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Bird of the Day, theme 'Lifeln The Balance'

natureJun 28, 20262139,207

Today's Bird of the Day is the LifeInTheBalance theme, calling for birds shown in precarious or unexpected positions, with an alternate theme LightAsAFeather for backlit feathers. The gallery features shorebirds and garden birds caught mid-balancing acts, raptors and waterbirds in awkward poses, and several dawn-lit backlit plumage shots. Look for a great blue heron perched on the end of a submerged log, a puffin captioned "not looking where it's going" from the Farne Islands, and green parakeets hanging upside down in McAllen, Texas. Also spot backlit examples such as an Eastern Rosella with translucent outer tail feathers and green herons fishing from perches.

Kort Duce
@kortduce.bsky.social

A great blue heron perches on the end of a submerged log jutting out of the water at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. #StunDay #BirdOfTheDay #LifelnTheBalance #bird #birds #birdphotography #ECK #heron #herons #wetland #wetlands #habitat #BirdsSeenln2026

Photo by Kort Duce A great blue heron perches on the end of a submerged log jutting out of the water at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical color photograph, a great blue heron stands on one leg as it rests peacefully in the middle of a pond, its head feathers ruffled into what looks like a case of bedhead. The bird is scrunched up in left profile, with its right leg and foot captured just as it tucks them beneath its feathers. Soft morning light from the side illuminates the heron as the sun begins to grow harsh. The upper half of the background reflects the lush greenery of the riparian forest and the opposite shoreline. The lower half remains dark and shaded, except behind the lifted foot, where reflections of the blue sky create a subtle glow that adds atmosphere and mood to the scene. A striking color portrait that captures a relaxed great blue heron resting quietly in its natural habitat.
91745d ago
Kort Duce3

@alan678.bsky.social here’s some bed head for you! Haha!🤣

Noreen1

Thank you for this beautiful photo. You allow me to indulge in Nature's beauty from the comfort of my own home. I appreciate your dedication.

Mark Vater1

Now that is a stunning photo! ,👍🏻

Sip Coffee, Build for Change1

Stunning detail from the feathers to the position of the feet to the reflection of greenery on the water. Great shot 📸

JunkboxJim1

If do right, no can defend.

nomeka.bsky.social1

Stand up ✌️No king vote Blue✍️

Alan H
@alan678.bsky.social

Going to repost some #BirdOfTheDay entries. Sorry can’t comment on many. I don’t know what I did to birds in a previous life, wth. 🤷‍♂️Walking along a road today and saw this guy. Long way off so not great quality.

Barn Swallow hating on Alan. Sitting on a gravel road. Face turned towards camera.
56845d ago
Graham Jones2

He thinks you are about to send him to the naughty Step, Alan. Your reputation is spreading. 😂

Vicki2

😂 Still a good shot.

Diane Furlong2

I think he’s saying that he’s been waiting for You and “You’re late!”

Mr Garden1

Great shot and that look is fantastic. 😂😂

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Awww what a beauty❤️ he just have it warm Alan you did nothing wrong in a previous life😎

Katherine Mancuso1

He recognized you from your Birdville wanted poster for disturbing the peace. JK, Alan 😆🫶🏻🕊️

PacBirds
@pacbirds.bsky.social

A juvenile white-tailed kite showing its backlit feathers for the #LightAsAFeather theme of #BirdOfTheDay picked by @alan678.bsky.social #birds #nature #birdphotography #photography #ECK #Stunday

Kite landing with tail and wings spread out, and light shining through the feathers. The kite is landing on a standing tree stem while holding a gray rodent (probably a vole).
19545d ago
Amy Gann
@amygann.bsky.social

As the rising sun bathes the world in a golden glow, turkey leave the tree where they slept and begin their day. An older photo, but fitting for the #birdoftheday theme of #lightasafeather #birds #turkey #sunrise #protectnature #EastCoastKin #photography

Turkey flying down to the ground from the tree where they slept as the sun begins to rise. The world is covered in a golden glow
19045d ago
Neil Cameron2

Geebus! More than fitting, Amy! What an image.

Onyx1

love how the turkey's morning movement captures the serene beauty of that sunrise moment 🌅

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Morning Amy this is gorgeous 😍

Mamady1

Such a beautiful scene. Beautifully captured, Amy 👏🏽😍

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Stunning photo. Almost otherworldly. 😍

HLK
@hlkfotos.com

A yellow-headed rerun on stilts. #BirdOfTheDay #LifelnTheBalance 📷🌿🪶

A photo of a male yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) with a vivid orange-yellow head and breast contrasting against a jet-black body and wings, along with a black mask across its eyes and a black beak. It is perched on two fluffy brown cattail stalks, its feet each gripping a different stalk so that its legs are stretched comically apart. The background is blurred pale blue water and more cattails.
17545d ago
Simon2

Perfect for the topic! Love it!

Justine Jones2

Fantastic shot and perfect for the theme. 🤩💚🌟

AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸1

What a gorgeous bird! I love the orange/yellow and black combination. 💛🧡🖤

PJ 🇮🇪☘️
@knotweed-ireland.bsky.social

Happy Swanday 🦢 My BlueSky Friends... Mute Swan portrait... Co. Galway, Ireland #Swanday #Birds #BirdOfTheDay #Swan #MuteSwan #Stunday #Wildlife #Ireland #Nature #EastCoastKin #Photography #Swantastic #PhotoArt

Mute Swan portrait
19045d ago
AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸1

The details are amazing! Great shot, PJ!

