Retired soldier, I spent about 30 years in the military (USMC/Army). Also recently retired computer systems engineer. So, I'm just plain retired. I need something to do so, I decided on photography and bird watching as a hobby. Unless otherwise stated, all photographs I post are my own. I take pictures and want to share them with you, so please follow my blog. #TheScienceofBirds #birds #birdwatching #photography #photographer
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2026-07-14T17:41:11+02:00 Event JSON
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Last Notes npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 😂 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Held in the Beak of Morning I liked the profile of this blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) captured here among the forest leaves. It holds something at the tip of its beak — perhaps a small seed — and until you notice it, the beak almost appears to have a tiny hook at the end. If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #corvids #bluejay https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/942/184/151/849/812/original/cb0f739f49fe0ff4.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Rain‑Soaked Visitor I looked outside and saw a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) under the bird feeder. I’d seen it before, but this time I got pictures. I gave it a little spook and let Charlie out; he caught up to the critter, but that was it. Opossums aren’t exactly built for speed. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/931/743/279/166/282/original/16b1796677eaae91.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌸🌸🌸 11 July 2026 I use my phone mostly as a pocket‑sized computer rather than a telephone, though I do occasionally make or answer a call. If I want to look something up—anytime, anywhere—I reach for my back pocket, pull out my iPhone, and the world opens. It’s amazing, really, and I know I’m not the only one who does this. But if I set my phone down while moving around and suddenly think of something I want to research, which happens often, I find myself scrambling. Where did I leave it? That moment of panic is unsettling. It’s strange to feel so tethered to an object. In a way, it’s like carrying around a genie everywhere I go—one that can answer any question or fetch almost anything with a tap. Aladdin’s lamp has nothing on this little slab of metal and glass; I get far more than three wishes. It makes me wonder how I managed daily life for so long without a cell phone. Maybe it’s similar to what my grandparents must have felt when they looked back and asked how people lived without running water or electricity. Was there really life before the automobile? I suspect most of us today wouldn’t last long in that world. Imagine the chaos if all the cell towers suddenly went dark. It’s not impossible. Then what? Payphones have vanished, and most homes have abandoned landlines. And that’s just the communication piece. If electricity and fuel stopped flowing, survival itself would be at stake. It’s almost comical that misplacing my iPhone can spark visions of a dystopian future—but here we are. “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” — Christian Lous Lange “We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” — Carl Sagan “Big Brother is watching you.” - George Orwell, 1984 #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #technology #cellphones #flowers #dystopian #genie https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/901/502/642/047/831/original/7147b2ac6db1f7d2.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Grassland Catch I was looking closely at this image of a western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) that I photographed a while back when I noticed it had something clamped in its beak. It’s hard to tell exactly what the creature is, but it’s definitely too long to be a worm. The shape and length make it look more like a small snake. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #egret #westerncattleegret https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/743/505/257/379/481/original/c8334465f1393549.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🐿️🐿️🐿️ 13 June 2026 Back when George Reeves was Superman, I was absolutely convinced that the secret to flight was the cape. Not strength, not alien biology — just the cape. I believed in that hypothesis so completely that one day I fastened a towel around my neck with a safety pin, climbed to the top of the stairs in our two‑level apartment, and leapt. It did not work. What I did prove was that the human body is surprisingly durable — not Superman‑durable, mind you — but durable enough to survive a fall like that with only a sprained arm and a bruised ego. I wouldn’t call it a failed experiment, because technically I gathered evidence disproving the “cape = flight” theory. But with only one sample, how sure could I really be? Not very. Still, the pain from that first trial was persuasive enough to shut down any plans for further research. If Superman really flew because of his cape, then his cape must have been something special — and I was never going to get my hands on that particular model. So, C’est la vie. I had a history of sprained arms as a kid, each with its own questionable origin story. One of the earliest came courtesy of an old washing machine — the kind with a roller wringer mounted on top. Modern washers use rapid rotation and centrifugal force to fling water out of fabric, but this machine relied on squeezing everything between two hard rubber rollers. That idea fascinated me. So I decided to feed a sock through the rollers. I should have let go of the sock. Instead, my arm followed it straight into the wringer — not good. Not good at all. I can still remember the aftermath: the throbbing, the scolding, and the unmistakable smell of a potato poultice pressed against my arm. Childhood medicine had its own aroma, and that one stays with you. “Play is the highest form of research.” — Albert Einstein #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #squirrel #superman #childhood #experiments https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/742/769/089/160/601/original/f120cf3daa38fd92.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Branch of Thought This red‑bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) looks as if he’s deep in thought, quietly pondering the day’s events. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/671/430/509/472/812/original/8e36115e714e15d8.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs The Mushroom Realm This ground‑level mushroom scene, wrapped in green grass, has been artistically altered to feel dreamy and abstract. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #mushroom #abstract https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/670/109/957/784/806/original/6a25629fbdc7f938.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. ☕☕☕ 30 May 2026 I remember when telephones with push‑buttons started showing up. They looked so modern, so futuristic, like something out of a science‑fiction movie. If you had one sitting on your desk, you must have been somebody — even though, at first, they didn’t really do anything the old rotary phones couldn’t do. I still wonder why we started with a dial instead of buttons in the first place. I don’t wonder long, though. It had to be whatever the technology of the time could manage. When I was a small child living with my grandparents — my parents were off at the Great Lakes while my dad went through Navy training — I had to memorize their phone number. To this day, it still doesn’t make sense to me. It was “Sycamore 5‑2453.” Try dialing that into a phone today. There have been a few changes since then. And isn’t it funny that after all these years, after all the technical leaps that led to the cell phones we carry in our back pockets, we still say we’re “dialing” a number? I’m sure plenty of young people don’t even know what that means. I’ve seen clips online where teenagers are handed an old rotary phone and look as confused as I’d be if someone handed me a crank‑and‑jar churn. I wouldn’t know its purpose, let alone how to use it. Makes you wonder what the next fifty years will bring. I’m certain of one thing: nobody will be running down to the telegraph office. And someday, even cell phones will go the way of buggy whips. “We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.” — Marshall McLuhan “Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.” — Doug Larson “If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance even less.” — General Eric Shinseki #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #technology #telephones #dial https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/663/794/210/226/807/original/a74fdb0be0c116db.