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cliftographer.bsky.social
Teach Honest History
@cliftographer.bsky.social
2.9K followers 580 following 1.2K posts
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).
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cliftographer.bsky.social
"You will be visited by three spirits" #birds #threespirits
November 26, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
reuters.com
US DOJ investigating handling of its own probe into Senator Schiff reut.rs/44i3ODJ
US DOJ investigating handling of its own probe into Senator Schiff
Federal prosecutors in Maryland are scrutinizing the conduct of two allies of U.S. President Donald Trump in their investigation of Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and two sources briefed on the matter.
reut.rs
November 20, 2025 at 11:40 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
Trump is pulling out all the stops to please/bribe/manipulate Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed 'bone saw' bin Salman in advance of his visit to DC.
apnews.com The Associated Press @apnews.com · 9d
President Donald Trump said Monday he will sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Washington visit, as he praised the kingdom for its long partnership with the United States.
Trump says he will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia on eve of crown prince's Washington visit
President Donald Trump says he will sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Washington visit, as he praises the kingdom for its long partnership with the United States.
bit.ly
November 17, 2025 at 8:54 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
A red-bellied woodpecker (female I believe) about to snack on a berry or nut. Algonkian Regional Park, Sterling, Virginia, USA 14-Nov-2025 #birds #NikonZ8
A red-bellied woodpecker is perched on a smooth horizontal tree berry. It is holding a large berry or nut in its open beak.
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
A million thanks to @thegardenjungle.bsky.social for putting me on the right track for relatively quick & easy object removal using Photoshop. Here are my after-and-before images side-by-side for comparison. Northern flickers (male at top), Sterling, Virginia, USA 14-Nov-2025. #birds #photography
Two Northern Flicker woodpeckers perch at the broken craggy top of a large old dead tree. The male, marked by the black chin patch, is at the very top while the female clings to the side near the top. The background is a soft clear blue sky. This image has been processed with Photoshop to remove some distracting small branches in the foreground. Two Northern Flicker woodpeckers perch at the broken craggy top of a large old dead tree. The male, marked by the black chin patch, is at the very top while the female clings to the side near the top. The background is a soft clear blue sky. This is the same image as the one on the left, but before the small branches were removed.
November 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
I get excited when I can get decent pics of some relatively hard-to-find bird, but these darned gorgeous northern cardinals keep flying in front of me at near eye-level in good light. Algonkian Regional Park, Sterling, Virginia, USA 14-Nov-2025 #birds
A bright red-orange northern cardinal poses in the sun on a diagonal branch with some sparse late Fall green and brown foliage in the background. The bird is facing to the right but has its head turned so it is looking back at the camera.
November 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
I use #Lightroom Classic for #post-processing, often #Topaz to denoise or sharpen. Have #Photoshop but its complexity is intimidating. Is there any easy way I can remove the foreground branches from this photo without a huge learning curve? TIA. #birds #photography #NikonZ8
Preferences Alt text Two Northern Flicker woodpeckers perch at the broken craggy top of a large old dead tree. The male, marked by the black chin patch, is at the very top while the female clings to the side near the top. The background is a soft clear blue sky.
November 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
It appears that #Trump is planning to enshitify as many Washington, DC landmarks as he can get his greasy paws on. #politics
November 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
mstreefrog.bsky.social
I think this is my only decent duckling picture.
#BirdOfTheDay alternate theme #ducklings
📷🪶🦆
A Mallard mama and her four ducklings on the local pond. There was also a Wood Duck mama who was much more skittish about hiding her ducklings.
November 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
Why am I on #Bluesky at 0700 on a Saturday? Because our beloved dog Eliza's internal #dog clock went off as usual at 0600 and I had to take her out. This despite World's Best Wife getting up and taking her out at 0300!!! I'm glad at least WBW is now sleeping in a tiny bit. She deserves it! #pets
November 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
Knee surgery recovery proceeding, so I was able to do about 2/3s of the Woodlands Trail at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling, VA, USA. I seldom see Northern Flickers and was very happy to see a pair. Tricky sun angle, heavy post-processing was required. #birds #woodpecker #NikonZ8 14-NOV-2025
Two Northern Flicker woodpeckers perch at the broken craggy top of a large old dead tree. The male, marked by the black chin patch, is at the very top while the female clings to the side near the top. The background is a soft clear blue sky.
November 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
cliftographer.bsky.social
Time for a #FridayPhotoFail post. This bird (of whatever kind iy may be) was getting ready to "hightail" it out of there. #birds #photography 14-Nov-2025 Algonkian Regional Park, Sterling, Virginia, USA.
An off-white and gray bird (species unknown) is seen totally from beneath and to the rear such that no part of the head or upper body is visible. The bird is perched on a bare gray branch against a blue sky. The tail is upraised and it is about to launch into flight.
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
crawlieswithcri.bsky.social
So. Was standing at my kitchen sink washing my hands when this bald beauty landed in my yard right in front of me at eye level! 👀

Life in the PNW!