Gray
@grays.art

Male Boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major) callin high atop a pine snag early morn in Bonita Springs, Florida 6-23-26 Alan & Rob’s #BirdOfTheDay theme #LifelnTheBalance: precarious / unexpected bird positions. Alt #LightAsAFeather: backlit feathers. #birds #blueSkyMonday #ECK #threeWordGenre

A large, iridescent black bird with a long, fan-like tail and a sharp beak open in song, perches atop a jagged, weathered tree stump against a solid bright blue sky.
16445d ago
Michael R Photography 🌿
@msriffle.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LifeInTheBalance. The ALT theme is #LightAsAFeather, backlit feathers. This beautiful green heron kinda fits both. It was photographed at our local wildlife refuge. #photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ECK #birds #Birdsky #birders #NikonZ8 #conservation

15545d ago
Emma1

exquisite shot michael it looks absolutely gorgeous

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Gosh, this is an impressive photo, Michael. The lighting brings out the colours of the bird so well. Great work. 👍🏼

Neil Cameron
@neilcam57.bsky.social

‪@alan678.bsky.social 's (early) #BirdOfTheDay ALT theme is #LightAsAFeather And here's an Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) with it's outer white tail feathers looking translucent in the light #ECK #birds #birdphotography #birdsofbluesky #Photography #Nikon #PhotographersUnited #wildlife

An Eastern Rosella perches on a wire with its back to the camera and at either side of its tail can be seen translucent white feathers.
13945d ago
Tony Allen-Mills3

It’s not fair @alan678.bsky.social. Why don’t our birds look like that??

Bushbark1

Wonderful shot. Don’t often see their backs. 💜

Rob Crank Photography1

Beautiful capture Neil, I think I can find a colourful bird too (I think it begins with P 😂).

Rob Crank Photography
@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning friends. It's @alan678.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay themes today which are #LifeInBalance, celebrating birds captured in precarious or unexpected positions. Alt is #LightAsAFeather, backlit feathers. #birds #CanonR5mkii #ECK @rspb.bsky.social #ukbirding #naturephotography #BirdLife

Norman Northern Gannet had been sent out to bring home some more bedding for the nest on the cliffs, but after his dismal attempt at bringing some back on his last trip his partner Nora told him to 'up his game or don't come back'. Now Norman was debating this and asked for advice because he could take the easy way out and go drinking with the lads, or dig deep and find some soft grass to please Nora. Now as you can see my words of advice made Norman step up and be a good partner rather than leaving Nora to bring the little one up alone. Captured at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
13945d ago
Helena Ludwig 🇪🇺🇦🇹🎶📸2

How absolutely brilliantly funny your stories are. I had to laugh out loud several times. Thank you! 😂 You are a highly appreciated adviser in the bird comunityfir sure. 🧐 And you're photographs are amazing too. As usual. 👍🏻

Vicki1

Lovely collection of photos, Rob. It's nice that you can offer the birds sage advice. ☺️🤩

Sue Ibrahim1

Great shots, Rob. Love the Puffins. ☺️

Neil Cameron1

Superb images, Rob, although sneaking in the fake thin Puffin just to fool me hasn't worked! 😜

swandiveswim.bsky.social
@swandiveswim.bsky.social

#Birds #Woodpecker ‪Alan H‬ says today's #BirdOfTheDay is #LifelnTheBalance, Celebrating birds captured in precarious or unexpected positions. Help! I think my Northern Flicker is melting.😀 This dramatic position was just it sunning itself.

A bird clutching onto a spruce branch, appears to be swooning. Sunning itself, the bird's head is tipped back, breast feathers fluffed out & wings partially opened. The underside of the wings & tail are orange, the breast feathers are beige with black dots and their is a black yoke at the base of the neck.
14145d ago
Lori Batchelor🇨🇦
@lorichirp.bsky.social

Alan H has said, today's #BirdOfTheDay themes are: Main #LifelnTheBalance, celebrating birds captured in precarious or unexpected positions. Alt is #LightAsAFeather, backlit feathers. #birds #photography #ECK A Great Blue Heron using wings to help balance on an awkward branch.

13945d ago
Alan H1

So theme perfect Lori. 😍😍

PacBirds1

Great shot. When I see something like this in the field, I often start laughing out loud and the bird disappears… 😂

Atlantic Birding
@atlanticbirding.bsky.social

🪶 Alan’s chosen #LifeInTheBalance as today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme; birds in precarious positions Alt. is #LightAsAFeather; backlit birds. I have a backlit Cuckoo taken at dawn in the Burren, Co. Clare #birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #ECK #irishbirding #naturephotography #Cuckoo #Stunday

A Cuckoo sitting on a large rock, backlit but the early morning sun. The bird is in side profile; looking to the left on the top of a large rock which takes up the foreground. The golden sunshine is shiny from the right and creating a ring of golden light around the birds outline The background is out of focus limestone rock littered with vegetation and lit up by golden sunshine
14045d ago
Lecia Michelle
@leciamichelle.bsky.social

The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LifeInBalance, celebrating birds captured in precarious or unexpected positions. A green heron perched on a branch as it fishes. Such a cute bird booty! #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky

Green heron leaning over a tree branch, its underside to the camera, its head pointed downward.
12645d ago
Che Gatsby1

It appears this specimen may possibly be winking at us.

Rob Crank Photography1

Great rear of the year capture Lecia.

toritori
@toritorihkd.bsky.social

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay main theme, #LifeInTheBalance: Clinging to the trunk as if gravity were optional. 🪶 久しぶりにちゃんとゴジュウカラを撮影できた気がする😅 #nature #photography #wildlife #EurasianNuthatch #ゴジュウカラ #birds #野鳥 #Japan #BirdsSeenIn2026

A Eurasian Nuthatch clings sideways to the trunk of a tree, facing left. The background is softly blurred green foliage. 木の幹に横向きに張り付くように止まったゴジュウカラ。鳥は左を向いており、背景は緑色にぼけている。
12945d ago

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