Bird of the Day, theme 'Tantalising Textures'

natureJul 22, 202622711,224

Bird of the Day is a daily community prompt with today s theme #TantalisingTextures, inviting photos of smooth soft feathers contrasted with rough hard surfaces; the alt theme is #ArtOfMotion, birds moving but not in flight. Entries emphasize closeups and scene contrasts, from perched birds on weathered wood and stone to splashing water interactions that highlight feather detail. Concrete examples include a Steller s sea eagle at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, a juvenile red-tailed hawk showing its textures and colors, and an American white pelican at sunrise in Longmont, Colorado. Look for images of swallows on dead stumps, a turkey vulture on a foggy dead tree, and a tiny Goldcrest on an old stonewall under the #TantalisingTextures tag.

Andrea Peterson

@andreapeterson.bsky.social

A Steller's sea eagle at the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington #Birds #Eagles #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures #Photography #FeatheredFriends #SeaEagle @woodlandparkzoo.bsky.social

A dark brown and white Steller's sea eagle standing on the branch of a tree and looking back over its wing. The beak is a dark yellow color, as are its large feet that are topped with long talons. The tree has textured bark covering part of the tree, and smooth bark on other sections.

151445d ago

Jana in Texas2

I was familiar with the Steller’s Jay, but was not familiar with all the other species discovered by Georg Wilhelm Steller. Looked him up (Wikipedia): Steller discovered many new species, as he documented numerous plants and animals, many of which were previously unknown to Western science.

huskyville.bsky.social1

One of a few entrances to the lovely Woodland Park Zoo

Dyst0pi41

omg i've never heard of this species, i love the feathers

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Hi folks, out walking Sam, taking a break, going to do some #BirdOfTheDay reposts. Sorry I haven’t got the time to comment on many my friends. Remember repost=Step 💃🕺🥂🍾🍺🍻🍷🍸🥃🐣 #TantalisingTextures #birds #photography #ECK

49845d ago

Marjo Slingerland-Boks2

Such a beauty and wonderful photo Alan✨️❤️

Amy Gann2

Gorgeous photo, Alan!! Enjoy your walk!

Margot Foley2

beautiful, Alan! Enjoy your walk with Sam. 💙

Graham Jones1

Beautiful marra. Enjoy your walk. Step lively.

Jimmy Innes1

Beautiful shot of a beautiful bird, Alan 🤩✨📸

Pirritin1

Master piece of colours and composition, fabulous 🤩👏👏👏

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

24045d ago

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

So beautiful dear Rina❤️have a fine day 😊

Lecia Michelle

@leciamichelle.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #TantalisingTextures. This juvenile red-tailed hawk showing all its textures and colors. #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky

Juvenile red-tailed hawk perched on a dead tree branch preening its feathers. Feathers are brown, orange and white. Trees and sky in the background.

23344d ago

Kort Duce

@kortduce.bsky.social

A juvenile American white pelican during a magnificent sunrise at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures #bird #birds #birdphotography #ECK #nature #wildlife #BirdsSeenln2026 #wildlifephotography #pelican #pelicans

$Photo by Kort Duce A juvenile American white pelican during a magnificent sunrise at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. In this horizontal color photograph, a juvenile American white pelican fills the frame in right profile, its head and neck slightly raised as it wades through shallow water. The entire scene is bathed in warm golden and orange hues from the rising sun. Cottonwood seeds, feathers, and other organic debris float across the water's surface, catching and refracting the light to create delicate circular bokeh highlights. The pelican's reflection stretches gracefully across the water, while its much smaller shadow adds an intriguing visual element to the composition. Together, the reflection, shadow, and glowing morning light create a peaceful and atmospheric portrait. A beautiful portrait of a juvenile American white pelican in the wetland habitat that is so essential to its survival.$

21145d ago

Ezeneezer1

That must be the world s most glamorous photo of a bird. He should be so chuffed 👌

Marie 🇨🇦🍁1

Beautiful shot! We saw pelicans on the Athabasca River (Alberta 🇨🇦) not long ago. It was the first time I’ve seen them in our neck of the woods.

Lori Batchelor🇨🇦

@lorichirp.bsky.social

Per Alan H: 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. #birds #photography #ECK #WaderWednesday Archive: A Sandhill Crane colt using wings for balance when "wading"!

15045d ago

Alan H1

A marvellous twofer Lori. Excellent photography too. 😍

Vicki1

What a wonderful moment to witness! Super photo, Lori. 👍

Aintright

@aintright.bsky.social

Terry the Treecreeper #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures #birds #ukbirds

17545d ago

Yvonne Redknap1

Gorgeous shot of Terry and the texture contrast is perfect!

AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸

@alinagrafik.eurosky.social

#BirdOfTheDay #TantalizingTextures A turkey vulture sitting on an old, dead tree in the fog. #ECK #TurkeyVulture #Birds #ClassicMono

Black and white image of a turkey vulture sitting the twisted, broken branches of a dead oak tree that has a very weathered bark with lichen growing on it. The morning fog obscures the mountains that are nearby. San Luis Obispo, California

15344d ago

Alex Rimberg2

An old, dead tree in the fog: the natural habitat of the turkey vulture. Great capture, Alina!

jen 💙🤍2

Brilliant capture! Love this, Alina.🤍

Rachel…at least there are cats (she/her)2

Ooh! This is fantastic. Such an atmospheric image. I love the feeling of stillness and calm. What a great capture.

Doug Engstrom1

I love the atmosphere you've captured. It looks like something from a Hammer Films horror movie.

Graham Jones

@oldmanrambling.bsky.social

At the risk of rocking the Bluesky universe again, I'm going for another #Robin for today's #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures theme. Just look at this little bird sitting on a chipped stone garden planter next to a knitted (yes) red Tulip #Birds #ForJanet #ColorADay #RedWed #Photography #ECK

A European Robin stands on the edge of a chipped beige-coloured stone garden planter that has green weeds growing in it plus a knitted red Tulip, sold to raise funds for a local garden project. The Robin's soft grey and brown plumage and trademark rusty red bib and face mask contrast with the harsh broken stonework and otherwise straight lines of the planter. The background is dark to further emphasise the colouring of the little bird.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D digital Tamron 55-200mm lens.

14245d ago

Marjo Slingerland-Boks2

Ohhhh Graham this is so beautiful and lovely 😍 thank you for sharing ❤️

Yvonne Redknap2

What a beautiful shot, Graham. I love the knitted tulip!

AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸1

I love this photo, Graham! The robin is so sharp with perfect lighting and the contrasting red tulip and green plants is an eye-popping contrast. So well done!

Barrie Cull1

That’s a beautiful photo Graham 👏

Lauren

@tinylongwing.bsky.social

I'm going with the alt theme #ArtOfMotion for today's #BirdOfTheDay, featuring birds in motion but not in flight - such as this Common Loon sending water droplets flying as it flaps its wings on the surface of a lake. #SciArt #BirdArt 🪶

Illustration of a Common Loon in alternate plumage rising up out of misty blue water to flap its wings, sending spots of shimmering water in every direction. The bird is lit by early morning yellow sunlight from the front. It has a black back and wings, white belly, white spots on the back, a fine white-striped collar on the neck, and dark red eyes.

13645d ago

Cri 🕊🐝🐜📝🎭⚽😷

@crawlieswithcri.bsky.social

#BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures Though in the case of Young Mr. Anna's it's more like Tedious Textures! Waiting on those pinfeathers to like a teen trying to grow a beard. #birds #becurious

$close up photo of a young male Anna's hummingbird. he has patchy refractive gorget and head feathers and a cluster of pin feathers. he is showing from mid wing up. he is in profile facing left.$

14244d ago

Marina Mueller 🇨🇦2

😂👏🏻 But what a cutie & I like his "parti" colours.

Elizabeth H2

Poor guy is just waiting on Mother Nature to finish painting him. 😍 He's still so handsome as is.

Chris S1

Glad it’s not measles! So cute! Great pic, girlfriend! ❤️🪶

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.

14545d ago

Graham Jones2

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

Nature, Preserved

@simonecannon.bsky.social

American Avocet splashing about at the Riparian Preserve, Gilbert, Arizona, USA #BirdoftheDay #ArtOfMotion #WildlifeWednesday #NatureWednesday

12845d ago

HLK

@hlkfotos.com

A soft-feathered booby perched on rough-textured lava rock. #BirdOfTheDay #TantalisingTextures 📷🌿🪶

A photo of a blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii), a large brown and white marine bird with a gray face and beak, very pale eyes, and bright blue legs and feet. It is standing on rough-textured black lava rock with its back to the camera and its head turned toward the right of frame. In the background is more dark lava rock, greenery, and a grayish-blue overcast sky.

11944d ago

fingbullshit.bsky.social1

Looks like a blue-footed booby, an awesome diver & fisher…

Rhonda Howard1

What a fantastic shot!! 😍

Rachel…at least there are cats (she/her)1

Gorgeous! What a fantastic photo!!

Doug Engstrom1

That works for the theme, all right.

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

11845d ago

EveryHeron 𓅣2

It's an amazing skill isn't it

Gray1

Lovely, Tony 😻 For a pterodactyl. 😸

aesche1

Have a look @everyheron.bsky.social 👀🙂

Doug Engstrom1

That is a truly amazing shot. Capturing that wingtip brush was great.

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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