Karen Parrow
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kdparrow.bsky.social
Karen Parrow
@kdparrow.bsky.social
720 followers 940 following 730 posts
Bird nerd. Hobby photographer. Desert dweller. PNW native. Cat foster parent of Nimbus, Stormy, and Monsoon.
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kdparrow.bsky.social
The Piratic flycatcher posed nicely for the mob this morning. 😀 #Arizona #mega 🪶
A small brown bird with a buffy-yellowish belly and dark mask perches in profile on a bare branch against a blue sky.
September 18, 2026 at 3:39 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Seems fitting that our stay at a famcamp on an army base has this grasshopper hanging out in the trees. #arizona #insects
A huge black, green and yellow grasshopper in profile clings to the bark of a tree. The thorax is jet black. The legs and wings black and green/yellow. I am not a fan of grasshoppers. This one is gorgeous.
August 30, 2026 at 12:50 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
#RainyDayBirds was a bit of a challenge here in the drought stricken #Arizona desert so I went with wet plumage on this Northern Shoveler for #BirdOfTheDay. 🪶
A profile of a bird’s head and shoulders as it swims. The reflection in the pond is fairly clear. The green head of the bird has a few water droplets on it and the shovel-shaped bill shows the fine straining teeth characteristic of shovelers.
August 21, 2026 at 3:33 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
This little Elf Owl bringing a caterpillar for his mate is certainly a member of #AwesomeOwls for #BirdOfTheDay. #MaderaCanyon #Arizona 🪶
A tiny owl is perched on a branch in a tree at dusk. He’s looking up toward his mate and has a caterpillar dangling from his beak.
August 20, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Karen Parrow
helenbennett.bsky.social
Hello 👋 I adore Owls so today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls 😊🦉 Any owl from the two owl families.

Here's a gorgeous Long-eared owl that I was fortunate enough to see 🤎 📷 🪶

Alt: #BirdNameG any bird whose common name starts with the letter G!

Happy Thursday 🕊️

#Nature #Photography #ECK
A photograph showing a long-eared owl that is perched at an angle on a textured tree branch, facing right against a blurred green background. The owl features a prominent facial disc with a white, vertical stripe between its vivid orange eyes, a black beak, and long, dark ear tufts which are flattened against its head. Its plumage is a dense mix of brown, black, grey, and tan feathers, with a warm rufous coloration visible on its chest. The owl's talons are gripped firmly onto the rough bark of the vertical branch, and its lower wings are partially extended downward, showing a barred pattern of tan and dark brown bands. The owl had been hunting in the adjacent fields just before dusk and its feathers underneath are slightly wet. His gaze is fixed intently in to the distance ready to launch in flight again.
August 20, 2026 at 4:57 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
I thought #BirdInABush would be easy for the #BirdOfTheDay. I have birds on the shore, in the water, on a branch, at a feeder, on a wire… Finally found this pic of a Phainopepla perched in a bush at #CibolaWildlifeRefuge on the Arizona California border. 🪶
An all black crested bird with red eyes is perched in a desert shrub. He is in profile so his crest and red eye are clearly visible.
August 19, 2026 at 5:01 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
A sparkly little borb aka: Broad-billed hummingbird. Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Irridescence so I had to go with a hummingbird. They are just starting to migrate through #Arizona and I’m looking forward to a trip to Ash Canyon and the sanctuary there. 🪶
A blue and green hummingbird is perched on a branch. It’s all poofed out and looking a bit skyward ready to defend its nectar source.
August 18, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Karen Parrow
robcrank68.bsky.social
Good morning folks.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence, any bird with colour changing plumage.
The Alt theme is #Mothers, any female bird.

Check the Alt Txt on the female Mandarin for the reason for that Alt Theme.

#birds #ECK #photography #CanonR5mkii @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography
Here's a mother Mandarin, we rely on our mother's so much throughout our lives that when we are close to losing her it hurts so much. Now my mother is in poor(ish) health but still trudging along. But my partners mum, my Monster in Law, isn't doing well at all. After being taken into hospital on Friday tea time with what they ended up thinking was gall stones, turned out on Sunday morning to be more serious than that. Sadly they found a blood clot blocking her bowel and due to various factors they are unable to go ahead with an operation due to the fact they know she wouldn't survive the anesthetic, never mind the operation. So they are looking after her the best they can until she passes away peacefully with her daughters beside her, and me looking over their shoulders with my arms around them to offer as much support as is needed when that time comes, which they have said shouldn't be more than a couple of days (but they don't know Glenys). So as you can understand my time on here to reply/repost will be very limited for at least most of the daytime hours, this is due to my time being split between my parents and my partner and her sisters and mum, who I do call my mum too. Sorry to write this in the Alt Txt but you don't get enough characters in the main post for BOTD and this story.
August 18, 2026 at 5:51 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
I’m not convinced this phalarope is in its most photogenic pose, but it is certainly attempting to #StrikeAPose for today’s #BirdOfTheDay. She just had to fix those unruly feathers 🪶 #Arizona
A bird swimming on a blue pond with two tail feathers behaving like a cowlick. She is sideways to the camera, but turned to look at the viewer. Her attitude seems to express a little sass and jauntiness as she swims across the pond. The same bird has her head and neck stretched backward so far her head rests on her back. She has just finished preening her tail feathers back into place.
August 17, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Karen Parrow
alan678.bsky.social
Good morning birders and buddies. The #BirdOfTheDay theme today.

#StrikeAPose — Birds caught in a particularly photogenic pose.

Alt: #CirclesAndSpheres any bird captured with a circular shape or sphere in background or foreground eg a berry, pebbles, buds, posts.

#birds #photography #ECK
A white Little Egret stands on a lush green grassy field, captured with its wings partly spread as if preparing to take flight. Its long, slender black bill points to the right, while its dark legs support its upright stance. Fine, delicate feathers are visible across its body and raised wings, creating a striking contrast against the vibrant green background.
August 17, 2026 at 5:04 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #UnusualPlaces any bird that turns up in a place you wouldn't normally expect

In ‘23 I spotted this Northern Jacana in Phoenix, Arizona - the 2nd ever sighting in Maricopa County - so it created a bit of a stir. Horrible pic, but the bird & I had our 30 sec of fame.
A blurry image of a brown and white wading bird standing on a dense growth of aquatic plants on the shore of a pond.
August 16, 2026 at 2:49 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
A pyrrhuloxia (desert cardinal) at Whitewater Draw #Arizona for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #50ShadesOfGray.

We were there to watch the sandhill cranes take their morning flight then hung around for a bit and found this gorgeous bird. His mate was nearby but didn’t come out for a photo. 🪶
A gray bird with a striking red mask and upright spiky crest is perched in a bare shrub. It has a seed in its heavy yellow beak.
August 15, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Karen Parrow
atlanticbirding.bsky.social
Good Morning & Happy Saturday Everybody!

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is:

#50ShadesOfGrey; birds with grey plumage

Alt. is #Fledglings; any newly fledged bird

- a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher in the forest
- a very fluffy looking young BullFinch

#birds #ECK #birdphotography #naturephotography
A Spotted Flycatcher perched on a branch of a fallen tree in the forest. The bird is in side profile, on the end of a broken branch, to the left of the shot. Its right side is showing to the camera. It has a Grey-brown head, back and wings with streaks on the head and lighter brown on the tips of the secondaries. It has a thin beak, typical of insect eaters, with some bristles at the base. Its underside is whitish with brown streaks on the chest. The background is out of focus greens and browns of the forest with some white circles of dappled light. A juvenile Bullfinch sitting on a bare, lichen covered, tree top. The bird is right of frame on a horizontal branch with two vertical branches in front of its head. Its left side is showing. It’s head is a reddish brown, with no black cap seen in the adults, this colouration continues down its shoulders and chest, turning to a whitish colour as it’s gets to the rump and underbelly. The bird’s feathers have a downy texture giving it a fluffy appearance. A single, upright, willow stem is behind the bird, giving some fresh green colour. The background is a bright white sky.
August 15, 2026 at 6:10 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
A little round of find the #warbler for today’s #BirdOfTheDay. Between fighting my camera for focus and this little hermit warbler insisting on behaving like a hermit no great images were captured. But, it was a lifer so the photo remains saved. 🪶 #Arizona
A small bird is hiding in the pine needles in front of a tree trunk. It blends in nicely with the lichen/moss.
August 14, 2026 at 2:05 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
A greater yellowlegs for the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #FabulousWaders. I couldn’t decide between the tight crop or the image showing the full bird so I included both. #Arizona 🪶
A side view of a small shore bird wading through a still pond. The still water makes the bird’s reflection very clear. A small drop of water has just fallen from its bill creating a small ripple. A close up of the first image showing just the head and bill of the bird - emphasizing the reflection and the impact of the drop of water that fell from its beak.
August 4, 2026 at 3:51 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
I dug back in the archives to 2012 for this #Firsts for #BirdOfTheDay. I was doing some fall garden cleanup when a flock of pine siskins landed nearby and ignored me for the most part. I always let the lavender go to seed after that encounter. 🪶
Small songbird resting on an open hand, showing detailed brown, black, white, and yellow feathers from above. A flock of 10 or so pine siskins foraging on the ground. They blend in quite well with the bark chips. Two are on an outstretched hand eating bird seed.
August 3, 2026 at 2:46 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
An adorable burrowing owl #LookingUp near Phoenix, AZ for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme #OverTheRainbow. 🪶

Fun fact: burrowing owls have evolved long legs and are great runners.
A small owl stands erect next to a burrow backed by a green field. The owl is sideways to the camera and is gazing skyward.
August 1, 2026 at 2:41 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
A lifer for me and several others at #BolsaChica last fall. A juvenile tri-colored heron for #BirdOfTheDay #EgretsAndHerons. It was less active than the reddish egret dancing about, but certainly wasn’t still like I’m used to with Great Blue Herons.
A side view of a rusty colored heron with white underparts as it walks through a marsh in warm morning light. Its movement creates ripples across the water.
July 31, 2026 at 2:21 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay is #YourChoice. Here’s my favorite pic of #SandhillCranes in Willcox, Arizona. Drought is dramatically decreasing the wetland area where these birds overwinter. We owe it to wildlife to protect their habitat. 🪶
A Sandhill Crane leaps out of a sparkling blue lake in the early morning sun. The sun catches the water droplets created by the leap. A second Crane looks on with just its head and neck in the frame.
July 30, 2026 at 4:10 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Sanderling caught in a moment of stillness.
A teeny shorebird stands still on a sandy beach gazing out to sea.
July 30, 2026 at 2:16 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
What do you suppose this junco found to snack on? Alpine Lakes Trail. About 10,000’. Great Basin National Park. 🪶
A small bird in the shadows faces the viewer with at least part of a segmented insect in its beak. The bird is framed by partially sunlight pine branches
July 18, 2026 at 1:30 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Bristlecone Pine. Bit of a hike at 10,000’+ to get there. Absolutely worthwhile. These trees can live 5,000 years. My understanding is the dark vertical streak represents some living tissue still hanging on. #GreatBasinNationalPark #Nevada #BristleconePine
A trees devoid of needles stands against a brilliant blue sky. There are reddish and tan stripes running vertically up the trunk. The branches are short and stubby.
July 17, 2026 at 10:04 PM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Sometimes my foster kitty Stormy say yes to pets; sometimes no. Today though she said, “Fly!”
April 26, 2026 at 1:18 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Stormy came to me as an older feral kitten. She’s always been curious, but cautious. This clip shows the night before she started head butting me. It took 4 months of gentle patience. We still have work to do, but she made a giant leap toward finding a forever home with a patient, loving person.
April 22, 2026 at 5:05 AM
kdparrow.bsky.social
Stormy, my foster kitten, communicates consent. She wants connection, but not always on my timeline.

Sometimes she says no. It isn’t rejection. It’s her way of staying safe. Honor it & build trust.

She’s learning her voice matters-that people listen.

Listen and she’ll tell you how to love her.
April 22, 2026 at 4:55 AM