#squirrel cuckoo

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Squirrel Cuckoo

Photo: Grigory Heaton

"Very striking and long-tailed bright rusty cuckoo, widespread in tropical lowlands and locally up into foothills. Occurs in a wide range of wooded and forest edge habitats. Mostly forages stealthily at mid-upper levels in trees, where can be surprisingly difficult to see. Often seen swooping across roads and eliciting a ‘wow’ reaction. Underside of white-tipped tail feathers is rusty overall in West Mexico, blackish overall in other areas."

- eBird

[okapiaconcolor]

Alma-de-gato - Squirrel Cuckoo por silene andrade

[wingedjewels]

Cuco-ardilla Común - Squirrel Cuckoo - (Piaya cayana) by Raúl Vega Via Flickr: Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

[birdblues]

Squirrel Cuckoo

[timona-lisa]

"Stop crying, it's just a cartoon."

The cartoon:

[joshuasumter]

My latest poster for Spider-Man and The Incredibles, featuring a fraction of younger Supers alongside Peter Parker/Spider-Man and the Parr Kids (Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack)

Peter Parker/Spider-Man

Violet Parr

Dash Parr

Jack-Jack Parr

Miles Morales/Spider-Man (Kid Arachnid)

Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen

Anya Corazon/Spider-Girl

Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel

Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl with Tippy-Toe the Squirrel

Patriot/Rayshaun Lucas

Quake/Daisy Johnson

Inferno/Dante Pertuz

Miss America/America Chavez

Ironheart/Riri Williams

Lockjaw

Humberto Lopez/Reptil

Sam Alexander/Nova

Nadia Van Dyne/The Wasp

Lunella Lafayette/Moon Girl

Devil Dinosaur

Casy Calderon

Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler

Laura Kinney/X-23

Stepford Cuckoos (Celeste Cuckoo, Irma Cuckoo, and Phoebe Cuckoo)

Surge (Noriko Ashida)

Magma (Amara Juliana Olivians Aquilla, aka Aliston Crestmere)

Wiccan (William "Billy" Kaplan-Altman)

Speed (Thomas "Tommy" Shepherd)

Amadeus Cho/The Totally Awesome Hulk

Kate Bishop/Hawkeye

Cassie Lang

Cloak and Dagger

[dansnaturepictures]

Five of my favourite flora and fauna photos I took in May 2024, five of my favourite landscape photos I took in May 2024 and month summary

The photos are of; Red Grouse at Lochindorb, Red Squirrel at Dell Woods, Marsh Fritillary at Magdalen Hill, Azure Damselfly and sorrel at Lakeside Country Park, views at Strathdearn and Cairn Gorm, sunset at home and views at Magdalen Hill and Pig Bush in the New Forest.

May was another epic, packed and brilliant wildlife watching and photo month for me. Beginning in the midst of our sensational Scotland adventure many of the bird highlights of the holiday were about to unfold in May's early days seeing Black Grouse, precious Dipper, wonderful Golden Eagle, exquisite summer plumage Slavonian Grebe and Ring Ouzel with stars of the trip first seen inside April on the trip and before that enjoyed again such as White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, smashing views of stunning summer plumage Black-throated Diver, Pink-footed Geese, Red Grouse, Common Sandpiper, Goldeneye, Redstart and Willow Warbler. It was very busy for birds when we returned home to Hampshire this month with Swifts at a few locations, Garganey, Reed Warbler, Whimbrel, Garden Warbler, Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Roseate Tern and valuable chances to see Stone Curlew again on a guided walk added to my year list mixing migratory species I needed to see and stardust birds; another epitomising this the amazing times I saw Cuckoos this month in Hampshire a bird I heard so much throughout the Scotland trip it's always a privilege to see them and I had some breathtaking experiences with them. Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Sedge Warbler, Great Crested Grebes, Moorhen including chicks seen well with Greylag and Canada Goose goslings enjoyed a lot on patch at Lakeside Country Park and Red Kite were other stars across the month in what was a fantastic month of birds.

May is one of my busiest months of the year as I've still got plenty of bird species to look for and the butterfly season really gets going. It was an incredible butterfly month for me with dynamic and colourful species seen including Large White, Dingy Skipper, Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Grizzled Skipper, Painted Lady, Small Heath, Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak, Marsh Fritillary, Small Blue, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, quite early Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock, Orange Tip and Speckled Wood getting my butterfly year into a great place. It was a great moth month too with loads of species seen including The Streamer, Garden Carpet, Mint moth, Burnet Companion, Brown Silver-line, Common Heath, Common Carpet, Pale Prominent, Yellow Shells, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer, elegant Mother Shiptons, Speckled Yellow, Silver Y and Five-spot Burnet seen.