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Sunflowers Sunflowers can actually have anywhere from 34 to 89 petals, depending on the size and variety. Another fun fact: many sunflowers track the sun across the sky, a behavior called heliotropism. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #flowers #sunflowers https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/587/331/344/161/212/original/59a7a8fa552cf6a9.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good evening. 🌄🌅🌇 16 May 2026 We just rolled back into the house after our trip. I brought two cameras — not counting my iPhone — and somehow managed to take zero bird photos. Not one. Apparently every bird in the Ozarks and Oklahoma entered the Witness Protection Program the moment I arrived. Plenty of pictures of my granddaughter graduating from college, though. That part I nailed. First thing I did when we got home was take a Zyrtec. Something started attacking my sinuses while we were away, and naturally I grabbed the wrong bottle before we left, so I spent the whole trip raw‑dogging allergy season. Oklahoma City didn’t help — the air quality there was so bad it felt like the atmosphere was trying to exfoliate my lungs. The only thing wrong with the house right now is that Charlie isn’t in it. He’s still in boarding at the vet’s office, serving hard time. I can’t post bail until Monday morning. But Monday… we party. The drive home was more chaotic than the drives to the Ozarks and OKC, mostly because I had to actually drive the car myself for most of it. The navigation system decided we needed a scenic tour of every country road between here and the state line. At one point, “Country Roads” by John Denver came on, which would’ve been charming if I hadn’t been white‑knuckling the steering wheel like a man trying to defuse a bomb. Speaking of navigation systems: while we were doing 75 on the interstate leaving OKC, the voice calmly instructed me to “turn right at the next stop sign onto Industrial Road.” My wife and I both said “WHAT” in perfect harmony. I’m pretty sure the Industrial Road it meant was hundreds of miles away near our home. What cha gonna do? “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” — Woody Allen “Not all those who wander are lost.” — J.R.R. Tolkien “Happiness is a warm puppy.” — Charles M. Schulz #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #travel #navigation #trip #allergies https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/587/104/470/587/970/original/d8ed28fbccdad98b.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🍵🍵🍵 7 May 2026 While feeding Charlie this morning, I discovered Roomba wedged under the breakfast table. It must have gotten stuck yesterday during its rounds, and I only just noticed — meaning it had been stranded for nearly twenty‑four hours. The suffering it must have endured is unimaginable. The thought of being pinned between a table leg and a chair for that long is simply horrid. Naturally, I blame myself for being so unobservant that I didn’t hear its cries for help. It was neglect on my part, and I feel deep regret. In my defense, the moment I spotted Roomba lying lifeless under the table, I immediately extricated it and rushed it to its base station, where it is now receiving the resuscitating care it deserves. As you can see, the excitement of mornings in this household knows no bounds. Mine begins with the sudden realization that I am, in fact, still here — awake, with ambient light filtering through the curtains. When I say I “discover” I’m still here, it’s because seconds earlier I was somewhere else entirely, in a world that exists only in my mind. Or does it. I get up, stagger into the bathroom, and revive myself with a toothbrush after the night’s sleep. When I open the bedroom door and step into the rest of the house, Charlie is waiting. The moment he sees me, he turns and thunders toward the back door, fully confident that I will follow and let him out. And now, somehow, I’m already out of space this morning, so I’ll have to end it here. That’s all the chaos my morning budget allows. “Normality is a paved road: it’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” — Van Gogh “The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” — Yeats “The universe is full of things that are patiently waiting for us to notice them.” — Eden Phillpotts #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #spanishmoss #roomba https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/533/352/408/438/491/original/ec1fa637efcd2f98.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Quiet Firebird This is the third image of a Baltimore Oriole I’ve posted in a week. They’re such striking birds, and their spring stopover here is brief—sometimes they don’t pause at all—so I make the most of every encounter. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #blackbirds #baltimoreOriole https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/522/896/253/138/239/original/083eaba637799494.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Golden Approach Here’s another Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). I caught this one in mid‑flight, wings spread wide. I was a little disappointed that it didn’t fit entirely in the frame, but I still think it makes for a striking image. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/516/210/728/265/756/original/ea6f9a65180ca819.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌅🌊🍵 29 April 2026 We’re doing a little traveling in May. We’ll head up to Arkansas to watch our granddaughter graduate from college, then turn west into Oklahoma to meet our newest great‑granddaughter. It’s not a huge trip—maybe three days of driving altogether—mixed with “camping out” in hotels. And honestly, the hotel life is something we enjoy now and then. There’s a certain rugged adventure in surviving the Holiday Inn Express, the Marriott, or the Sheraton, where only the truly hardened can endure. It’s a strange moment when you realize you’re old enough to be a great‑grandparent. It hits with that “oh my, what happened” feeling. One day you’re fine, and the next—boom—you’re ancient. You’re still here, of course, but you’re no longer part of the machinery that keeps society running. That’s all been handed off to younger generations, except for the few of us who refuse to step aside quietly. Instead, we keep inserting ourselves into the fray until the end, dragging as many people with us as possible. Do I really believe that? Probably not entirely—but that’s what came out. It’s complicated. In stories and shows, you never see a group of seventy‑somethings working in an office or partying until dawn. Well, except for The Golden Girls. People in their seventies and eighties have appointments and regimens to keep. Speaking of which, I need to make sure I have enough meds for the trip. 😂 “Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” — Chili Davis “Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.” — Lois Wyse “Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.” — Terry Pratchett #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #morning #landscape #shorebirds #aging #grandchildren #travel. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/488/014/918/525/062/original/15567124375061d7.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 😴⏰☕ 27 April 2026 I really need to get moving, but I’m in a full‑blown Monday‑morning mood. You know the one—when you just sit there staring into space. The truth is, I don’t actually need Monday for that; I can manage it on pretty much any day of the week. I do try to keep my mouth closed during these Monday‑morning trances, because staring off into nothing with your jaw hanging open isn’t a great look. There’s always the risk of a little dribble sneaking out of the corner, too. That’s just… well… yuck. Especially if you’re at work or out in public. Luckily, I don’t go to work anymore, and I’m not out in public much, so most of my staring is done from my recliner. If I kick back, it just looks like I’m resting. And if I close my eyes… well… everyone’s fooled. 💤 When I do lean back with my eyes closed, my dog Charlie usually curls up on the end of the couch and joins me in his own version of the Monday‑morning trance. But if I risk even a tiny glance in his direction, I’ll often catch him staring right at me. I have to be careful with that maneuver, because the slightest eye‑flutter is his signal that it’s time to get up and get moving. The moment he thinks I’m awake, he jumps down and becomes relentless in his campaign to get me on my feet. At that point, he’s ready to go outside. His patience is almost absolute—right up until he notices the smallest twitch. Then it’s time to sound the alarm: Get up, get up, it’s time to go. He says all of that without actual words, of course. Still, I understand him perfectly. 