Mark R. Courtney
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mrcourtney.bsky.social
Mark R. Courtney
@mrcourtney.bsky.social
460 followers 210 following 57 posts
Software developer, photographer, sometimes writer. Best when wandering in nature.

Photos by me unless otherwise noted. Prints available at https://www.markrcourtney.com or by contacting me.

My photo puzzle app: https://www.puzzlingsnapshots.com
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mrcourtney.bsky.social
Mark R. Courtney @mrcourtney.bsky.social · Apr 18
[awkward self-promotion] I have some of my photographs available as prints. You can buy them at www.markrcourtney.com or contact me there if you see something you like.

Also, bringing in my software developer side, I created a puzzle app using my photos: www.puzzlingsnapshots.com
A promotional image with the text "Mark R. Courtney Photography" with the website address "markrcourtney.com" and the text "Puzzling Snapshots" with the website address "puzzlingsnapshots.com" in between six sample photographs. The photographs on the top are: (1) a rusty bolt on an old railroad track, (2) a flock of sanderling birds flying low over blue water, and (3) a black scallop shell among beach rocks. On the bottom are: (4) looking straight down at the symmetry of an agave plant, (5) vibrant orange quince flowers, and (6) a dry cliff top landscape with a canyon stretching out into the distance beyond.
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Stragglers from the garden
#Gardening #StillLife #StillLifePhotography #Photography
Photograph of a cluster of yellow cherry tomatoes, though the one on the end is still mostly green, recently harvested from the garden and now sitting indoors on a wooden cutting board lit by a shaft of light coming through the nearby window.
October 3, 2026 at 3:20 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Gulls in flight during a recent blustery day at the beach

(I know they’re not the most skittish of wildlife, but they were still very tolerant of me lurking in their midst while they poked around for food.)

#Birds #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography
Photograph of a light-gray gull with wings on a downswing as it flies in profile against foamy waves. It holds half a clam in its beak, presumably to take its snack elsewhere to consume. Photograph of a mottled gray and brown gull flying toward the camera with waves crashing behind. Its head is down as it surveys the surf for snacks. Photograph of a white and gray gull hovering over churning water, head down as if it spied something in the surf. Photograph of a mottled gray gull flying low over a flat beach littered with rocks and scraps of dried seaweed, the gull’s shadow following along closely below.
October 3, 2026 at 2:55 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Lots of mushrooms around here this time of year, especially after all the recent wet weather
#Mushroom #Fungi #FungiFriend #NaturePhotography #Photography
Photograph of a mushroom with a thick, off-white stem and beige cap with a rather rock-like texture. A nearby actual rock hosts the mushroom’s shadow created by the angle of the morning sun. Photograph of a large mushroom with cap spread open showing the rows of gills around its circumference. The cap is a creamy orange scattered with beige scales, dipping toward the center as if to flare up at the rim to emphasize the gills beneath. Photograph of a small mushroom with a glossy, dome-shaped, white cap that has popped up inside a hollowed out fallen log. Photograph of a fallen branch lined on either side by small, shelf-like mushrooms with a mix of orange and white stripes contrasting with the dark wood.
October 3, 2026 at 2:47 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Nearing summer's end
#Seascape #Landscape #LandscapePhotography #Photography #RhodeIsland
Photograph of a harbor looking across the water to moored sailboats brightly lit by the morning sun. A mostly clear sky reflects blue in the expanse of calm water.
September 20, 2026 at 11:29 AM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
A few shorebirds from an outing along the southern New England coast
#Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #Photography
Photograph of a semipalmated plover, a small shorebird with a gray-brown head and back with a white belly and collar. It stands atop a wet, mottled orange beach rock near similar rocks and seaweed, a brief pause from foraging for snacks. Photograph of a ruddy turnstone standing on a rock near where foaming ocean waves meet the shore. It sports its nonbreeding coat of brown feathers edged with white and has its head turned to face a fellow ruddy turnstone positioned nearby. Photograph of a ruddy turnstone on one of many wet rocks on a beach. The small, brown shorebird somehow looks huge compared to the nearby sandpiper, similarly colored but less than half the size of the ruddy turnstone.
September 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Lex was kind to include my photo puzzle app in his ongoing series highlighting indie developers. Great for him to bring attention to the parts of tech that are still personal and fun, and I look forward to what else he turns up.
September 11, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
saskajanet.bsky.social
Wilson’s Phalarope foraging in the shallows #birds
Small wading bird with white belly and dark rust and grey neck and wings. It’s standing in very shallow water with one foot raised, head down as it forages. There’s a nearly perfect reflection in the glassy water.
June 13, 2026 at 2:24 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Photogenic birds encountered while out exploring this week: cedar waxwing, great egret, and turkey vulture. Plus a young, fluffy cardinal visiting our house.
#Birds #Birding #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography
Photograph of a sleek cedar waxwing perched on a tree branch. It looks to the side to show off its stylish, back-swept crest, and its body is beige with touches of dark gray wings and tail and a rakish black mask around its eyes. Photograph of a pure white egret with its long neck curved out over shallow blue water. It has just snatched up a snack in its pointed beak, and a short trail of water arcs down to the site of its strike. Photograph of a deep brown, red-faced turkey vulture atop a utility pole. Its head is cocked to the side as it eyes and assesses the photographer. Photograph of a super fluffy, rich red cardinal -- presumably a fresh youngster -- perched on the edge of a house rain gutter. It paused here briefly to figure out its next step into the wider world.
June 13, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
amandamakepeace.bsky.social
Possibly the coolest bird photo I’ve ever taken. Love our Mourning Doves.

