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Joe Manthey

@jdmanthey

Birds, ants, genomics, photography (all photos posted my own unless stated)

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04.09.2023
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Latest posts by Joe Manthey @jdmanthey

Sparrow perched on a branch. It has a prominent black throat and white stripes on the side of its face. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Sparrow perched on a branch. It has a prominent black throat and white stripes on the side of its face. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Black-throated Sparrow, uncommon for our area in west Texas ๐Ÿชถ

10.03.2026 17:37 ๐Ÿ‘ 8 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

feeding

09.03.2026 21:00 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A brown creeper hanging from a tree branch. The top of its head is pointed toward the viewer and you can see its undersides.

A brown creeper hanging from a tree branch. The top of its head is pointed toward the viewer and you can see its undersides.

Not the usual view you get of a Brown Creeper ๐Ÿชถ

09.03.2026 17:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Duck with iridescent head, yellow eye, and large bill in water. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Duck with iridescent head, yellow eye, and large bill in water. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

This time of year the Northern Shovelers are some of the most common ducks here in West Texas, giving plenty of photo opportunities. ๐Ÿชถ

18.02.2026 17:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 20 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A rodent with large teeth and long claws eating some plant material. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A rodent with large teeth and long claws eating some plant material. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Watched this pocket gopher for a bit today moving in and out of its hole to grab and chew on plant material. They seem to be mostly nocturnal, so it is always nice getting a good view of one.

15.02.2026 19:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A pale raptor with ferruginous wings and leg feathers. It is eating a small mammal. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A pale raptor with ferruginous wings and leg feathers. It is eating a small mammal. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A pale raptor with ferruginous wings and leg feathers. It is eating a small mammal. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A pale raptor with ferruginous wings and leg feathers. It is eating a small mammal. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Ferruginous Hawk with its lunch. A Red-Tailed Hawk later stole the remaining food from it. ๐Ÿชถ

13.02.2026 18:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Blue, rufous-orange, and white kingfisher perched on a branch. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Blue, rufous-orange, and white kingfisher perched on a branch. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

And a nice picture of the kingfisher ๐Ÿชถ

09.02.2026 17:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 24 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A blue and white and rufous kingfisher perched on a branch. It is projectile #2ing. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A blue and white and rufous kingfisher perched on a branch. It is projectile #2ing. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Belted Kingfisher telling me what it thinks about me hiking near its fishing spot ๐Ÿชถ

09.02.2026 17:56 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Large dark eagle with white head. Its wings and legs are outstretched as it is about to land on ice. Photo taken at Lake Perry, KS.

Large dark eagle with white head. Its wings and legs are outstretched as it is about to land on ice. Photo taken at Lake Perry, KS.

Saw a bunch of eagles this morning, including this one landing on a frozen lake in Kansas ๐Ÿชถ

07.02.2026 18:27 ๐Ÿ‘ 12 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A red Northern Cardinal hanging upside down on a branch to eat a berry at the tip of the branch. Photo taken in Lawrence, KS.

A red Northern Cardinal hanging upside down on a branch to eat a berry at the tip of the branch. Photo taken in Lawrence, KS.

An acrobatic Northern Cardinal ๐Ÿชถ

04.02.2026 16:05 ๐Ÿ‘ 27 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A medium-sized duck with orange legs, a green head, yellow eye, white breast, rufous belly, and long, shovel-like bill walking on ice. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A medium-sized duck with orange legs, a green head, yellow eye, white breast, rufous belly, and long, shovel-like bill walking on ice. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Northern Shoveler on West Texas ice ๐Ÿชถ

29.01.2026 17:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 15 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A Great Blue Heron looking at the viewer. Its throat feathers are splayed out very fabulously. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Great Blue Heron looking at the viewer. Its throat feathers are splayed out very fabulously. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A very fabulous looking Great Blue Heron, with a snowy backdrop ๐Ÿชถ

27.01.2026 23:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 14 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A small streaky sparrow with buffy colors under streak perched on a branch in the snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A small streaky sparrow with buffy colors under streak perched on a branch in the snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Lincoln's Sparrow in the snow ๐Ÿชถ

27.01.2026 00:18 ๐Ÿ‘ 21 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Wilson's Snipe feeding alongside stream in the snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Wilson's Snipe feeding alongside stream in the snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Wilson's Snipe feeding alongside stream in the snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Wilson's Snipe feeding alongside stream in the snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

What is takes to be a snipe during a snowstorm ๐Ÿชถ

25.01.2026 23:32 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Thrush with spotted breast perched on snowy branch with snow flakes blurred in background. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Thrush with spotted breast perched on snowy branch with snow flakes blurred in background. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Hermit Thrush during this afternoon's snow in West Texas ๐Ÿชถ

25.01.2026 23:28 ๐Ÿ‘ 15 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Finch with red on face and breast perched on a branch. There are small streaks of snow blurred in the photo. Taken in Lubbock, TX.

Finch with red on face and breast perched on a branch. There are small streaks of snow blurred in the photo. Taken in Lubbock, TX.

House finch floofed up in the snow. You can see a few snow flakes streaking by in the photo. ๐Ÿชถ

24.01.2026 21:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 28 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Six thrushes with dark backs and reddish-orange undersides drinking from shoreline covered in snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX

Six thrushes with dark backs and reddish-orange undersides drinking from shoreline covered in snow. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX

Robins in West Texas snow ๐Ÿชถ

24.01.2026 21:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 23 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A colorful warbler with gray head, light undersides with yellow flanks, and dark upperparts. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A colorful warbler with gray head, light undersides with yellow flanks, and dark upperparts. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Not a common winter visitor here, a January American Redstart ๐Ÿชถ

23.01.2026 19:39 ๐Ÿ‘ 22 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A large woodpecker with a red mustache, slight red on nape, spotted undersides and barred back. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A large woodpecker with a red mustache, slight red on nape, spotted undersides and barred back. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A hybrid or admixed red-shafted x yellow shafted Northern Flicker ๐Ÿชถ

22.01.2026 18:04 ๐Ÿ‘ 36 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Neck and head of a Great Blue Heron in front of an orangish-brown background. It has orange, grayish-blue, and white feathers. Its eyes have bright yellow irises. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Neck and head of a Great Blue Heron in front of an orangish-brown background. It has orange, grayish-blue, and white feathers. Its eyes have bright yellow irises. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing and didn't mind me so I waited to get a nice headshot. ๐Ÿชถ

19.01.2026 00:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 20 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A medium-sized duck with a green head, brown and white body, and orange feet flying over a wetland in Lubbock, TX.

A medium-sized duck with a green head, brown and white body, and orange feet flying over a wetland in Lubbock, TX.

Northern Shoveler in flight ๐Ÿชถ

16.01.2026 01:11 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Photo of head and neck of a Great Blue Heron, looking somewhat toward the viewer. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Photo of head and neck of a Great Blue Heron, looking somewhat toward the viewer. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Great Blue Heron keeping an eye on me while fishing ๐Ÿชถ

13.01.2026 18:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 19 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Large heron standing in shallow water surrounded by a geometric pattern of concrete in a dam spillway. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Large heron standing in shallow water surrounded by a geometric pattern of concrete in a dam spillway. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Large heron standing in shallow water surrounded by concrete in a dam spillway. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Large heron standing in shallow water surrounded by concrete in a dam spillway. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Two different angles of a Great Blue Heron in a spillway๐Ÿชถ

12.01.2026 18:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 16 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A blackbird with a red and yellow patch on its wing, perched on a small branch in front of a brownish background. Photo taken in January 2026 in Lubbock, TX.

A blackbird with a red and yellow patch on its wing, perched on a small branch in front of a brownish background. Photo taken in January 2026 in Lubbock, TX.

Red-Winged Blackbird in the typical pose ๐Ÿชถ

11.01.2026 02:58 ๐Ÿ‘ 12 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Two shorebirds with mottled brown backs and white bellies, each standing on a single leg in shallow water. Taken in Lubbock, TX.

Two shorebirds with mottled brown backs and white bellies, each standing on a single leg in shallow water. Taken in Lubbock, TX.

Two Greater Yellowlegs in shallow water. ๐Ÿชถ

09.01.2026 17:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A small duck with brown and green head walking in the mud. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A small duck with brown and green head walking in the mud. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Green-Winged Teal walking in the mud. ๐Ÿชถ

08.01.2026 17:59 ๐Ÿ‘ 19 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A woodpecker perched on the side of a trunk. It has a striped black and white back, yellow belly, and slide red throat.

A woodpecker perched on the side of a trunk. It has a striped black and white back, yellow belly, and slide red throat.

Saw a Williamson's Sapsucker today, rare here in Lubbock, TX. ๐Ÿชถ

07.01.2026 19:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 29 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A black coot with red eye and white bill walking near the edge of a water body. It has large lobed toes. Taken in Lubbock, TX.

A black coot with red eye and white bill walking near the edge of a water body. It has large lobed toes. Taken in Lubbock, TX.

Look at the feet of this American Coot walking on the side of the playa lake ๐Ÿชถ

07.01.2026 02:39 ๐Ÿ‘ 7 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A Red-Breasted Nuthatch upside down on a juniper branch. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Red-Breasted Nuthatch upside down on a juniper branch. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Red-Breasted Nuthatch upside down on a pecan tree trunk. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Red-Breasted Nuthatch upside down on a pecan tree trunk. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Red-Breasted Nuthatches in classic upside down poses. ๐Ÿชถ

06.01.2026 15:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 12 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A Western Meadowlark, with a bright yellow breast, long pointed beak, and streaked brown and tan back, walking through short, dry grass. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

A Western Meadowlark, with a bright yellow breast, long pointed beak, and streaked brown and tan back, walking through short, dry grass. Photo taken in Lubbock, TX.

Meadowlark marching through the short, dry grass ๐Ÿชถ

05.01.2026 17:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0