Bird of the Day, theme 'Kingfisher Quest'

natureAug 27, 202620512,495

Today's Bird of the Day is a daily community photo share; the primary theme is #NaturalSeeds and the alternate theme is #KingfisherQuest. Contributors are posting birds caught eating seeds straight from plants plus focused kingfisher shots, from close-up beak detail to distant lakeside perches. Concrete examples include a female American Goldfinch feeding on Yellow Salsify, a grey-headed kingfisher photographed in Kenya, and a Laughing Kookaburra called Syd that came to Suffolk Owls from Banham Zoo. Standouts also include a punk rock Belted Kingfisher and a kingfisher captured expelling a food pellet.

swandiveswim.bsky.social

@swandiveswim.bsky.social

#Birds Helen Bennett @helenbennett.bsky.social says for today’s #BirdOfTheDay share your best shots of birds snacking on #NaturalSeeds straight from the plant, crop, or tree. A female American Goldfinch feeding on Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius).

A yellow & olive green bird clings to a stem among daisies. It faces left into the sunshine with a long thin seed protruding from its beak.

114445d ago

Tim Osborne Photography 🍁

@timosborne.ca

A Waxwing enjoying some Mountain Ash berries for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #NaturalSeeds.

A bird stands on a snow-covered cluster of berries. One berry is in the bird's mouth.

99544d ago

BigFigNewton2024 🇺🇦1

Such beautiful birds - I love how their color gradually shifts from the beak all the way down to the breast.

Alex Sauerbrunn

@birdsbyalex.bsky.social

A punk rock Belted Kingfisher for today’s #BirdOfTheDay alt theme #KingfisherQuest #birds #nature #wildlife #photography

A crested bird perched on a branch with blue-gray plumage, a white throat and chest and rusty patches on its sides. Its long bill faces right against a warm golden background. Photographed on Avon, Connecticut.

64145d ago

Margot Foley2

He’s rocking it, Alex! Great shot. 💙

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Absolutely stunning photo Alex... thanks for joining in on the theme!

Lori1

Fantastic shot! That's an impressive mohawk!

Bob St. Jean 🦉1

He’s channeling Captain Christopher Pike!

Coop1

We used to have one on our lake. We would sit and watch it fish every morning. They are wonderful little birds.

Helen Bennett 🌿

@helenbennett.bsky.social

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay share your best shots of birds snacking on #NaturalSeeds straight from the plant, crop, or tree - no cheating with feeders please! ☺️ Here's a Goldfinch that was feeding on Knapweed seeds, a few still stuck to his beak! 💛 📷 🪶 Alt: #KingfisherQuest Any Kingfisher species! 🫶

A photograph of a European Goldfinch that is surrounded by and perched on a delicate, dry stem of Knapweed wildflower where he has been eating the seeds from the dried bulbous seed capsules. The Goldfinch is facing toward to the left side of the frame against a soft, blurred background. The bird is small and brightly coloured. It features a distinctive crimson-red face patch surrounding its pale bill, bordered by a stark white band on its cheeks and a black crown and nape. Its back and flanks are a warm, sandy brown, blending into a pale white belly. The wings are mostly black, dramatically marked with a vibrant, broad golden-yellow stripe across the middle and neat white spots at the tips of the flight feathers. Its dark tail is slightly notched and also tipped with white. The background consists of a highly defocused, muted palette of buff, greys, and faint hints of green, creating a shallow depth of field that makes the bird's sharp details and vivid colours stand out prominently. Image taken in UK, copyright Helen Bennett

53445d ago

Ed Foster.5

A Goldfinch feeding on seeds from a meadow thistle

Atlantic Birding4

Great shot Helen. And great themes. Looking forward to seeing Alan’s Kingfisher!!!! 😉

Graham Jones1

Very nice Helen and, without wishing to carp, I'd point out that many of us everyday bird watchers do so in gardens. I shall probably sit it out today and instead enjoy the wonderful high-quality images that you birders post. I know. I should get out more. I will. Not everyone can. 😁

Eric Anderson1

Amazing photo, Helen. The composition is marvelous.

Mark D Alexander1

Beautiful photograph Helen, happy Thursday to you, have a lovely day 🪶🌿☀️👋

SaraG1

Beautiful capture of a beautiful bird. Thanks for hosting, Helen!

fenraven

@fenraven.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay ALT theme is #KingfisherQuest, any of the species. These birds are tiny, and this one was VERY far away, across the lake. I'm amazed I got this half-decent shot of it. #birds #ECK #kingfishers

Sony a6400, Sigma 150-600mm lens, f/8, 1/2500s, ISO-1600, 600mm.

51445d ago

Khürt Williams1

Love this. It's just my luck that I only seem to spot Belted Kingfishers sitting in trees too far away for a closeup.

Helen Bennett 🌿1

That's a wonderful photo of the Belted Kingfisher especially if it was really far away.👏👍 They are beautiful birds aren't they... I think the belted Kingfishers are slightly larger than our European species ✨

Redir1

He looks like he's built for speed.

MauiPat1

Geez, man. Comb your hair...

Rae1

Treasure them while you have them. All of our have or almost have gone extinct...

Barrie Cull1

It’s a lovely photo fenraven 👏

alisonwillis1.bsky.social

@alisonwillis1.bsky.social

The joy of a Kingfisher perched right in front of a hide at Tophill Low. For Helen's alt theme of #KingfisherQuest #BirdOfTheDay #ECK #BirdsOfBluesky #Nature #CasualPhotography 🪶📷

A close-up shot of a common kingfisher perched on a rough, mossy wooden post. The bird faces left, showing its long, sharp beak and dark teal head covered in pale blue speckles. Its back features a striking, vibrant stripe of iridescent electric-blue feathers that runs down to its tail. The background is a soft, out-of-focus gray, highlighting the bird's vivid colors.

45645d ago

whiteswinous.bsky.social2

Tophill Low. What a beautiful name.

Sophie1

I love Kingfishers. They always look a little off-balance to me because of the big beaks and short tail feathers. 🤭

Jean D.1

Beautiful, looks like a waterfall coming down his back

JBC

@johnbcaddell.bsky.social

a Steller's Jay on a tree branch with one of Nature's tiny #NaturalSeeds in its beak. #BirdOfTheDay #birds

a Steller's Jay perched on a tree branch with a small seed in its beak

41644d ago

Betty (memory problems)1

I've never seen one of these. What parts do they inhabit? 😃 -E

tolstoy-fangirl🐸1

Grew up in the east, so I knew the jays there well, loved them. Moved out west, and got so used to the Steller's that now I see the eastern jays and think, "Hmm, bit showy there, bud." 😉

HLK

@hlkfotos.com

A grey-headed kingfisher in Kenya. #BirdOfTheDay #KingFisherQuest 📷🌿🪶

A photo of a grey-headed kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) perched on a very weathered, rounded tree stump facing to the right with a blurred tan and olive green background. It is a small bird with a large pale gray head and chest, dark eyes, long bright red-orange beak, black and blue wings, blue tail, and chestnut brown underside.

36245d ago

HLK16

I think this is my best local kingfisher so far. It doesn't seem that much further away and yet...it does.

Doug Engstrom3

What a great shot. The bird is so amazing; it looks like something dreamed up by a Pixar animation team.

Justine Jones1

A gorgeous shot, the beak is so distinctive, and your photographs are taken in some remarkable places.

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Good morning, Helen’s #BirdOfTheDay, I’m going with birds snacking on #NaturalSeeds straight from the plant, crop, or tree - no cheating with feeders please! I so wanted to cheat with a Jay who “ randomly” found some seed that had fallen out of a pocket but no. 😂 #birds #photography #ECK

A female House Sparrow perched among the branches of a flowering bush, holding a small seed from the plant in her beak. Her warm brown plumage and subtle markings are clearly visible in the sunlight, with fresh green leaves and pale dried flower heads surrounding her against a softly blurred green background.

28045d ago

alisonwillis1.bsky.social2

😂 Bravo for admitting to having been tempted! We have a feeding station close to a woodland near us!!! Beautiful capture.

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

😂we all know what birders are doing for the shot Alan😅 Gorgeous photo and moment so as always dear friend 🤗😘

AnnaLois1

That's a bird with a determined stare. Proper sweet though 😊

Rina1

Beautiful capture of a lovely bird , Alan 😍😍 so good 👌👌

jon5cents1

Admirable restraint, Alan. And nice shot.

