They’d clean out the seed before the songbirds even got a chance. But nothing worked. So I went with the old saying: If you can’t beat them, join them. Now I just salute and let the battalion do its rounds.

If you're a fan of stunning dove imagery, be sure to explore my photo gallery for a collection of beautiful snapshots that capture their elegance and charm.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife#nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #dove #pigeon#RockPigeons#RockDoves

"Two pigeons stand in quiet proximity, their plumage catching the light with unexpected brilliance. The bird in the foreground is a soft mosaic of light gray and white, its neck shimmering with iridescent greens and purples—like oil on water or the underside of a beetle’s wing. Its head is slightly tilted, and its bright orange eye gleams with alertness, framed by a fine ring of pale skin. The feathers are sharply defined, each contour visible, as if etched with care. Behind it, a second pigeon lingers in softer focus. Its feathers are darker—charcoal gray with similar iridescent hues pooling around the neck and chest. Though less sharply rendered, its presence adds depth and rhythm to the composition, like a shadow echoing the foreground’s clarity. The background is blurred into a soft wash of neutral tones, allowing the pigeons’ plumage and eyes to dominate the scene. There’s no clutter, no distraction—just the quiet dignity of two urban birds rendered with the reverence usually reserved for rarer species. The image invites a second look. These are not just pigeons—they are portraits of resilience, dressed in light and shadow, standing still in a world that rarely does." - Copilot
"Two pigeons stand in quiet proximity, their plumage catching the light with unexpected brilliance. The bird in the foreground is a soft mosaic of light gray and white, its neck shimmering with iridescent greens and purples—like oil on water or the underside of a beetle’s wing. Its head is slightly tilted, and its bright orange eye gleams with alertness, framed by a fine ring of pale skin. The feathers are sharply defined, each contour visible, as if etched with care. Behind it, a second pigeon lingers in softer focus. Its feathers are darker—charcoal gray with similar iridescent hues pooling around the neck and chest. Though less sharply rendered, its presence adds depth and rhythm to the composition, like a shadow echoing the foreground’s clarity. The background is blurred into a soft wash of neutral tones, allowing the pigeons’ plumage and eyes to dominate the scene. There’s no clutter, no distraction—just the quiet dignity of two urban birds rendered with the reverence usually reserved for rarer species. The image invites a second look. These are not just pigeons—they are portraits of resilience, dressed in light and shadow, standing still in a world that rarely does." - Copilot
"Two pigeons stand in quiet proximity, their plumage catching the light with unexpected brilliance. The bird in the foreground is a soft mosaic of light gray and white, its neck shimmering with iridescent greens and purples—like oil on water or the underside of a beetle’s wing. Its head is slightly tilted, and its bright orange eye gleams with alertness, framed by a fine ring of pale skin. The feathers are sharply defined, each contour visible, as if etched with care. Behind it, a second pigeon lingers in softer focus. Its feathers are darker—charcoal gray with similar iridescent hues pooling around the neck and chest. Though less sharply rendered, its presence adds depth and rhythm to the composition, like a shadow echoing the foreground’s clarity. The background is blurred into a soft wash of neutral tones, allowing the pigeons’ plumage and eyes to dominate the scene. There’s no clutter, no distraction—just the quiet dignity of two urban birds rendered with the reverence usually reserved for rarer species. The image invites a second look. These are not just pigeons—they are portraits of resilience, dressed in light and shadow, standing still in a world that rarely does." - Copilot
PhotoMarti
@PhotoMarti@pixelfed.de  ·  activity timestamp last week

Haubenlerche - Crested Lark - Galerida cristata


Die Haubenlerche gilt in der Schweiz leider als ausgestorben und in Mitteleuropa ist sie stark in Bedrängnis. In Süd- und Osteuropa ist die Population dafür recht gross und noch stabil. Ausschlaggebend dafür ist das Nahrungsangebot und als Bodenbrüter geeignete Nisthabitate zu finden.


