Daniel Martin

@fizbin

One of many, many people with this particular "real name". You might know me from... IDK. College? Did we work together once? Prodigy's old math forum? debian-devel? A certain social MUSH? xoogler slack? "Making Light" comments? (he/him)

188 Siguiendo1311 Seguidores5580 Publicaciones

Bluesky

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Daniel Martin@fizbin· 28d

They may not be the bright yellow of young ducklings anymore, but they're still some of this year's #NewLife. For today's alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme set by @robcrank68.bsky.social #birds #photography 🪶

A female Mallard duck and her five large ducklings in rippling water near a muddy, rocky shoreline. The mother duck is swimming with her head raised, looking forward. Four of the ducklings are clustered near the rocks on the left side of the frame, foraging with their bills in the shallow water. A fifth duckling swims independently on the right side. The scene is brightly lit by daylight.

📍 Delaware River, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/400 s; 150 mm; ISO 400

Daniel Martin@fizbin· 29d

Because I couldn't attach video to that post, here's seven seconds of those impressions. (Sound on)

Daniel Martin@fizbin· 29d

🪶 Alan has chosen #PerfectPoise as today’s #BirdOfTheDay prompt. This Northern Mockingbird exhibiting perfect poise as it practices its blue jay and herring gull imitations. #birds #photography

A Northern Mockingbird perches on the "W" direction marker of a weather vane, mouth wide open in song. The background is a clear, light blue sky. The bird is mainly white with black along the wings anda bit at the tail feathers.

📍 Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/400 s; 400 mm; ISO 100

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 11

The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #UpAndDown: "birds looking up or down". Most people posting seem to be using birds looking up, so here's a Red-winged Blackbird from yesterday, looking down. #Birds #photography

A male Red-winged Blackbird perched among bare, lichen-covered branches against a clear blue sky. The bird is facing right with its head angled downward. Its black plumage contrasts with the striking bright red and pale yellow epaulet visible on its upper wing. Several out-of-focus branches cross the foreground of the image.

📍 Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area, Moorestown, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 640

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 10

A few weeks ago I saw this juvenile Common Grackle out with an adult apparently being taught how to find food, though the juvenile didn't get it and kept wandering around with its mouth open hoping to be fed. (For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Rocky, birds perched on rocks) #birds #photography

A small, solid brown bird stands on a riverbank of muddy rocks. The bird is facing left with its beak wide open, clearly showing the bright pink interior of its mouth. A thin, mud-covered branch rests on the ground to the left of the bird, and a single bright green plant sprout emerges near the water's edge to the right. Bright sunlight illuminates the scene, casting a sharp, dark shadow of the bird onto the rocks in front of it.

📍 Delaware River, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/400 s; 400 mm; ISO 400

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 9

Oh dear, it's one of those days when the day's #BirdOfTheDay theme tag is one that's also used for loads of nsfw content here on BlueSky. Anyway, here's a Carrion Crow enjoying #BathTime from my trip to Reading (UK) last April. #birds #ECK #microfourthirds #ukbirding

A crow splashing in the shallow water at the edge of a river. The crow's one visible eye is a light gray instead of its usual black because the crow has closed its nictating membrane as a natural form of bath goggles. Some of the water is frozen in the air, caught where the crow splashed it.

📍 Reading Green Park Business Park, Reading, England, UK
📷 ƒ/6.3; 1/1300 s; 350 mm; ISO 3200

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 8

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Lifer: "Capture/ captures of the last new-to-you bird you’ve seen." The Merlin app tells me that my most recent lifer is an Eastern Kingbird, first seen by me in late May. Here's a shot of one of the local ones from early June. #birds #photography

A small black and white bird perches on the white wire of a twisted white and black pair of wires running horizontally. The background is a clear blue sky. The bird has white feathers on its chest and front of neck, black feathers on its wings, tail, and the top half of its head.

📍 Riverfront Promenade, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 400

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 7

Yeah, the best I've ever been able to get of a Baltimore Oriole is this, and this was over a year ago. (And hundreds of miles away) I've caught glimpses of the local one, but never a good photo. So today I went with a barn swallow in the early morning light instead.

A tree branch covered in small green leaves, behind which you can almost make out a bird with an orange body and black head.

📍 Carleton College Arboretum, Northfield, MN, USA
📷 ƒ/11.0; 1/100 s; 150 mm; ISO 200

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 7

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Orange, "any bird with any shade of orange on it". Here's one of the few local birds with orange-ish plumage, a Barn Swallow. #birds #photography #microfourthirds

A Barn Swallow perched on a thick horizontal wire against a clear, solid blue sky. The small bird has a dark blue-black head and back, a distinct rusty-orange face and throat, and a pale orange-buff belly. It is looking back over its left shoulder, and the soft feathers on its chest appear slightly ruffled by a breeze.

📍 Riverfront Promenade, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 250

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 6

They do include a little thing where you can draw your own art with each message. The results are about as un-AI as possible.

A scribbling I sent along with a message on Roost, which really needs to improve their drawing pad experience.

It's supposed to be a European Magpie in some grass.