Neil Cameron1

Why would you cheat when you have a pic that lovely. Yes yes we're away of you Jay obsession. And you should know that they've lodged a complaint about it.

Get To Know Nature

@gettoknownature.bsky.social

I’m always happy for an excuse to bring out one of my few good Belted Kingfisher photos. It’s #KingfisherQuest for #BirdOfTheDay! I was able to sneak around like a spy in an action movie to get this shot from behind a pile of lumber. #birds 🌿

A bluish gray bird with a white belly and rust colored vest sits on top of an old wooden piling. Against a light blue sky.

28444d ago

Tom4

That is a beaut! 👏

Mark Robertson1

Ha, and such a great one! They are infuriating in the best way

Gem Crawley1

Beautiful photo. It’s looks like it’s having a bad hair day 🥰

Jonathan: Food & Photography

@jonathanfoodie.bsky.social

The Turkey Vultures seem to be gathering to start their winter vacation. #Birds are starting to migrate thru... If we got some rain, they might hang out for a while. Not #Türkiye #Vultures #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #photography #nature #wildlife #ECK #PNW My #BirdOfTheDay

An adult turkey vulture flies against a blue sky on Sauvie Island outside Portland Oregon Pacific Northwest

27744d ago

Dave Meredith

@davemeredith.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #NaturalSeeds. A male Eurasian Bullfinch chowing down on some fresh grass seeds in a hay field. #Cheshire #ECK #photography #birds #nature #wildlife #Kodachrome #1980s #ManualFocusPrimeLens

A pink, grey and black male Eurasian Bullfinch surrounded by grass seed heads eating grass seeds.

26345d ago

Ted2

Great photo Dave. I’d love to see more Bullfinches around, but can’t remember the last time I saw one.

Alan H1

Fantastic shot as always Dave.

Helen Bennett 🌿1

That's a lovely capture Dave 👍 I've been hearing quite a few bullfinches around home recently, they are beautiful birds

Dave Meredith1

This was also supposed to be a #ThrowbackThursday post.

Aintright

@aintright.bsky.social

Charles the Chaffinch #Naturalseeds #BirdOfTheDay #Birds #Photography

22045d ago

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Fantastic capture Bill... great to see the Chaffinch close-up in such sharp details 👏😊

jen 💙🤍🕊️

@jenzsky.bsky.social

Proudly perched, a regal presence.. #Birdoftheday #kingfisherquest #birdphotography #melbourne #nature #photographersunited #photographersofbluesky #eck

18345d ago

Sharon1

Lovely bird Jen. I go to a place here, Oxford Island Nature Reserve. Bird watchers there sit patiently waiting for a sighting and they sometimes get annoyed because I’m at the water’s edge to see the sunset 😁 Lovely shot Jen 👌

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Good evening dear Jen, that is a gorgeous kingfisher in this beautiful light 😍❤️

Neil Cameron1

I just realised all us Orstralians could also just post Kookaburra pics and meet the theme... But, like you, I boringly played the game and posted a bird called a kingfisher. 🤪😁🤣

TARA SMITHSON -Wildlife & Nature Photographer 📸1

Look at that catchlight in the eye. Perfect!

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

A real beauty. Great photo, jen. 😍

𝙲𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚝 ☮️1

It’s great to see another beautiful photo from you, Jen! Have a wonderful Thursday. 💙🕊️

Amy Gann

@amygann.bsky.social

Cranes of the Corn. For the #birdoftheday theme of #naturalseeds #birds #sandhillcrane #protectnature #EastCoastKin

Sandhill cranes in a field of grain grown to feed the migrating birds. Behind them, mountains are in the distance

16045d ago

Helen Bennett 🌿2

Love this photo Amy! 👌 It is beautiful seeing the Cranes in the natural environment and it's wonderful that the grains are grown especially for the migrating birds! 😊

Alan H1

What a backdrop Amy. Wow!!!! Great shot.

ganderdurganguhr.bsky.social1

"He wants you to Malacrane!"

Barrie Cull1

What a lovely capture ! Well done Amy 👏

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

A field of birds. I really like this photo. Well done, Amy. 👌🫶

LaffingKat1

🤣We are heading into spooky season, so that seems appropriate!

Bird of the Day, theme 'Kingfisher Quest'nature

Bird of the Day, theme 'Kingfisher Quest'

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