Bird of the Day, theme 'Tantalising Textures'

natureJul 22, 20261073,194

Bird of the Day is running the #TantalisingTextures prompt, asking for smooth soft bird feathers contrasted with rough hard surfaces, with an alternate theme of #ArtOfMotion focusing on birds moving but not in flight. The gallery features closeups and environmental shots that emphasize tactile contrast and subtle motion, from perched songbirds against bark to shoreline and pond scenes where feathers meet water or stone. Standout entries include a male White-breasted Nuthatch perched on a Black Walnut tree, a tiny Goldcrest settled on an old stonewall, and a Grey Heron whose lower wingtip skims the surface of a pond. Look for textured pairings like fluffy belly feathers of a Powerful Owl against rough wood and pelicans grooming with scaly beaks and rough bill surfaces.

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Good morning birders. Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #TantalisingTextures Smooth soft feathers of any bird contrasted with rough hard surfaces. Alt: #ArtOfMotion, birds moving but not in flight. Texture contrast description in alt. #birds #photography #ECK

A Eurasian wren perches on the flat top of a weathered wooden fence post, facing right against a soft, blurred olive-green background. Warm sunlight reveals the striking contrast in textures throughout the scene: the wren’s finely layered, chestnut-brown feathers appear soft and delicately patterned, while the rough, cracked grain of the aged wooden post is rugged and deeply weathered, with patches of moss and lichen clinging to the surface. The bird’s smooth, glossy eye and slender bill provide another subtle contrast against the coarse timber, creating a detailed portrait where the softness of nature meets the rugged character of the perch.

2668h ago

Marjo Slingerland-Boks3

Morning Alan, what a lovely bird and wonderful photo ❤️✨️

Atlantic Birding2

Lovely shot Alan; I love shooting Wrens

Graham Jones1

Great photo of that little loudmouth, Alan. I see and hear them all the time in the garden but have never managed to capture one as they seem to be constantly on the move.

alisonwillis1.bsky.social1

Love a Wren. Often seen, they've never sat still long enough to capture here. Beautiful photo again.

Sharon1

Good morning, Alan. Lovely soft textures.📷 Tantalising 😄

ronm123photo1

Great shot Alan and thanks for today’s themes.

Rina

@rina2012.bsky.social

"Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #TantalisingTextures Alt: #ArtOfMotion" A swallow is always on the move 🪶 #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Portugal #wildlife #photography #nature #thelittlethings #ECK

1435h ago

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

So beautiful dear Rina❤️have a fine day 😊

Aintright

@aintright.bsky.social

Terry the Treecreeper #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures #birds #ukbirds

1195h ago

Yvonne Redknap1

Gorgeous shot of Terry and the texture contrast is perfect!

Dave Meredith

@davemeredith.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #TantalisingTextures. A male White-breasted Nuthatch on a Black Walnut tree. #BrucePeninsula #BruceCounty #ECK #photography #TenMinutesFromHome #ManualFocusLens #VintageLens

A male White-breasted Nuthatch upside-down on the bark of a Black Walnut tree. The bird is looking up and to its right.

944h ago

Graham Jones1

Great shot Dave. I can see why Lanky Legs named the Step after you.

Alan H1

Just such a wonderful capture Dave. Love it. Theme perfect.

Rosemarie1

Great photo! Perfect for today’s theme

The Garden Jungle

@thegardenjungle.bsky.social

For #BirdOfTheDay today it is #TantalisingTexture so here we have a spectacular closeup of a Goshawk for you #birds #thegardenjungle #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #shropshire #UKwildlife #birdphotography #canon #photography

776h ago

TARA SMITHSON -Wildlife & Nature Photographer 📸

@tarasmithson.bsky.social

Little Lord of the Manor showing off the electric blue and some dreamscape textures for #BirdOfTheDay and #TantalisingTextures Thanks, nature! ⚡️🐦🌿🎴 #Wrens #Birds #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #Nature #NaturePhotography #photography #BirdsOfBlueSky

A photograph of a male superb fairy-wren perched proudly on the tip of a textured green shrub. The tiny bird features striking electric-blue and deep black breeding plumage, a white belly, and its characteristic long tail. It is set against a dreamy, softly blurred background of warm, earthy tones with a creamy bokeh.

697h ago

Alan H2

So perfect and such a great shot Tara.

froure.bsky.social1

I love that blur in the background, it makes the little guy pop!