🐶 “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” — Anne Lamott “I like to stare off into space for a while. It helps me forget the world.” — Haruki Murakami “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” — Orhan Pamuk #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #flower #rest #trance #dogs #gardenia https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/476/795/134/704/338/original/ee02eb63d4a8e331.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Guardian and the Dreamer These are two mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) I saw long ago in early spring, before the trees began putting out their leaves. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/461/552/916/671/291/original/3210824c5066ffbb.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌊🌊🌊 17 April 2026 At home, I dress ultra‑casually — gym shorts and a T‑shirt, or, if it’s cooler, old worn‑out jeans with holes and a wrinkled tee. I don’t usually go out in public like that. When I leave the house, I put on clean, ironed clothes. Yes, yes, I know: irons are so 20th century. Be that as it may — and I love saying that because it sounds vaguely gangstery — I go out in public cleaned up and pressed. Still casual, but put together. It’s not what I see when I travel out among the English. (And for the record, “out among the English” is borrowed from the 1985 film Witness, where Harrison Ford plays a detective hiding in an Amish community. An Amish traveler heading to New York is warned, “Be careful out there among the English.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth watching.) Anyway, when I’m out in public, I often see people dressed in ways that would make me hesitate to step into my own front yard. I’m not criticizing — just observing. In a way, I find it fascinating, maybe even anthropological. Though to be fair, I only ever took the intro course in anthropology back in college. What I’ve come to realize is that everyone’s “normal” isn’t the same. People — even here in Louisiana — live in slightly different subcultures where they fit perfectly and feel not the slightest bit out of place anywhere, they go. And to be sure, I haven’t always been so self‑conscious myself. I’ve gone out in dirty, ripped gym shorts and a sleeveless tee, proudly showing off muscles I didn’t actually have. From whence I come. “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” — Oscar Wilde “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” — Charles Addams “Anthropology demands the open‑mindedness with which one must look and listen.” — Margaret Mead #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #cloths #anthropolgy #normal https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/420/104/734/653/810/original/38e4576588774d3f.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Fire‑Capped Visitor Here’s a pretty sharp close‑up of a male Red‑bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woddpeckers #redbelliedwoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/409/744/104/397/356/original/a62f047f1ef378a1.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. ☕☕☕ 15 April 2026 My wife planted these Barbados lilies in two large pots outside our back door nearly twenty years ago, and they still come back every spring. It must be the perfect spot — just the right balance of sun and shade — because they return like clockwork. Thinking about the lilies reminded me of the year a colony of yellow jackets decided to build a nest in one of those same pots. I’m usually a live‑and‑let‑live kind of guy when it comes to wildlife, but that was too close for comfort. They had to go — evicted without prejudice. That brought back another backyard memory from the day I was pressure‑washing the fence. A mud dauber had built a nest on one of the boards, and when I blasted the water across it, the wasp took offense. It came straight at me and stung me on my right ear. After that, we had ourselves a little battle, and the wasp didn’t stand a chance against high‑pressure water. My ear, however, paid the price — swollen and oversized for days. How would I describe the pain of a mud dauber sting? Sharp and hot, like a quick jab of electricity. It doesn’t last long, but the swelling certainly does. I still have the pressure washer, but these days I hire someone else to handle the job. No more backyard duels for me. That said, when I was doing the pressure‑washing myself, half the job was dragging the machine from one section of fence to the next. One guy I hired showed up with a washer and several lengths of hose hooked together. Genius. And for me, a big duh — why hadn’t I thought of that. “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” — Oscar Wilde “If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.” — Erma Bombeck “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” — Robin Williams #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #morning #flowers #lilies #wasps #pressurewashing https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/409/093/841/457/769/original/4668ddad641e4288.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs It wouldn't matter here when they are gone, they are gone. If the birds don't get them the squirrels will. C'est la vie. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Jay on the Move The easiest way to catch a bird on the move is to already be snapping pictures when it leaves a known perch. Like this blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) leaping from a swing‑shaped feeder with a whole peanut in its beak. Honestly, it might have two. If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #corvids #bluejay https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/387/137/478/129/191/original/ac2f3ecbaeb6d416.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Ahem ... A male red‑bellied woodpecker stands perched atop a female, his wings lifted in a wide, dramatic spread that suggests either a protective stance or a courtship display. The pair balance together on a slender tree limb, their sharply detailed plumage set against a soft, blurred backdrop of blue sky and natural color, creating a striking contrast between the crisp foreground and the gentle background. If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpeckers #redbelliedwoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/381/981/816/368/045/original/23f63e51e16b871d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Climber of the Quiet Tree This image of a male red‑bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is from my backyard. I’m curious about the feathers on its throat—they’re so bright and white that they almost blend into the fence behind it. It’s probably just the lighting; the sky was overcast, and sometimes I really have to crank up the ISO. Still, I like the effect. It’s not perfect, but it’s visually striking. Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpeckers #redbelliedwoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/375/700/687/237/804/original/26490ae153aaac03.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌹🌹🌹 9 April 2026 I just set out a sprinkler to start watering the lawn. We haven’t had many rainy days lately. I don’t have an irrigation system I can just switch on—I still have to do the whole hose‑drag routine. It’s a little exercise, at least. It takes me three days to cover my whole target area, which still isn’t the entire yard. This morning I noticed that the years‑old hose on the east side of the house has a leak. My reaction was basically … eh. I had to laugh, because not so many years ago my self‑diagnosed OCD would’ve had me freaking out and scrambling for the truck to race to Lowe’s for a replacement. Now? I recognize that the earth isn’t going to stop spinning over a leaky hose. I’ll replace it, of course—just when I get around to it. It’s funny how we tend to overthink our problems and make them seem bigger than they really are. I think that tendency worsens as we age—purely a layman’s opinion—but it is documented that episodes of anxiety increase over time. Some of that is probably chemistry, but I wonder how much comes from simply spending more time ruminating. It helps to compartmentalize, to tuck problems into a drawer until it’s actually time to deal with them, so we can live our lives without carrying them around all day. I think we were better at that when we were young, when something like a traffic ticket barely even registered. We dealt with it and moved on. “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” — William James “Rule number one: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two: It’s all small stuff.” — Richard Carlson “Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.” — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec #photo #photography #nature #morning #flower #rose #anxiety https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/375/167/312/391/698/original/ce41042c54eb42c5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs The Takeover I thought you might enjoy this shot of chipping sparrows taking over the feeder. You’ve got to watch out for the street gangs in my backyard. 