It was a top dragonfly and damselfly month with some super species seen to get me started including Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Hairy Dragonfly and Broad-bodied Chaser and thrilling moments seeing my first ever Downy Emerald at Bentley Wood. It was a real awakening of beetles for me this month with Violet Oil beetle, Green Tiger beetle and Dor beetle seen in Scotland and at Bentley Wood for the green tiger and many Swollen-thighed beetles and Red-headed Cardinal beetles, Oedemera lurida, Cantharis rustica, Cryptocephalus aureolus, Common Malachite, Woodland Dor beetle, Black-striped Longhorn beetle and Garden Chafer enjoyed once home. It was a really good mammal month with Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Brown Hare (seen in Hampshire too) and Stoat seen in Scotland, Roe Deers seen nicely across the month, Fallow Deer and New Forest Pony foals and cattle at Lakeside charming seasonal sights.

It was a wonderful month of plants again with special flower species seen as they took over meadows and other areas including wood sorrel, coltsfoot, oxeye daisies, yellow rattle, buttercups, greater celandine, spurge, early purple orchid, common twayblade, white helloborine, common spotted orchid, burnt-tip orchids, speedwell, forget-me-not, yellow iris, eyebright, lousewort, wood avens, meadow crane's-bill, grass vetchling, foxgloves, crimson clover, red clover, white clover, black and spotted medick, comfrey, cuckooflower, tormentil, bugle, yellow pimpernel, silverweed cinquefoil, sainfoin, fox-and-cubs, mignonette, common rock-rose, hemlock water-dropwort and bird's-foot trefoil. I took in some mesmerising views and sky scenes this month. Have a good June all.

[homunculus-argument]

Things birds would make memes about:

when you're all fucked up and ready to GO but the male got too into doing his mating display and won't fuck before he's done dancing

when your hatchlings this year should be all grown up and you've taught them everything you know but they still follow you around beeping for food like GET A FUCKING JOB

lmao the stupidest fucking mf in the flock got stuck in a trash can

when your species mates for life and you just realised that your spouse that you imprinted on is a fucking idiot

stealing fluff for my nest straight off a sleeping dog because I fear no death and answer to no god

I think my huge idiot son is a cuckoo

THE SUN IS UP AND SO AM I, TIME TO SCREAM MOTHERFUCKERS

Birds of prey hanging around bird feeders waiting for rats, squirrels, smaller birds, and other bird food to show up.

I fucking hate seagulls, all my homies hate seagulls

suck my dick, I'm a seagull, fuck you

[wolfspaw]

[herpsandbirds]

Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana), gettin puffy and fluffy, family Cuculidae, order Cuculiformes, Costa Rica

photograph by Carlos A Carmona

[please-give-me-birds]

@veradragonjedi

The squirrel cuckoo (Piaya cayana) is a

large and active species of cuckoo found in wooded habitats.

[kateammann]

Recent sketchbook birbs!

Squirrel cuckoo + Hamerkop

African openbill + Knob-billed duck

[birdstudies]

February 12, 2025 - Blue Malkoha or Chattering Yellowbill (Ceuthmochares aereus) These cuckoos are found in and around forests, sometimes near rivers, or in coastal scrub. Foraging alone, in pairs, or in small groups, they feed on insects and other invertebrates as well as tree frogs, fruits, seeds, and leaves, sometimes following mixed-species flocks or squirrels to capture fleeing insects. Their nests are open or domed masses of sticks built in thick vegetation where females lay clutches of one to four eggs. Both parents care for the chicks.

[spnfanficpond]

Cuckoos in Glass Houses

Admin Michelle here with another SPNFanFicPond Fic Highlight!

If you like your Wincest dark and horrific while also hot and deranged, then this is the fic for you! (Much belated Happy Birthday to @ani-coolgirl! I'm only *checks notes* NINE MONTHS late. 😭)

This is an AU, so there are no monsters in this fic. Or are there? That's the real question! There are some hints about things that go unanswered (there is mention of a possible Part Two, which would hopefully answer these questions), but it all works well to give you the creepy crawly heebie-jeebies. What happened during those two weeks when Sam was 14? Why aren't there any pictures of Adam anywhere? WHAT'S IN THE ATTIC?!?! The way this story builds keeps you questioning everything right through the end. Personally, I would love to see Part Two, or even two versions of Part Two, each one giving the opposite answer to the question that is Adam.

(Fun fact side note: When my parents first moved me into the house where I spent most of my childhood, there were squirrels and who knows what else having races across the crawlspace above my bedroom. Back and forth they'd run all night long, keeping me awake. So I personally know how annoying it can be! Sam was very sane in his attempts to find and eliminate the problem!)

In short, if you like your Wincest dark and horror-filled with lots of hot smut, this is the fic for you! Go read it and encourage Ani to write Part Two!!

[timona-lisa]

I love how Slappy still lowkey recognizes Walter in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo Clock." It’s a nice detail and a funny moment in that emotional rollercoaster of an episode.

[myfandomscollide]

Paled Shadows

For @buried-in-the-archives as part of the Jonah Magnus Fic/Art Exchange 2025

It had been several decades since the departure of Barnabas Bennet. A name long since forgotten by those once closest to him. The age of centuries splintering and crumbling under the weight of it all.