A scribbling I sent along with a message on Roost, which really needs to add more colors to their drawing pad.

This was supposed to be a mourning dove, but there's no ability to draw in any shade of brown.

A scribbling I sent along with a message on Roost, which really needs to improve their drawing pad experience.

It's supposed to be a Northern Pintail, which is a kind of black, white, and gray duck.

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 6

I mean, it's not wrong.

The descriptive text on the Merlin app for "Chipping Sparrow":

Small, slender, and incredibly cute sparrow. Plain grayish breast, rusty cap, and black eyeline in breeding season. Not as bright in winter, but still shows a brown cap and dark eyeline. Juveniles are extensively streaky. Common and widespread throughout most of North America. Usually found in open woodlands, scrubby areas, or even in suburban settings. Often gathers in flocks in fall and winter. Visits feeders. Frequently heard singing a fairly dry trill. Compare with similar Clay-colored, American Tree, and Brewer's sparrows, but look for Chipping Sparrow's gray rump and dark eyeline.

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 6

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme chosen by @alan678.bsky.social is #Cutie, cute bird captures. My first thought was "ducklings", but I just posted ducklings recently and the Merlin app has "incredibly cute" in its first sentence on this species, so here's a Chipping Sparrow. #birds #photography

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 5

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Ebony&Ivory: "birds that have Black & White plumage" Eastern Kingbird in a background of green. #birds #photography #microfourthirds

An Eastern Kingbird is perched alertly atop a thin, arched green plant stem. The bird has a dark charcoal-gray head and back, a clean white throat and breast, and a dark tail with a distinctive white tip at the bottom. The background consists of a soft, out-of-focus wash of green foliage.

📍 Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 1600

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 4

Per @alan678.bsky.social, today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #WildMotion, "Dynamic wildlife behaviour, freezing a second which is full of energy. Does not have to be in flight." These two young siblings were having a vigorous race, as shown by the water. #birds #photography

Two fluffy ducklings swimming quickly through murky, brown water from left to right. The duckling in front creates a light reflection on the calm surface ahead, while the duckling trailing closely behind kicks up a wake of white splashes and bubbles. Both have dark stripes across their eyes and downy brown feathers.

📍 Delaware River, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 187 mm; ISO 2500

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 3

What if we rethink the potential headwear shapes entirely?

Bishop Sally French, dressed up for All Hallows Eve, wearing a pointed black hat that is purple on the inside, while also wearing her traditional white collar and purple shirt, and holding a broom.

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 3

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme set by @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Quackers, "any Duck will do". Here are some ducks that I thought were some species I hadn't seen before, but nope: just Mallards with a slightly unusual color pattern. #birds #Photography

Three ducks float in some water that appears green because of reflected grass. All three are different shades of brown; two appear to be female Mallards and one looks like a male Mallard if you filmed it in monochrome with a sepia filter.

📍 Palmyra Cove Nature Preserve, Palmyra, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 5000

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 2

I rediscovered that mourning doves would also fit this theme.

A full-body shot of a mourning dove walking to the right across a textured gray asphalt surface. The dove has soft, tan and grayish-brown feathers, distinct black spots on its wings, a long pointed tail, and bright pinkish-red feet.

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 2

Per @alan678.bsky.social: «Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #QuietReflection any bird paused in thought.» This Double-crested Cormorant was just standing on the partially submerged log for a long time, resting/pondering life. #birds #photography

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jul 1

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #RedBeakFeetEyes: "any bird with a Red beak, Feet or Eyes Not Feathers". I think this theme might be easier for Europeans than for North Americans, because I had to go back to my UK trip in April to find good candidate photos. Eurasian Moorhen #birds #photography

A Eurasian Moorhen swims on a mostly calm lake, the water rolled by the bird's motion. It has a bright red beak, yellow at the tip, and black and brown body feathers with white accents at the side and tail. A reflection of the bird looking like a shadow is visible in the water below it.

📍 Reading Green Park Business Park, Reading, England, UK
📷 ƒ/6.3; 1/640 s; 400 mm; ISO 3200

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 30

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today from @alan678.bsky.social is #TheArtOfSurvival: "Birds finding food, avoiding predators, enduring weather or raising young". I don't know where this American Robin was taking this food it had gathered, but I assume there was a nest nearby. #birds #photography

An American robin stands facing left on a vibrant green lawn. The bird has a dark gray-to-black head, a gray back and wings, and a distinct reddish-orange breast. It holds some worms in its beak. The background consists entirely of short, slightly out-of-focus green grass.

📍 Riverfront Promenade, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 1000

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 29

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfJune26, time for the best-of-the-month wrapup already. I don't have a clear, obvious choice this month, so I went with categories: - best moment - best bird - best background - best sighting (bird+location combo) (See alt text) #birds #photography

Best moment.

Adult male House Finch feeding a house finch fledgling, breaks together. Both birds are perched on a wire against a clear blue sky. The adult male has the distinct red head showing off shiny in the sun. The light brown fledgling has one wing raised up for balance.

(Just before US Father's Day too, so was in what I texted my brothers-in-law)

📍 Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 160

Best bird.

Great Crested Flycatcher poses on an evergreen branch with soft, flat leaves. The background is an almost white sky because I had to blow out the exposure in post processing, but doing that gets you the bird's colors with the gorgeous pink tail feather spread and bright yellow belly, gray back with white lines outlining the wing feathers and distinct dark crest.

📍 Ferry Ave PATCO station, Camden, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/800 s; 400 mm; ISO 500

Best background.

A Chipping Sparrow perches on a tuft of pine needles in front of a background of blurred brown (the body of the tree) that contrasts very nicely with the foreground and makes it pop.

📍 Riverfront Promenade, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 4000

Best sighting.

A Cedar Waxwing perches on a branch with long, flat leaves. The background is a clear blue sky. The bird is showing off its characteristic black eye mask, brown head, yellow belly, and gray back. It is puffed up about to sing.

I've only ever seen Cedar Waxwings in town once, the day I took this shot.

📍 Riverfront Promenade, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 320

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 27

Even though it's really the wrong time of year for borb season, @robcrank68.bsky.social has declared that today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Rotund, "birds looking rather plump". Fortunately, this recently seen molting House Sparrow qualifies. #birds #photography

A close-up shot of a male House Sparrow perched on top of a square-topped wooden post. The sparrow is facing right, showing off its distinctive black bib, white cheeks, grey crown, and rich chestnut-brown markings around its eyes and wings. Its feathers are puffed, making it rather round. The background is a small corner of a city mural showing a textured, stucco-like wall in warm shades of ochre yellow and terracotta orange.

📍 Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 1250

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 26

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #GreyDay: "any bird with grey in its plumage". A rare Northern Mockingbird that wasn't showing off, so not a twofer with today's alt theme. (Also, their showing off is auditory, not visual) Took this while waiting for the train Tuesday. #bird #photography

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 25

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LittleBrownBirds and the Alt theme is #Food (any bird with food in its beak or feet). Pretty sure this is a two-fer, but I have no idea what food this Chipping Sparrow is holding. #birds #photography

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 24

The alt #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Birds&Bokeh (bird portraits with a blurry background or foreground) Here's these two ladies (female House Sparrow and female House Finch) out for brunch at a neighbor's feeder. #birds #photography

A close-up photograph showing two small birds perched on a squirrel-proof, cage-enclosed cylindrical bird feeder filled with seeds. To the left of the feeder, a heavily streaked brown-and-white bird (a female House Finch) perches on an upper metal rod, facing left and looking downward. To the right of that bird and down a bit (so bottom center of the image) a female House Sparrow with a smooth, unstreaked gray-buffy breast and a distinct pale eyebrow stripe is perched, facing left with its beak slightly open as if calling or eating.

The background consists of bright, softly blurred green foliage dappled with golden sunlight.

📍 Burlington County, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 4000

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 23

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Touchdown, birds at the moment of landing. Four cormorants stood on a submerged log. Another tried to join them and was rebuffed, so it went off and tried flying in at the other end of the log instead of swimming up to it. Shots taken 0.6s apart #birds #photography

An action shot of a Double-crested Cormorant flying and coming in for a landing with its legs down and body and wings held up at an angle. The background in this shot is just the river water, but the log the rest of the cormorants were standing on is just out of frame to the right.

📍 Delaware River, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 250

Four Double-crested Cormorants stand on a partially visible submerged log in the middle of a river. At the left, a fifth cormorant has just touched down in the water next to the log; this fifth cormorant is at an angle with its wings raised over its head and just its feet in the water. The left-most cormorant standing on the log is shrinking back a bit from the one that just landed.

📍 Delaware River, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/8.0; 1/1000 s; 400 mm; ISO 250

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 21

Though because today is also (US) #FathersDay, I should probably also repost this picture from last year. #birds #photography

A red adult male Northern Cardinal feeding a bug to a brown fledgling.

If you focus on it, you can tell that the food being passed is a spotted lantern fly, an invasive pest locally that there are routine campaigns to stamp out. Fortunately, the local birds have finally figured out that these insects are good eating and are joining the fight.

📍 Burlington County, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/5.6; 1/20 s; 300 mm; ISO 1250

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 21

The theme was defined as "red ON its beak", so the little bit of red there near the front of the beak counts. Heck, a Herring Gull counts.

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 21

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #RedBeaks: 'any bird with Red on its beak". As I'm mostly in the US, there's one obvious choice but I figure most North Americans will already be posting cardinals, so here's something different: a Common Merganser from February. #birds #photography

A Common Merganser swims on relatively calm river water. The duck-shaped bird has a white body with black head and a thin strip of black on its back. Its beak is red with a black tip. A reflection of the bird is clearly visible in the water. The water clearly shows the bird's wake as it swims to the right.

📍 Delaware River, Burlington, NJ, USA
📷 ƒ/6.3; 1/640 s; 400 mm; ISO 500

Daniel Martin@fizbin· Jun 20

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Raptors. Here's an Osprey from a bit of distance, but still identifiable. Osprey are a bit different from most other birds of prey: they're a genus with one (*) species, in a family with only one genus. #birds #photography (*) There's some debate