😉 https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/371/786/822/199/633/original/9be9637bd34dc77e.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Heron Rising Here is a scene that I captured at Gulfport, Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico. The large bird in the foreground is a great blue heron (scientific name). The smaller white bird is either a gull or a tern. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/366/030/466/863/314/original/a1c3dae51535d515.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Robins Rest Here is a photo of an American Robin (Turdus migratorius). It occurred to me that I’d never photographed one on a sunny day. They’re year‑round residents here, but I mostly only see them around this time of year. I took this photo in the spring of 2023. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #thrush #americanrobin https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/347/378/557/109/470/original/e75f836eac2adab2.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 😆 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Lady of the Bench In the interest of keeping things colorful this morning, here’s the most recent photograph I’ve taken. She’s a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) full of quiet character. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/341/538/688/399/827/original/d6f6528300c7eed6.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Sunbeam at the Feeder “Most of the American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) have already migrated north, but I spotted this little male yesterday still hanging around. Maybe he’s staying for the buffet. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #finch #goldfinch https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/341/474/894/083/762/original/d9dd636b70d0a85d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Young Woodpecker Rising https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/331/287/425/156/894/original/e4a404aecb5832b9.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs The King is Here I captured this vivid photograph of a ruby‑throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) in May 2023. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #rubythroatedhummingbird https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/325/138/761/369/673/original/44083b2211cc8e19.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Killdeer Existential Crisis on Concrete https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/312/733/173/612/166/original/b098ae61087a3b58.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Curious Blue Jay I noticed this image of a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). The bird seemed to study me more closely than I was studying it. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #corvids #bluejay https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/296/186/916/501/724/original/a573812bc32fafe0.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌊🪸🐚 24 March 2026 We’re going to pile into the car and head south this morning to Lake Charles, Louisiana. It’s just off I‑10 and sits right on the edge of the wetlands—what we call the bayou in Louisiana. But we won’t be going for birding or anything like that. Today it’s the wonderful world of shopping, and of course we’ll stop somewhere for lunch. Where we live, the choices are limited, though we do have a Taco Bell. I’m going to keep it short this morning because I have a feeling the day is about to get moving quickly. I haven’t even grabbed my hearing aids yet. But you know what—sometimes the extra quiet in the morning keeps me more at ease than hearing every little click and crinkle around me. A thing about hearing aids is that even if they don’t help you understand people any better, they definitely pick up all the annoying sounds like knocks and squeaks. That’s enough gibberish for this morning. I hope you have a good day. “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” — Lao Tzu “The morning steals upon the night, melting the darkness.” — Shakespeare “I am a little deaf now. Without my hearing aids in, I miss a lot of peripheral sounds.” — Roger Taylor “Wake up and be awesome!” — Code Hostel Edinburgh #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #gulls #morning #travel #hearing https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/284/227/241/900/397/original/e80f34f129ad3895.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Cry of the Red-Shouldered Hawk Here is a photo of a Red‑shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) that I took in the summer of 2023. Check out breathtaking photos of magnificent birds of prey, visit my photo gallery here: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #birdofprey #raptor #hawk #RedShoulderedHawk https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/279/071/567/737/400/original/7428ca5ee78e4fcf.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Morning Cowbird “This bird almost had me second‑guessing, because for a female Brown‑headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), its plumage is unusually light. It may well be a younger bird. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #blackbirds #brownheadedcowbird https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/273/635/657/814/823/original/2a6ac51f4095581b.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Bronze Breasted Arboreal Beauty This female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) has been around for a while — she probably still is. They show up regularly, usually early in the morning or again around dusk, though I spot them at other times as well. If you’re captivated by northern cardinals and other members of the Cardinalidae family—better known as the cardinal family—step into my photo gallery for a visual feast. Come take a look: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #northerncardinal https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/257/149/548/350/481/original/fc22b771a1056201.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Follow Me ... Here are some Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) I caught just as they were leaving a small tree—one leading, another close behind, and two more perched above, looking ready to follow. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/234/498/958/090/503/original/87213d1f2a6454f2.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌍🕑🌺 14 March 2026 Oh, gee — it’s Saturday. Once upon a time, Saturday meant something. Back then I spent too many Saturday mornings sleeping in because I’d stayed up until the wee hours doing what passed for fun. 🍺 Saturdays often came with the familiar thought: let’s not do that again. 😩 I probably didn’t waste any more time then than I do now — the difference is that these days I waste it with a clear head. Even so, I still managed to get more done in those years. I bounced back fast and had energy to spare. Now it feels like time itself is shrinking. There’s less of it in each day. It’s not because the Earth is spinning faster or whipping around the Sun like it’s trying to set a new record. That’s not actually happening — though science does show that some days are a hair shorter than others, but only by milliseconds. The real culprit is perception. There are so many things I want to do in a day, and some of those things involve simply sitting still and watching the world turn. Me and Charlie on the porch, watching the wind move through the trees, birds cutting across the yard, the occasional car rolling past the house. Feeling the cool air settle around us. I could be doing something productive, but eh … what’s the worst that can happen. I suppose I should have reached a point by now, other than this: the days, weeks, and months seem to slip by faster than they used to. “Time moves in one direction, memory in another.” — William Gibson “It’s not that we have little time, but more that we waste a good deal of it.” — Seneca “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” — Albert Einstein “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” — George Bernard Shaw #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #plant #flower #time #perception #aging #saturday https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/227/621/677/656/574/original/fcb1127ee00016ea.