Notices by oldguy52 - Freedom Summer (oldguy52@techhub.social)

An excellent video by Marc Elias of Democracy Docket this week. Well worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LQeLY3Ltpg

#DemocracyDocket #MarcElias

Young Red-shouldered Hawk trying to land and perch on a very windy day. It was successful but had to bite the branch to gain enough traction.

#BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #RedShoulderedHawk #BirdInAction #EndBillionaires #EndTrump #ImpeachConvictRemoveAdministration

Not one of our most popular birds, the Common Grackles are moving through our area in large raucous flocks. they are considered an agricultural pest and subjected to control measures that have them in steep decline, and listed as threatened. These are large and aggressive birds that will clear out a feeder or a field if they come in a large flock. When they come through the woods in a large flock (hundreds), it can be quite the sight - and a cacophony of sound.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #CommonGracke #DarkTable #NoWar
#RemoveTheseLyingBastards

Still working on the Thrushes, down to the difficult ones. We see (should see) Swainson's, Wood, and Gray Cheeked Thrushes in our area. They have very different songs, all of them hauntingly beautiful. They all look very much alike, and can represent a challenge to ID.

Swainson's Thrushes move through our area in fall and spring migrations to rest and refuel. They seem to show up all at once overnight filling the woods with their call. . They overwinter in Central and South America and nest in Canada, Alaska and Mountainous NE an NW. The song and the eye ring are diagnostic

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #SwainsonsThrush #DarkTable #AbolishICE

Hermit Thrushes are one of our smaller Thrushes with a beautiful fluty song. These are forest dwellers that overwinter in our area then migrate north to Canada and NE and to the mountains to nest. The key ID is the rufous tail that that stands out in the winter light.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #HermitThrush #SolaceInNature #DarkTable #AbolishICE #NoChildShouldBeInPrison

Another difficult warbler, then two favorites before finishing this Family - at least the ones I seen and been able to photography.

This is an Orange-crowned Warbler, likely an immature bird based on the amount of gray. These are variable distance migrators depending on sub-species, overwintering in southern areas, Mexico and portions of Central
America. The Nest in Canada, Alaska and the Northwest. They will show the orange crest if agitated, but typically not. ID is tough without a song.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #OrangeCrownedWarbler #ResistTyranny

A little on Redbud Valley Nature Preserve. The only remaining remnant of the Osage Questa ecosystem - the rest have been Quarried out - Redbud is bounded by active Quarries on two sides. Caprock is Oolagah Lime underlain by Labette Shale, both (in US terminology - Des Moinsian - in International terminology - Moscovian into Kasimovian. A unique geologic setting, with a fracture controlled perched aquifer, and unique mass wasting. Ecologically very unique with wild orchids, blue ash and many rare plants.

The preserve is a true preserve, trails only, no collecting, no climbing, limited access in the following order - research, teaching, recreation. Open for recreation only 2 to 4 days per year to prevent abuse and damage.

In this morning’s visit time, only had to use my outdoor perturbed field professor voice a few times when folks decided to climb the cliffs. It is open again tomorrow - will see if hikers behave better.

A few photos

#RedbudValleyNaturePreserve #LandscapePhototography #iPhonePhotos

Dr. Richardson’s Letter today was stunning, painful …

————

I agree fully with the statement:

“Observers referred to the document as National Security Council Report (NSC) 88 and noted that it could have been written in just 14 words. White supremacists use 88 to refer to Adolf Hitler and “fourteen words” to refer to a popular white supremacist slogan.”

No wonder the admin(?) waited until Friday night to release the NSS without fanfare. It’s a final abdication. 320 days! 320 days is all it took to destroy our nation from within.

————

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-5-2025

#HeatherCoxRichardson

A volunteer work day to help the Nature Center and to clear my head. Not in a good place right now.

An image of a Great Egret that reminds me of an old Dipping Bird Toy. I love birds, but my mental image here is that of GOP corruption constantly stealing from those in need.

#BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #GreatEgret

A wicked hot and difficult volunteer work day yesterday, another tomorrow. Today will be a rest and recuperate day, with some cleanup and maintenance.

Still incredulous - angry … with the evil I see in the GQP. Looking forward to #NoKings, but fear it is not enough.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #500mm #BaldEagle #ResistTyranny #ProjectTheConstitution #ImpeachImpeachImpeach

Day three of the shutdown: The “president” and his ogres declare war on the people of the US engaging in inhumane raids — actions of a deranged lunatic.

Yesterday’s volunteer work day was brutal. Several trees down blocking trails, one a widow maker - still trying to figure out how to clear that safely. Means I have to wear full PPE on a stifling hot day. Today is another volunteer work day to finish up (I hope).

Bird of the day: A Great Egret landing, but taken from behind.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #500mm #GreatEgret #ResistTyranny #ProtectTheConstitution #IAmAntifa

#SilentSunday #BirdPhotography #GreenHeron #750mm #DarkTable

A Green Heron starting its day out right by swallowing a frog first thing in the morning

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #750mm #GreenHeron #DarkTable

Another volunteer workday today, so a short post. Snowy Egrets have been on the move with their showy strut and Bridget yellow feet.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #SnowyEgret #500mm #Resist

With the inhumane horrors of H.R.1, I've had to retreat to a happy place for sunrise. May be here a while.

#Sunrise #PhotoMonday #FotoMontag #MonumentValley #NavajoTribalPark #35mm #Affinity #DarkTable #FuckTheGOP

@GottaLaff

Has Bill Koch’s insanity written throughout. An attack to cut education, science, environmental regulation, and hand the money to billionaires. Blood boil moment.

On a happier note, there are new arrivals every day at the Nature Sanctuary. Migration is in full motion. Some over-winter birds are changing behaviors to bulk up more for the flight north. New arrivals are searching for food sources. All of that means a near cacophony of songs and calls that are challenging to keep separate in my head. More Prothonotary Warblers have arrived, so we may keep a few despite the low water levels. Also seeing Brown Thrashers …

As a note you can track migration for your area using Cornell’s Migration Dashboard
https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/migration-dashboard/

Check all of their migration tools.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotography #500mm #ProthonotaryWarbler

A happy note for the morning. Great Crested Kingbirds have been reported in the county. So will be out this morning to search for both Red-eyed Vireo and for the Great-crested. Below, a Red-eyed Vireo from last year.

My challenge in finding photos is remembering or searching through the ~50,000 images over the years. I’ve tried various ways of databasing them without much success, so have to rely on a failing memory to recall a relative date of good representative photos.

#BirdsOfMastodon #BirdPhotograpy #RedEyedVireo #500mm #DarkTable #PhotoMonday

@GottaLaff

Trigger moment: What the hell is there to consider? An innocent man was seized and deported to a hell hole without due process — AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACT. Again, what the hell is there to consider. A man’s life is at stake. There are many others in the same situation. ACT! JFC!

No need to reply.

Dr. Richardson’s Letter this morning hits very hard. It details the depths of betrayal by this administration - abandoning former alliances across the world in favor of Russia. This includes deporting Ukrainian refugees. It is heartbreaking to see how far this country has fallen in under 2 months.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-6-2025

My take — This is no longer the nation I grew up in; no longer the country I loved for over 70 years. The GQP is a Russian terror group that has betrayed us all.

#HeatherCoxRichardson #FeelingBetrayed #ImpeachTheBastard