ᎫᎴ ᏗᏍᎪᏂ 🤎 #birds
Mourning Dove on my deck railing in the process of cleaning its feathers
June 13, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
jmh53.bsky.social
#PhysicalGraffiti #AOfoto
#BlackAndWhite
A sidewalk marking is cracked and flaking away.
June 4, 2026 at 12:57 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Peony stages
#BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography
Photograph of a peony bud with large, light pink petals packed in a ball and starting to open just enough at the tips to reveal ruffled, white petals inside. Photograph of a peony flower halfway open with larger, pink-blushed petals encircling ruffled, white petals and a few red highlights tucked within. Photograph of an open peony flower with light pink, larger petals cupping a mass of ruffled, chaotic, white petals.
May 30, 2026 at 9:51 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Got to watch this osprey make a few dives at the water before success on the third try
#Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifeWednesday #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography
Photograph of an osprey gliding against the blue sky. The raptor's white and brown wings are spread wide and its eyes are focused on the water below. Photograph of an osprey with wings angled as it speeds toward the water, its talons spread out behind. Photograph of an osprey with wings tucked against its body and open talons reaching forward as it nears its target in the water. Photograph of an osprey with wings spread wide as it rises from the disturbed water with a fish clutched in its talons.
May 27, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
rojsmith.com
Dotty
#rhyl #photography
A low-angle, black and white photograph looking down a wide coastal promenade. The textured pavement in the foreground features a painted pattern of white solid dots and large circles that recedes into the distance. A curved white metal railing runs along the right edge, while a long wall and lampposts stand on the left, casting a sharp shadow across the path. A dramatic sky filled with thick, contrasting clouds looms overhead.
May 24, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
jon5cents.bsky.social
🐢 What? It's #WorldTurtleDay? I've been out of pocket all day, just got back and saw this. So here's a colorful specimen off my front porch a week or so ago. #photography #turtle #arkansas
A turtle is in a bunch of leaves with a few sprigs of green growth in them. The turtle is lifting its head, and has a dark neck and head, with red spots on both.
May 24, 2026 at 12:48 AM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
It's lily of the valley time in the yard. Still doing great after having to thin a bunch of it back to tend to other things in that area.
#BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography
Photograph of a cluster of small, white, bell-shaped flowers on rising stems surrounded by a sea of wide, green, upright leaves.
May 23, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
stevewaycott.bsky.social
It's #WorldTurtleDay! Here's a couple Eastern Painted Turtle buddies marking the day by enjoying some beautiful spring morning sunshine together.

#NewBrunswick, Canada
April 2024

📸 #herps #turtletuesdays #nature #wildlife #photography #Nikon #Z9 #Nikkor180600
Two medium sized turtles with yellow underside and bright red stripes on their legs and necks are resting on a semi-submerged log.
May 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Fern unfurling
#Ferns #FernFriday #ForestFriday #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography
Photograph of a fern head still tightly curled up. One small lower frond on the fuzz-lined stem reaches up to brush the bottom of the still-packed spiral of fronds at the top, looking like an arm propping up a downturned head -- a bit like Rodin’s “The Thinker” with his chin resting thoughtfully upon his hand.
May 15, 2026 at 9:12 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
Damp forest coming back to life
#Moss #BloomScrolling #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography
Photograph looking down at a moss covered stone with a multitude of small, heart-shaped, green leaves growing up out of the moss. Photograph of a small violet flower along a trail in a forest wet from the rain. Photograph of a batch of yellow flowers rising above round leaves with the water of a small creek rippling below. Photograph at the base of a tree where moss, small green leaves, and a tiny fern all grow together.
May 9, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
johnmurrell.bsky.social
Opium poppy
#photography #flowers #poppy #garden #plants #nature 🌱
An opium poppy blossom -- white petals with touches of purple near the stem and yellow in the center. Behind it is a large green leaf with prominent veins.
May 8, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
kristinwyatt.bsky.social
Red-winged Blackbird
#nature #photography
A black bird with red and yellow on his shoulder, poofs up a bit ready to sing for the ladies.
May 5, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Courtney
johnmurrell.bsky.social
One by one, the agapanthus stems are rising
#photography #flowers #agapanthus #plants #garden #nature 📷🌱
A greenish-yellow agapanthus bud on a green stem, with the plant's spear-shaped green leaves blurred in the background.
April 23, 2026 at 9:31 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
To make up for those self-promotion posts, here are glamour shots of my recently blooming agapanthus, which is cool to me since it's in a pot indoors in southern New England rather than outside in sunny California where they're everywhere.
#BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography
Photograph of the top of a flower stalk where one light purple, trumpet-shaped flower is open backed by a spread of oblong yet-to-open buds, all against a dark background. Photograph of a trumpet-shaped, light purple flower with petals flaring out at the tips, backed by unopened sibling buds that crown the top of a stem. Photograph of light purple, trumpet-shaped blooms atop a flower stem. Four flowers are open, two on the left and two on the right, with a collection of unopened buds between them. Photograph of a pair of light purple, trumpet-shaped flowers in profile as they catch the sun coming through a nearby window. Several oblong buds hover behind them, similarly angled toward the light but yet to open.
April 18, 2026 at 1:26 PM
mrcourtney.bsky.social
[awkward self-promotion] I have some of my photographs available as prints. You can buy them at www.markrcourtney.com or contact me there if you see something you like.

Also, bringing in my software developer side, I created a puzzle app using my photos: www.puzzlingsnapshots.com
A promotional image with the text "Mark R. Courtney Photography" with the website address "markrcourtney.com" and the text "Puzzling Snapshots" with the website address "puzzlingsnapshots.com" in between six sample photographs. The photographs on the top are: (1) a rusty bolt on an old railroad track, (2) a flock of sanderling birds flying low over blue water, and (3) a black scallop shell among beach rocks. On the bottom are: (4) looking straight down at the symmetry of an agave plant, (5) vibrant orange quince flowers, and (6) a dry cliff top landscape with a canyon stretching out into the distance beyond.
April 18, 2026 at 1:15 PM