Unfortunately, the crested lark is considered extinct in Switzerland and is severely endangered in Central Europe. In Southern and Eastern Europe, however, the population is quite large and still stable. The decisive factors for this are the availability of food and suitable nesting habitats for ground-nesting birds.


📍#Extremadura#Spain
#fotografie #natur #naturfotografie
#vögel #vogelfotografie
#photography #nature #naturephotography
#birds #birdphotography
#Haubenlerche#CrestedLark
Swede’s Photographs
@Swede1952@universeodon.com  ·  activity timestamp last week

Masked and Still

I’ve been posting a lot of photos of Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) lately—there’s no shortage of them around here this year. It’s fascinating to watch them dart in and out of the forest, like punctuation marks in motion.

Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife#nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography#CarolinaChickadee

"A Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) grips a vertical tree branch with quiet precision; its small feet curled around the bark like punctuation. The bird’s posture is upright but relaxed, angled slightly to the left as if mid-thought or mid-scan. Its head is turned gently in that direction, giving the impression of curiosity without urgency. The plumage is crisp and familiar: a black cap and nape frame the white cheeks like a minimalist mask, while the body fades from soft gray to pale underparts. Subtle streaks along the flanks add texture, not drama. The wings are folded neatly, the tail aligned with the branch, creating a sense of balance and restraint. The background is a soft blur of green and yellow—light filtering through foliage, rendered abstract. It’s not a setting so much as a mood: quiet, natural, and unobtrusive. The branch itself is slender and vertical, offering both perch and stage without distraction. The bird’s gaze, though indirect, feels attentive. It’s not performing, not startled—just present. A moment held between movement and stillness, feather and bark, attention and ease. The image is signed “Swede’s Photographs” in the lower left corner, a subtle nod to authorship that doesn’t interrupt the visual rhythm." - Copilot
"A Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) grips a vertical tree branch with quiet precision; its small feet curled around the bark like punctuation. The bird’s posture is upright but relaxed, angled slightly to the left as if mid-thought or mid-scan. Its head is turned gently in that direction, giving the impression of curiosity without urgency. The plumage is crisp and familiar: a black cap and nape frame the white cheeks like a minimalist mask, while the body fades from soft gray to pale underparts. Subtle streaks along the flanks add texture, not drama. The wings are folded neatly, the tail aligned with the branch, creating a sense of balance and restraint. The background is a soft blur of green and yellow—light filtering through foliage, rendered abstract. It’s not a setting so much as a mood: quiet, natural, and unobtrusive. The branch itself is slender and vertical, offering both perch and stage without distraction. The bird’s gaze, though indirect, feels attentive. It’s not performing, not startled—just present. A moment held between movement and stillness, feather and bark, attention and ease. The image is signed “Swede’s Photographs” in the lower left corner, a subtle nod to authorship that doesn’t interrupt the visual rhythm." - Copilot
"A Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) grips a vertical tree branch with quiet precision; its small feet curled around the bark like punctuation. The bird’s posture is upright but relaxed, angled slightly to the left as if mid-thought or mid-scan. Its head is turned gently in that direction, giving the impression of curiosity without urgency. The plumage is crisp and familiar: a black cap and nape frame the white cheeks like a minimalist mask, while the body fades from soft gray to pale underparts. Subtle streaks along the flanks add texture, not drama. The wings are folded neatly, the tail aligned with the branch, creating a sense of balance and restraint. The background is a soft blur of green and yellow—light filtering through foliage, rendered abstract. It’s not a setting so much as a mood: quiet, natural, and unobtrusive. The branch itself is slender and vertical, offering both perch and stage without distraction. The bird’s gaze, though indirect, feels attentive. It’s not performing, not startled—just present. A moment held between movement and stillness, feather and bark, attention and ease. The image is signed “Swede’s Photographs” in the lower left corner, a subtle nod to authorship that doesn’t interrupt the visual rhythm." - Copilot