Brain was all "Do not move fast to get camera, do NOT MOVE FAST..." Also "Do not rinse soap off hands, just wipe on towel slowly" #birds #becurious
Photograph of a bald eagle sitting in a big leaf maple tree, the large branches and trunk are covered in moss and ferns. the eagle has their back to the camera and their head is turned to the right in profile.
November 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
chicagotribune.com
Column: Ken Burns documentary explores the blood, courage and hope of ‘The American Revolution’
Column: Ken Burns documentary explores the blood, courage and hope of ‘The American Revolution’
Ken Burns is back with “The American Revolution,” a six-part, roughly 12-hour documentary.
trib.al
November 12, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
richardmortimer.bsky.social
#BlueSkyArtShow #Evening
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
#Trump Admin is responding to the #BlueWave drubbing Tuesday by doing exactly what failed miserably for the Biden Admin. 1) "Talk-up" the economy more, tell people everything is really great, your economic woes are all in your head. 2) Cast about for corporate villains to blame. #politics
November 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
balleralert.com
DC Man Found Not Guilty After Tossing Sandwich at Federal Agent During Trump-Era Crackdown [Video]
Sean Charles Dunn, a former paralegal for the Justice Department, was found not guilty of assault on Thursday after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during one of President […] The post DC Man Found Not Guilty After Tossing Sandwich at Federal Agent During Trump-Era Crackdown [Video] appeared first on Baller Alert.
dlvr.it
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
I am still recovering from knee replacement and have missed most of the Fall WRT photography, but here is a ring-billed gull against some Fall color. 5-Nov-2025 Burke Lake Park, Burke, Virginia, USA. #birds #NikonZ8
A ring-billed gull in flight, its wings banked at a 45 degree angle, with the right wing dipping down, the left wing up, and the yellow legs tucked up for flight. Like most gulls, the body is mostly white but it has crisp black markings near the wingtips, and the distinctive black ring on the yellow bill. The background is a heavily wooded lake shore with orange, brown, and some olive green Fall foliage.
November 5, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
atrupar.com
it's time for journos to start asking Johnson meta questions

"Speaker, on 5 occasions last week you said 'I haven't seen it' when asked about news events w/big implications for public policy. Do you ever read the news, and do you agree it's problematic for the Speaker to be so woefully uninformed?"
November 3, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
ronfilipkowski.bsky.social
At some point we might have to consider the fact that he might be mentally unstable.
November 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Reposted by Teach Honest History
muellershewrote.com
The top three things Jesus was on about were feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger. Rich men have convinced so-called Christians to starve the hungry, gut health care, and deport the stranger to enrich themselves. It’s astoundingly anti-Christ.
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 AM
cliftographer.bsky.social
I took a picture of a bird. So what, you say? Well, just over 2 months ago pain in my right knee after an easy outing was so bad I barely made it back to my car. Had full knee replacement in mid-Sep. Just now getting to where I can wield my Nikon Z8 and a big tele. It felt GOOD. #birds
Male house finch perching on the edge of a bird bath in late afternoon sun. The photo is sharply detailed and shows off the texture of the feathers well. The birds head is upturned and the sun illuminates the back and neck area well. The diffused background is mostly olive green with patches of yellow.
October 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
I'll believe ex-Prince Andrew's downfall is complete when I see him hawking chintzy collectible junk on late night cable TV.
October 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
This is a crime equal to the Louvres jewel heist. I bought a Reese’s Caramel Big Cup and got THIS!!!
#firstworldproblems
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
cliftographer.bsky.social
Seeing 'GOP Senator denounces Trump's...' in a headline always grabs my attention. But with the GOP, it's always a letdown - it's a retiring senator. Why can't any of these MFs speak truth other than when they are headed for the exit? #politics #USAPol #Trump www.politico.com/live-updates...
GOP senator denounces Trump’s pardon of crypto billionaire CZ
The pardon comes as lawmakers are working to strike a bipartisan deal on a landmark crypto bill.
www.politico.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM