Tessera

Teach Honest History

@cliftographer.bsky.social

Amateur wildlife photographer, mostly birds. Retired software engineer. Politically progressive, I believe in authentic democracy and diversity in all its many dimensions. An old white guy who tries not to act like one. All photos mine (except reposts).

1525 Posts3210 Follower 624 Folgt

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 13h ago

With the mix of hot weather and frequent rain, our canna lily is thriving. Have multiple blooms like this, each the size of my hand. #flowers #flower #bloomscrolling

A single large canna lily flower. It has six large orange-pink petals visible in this view with large yellow-green leaves.

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 2d ago

@morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Have you collected your check yet from the Mike Rogers for Senate Campaign? Your epic one-sided rant against the #DSA this morning was a wonderful campaign ad for the GOP. #USApol #Michigan

SkandiPhotographer @skandiphotographer.bsky.social · 5d ago

For a few quiet moments, the sky found its reflection. #photography #naturephotography #fujifilm #skandiphotographer

Soul of Alba Photography @soul-of-alba.bsky.social · 7d ago

Moody skies, calm waters, and centuries of history. Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness is one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, and the atmosphere made this visit unforgettable. #Scotland #UrquhartCastle #LochNess #Photography #LandscapePhotography #VisitScotland

The Bishop @ceas10.bsky.social · last wk.

Besties Tito and Baker just can't get enough time together #PetSky #CatSky #Cats #Photo #Vizsla #Dogs #DogSky

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 2w ago

Passing thought: Donald #Trump has the same respect and sensitivity toward architecture and interior decorating as he has for the U.S. Constitution and the Rule of Law. #USAPOL #sarcasm

Alan Hoelzle @alanhoelzle.bsky.social · 2w ago

Sunrise with my bird friends #beach #sunrise #coloraday #photography

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 2w ago

Celebrating 72 trips 'round ole Sol today. For no particular reason, here are two photos of an Eastern ribbon #snake. Alexandria, Virginia, USA 24-July-2026. #herps #snakes

An eastern ribbon snake is curled around an old shriveled brown leaf. The head is visible and the long forked tongue is sticking out.

Remy Michaels @remyscameraeye.bsky.social · 2w ago

Simply Majestic... Behold, the King of Camouflage. Early evening. Oskar The Northern Long Eared Owl (Husband of Olivia), with his eyes on me, enjoying the fresh air and scenery. So handsome. 🦉📸 🇨🇦 #NorthernLongEaredOwl #Birds #Owls #Photography #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #Sony #WildlifePhotography

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 2w ago

The US mid-term elections are > 3 months away & already #fundraising text messages are stacking up like airplanes waiting to land at a busy airport. Can someone point me to an app that detects these and automatically sends a 'STOP' message in reply? Because that's what I do always. #USApol

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 2w ago

[Carnival barker voice] "Come one, come all, and see the amazing double-headed turtle!" Eastern Painted Turtles, Alexandria, Virginia, USA 24-July-2026. #herps #turtles

Two eastern painted turtles on a log in shallow water. One turtle is facing to toward the upper left and has its head well out of its shell looking upward. There is another turtle behind the first one but its legs and most of its shell is concealed. The head is looking upward toward the upper right of the photo. The effect of the two together is such that at first glance it appears like a single turtle with an upturned head at both ends.

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 2w ago

Anyone here fans of those tiny green tree frogs? Here's a quartet of photos I took this Friday. #herps #frogs #GTF #naturephotography

A green tree frog resting on a large leaf as seen from directly above the frog. This views shows the legs and toes nicely.

A view of the top of a green tree frog. This is an unusual view because the sun is behind the leaf shining through. This makes the leaf appear bright green and reveals the ribs and veins of the leaf clearly. The frog by contrast appears a darker green here.

A view of a half-hidden green tree frog perching in a near vertical pose on a reed. The one eye that is visible is partly open and one can see the white underside of the frog.

A side view of a green tree frog resting on the side of a reed. The sun is shining from above and illuminating the frog's face. The one eye that is visible is partly open.

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 3w ago

The eastern tiger swallowtails absolutely loved this one gum bush. They came back to it repeatedly. #butterfly #naturephotography Alexandria, Virginia, USA 24-July-2026.

Three eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies hovering at a cluster of buttonbush flowers. All three are butterflies are of the common yellow and black color pattern and all have their wings spread wide. Two of them at the lower left of the photo are side by side and in almost exactly in the same position as if flying in formation.

SoCal Leslie @socalleslie.bsky.social · 3w ago

Red-tailed hawk pair sitting in a Joshua Tree. 🌿🪶

Pair of red tailed hawks sitting together in a Joshua Tree.

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 3w ago

For @luperamos1949.bsky.social Here you go! A short video of the common yellowthroat singing. Apologies for amateurish old man shaky video. #birds #video #birdvideo

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 3w ago

Most songbirds frustrate me by perching high up in the canopy where I can't see them. Today however, this common yellowthroat perched in a small leafless tree about 8 ft off the ground in a clearing in good light and sang beautifully. Alexandria, Virginia, USA. 24-July-2026. #birds

Jocelyn Anderson Photography @jocelynanderson.bsky.social · 3w ago

A Green Heron doing a floof over a duckweed covered pond. The duckweed didn't stop the heron from catching a few mud minnows.

Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 3w ago

Wow, what an encounter.. TT: @michael_.lares Nemiah Valley, BC 🇨🇦

Paul Napier @wildlife-exposures.bsky.social · 3w ago

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Photographed July 22, 2026, Town of Lewiston, NY www.instagram.com/wildlife.exposures #OM-1MarkII #wildlifephotography #photographersunited #naturephotography #fineartphotography #macro #insects #closeupphotography #moths #hummingbirdmoths

@Swede1952 @swede1952.bsky.social · 3w ago

Get Off My Lawn I caught this brief dispute between a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). ... 1/2 #photo #photography #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdphotography #corvids #cardinals #bluejay #northerncardinal

"The scene takes place at ground level in a patch of bright green grass. A blue jay and a northern cardinal stand only inches apart, both firmly planted on the earth. The grass around them is fresh and lively, blades bending slightly under their small bodies.

The blue jay looks sharp and assertive — feathers patterned in bold blues and whites, its crest tipped upward in irritation. Its posture leans forward just a bit, wings tucked but shoulders lifted, giving the impression of a bird that’s not afraid to press its point.

The cardinal, glowing red like a small ember in the grass, faces the jay with unmistakable intensity. Its crest is raised high, and its beak is wide open, a bright orange triangle aimed directly at the jay. The open beak isn’t a threat of violence — it’s a warning, a loud “stay back” delivered without sound. The cardinal’s black mask frames that open beak, making the gesture even more dramatic.

Between them hangs a tiny pocket of tension: two birds, two colors, two tempers. The jay stands its ground with cool confidence; the cardinal counters with fiery defiance. The grass rustles softly around them, as if nature itself is watching this brief, bright disagreement.

In another heartbeat, they’ll go their separate ways. But right now, the ground is their stage, and the cardinal’s open beak is the headline." - Microsoft Copilot with edits by the photographer

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 3w ago

If hot, humid, weather has got you down, travel back in time with me six months to when this ring-billed gull was enjoying a delicious morsel of something while standing on a thin sheet of ice. #BirdOftheDay #Gull #Gulls #birds

A ring-billed gull is standing on a thin sheet of ice on a marsh with some food dangling from its mouth (perhaps part of a crayfish but its hard to tell). The gull has a white head, chest, and belly, and light gray wings with black trim on the ends. The gull has a yellow big with a black stripe that gives it its name.

Acid Rain @bearysweet.bsky.social · 4w ago

The Tennessee Aquarium IMAX in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is one of only 25 theaters in the US screening Christopher Nolan's epic film, The Odyssey, in native 70mm IMAX film. The theater restored its classic 70mm projector to provide this highest-resolution cinematic experience possible. #odyssey

Dr Anke Marsh @ankemarsh.bsky.social · 3w ago

@daryllmarie.bsky.social has a number of feeds for mammals, marine life etc. all really good (like her birds feed). And the #BirdOfTheDay hashtag is great - haven’t seen anything suspect on there, just animal lovers and a range of photo skills all enjoying birds and nature

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 3w ago

So ashamed of our idiot president. #USAPOL #Trump #canafa #tariffs apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump imposes 50% tariff on Canadian goods, citing disputes over autos, alcohol and cheese

President Donald Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products.

apnews.com

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 3w ago

For #BirdOfTheDay theme #Corvidae I offer one male blue jay making it abundantly clear that the arrival of a second male blue jay is NOT OK. #birds

A male blue jay is facing the viewer on the rear edge of a bird bath on the right side of the photo. Its beak is wide open in a loud cry in reaction to the arrival of a second male blue jay that has just landed on the near side of the bird bath, perched on the left side with its back to the viewer. There is a large chunk of milky quartz stone in the center of the birdbath separating the two birds.

Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 3w ago

Longtime third place game respecter here reheating my article from 2017

The NFL Should Replace the Pro Bowl With a Third-Place Game

If you’re not first, you could still not be fourth

theringer.com

Jimmy Kempski@jimmykempski.bsky.social · 3w ago

I’m officially sold on a 3rd place game in the NFL.

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 4w ago

Can any #science people tell me if wearing KN-95 or similar #masks does any good WRT to the smoke coming from the #Canada #wildfires ? We are on the fringes of the bad stuff in the Washington, DC area, but I see people doing this. #medsky #health

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 4w ago

All anyone needs to know about Trump’s speech tonight. #USApol

Jocelyn Anderson Photography @jocelynanderson.bsky.social · 4w ago

A Virginia Rail on the hunt for tasty things. That long beak gives good reach for finding foodstuffs when poking about in the mud.

Teach Honest History @cliftographer.bsky.social · 4w ago

When MAGA sends their #ICE agents, they aren’t sending their best. They are sending people with a history of violence and mental health problems. #MAINE #USAPOL apnews.com/article/ice-...

AP Exclusive: ICE officer in Maine shooting has history of violent behavior, family and records say

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood, according to c...

apnews.com