TheAvianLord

Yess I’m just combining all of my hobbies together at this point 😂 maybe I can turn birdwatching on horseback trails into a real thing!

Day 100 of me attempting to birdwatch on horseback. The hawks are usually so focused on hunting that they hardly notice me riding past, while the bluebirds are curious enough to stay and watch as I go by.

#sketch #birdwatching #naturejournal #journal #birds

Thank you! I have to constantly remind myself to get the camera out now! 😅

i’m trying my best to regularly document the little moments in life! you’ll see it’s mostly birds and horses. a couple pages were left out since they were just full spreads of handwritten notes but maybe i’ll do a flipthrough later
#journaling #sketchbook #illustration #sketch

Sweetfoot, Thunder, and Chestnut
#akotsk #aknightofthesevenkingdoms

jan 19 - more barrel lessons! I feel like we’re getting better and better with each ride 🐎

#journaling #sketch #sketchbook #horse #equestrian

jan 18 - field notes from a birding survey

jan 17 - Coach with sunglasses! 😎

jan 01 - camellia japonica "april dawn blush", the first bloom of 2026 in my garden

blooms are light pink with white borders and occasional dark pink stripes. the buds are so heavy that the branches can barely support them!

#journaling #botanical #sketching #watercolor #sketchbook

Yeah so I’m gonna just put X number of Snow Geese on eBird… 😅

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

a feast for my winter visiting feathered friends!! ❄️

+ the neighborhood squirrel that I have beef with. I’ve tried hot pepper blends and squirrel-proof feeders, but he retaliates by chewing them apart or smashing them. I’ve already lost two feeders so far

it’s so adorable to see!

butterbutt! (yellow-rumped warbler)

#bird #birdphotography #ornithology #warbler

a dark-eyed junco foraging in the tall grass

seeing juncos usually means cooler weather has finally arrived since they’re migratory winter visitors, but interestingly studies have shown that some have started sticking around year-round and are adapting to urban environments!

#bird #birdphotography

found the rare olive-backed pipit visitor! (Nov 2nd)

he was very accommodating and gave good looks while foraging around on the ground and bobbing his tail

#bird #lifer #birdphotography #olivebackedpipit #ornithology #audubon #omsystem

“who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?”

a Least Sandpiper looking at its reflection in the pond (probably locked in on a tasty snack)

#ornithology #bird #birdphotography #sandpiper

the fall warblers are arriving in full force and i need to find time to go see them. (but will i be able to accurately identify them? probably not)

can’t wait to go back #duderanch #ranchlife #horsebackriding #horses #cattleranch

🗞️ june and august newsletter, link in bio!

finally updated with two amazing adventures: a week at Cornell chasing birds and finding inspiration for bird art, and continuing my horse adventure with my first lease, trail rides, and a cattle ranch experience

youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAq…
highly recommend this wonderful doc that captures the fun and ridiculousness of getting into birdwatching. related to multiple moments from my own journey, hilarious editing, and loved the ending. you can tell this was made with genuine love and interest

her mischievous face after spooking at a motorcycle revving down the street and throwing me off balance so I was hanging onto the saddle for dear life at a 90° angle while she bolted down the arena at a speed I didn’t even know she had… and still getting cookies after 🍪

these video game graphics are getting too good 🐮🐴

quick sketch during a full day horseback ride into the backcountry

mountain chickadees have the cutest angry eyebrows

🗞️ may newsletter, link in bio!

im finally entering my horse girl era 🐎✨ started western riding lessons, got serenaded by peacocks at a secret album listening event, and witnessed fish spawn under a full moon! it’s been a wild month!

a digital painting of a night heron standing with "i'm about to crash the fuck out" in gothic pixel text beside them. it also has 2 stars on the top and bottom of the text

my child

🗞️ february and march newsletter, link in bio!

first year of grad school is finally over so i’m trying to catch up on everything. march was an eventful month!

iNaturalist is my favorite monster-catching game

Little blue gems in a field of yellow
💙 blue grosbeak
💙 lazuli bunting

Thank you!! 💕