A close-up of the head and chest of a Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) by Kevinsphotos via Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/photos/jackdaw-blackbird-bird-animal-2332455/ The head of the Western Jackdaw is highly distinctive, featuring a glossy black cap on the crown and forehead that often exhibits a subtle blue or purple sheen. This dark cap sharply contrasts with the light grey or greyish-silver nape, cheeks, and sides of the neck, which often create a "hood" or "shawl" appearance. Its facial features are completed by a short, stout, black bill and, most notably, bright pale blue-grey or silvery-white irises in the adult, which stare out against the dark facial plumage, serving as a key identification marker. 2.5 Flash (Edited) 😊

Every so often I come across a close-up photo of a Jackdaw that reminds me of this verse:

Thrice happy bird! I too have seen
Much of the vanities of men;
And sick of having seen ’em,
Would cheerfully these limbs resign
For such a pair of wings as thine,
And such a head between ’em.

#WilliamCowper

Oh, sorry was this Animals? Which I missed!

I was there if it was the Works tour! 1976? 77?

Tarkus

Panel 1 A figure stands at a lectern "This image illustrates my theory that, presented with a sufficient quantity of intricate formulae, overcomplicated diagrams and impenetrable acronyms, an audience will agree with almost anything." The screen is completely packed with such things Panel 2,3,4,5. Four audience members say enthusiastically: "My thoughts exactly!", "Hear, hear!", "I quite agree!" and "Excellent point!"

My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com
p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com

A 4-panel comic with tips about identifying spadefoot toads vs western toads. Spadefoot have vertical pupils, true toads have horizontal pupils.

It’s #ToadallyTuesday and you should post toads and toad-related content. #herps

A bearded dragon is resting on a wooden log. A spiny-tailed monitor is lying on top of the bearded dragon. The bearded dragon is a light greyish brown. It has spiny scales on the throat and on the side of its head and body, The spiny-tailed monitor is dark grey with some lighter markings. Both are looking at something to the left of the camera.

🦎Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) and spiny-tailed monitor (Varanus acanthurus) in Malmö Reptilcenter, Sweden.

Obviously, the bearded dragon found the perfect basking spot and the spiny-tailed monitor then managed to find an even better one.

📷by plesnercph (on a phone)

🌍🌏🌎 Sanderling (Calidris alba) The Sanderling is a small, plump member of the Sandpiper family. In winter, it's very pale grey above and white below with a dark shoulder patch; breeding plumage adds brick-red. It breeds in the High Arctic tundra but migrates globally, wintering on sandy beaches of every continent except Antarctica. Its characteristic behaviour is running back and forth with the waves on the shoreline ("wave-chasing") to probe for small invertebrates. Two subspecies are recognised. 2.5 Flash (Edited) Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Fun fact: The Sanderling is the only sandpiper that lacks a hind toe. This unique anatomical feature is believed to help them run more quickly and efficiently across soft, sandy surfaces. 📷: Photo by JacekBen via Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/sanderling-bird-beach-north-sea-4359720/ IXCS

🌍🌏🌎 Sanderling (Calidris alba) #CosmopolitanBirds #EurasianBirds #AfricanBirds #AustralasianBirds #NorthAmericanBirds #SouthAmericanBirds | #Sanderling #CalidrisAlba | #Sanderlings #Sandpipers #SandpiperFamily #Shorebirds #Waders 📷: Photo by JacekBen🦉 #MyBirdcards | #birdsoftheworld #birds ❤️🦜

Pink Floyd Animals tour 1977

YouTube video by KEXP Fishbone - Racist Piece Of Shit (Live on KEXP)

Fishbone, coming in heavy with the gawd damned theramin!!! So here for it. I do love an unhinged, cantankerous sounding song.

The funniest thing about this is how legit terrified ICE looks.

🐥 Sending laughter your way

to ease our political woes

#Dogsky #Dogs 🐥🤭🤣

🔴 who needs a laugh ? 🤭🤣
#Dogsky #Catsky #Funny 🐥

Now Playing

Now Playing

They can and are everywhere ~ Beats❤️

A gloriously rotund brown frog flecked with burnt umber, resting on a dead leaf. This is the iconic Rhombophryne testudo. He is a thing of beauty.

After ELEVEN YEARS of work, today I finally submitted my 205-page monograph on the diamond frogs of Madagascar, genus Rhombophryne, in which we are describing several new species. Feels so good to finally have it submitted. I can't wait to share the new species with you all! 🧪🐸🟤💎

A skink with very tiny legs and a beautiful yellow belly, held in a hand.

Found this cutie while gardening yesterday. A Three-toed Skink! 🦎#auswildlife #backyardwildlife

Turtle Frog (Myobatrachus gouldii)

After several failed attempts, we finally found a Turtle Frog (Myobatrachus gouldii). Endemic to SW Australia, they only emerge a few nights a year to find mates.

#herps #canon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #frogs

Today is Furiosa's 7th gotcha day! I don't really kmow how old she is, but I'm so happy she's still here. ❤️🐸 shes gonna get lots of birthday bugs when I get home from work. #furiosathetoad

You are young yet, my friend, but the time will arrive when you will learn to judge for yourself of what is going on in the world, without trusting to the gossip of others. Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see. ~Edgar Allan Poe

MMM...Thanks for stopping by.😂🥰

So good end to end.

I had no idea baby platypuses would be so cute!

😩😩😩😩😩😩♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

#bluesky #animals #nature #wildlife

Funny comic strip. A smashed window with a deer head poking through stares at person inside Deer: you got any berries? Illustration drawn in simplistic cartoon line art style. By Amii Illustrates.

Deer 🦌 inktober day 5

I Will Possess Your.Heart - Death Cab for Cutie

I needed to see this today. Perhaps you do as well. ❤️

A cheetah behind the shoulder of a prone wildlife photographer.

"Pssst."
"Shhh!"
"Whatcha doing?"
"Waiting."
"For what?"
"A cheetah."
"I hear those are beautiful."
"They sure are, fast too, now hush."
"Can I wait with you?"
"Only if you're quiet."

《異林》：寧波胡宏，精卜筮術。有一人家暴富，心疑之，宏為設卦曰：「家有狸奴走入室，筮其祥也。」曰：「然。」曰：「狸奴形必大，可稱之，得幾斤？」曰：「七斤許。」曰：「富及七載，狸奴當去。」及期，狸果去，家貧如初。

In Chinese #folklore, a cat or dog that enters your home uninvited and is kept, ushers in fortune. A fat cat? Even better.
The Yilin tells of Hu Hong, a famed diviner from Ningbo. When a wealthy family puzzled over their sudden luck, Hu Hong revealed the cause: “A cat came to you 1/2
#caturday