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Muted Majesty Here is an eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis). The photo isn’t perfect, but there’s something appealing about its softness—I had to take it through my storm door at an angle. Still, it’s the first bluebird I’ve ever seen in my backyard. He’s perched on top of a seed feeder, with another feeder nearby stocked with mealworms … yum. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #easternbluebird https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/223/012/057/050/155/original/2bbf2f0ef9901751.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Ancient Light I actually took this moon image on 1 March 2026. I just never got around to downloading it from my camera. March 1 Waxing Gibbous 96% https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/216/792/708/405/515/original/ff7217af2d0e5604.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yea, I can see where it might be a challenging puzzle. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Tangled Reflections This is a snapshot of the far shore of a small pond down the road. My dog, Charlie, and I walked over to see if any birds were around—my app picked up an American Coot, and I thought maybe… well, maybe I’d get lucky. Instead, the scene was just a dense tangle of trees and shrubs lining the opposite bank, starting about halfway up the frame. The entire lower half is water, perfectly still, holding an upside‑down reflection of that same tangle of branches and brush. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #landscape #pond #reflections #forest https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/210/703/058/685/905/original/3cfc6589e379f379.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Quiet Watcher Here is a sharp image of a Great Egret (Ardea alba) that I spotted just hanging out atop a wooden structure in Texas. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #egret #greategret https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/205/509/725/330/262/original/47d3f713898f6cd5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Tubular Sunshine This is a close-up of a small cluster of yellow, tubular Carolina jessamine flowers (Gelsemium sempervirens). Here in Louisiana, these blooms are everywhere, threading their way through the forest and climbing whatever they can reach. Since they’re a vine, it’s not unusual to see them peeking out from the tops of trees, bright flashes of yellow against the canopy. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/188/321/774/123/457/original/8e232957ca1ff4a0.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Don't Get Your Feathers Ruffled I’ve been studying this photo of a sanderling (Calidris alba), trying to make sense of what’s happening with the feathers along its back. One possibility is that a gust of wind lifted them, giving the bird that tousled look. Another is behavioral: the sanderling may be fluffing its feathers intentionally, either to shake out sand and moisture or to make itself appear larger in response to a territorial challenge. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #sanderling https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/188/216/954/796/713/original/d9c36861db8eb0ca.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Me too. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Greater Yellowlegs Drift https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/183/460/111/759/705/original/55bda69773193105.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Sunshine Visitor It must be yellow‑bird day. Here’s a Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) stopping by one of my feeders. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/177/176/886/383/905/original/7dd1e17237c1487f.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Blue Hour Elegance A leafless tree rises against a deep blue sky, its web of branches forming a fine, lace‑like silhouette. The smallest twigs stand out in sharp relief, catching the light in a way that makes the structure feel delicate and almost otherworldly. The contrast between the pale branches and the dark sky gives the scene a quiet, ethereal glow. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #tree #sky #abstract https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/177/132/605/836/063/original/5cb153e5d26ef442.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yep npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Featherwork This Green Heron (Butorides virescens) was busy with some essential grooming when I spotted it perched atop a long, tall hedge row separating a parking area from the beach on Tybee Island in Savannah, Georgia.t it atop a long, tall hedge row separating a parking area from the beach on Tybee Island at Savannah, Geogia. Explore a curated collection of heron and egret images in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #heron #greenheron https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/171/961/682/732/806/original/bbe85c189d005ec1.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs My thought exactly. I was struck by the odd architecture (or lack of) of the two wing add‑ons extending from the back of the house. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🛖🏘️🏚️ 4 March 2026 There are still a few days left before the spring equinox, yet the grass is already starting to green up. I mowed for the first time yesterday—not because the yard truly needed it, but to chop up the fallen leaves. I decided not to have anyone rake this year; the mower did the job well enough. Time moves on as I sit here with my feet propped on the desk. It rushes forward with every heartbeat, leaving behind only a brief trace of the moment before. I can “predict” the future, but only in the small ways that fall under my control. For example, I predict that when I finish this sentence, I’ll reach for my coffee cup and take a sip. And there it is—exactly as expected. I must be clairvoyant. 🔮 Of course, none of us can truly see the future, but we can influence it. We can make reasonable guesses about what might happen based on the information we have—unless that information is distorted. So much of what gets pushed at us these days is false or misleading. It’s been that way ever since the phrase “alternate facts” entered the conversation. But there are only facts; “alternate facts” don’t actually exist. Most people have active critical‑thinking skills and can sense when something sounds off or simply isn’t possible. But there’s a sizable minority who struggle with that. They seek out only the information that aligns with what they already believe, interpret anything ambiguous in a way that supports those beliefs, and remember only the details that confirm them. That pattern has a name: confirmation bias. “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” — Daniel J. Boorstin “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” — Aristotle “If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.” — George Orwell #photo #photography #morning #architecture #confirmation_bias #information https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/171/226/778/920/166/original/6a0918855e3c7a4e.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Thanks! npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Ember on a Branch Here is a postcard‑worthy image of a female northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/160/318/227/008/812/original/624aebdccdfd072b.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Pale Flier This soft‑focused image of an American goldfinch in midair is actually a photo bomb. I was focused on a different bird when this one slipped into the corner of the frame. The result feels like a pastel made of light and motion, a small burst of color drifting through the shot at just the right moment. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #finch #americangoldfinch https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/160/195/314/131/596/original/b5252e606986b612.