Jonah held all that remained of the unfortunate man’s memory.

*Pull, push, turn.*

The rote experience dictated by the tick of the cuckoo clock in the corner. The intermingling silences a constant companion, filling the void from his once highly social experiences.

The memory of warming spices wafted into his nose, a comforting cinnamon-like aroma.

~~~~ He met Barnabas from Mr. Smirke’s eclectic socials. Found in the outskirts of conversations, Jonah introduced himself to his younger counterpart. ~~~~

*Pull, push, turn.*

The dough in his hands moved along the butcher block working the dough into loose form.

~~~~ ‘What is in this bread? It’s amazing!’ ‘It’s a secret!’ Barnabas exclaimed in a hushed whisper. ‘Well, it’s to die for.’ ~~~~

*Pull, push, turn.*

It had been Barnabas’s favourite, the crossed buns. The recipe passed down from the lad’s grandmother, from when it used to be called spiced bread. Barnabas brought the bread to each gathering, as an implicit attempt at blessing the group’s success in the exploration of the exceptional.

~~~~ Jonah, keen as always to learn the recipe. Barnabas consistently teasing, ‘Over my dead body!’ ~~~~

Jonah, hands drenched in flour, continued to manipulate its shape into the proper shape. Sighing as the initial rounding came to a close. He covered the dough, letting it rest.

Jonah moved to the sink, washing and scrubbing, cleaning the cloying powder from his hands. Towelling off, hands clean and dry he picked up the ancient book.

~~~~ The years that followed fueled their passions, the shared companionship built in that townhouse, the fleeting of trystlike glances over lamplit dinners. The lounging quiet evenings in the study each with a nose in their respective books. Jonah, on the announcements of Robert’s gatherings, drew himself up against the open door of the kitchen hoping to spy on young Barnabas’s preparations for the special occasions. Try as he might, Barnabas always knew he was there, lurking around the corner. An errant squeak of the floorboard or a misplaced shoe or shadow giving the game away. ~~~~

Affixing his glasses to his face Jonah peered at the book, though ultimately unnecessary. He knew his recipe by heart.

The pages were well worn from decades of use, littered with scribbled notations, and crosses with coloured pens.

He found the book with the forgotten man’s possessions, squirreled away in the back of a dank, musty cupboard, tucked in amongst the loose teas and spices.

The book, once nearly pristine, but with slight scrawled ledgings in the margins. He flipped through it, searching its contents, until his gaze settled on a particular recipe. He read the list of ingredients and the manner of instruction, repeating what he read under his breath like a prayer.

Over the years he’d managed to dial in the correct measurements, but somehow the flavour never quite could compare, the taste of the buns an approximation of the quality of Barnabas’s.

But it was never as sweet as his longing kiss.

“Still at it? I thought you’d’ve figured it out by now.” A voice tickled from the back of his mind. The tone of voice spoke with a grainy vaguely-but-unfamiliar crackle.

Jonah clapped the book shut to silence the voice.

“I could’ve told you had you asked in earnest. But I’m afraid that you’ve settled for paled shadows.” The voice continued condescendingly.

A small subtle shift of the hair on the back of Jonah’s neck. He twitched against the errant movement. Looking to the corner of his eye and beyond to the corner of the room scanning the vacant surrounds.

“Admit it… with every bake, you’re reaching towards what you lost. Even with your Eye in the Sky, you’ll never find what’s missing.”

Rolling his eyes, Jonah returned to read off the rest of the recipe.

“Why do you even keep me around? If you’re going to continue ignoring me then Let Me DIE…” The static grew louder in a churning crescendo.

Jonah pinched the bridge of his nose. It was no use arguing with the phantom that decorated the back of his mind. ‘Like it or not,’ Jonah sighed as he thought, ‘There was little he could do to allay the consequences of Barnabas’s debt.’ He turned back to the covered dough, grabbing a knife, he began cutting the lump.

“Then why didn’t you! The infinitesimally small effort you could have made, to liberate me from the silence… you could have done it!” A frustrated ache resonated around Jonah’s skull.

Palming the mass, Jonah rolled it in his grip, letting the tacky mound form into a tight, smooth ball.

‘Why?’ The big question, bigger than Jonah, bigger than any of them at the club, the monsters that went bump in the night to the horrific concepts ranging the breadth of mortality. It all circled back to why.

Jonah, with vigour, began kneading more and more sections into shape.

Why am I doing this? Why do they exist? Why do I persist?

Gritting his teeth, Jonah could not help but press harder into the butcher’s block.

The ultimate question, a fool’s errand.

Several of the whys had answers he uncovered in the course of his research, one nagged away at bottom of his list.

Why am I such a failure?

“You’re a coward Jonah. Don’t you see. Blinded by your shortsightedness.” The words cut through Jonah followed by an equally uncomfortable silence.

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Thanks again @sieveyourtea for hosting another brilliant exchange.