Fraggs Photography 📸🦊🦉🦋🦔 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@fraggenstein.bsky.social

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #TantalisingTextures, smooth soft feathers of any bird contrasted with rough hard surfaces set by @alan678.bsky.social ~ a tiny Goldcrest on an old stonewall 😍 🪶🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #ECK #ukwildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy

806h ago

Neil Cameron

@neilcam57.bsky.social

Alan @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #TantalisingTextures Here's the fluffy belly feathers of this Powerful Owl. Not that I'd have the guts to tell it that! #ECK #birds #birdphotography #birdsofbluesky #Photography #Nikon #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersOfBlueSky #BlueSkyArtShow

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. BIrd is perched in a tree and looking down at the photographer.

706h ago

Alan H1

Fabulous capture Neil. Love this so much. 😍

Tony Allen-Mills

@taminf.bsky.social

Look closely at this airborne Grey Heron and you'll see its lower wingtip caressing the surface of the pond. Such poise. Such spatial awareness. Such #tantalisingtextures for today's #BirdoftheDay by @alan678.bsky.social. A lucky shot taken yesterday. #Photography #birds

715h ago

EveryHeron 𓅣1

It's an amazing skill isn't it

aesche1

Have a look @everyheron.bsky.social 👀🙂

Amy Gann

@amygann.bsky.social

Pelicans grooming before starting their day. For the #birdoftheday theme themes of #tantalisingtexture and #artofmotion #birds #pelican #protectnature #EastCoastKin

Three pelicans stand on a large rock by a small waterfall. Each bird is grooming its feathers

704h ago

Neil Cameron4

What a very cool shot indeed! Could be sculpted in bronze as a triptych right there for that fountain and it would fit perfectly. Presenting Neo-Classical Pelican.

Kis Brink1

Birds so rarely cooperate and yet they are so perfectly positioned. Wonderful.

cinn1

you get so many cool bird shots!!!! im always enamoured whenever your posts cross my dash 💖💖💖 you must get to breathe so much fresh air and hit up all the tasty early morning bakeries 🥐

Pirritin

@pirritin.bsky.social

Met this lovely Common Moorhen chick earlier this week. It was hiding on a fallen tree trunk in the water and I only got a chance to take pics between the reeds. This is the fluffy version. #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures #Birds #BirdPhotography #Nature #linnut #liejukana #ECK

685h ago

Nature, Preserved

@simonecannon.bsky.social

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron's smooth feathers contrast with the roughness of the rocks, Guayaquil, Ecuador #BirdoftheDay #TantalisingTextures #WildlifeWednesday #NatureWednesday

594h ago

Gray

@grays.art

Red lightning strike Cardinal (cardinalis cardinalis) Alan & Rob’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #TantalisingTextures smooth soft feathers of any bird, contrasted with rough, hard surfaces. Alt #ArtOfMotion birds moving, but not in flight. #birds #photography #ECK #threewordgenre #colorADay #RedWed

Male northern cardinal, breast-forward right, tail left, looking over its right shoulder, crest high, within a network of rough, bare twigs, against a contrasting blue sky background.

616h ago

🇨🇦 gerryalley1

I have yet to see a male cardinal in my area of Nova Scotia. They are here, but for me they have been elusive. Beautiful picture.

Yvonne Redknap1

I considered posting an almost identical shot! Beautiful, Gray. 🤣

Three Word Genre1

Beautiful texture contrast. Your three words flashed with color. Red lightning strike. #ThreeWordGenre

Yvonne Redknap

@yredknap.bsky.social

Alan's theme for today's #BirdOfTheDay is #TantalisingTexture. I have the smooth feathers of a male cardinal against the rough tree bark behind him. #Photography #Birds #ECK

The cardinal's smooth red feathers are a sharp contrast to the rough tree bark immediately behind him. He is perched on a bare branch, looking to the right. The branches around him are bare and broken, making his completely smooth chest a stark contrast to his surroundings.

576h ago

Alan H1

So very theme perfect Yvonne. Fabulous shot.

Gray1

Beautiful, Yvonne 😻 I wore the same dress to this event 👗😸

Marjo Slingerland-Boks

@marjosl.eurosky.social

Good morning all, for Alan @alan678.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay theme #TantalisingTexture or #ArtOfMotion are here two marching Egyptian Goose 🪿 where they are going to no idea 😅 for the second theme. #ECK #Birds

You see here 2 Egyptian Goose marching on the stone wall near the Weerwater in Almere-City. It is a little mlajr with a clear blue water the day this photo was make. THLhe different brown colors in their feathers are wonderful to see.

433h ago

Alan H1

So theme perfect Mar. A beautiful capture. Love it. 🤗😘

Pam Brown1

Beautiful geese, and beautifully captured Mar! 🌟

First puffling sighted on Dorset coast in three decadesnature Bird of the Day, theme 'Tantalising Textures'nature

Bird of the Day, theme 'Tantalising Textures'

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