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Thanks! npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 👍 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌊🌊🌊 27 February 2026 When I was a kid in school, I used to paint pictures of the ocean. I loved shaping the waves and their whitecaps, and for a kid who hadn’t even hit double digits, I wasn’t half bad. I’d slip into the zone—so focused that the rest of the world fell away and the work just flowed. Painting isn’t a skill I’ve carried into adulthood, but that feeling of dropping into the zone still shows up now and then, even if it’s rarer than it used to be. You probably know the feeling. When you’re creating something and the knowledge, the muscle memory, the instincts—they’re all right there, lining up without effort. You’re on a roll, and you know it. Maybe it’s biorhythms, maybe it’s something else. Science mostly shrugs at the idea of biorhythms, but the truth is we all have days when everything clicks and days when we can’t seem to do anything right. Most of life happens somewhere in between. I’m not sure where I’m going with this—must be one of those in‑between days. Maybe the best way to explain “the zone” is through running. At the start you feel clumsy, every step a bit of work. But as you settle in, your focus narrows, distractions fall away, and the movement smooths out. The effort becomes its own reward. Runners call it being in the zone, or runner’s high. It makes me wonder if that state has something to do with the body’s own chemistry—dopamine, serotonin, the neurotransmitters that shape motivation, reward, and mood. There’s probably something there. I’ll have to think on it a bit more. “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” - Mary Oliver “The mind’s first step to self-awareness must be through the body.” - George Sheehan “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.” - Seneca #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #thezone #runnershigh #landscape #seascape #ocean #waves https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/142/993/136/280/318/original/52028604ba31660a.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Beachside Companions Here is a photograph of a Sanderling (Calidris alba) [left] and a Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) [right] foraging along the shoreline at Holly Beach, Louisiana. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/137/359/667/914/547/original/3a74089f10a26ae1.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Tide Dancers Here’s a photograph of a gathering of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) at Gulfport, Mississippi. Every time we visited, I ended up taking hundreds of pictures of these fascinating birds, so I like to post one every now and then. If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #blackskimmers https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/137/279/182/032/415/original/ecf04b02f8935b95.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Curious Goldfinch I like the posture of this little goldfinch (Spinus tristis). It seems genuinely intrigued by the emerging spring buds on the oak branch. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/134/233/795/312/486/original/5b52fa8d059b5722.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Edge of the Perch Here is a sharp image of a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). I’m not entirely sure what it was preparing to do, though it likely dropped to the ground a moment later. If you're enchanted by images of blue jays and other captivating corvids, dive into my photo gallery for a visual treat! Take a peek: https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #corvids #BlueJay https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/132/388/368/545/819/original/094c40f5112eb78d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Flock in the Mist This photograph captures the dark silhouettes of ten pigeons gliding across a gray, cloud‑layered sky. If you're a fan of stunning dove imagery, be sure to explore my photo gallery for a collection of beautiful snapshots that capture their elegance and charm. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #doves #pigeons #RockPigeons #RockDoves https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/126/386/902/357/298/original/19cb812ed72414d7.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs I’ve heard the called buzzards. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Skyborne Vulture https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/121/304/023/993/344/original/ab8d332f0d289fbe.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Chickadee in Pink I was digging through my unpublished archives this morning and found this image of a Carolina chickadee holding a sunflower seed. What caught my eye was the soft flash of color from the crepe myrtle blossoms in the background. Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #CarolinaChickadee https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/121/137/836/939/541/original/7b06f68d3edcf59d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 😴🥱☕ 23 February 2026 The temperature this morning is reminding us that winter isn’t quite done with us yet. The sun is out, the trees are starting to sprout leaves, and the birds are singing, but Charlie and I aren’t exactly outside dancing and belting out The Sound of Music. Charlie would be fine with that, but for now I’d rather stay inside where it’s warm. Maybe we’ll head out later, once things warm up a bit. I suppose I could just dress warmly and go for a walk, but the weather is right at that tricky point where it’s hard to guess the right number of layers. Too many, and I’m stuck walking a mile feeling overheated; too few, and I’m chilled the whole way. The sweet spot is when I start out cold and warm into it as I go—but then the outside temperature rises during the walk, throwing the whole calculation off. There must be a formula for getting it just right. That’s my problem alone, though. Charlie just steps outside exactly as he is, no matter the weather, like it doesn’t bother him at all. I know he notices temperature, though. In the evenings he always finds the perfect spot in the house—sometimes tucked behind my wife’s chair, sometimes in the foyer, sometimes on the couch in the family room. I rarely ever find him in his actual bed. He moves around during the night, I think, but when I open the bedroom door in the morning, he’s right there waiting for me. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” - Annie Dillard “Walking is how the body measures itself against the earth.” - Rebecca Solnit “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” - Roger Caras “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” - Mary Oliver #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #weather #temperature #dogs https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/120/386/298/664/687/original/5cc95810bd7a7ddb.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Eye-to-Eye with a Tufted Titmouse This tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) seems to stare directly at the camera. Tufted titmice are a favorite among a select group of bird enthusiasts. To celebrate these charming creatures, I’ve curated a special collection dedicated entirely to them in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #tuftedtitmouse https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/114/890/538/523/847/original/a511a9c91d17ba3d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Pine Warbler Glow https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/110/144/644/471/292/original/027bfc12d9ba92de.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌷🌷🌷 21 February 2026 Yesterday morning, when I looked outside, the post in the center of the yard—the one topped with the bird feeder—was lying on the ground. It must have gone over during the night. That redwood post had stood its ground for a little over twenty years, but eventually the moisture won. What finally pushed it past the tipping point? Hard to say. Maybe wind. Maybe squirrels. Maybe a raccoon making its rounds. I lean toward raccoon, because the overnight seed‑depletion rate has been higher than usual. Either way, the day announced itself. I knew what needed doing. I grabbed my shovel and post‑hole digger and re‑excavated the hole, going down about twenty‑four inches. Then I broke for lunch. While eating, I opened the Lowe’s app and ordered a pressure‑treated, ground‑contact 4x4x6 for curbside pickup, then waited for the “ready” text. After lunch, Charlie and I hopped in the truck, drove to Lowe’s, and picked it up. An associate brought it out and set it in the bed for me. Back home, I set the new post in the ground and packed in enough dirt to hold it upright while I leveled it. I had to remove the mounting crosspiece from the old post—held on with two 16‑penny nails. Fortunately, I managed to salvage one of them after pulling off the head piece, and that was enough to secure the crosspiece to the new 4x4. It already fit snugly, so one nail would do. After that, it was just a matter of screwing the feeder back onto the mount, and just like that, we were back in business. I re‑leveled the post, poured about ten pounds of cement into the hole, watered it in, added more dirt, and called it done. “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” - “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.” - E.B. White #photo #photography #photographer #wildlife #nature #morning #flower https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/109/167/557/007/219/original/ed58e71b56ce9e12.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Makes sense. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Toxic Fruit of the Invader I noticed these little blue berries and stopped to take a picture. This is a close‑up of a Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) branch with its green leaves and small blue fruit. The berries are toxic to humans, and the plant itself is another invasive species in Louisiana—one of many, it seems. There are Elliott’s Blueberry plants around here as well, so I try not to mix them up. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #plant #foliage #leaves #berries https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/103/450/129/408/313/original/78a5a65ac19b9d63.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 😂 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Shadow Walker This is a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) that I saw one day hunting in the field across from my house. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/098/483/155/668/677/original/f8cb6dfde03e9231.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. ☕☕☕ 19 February 2026 The grandfather clock has just announced that it’s nine o’clock. You know, I’ve gone more than seven decades saying “o’clock” without ever stopping to think about what it literally meant. I finally looked it up: it’s shorthand for “of the clock.” You’d think I would have known that, but I honestly didn’t. Nobody ever says, “It’s nine of the clock,” do they? I don’t recall a teacher—or anyone else—ever explaining it. It was just one of those things you absorbed: you picked the hour, like nine, and added “o’clock” to signal that you were talking about time. There are things I don’t remember learning, and others I remember clearly. One of my earliest memories is of a small chalkboard I had as a child. I would pretend to write the way I saw my parents do. Only scribbles came out, of course, but maybe that was the beginning. Maybe I sensed that their marks carried meaning, or maybe I didn’t, but I imitated them all the same. That memory is vague but still there. I must have been younger than five but older than two—so probably three or four. Somewhere along the way I picked up some rudimentary math skills too. God bless the teachers. I have three granddaughters who all want careers in education. One is already a college counselor, and the other two are in college, each preparing to teach grade school. What would we do without teachers. “We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction.” — Malcolm Gladwell “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” — Henry Adams “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #time #teachers #plants #flowers #daffodil #lily https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/097/824/772/454/712/original/ab3c8576aef21e4c.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs The Thoughtful Finch I was planning to dig into my shore‑bird files one evening a while back, but then this House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) caught my eye. His posture makes him look as if he’s pondering something important. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/092/041/705/607/273/original/29a491bb72f0dfd5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Thanks Barbara! npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 'Good morning. 🌥️⛅🌤️ 17 February 2026 I’m getting a late start this morning. After feeding Charlie at 0730, I sat down in my chair and promptly fell asleep. Next thing I knew, it was 0930. I had a late night because I wanted to finish the book I’ve been reading — Going Home in the Dark by Dean Koontz. When I first started the book, it threw me off. Koontz opens with a brief foreword claiming the events are true, with names and places changed to protect privacy. Then he tells the story from the writer’s point of view, even commenting on writing techniques the narrator might use throughout. But the book is fiction — at least I hope it is, because if it weren’t, it would change my worldview. The story centers on four people who grew up in a town called Maple Grove — though that name is supposed to be an alias. They were self‑described high‑school outcasts who called themselves the Amigos. All but one eventually escaped the town and built lives elsewhere, but they stayed in touch. Each one became successful in the arts: a movie star, a novelist, a painter, and a songwriter. All of them have gaps in their memories from their school days in Maple Grove. The story begins when the one Amigo who stayed behind falls into a coma, and the other three return to Maple Grove to be by his side. I’d tell you more, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I enjoyed the story and can’t help wondering if there will be a sequel or even a series. I see real potential. “A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.” — Neil Gaiman “Though a good deal is too strange to be believed, nothing is too strange to have happened.” — Thomas Hardy “There are things we remember, and things we think we remember.” — Harold Pinter “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” — Elisabeth Foley #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #book #novel #DeanKoontz https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/086/804/702/584/869/original/0a7362bd967193b6.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 👍 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs 😊 npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Bamboo in Blooming Color This is a photo of the leaves of a heavenly bamboo plant (Nandina domestica) that grows in our front yard, right on the southwest corner of the house. Also known as Chinese sacred bamboo, it’s a shrub that carries both red and green leaves—quietly striking, and one of my favorites. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/080/696/529/557/502/original/997a4b6b8ad03fe2.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Cold Feet Notice how the feet of this mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) disappear beneath a blanket of feathers, tucked up into its body to stay warm. Pretty cool, huh. Last year I only saw three of these birds around this time; this year there are at least twice that many. If you're a fan of stunning dove imagery, be sure to explore my photo gallery for a collection of beautiful snapshots that capture their elegance and charm. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #dove #MourningDove https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/080/576/818/473/930/original/e99b6daa96bdf484.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Yep npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Mourning Dove Duo https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/076/097/204/496/471/original/bafae730bb35e6bc.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🌻🌼🌷 15 February 2026 I’m off to a rough start today. I woke up, shuffled into the bathroom, grabbed my toothbrush, and started brushing my teeth. Within seconds something felt… wrong. I stopped, looked down, and—ugh 😱—realized I was using the little toothbrush I keep for cleaning the tight corners of the sink. Somehow I must have put it in the toothbrush cup instead of back under the sink with the cleaning supplies. I don’t think I’ve ever rinsed my mouth so fast. 🤢 If I could have stuck my whole head under the faucet and let the water run straight through, I would have. Pranked by my own inattention. Ewe! When I went to let Charlie out, three small gray squirrels were already in the backyard. The moment they heard me turn the lock on the storm door, they bolted, and Charlie tore after them as they scrambled for the hole under the fence. It’s the usual morning routine—three squirrels, one determined dog, the daily game of dog‑and‑squirrel tag. I often see the same trio, though sometimes there are five or six. During the day, Charlie stations himself at the back door, staring out like a self‑appointed guardian against the “bad squirrels.” When they show up, he comes to get me—muttering, nudging, insisting—until I get up and let him out. It can be a little annoying if I’m busy or trying to nap, but there’s really only one way to make him stop, and that’s to open the door. I can tell him to get in bed, but that only buys a few minutes. Might as well give in and let the guardian do his job. “Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” — Voltaire “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” — Jon Kabat‑Zinn To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” — Oscar Wilde #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature#morning #mishap #dogs #quirrels #flower https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/074/847/928/887/729/original/460d6976c4669208.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Look Up This chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) looks as though it’s glancing up toward a feeder overhead. I love photos that seem to capture a moment of thought. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/070/092/765/649/450/original/759a3d651d2a43d8.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Luminous Layers This is the face of a wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) that bloomed a couple of days ago. The flower is yellow, with six pale outer petals and a deeper, richer yellow trumpet in the center—almost like a smaller flower nested within the larger one. If you love flowers—or just enjoy discovering their beauty and names like I do—come explore my gallery of blooms captured in moments of wonder and curiosity. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #plant #flower https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/069/849/540/944/188/original/9ae39ff4cd0fe719.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Blue Jay Through Blossoms https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/064/362/174/824/770/original/26211cc0f29b0dfa.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🦆🪿🦢 13 February 2026 Today is a walk day, and my brain is already trying to talk me out of it—suggesting I could just pick it up tomorrow, which of course I wouldn’t. The funny thing is, once we’re actually moving, it’s enjoyable. But getting prepped—me with the right shoes and clothes, and Charlie with his harness and leash—is about ninety percent of the effort. The other ten percent is simply pointing my feet toward the door. Charlie doesn’t seem to have that problem. At the first hint that we’re going for a walk, he’s ready, even a little anxious to get going. I had to step away for a minute to feed him. While I was at it, I grabbed a couple of Tylenol for my back and topped off my coffee. Charlie always tickles me. Sometimes when I feed him, I’ll stand nearby for a moment and watch. He’ll pause with his head still down, give me a sideways glance, bare his teeth just a little, and let out a low growl—as if I’m about to steal his food. Or maybe he just prefers to dine in private and I’m annoying him. Either way, it’s mildly amusing. The look reminds me of Muttley, Dick Dastardly’s dog, when he mutters and grumbles under his breath. Saturday morning cartoons were a big deal back in the day. Dick Dastardly and Muttley showed up in two of them: Wacky Races (1968–1969) and Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines (1969–1970). Stop the pigeon, stop the pigeon… I wonder when Saturday morning cartoons stopped being a thing. I’m sure the rise of 24/7 TV lineups and dedicated children’s channels brought that whole phenomenon to an end. “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” — Henry David Thoreau “Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.” — Thich Nhat Hanh “Drat, drat, drat, and double drat!” — Dick Dastardly #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #walk #dogs #ducks #cartoons https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/063/474/240/798/690/original/67c28615f8053613.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Apparently, every species of genus Molothrus - true cowbirds are obligate brood parasites. The bay-winned cowbird though is a member of genus Agelaioides and not a true cowbird and not brood parasites. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Whispers from Above One morning a couple of years ago, Charlie and I were sitting outside under an overcast sky. Through the trees at the edge of the forest, I noticed a bird approaching from the northeast. At first I assumed it was a vulture—they’re always gliding around out there—but when it broke above the treetops, I realized it was a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/058/633/370/107/601/original/b523ce428aef39a5.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Crimson Belly, Timber Dweller Here’s a pretty good photo of a male Red‑bellied Woodpecker that stopped by late this afternoon. You can see how he earned his name. Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery. https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpecker #RedBelliedWoodpecker https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/058/574/429/754/736/original/1709b92b911e45b7.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs No doubt. npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Young Forager This is a juvenile Brown‑headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater). I usually start seeing them in late spring, when fledglings of all kinds are out exploring the world. Every now and then I’ll even spot one being fed by its surrogate parent. If you don’t know, Brown‑headed Cowbirds are brood parasites — they lay their eggs in the nests of other species, who often end up raising the cowbird chick as their own. Why do they do this? That’s a good question, and I don’t think anyone knows the exact moment it began. But many scientists believe their ancestors followed the massive bison herds across the Great Plains. Because the birds had to stay on the move with the herds, they couldn’t stick around long enough to build a nest and raise young, so…. https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/053/171/737/980/981/original/2b5092c4fb4cf49f.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Titmouse at Attention This Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is perched atop my old bird feeder, the one I kept going for more than twenty years. I patched and repaired it countless times until it finally gave out not long ago. Tufted titmice are a favorite among a select group of bird enthusiasts. To celebrate these charming creatures, I’ve curated a special collection dedicated entirely to them in my photo gallery. Take a look! https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #TuftedTitmouse https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/053/094/260/268/705/original/c775138fcee59d6d.jpg npub1wmuwvj6566q7cdlckvlww5rfe8mgvlkwj9qdkslgyxnen5exy8xqsdkxl8 Swede’s Photographs Good morning. 🥬🥬🥬 11 February 2026 Money is a strange invention when you stop and think about it. We trade real things—our time, our labor, our needs—for little pieces of paper that we can then trade for something else. And these days, we don’t even touch the paper. Instead, we’re given digital credits in accounts held by financial institutions that promise to hand over the paper if we ever ask for it. Most of the time, though, we just swipe a little plastic card and the value moves from one place to another. I’m not entirely sure where I’m going with this, except to say that most transactions now happen electronically. Maybe I’ve wandered into a subject that’s a bit bigger than I intended. I can still remember the first ATM I ever used. Early ’80s, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Before that, if I wanted cash, I had to walk into the bank and write a check, or buy something with a check and write it for twenty dollars over—back when that was common. I think it still happens, but you don’t see many people writing checks in the supermarket anymore. What really amazed me came around the turn of the century. My wife and I had just returned to the States after three years in Germany, and suddenly people were paying for gas right at the pump with credit cards. I thought that was wonderful. No more going inside, no more prepaying—which always annoyed me. You just slip in your card, pump your gas, and drive away. I’m out of room now, but I was starting to think about the full‑service stations of years past. Another time, maybe. “Money is a strange business. People who haven’t got it, worry about it. And people who have, are full of worries too.” — Alec Guinness “We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.” — Marshall McLuhan “You never step in the same river twice.” — Heraclitus #photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #nature #morning #plant #elephantear #technology #money https://media.universeodon.com/media_attachments/files/116/052/367/364/797/649/original/96fcfbf431a704d3.jpg