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Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography

@bird-photography.bsky.social

551 followers 21 following 825 posts

A page of bird and wildlife photos by me! Mostly from the Pacific Northwest region, but also from places I travel to 🐦🦎🦌🐸📸 I do mushroom photography over at @mush-photos.bsky.social

Posts Replies Media

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 9h

Many #BirdSuperModel contenders live in Costa Rica, like this Violet-crowned woodnymph. So elegant! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #greenandpurple #woodnymph #hummingbird 🦉 🪶

A gorgeous violet-crowned woodnymph perches on a vibrant red palm branch in the dark Costa Rican jungle; its body is covered in iridescent deep violet feathers, and its throat is covered in shiny iridescent green feathers. The bird is so beautiful that it almost looks fake.

📷 Canon 5D Mark III
Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon EF 1.4x III
M, f/8, 1/160, ISO 500, 560mm
7/8/22
Costa Rica

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

An osprey searches for fish in the ocean below against thin fog and #BlueSkies #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #osprey #birdsofprey #raptors 🦉 🪶

An osprey soars above the ocean and looks down at the water to find fish. It has its legs tucked under its tail feathers and its wings stick straight out to the sides as its head looks down. The bird appears almost flat in this position.

📷 Canon R5
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
M, f/7.1, 1/3200, ISO 1000, 500mm
7/27/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A gorgeous young bald eagle stands defensively over its quickly-disappearing meal with its #WingsOpenNotFlying #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #baldeagle #eaglesofbluesky #eagle 🦉 🪶

A large but young bald eagle stands on the edge of a log on the beach with the remnants of a kill in its talons; its whole body is a mottled mixture of brown and white feathers, its feet and beak are bright yellow, its eyes are pale blue, and its wings are raised in the air.

📷 Canon R5
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
M, f/7.1, 1/1250, ISO 1000, 500mm
7/5/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Pelagic cormorants have #LongBeaks and #BlackAndRed faces! The black and red is hard to see here, but I'm claiming victory on both tags today 😆 #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #cormorant 🦉 🪶

This photo captures the moment before a pelagic cormorant's feet leave the ground as it flies off the edge of a barnacle-covered rock. The large bird has iridescent green feathers that reflect at the right angle of light, but otherwise appears black. Its face is red and it has a thick band of white above its legs. Its wings are raised straight up in the air and its legs stretch behind it as it leans forward to fly.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/6400, ISO 1600, 700mm
6/14/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

#BestBeaks goes to oystercatchers. The tropical red and orange blend of colors is so cool. And the beak color matches the ring around their eye! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

Standing on a pile of gooseneck barnacles, an oystercatcher faces left and eyes the camera. It has light pink legs, a dark brown body, a black head, and a beautiful, bright red and orange beak. Its visible eye is bright yellow with a tiny black pupil and a ring of bright red flesh surrounding it - the same color as its beak.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, 500mm
5/25/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I think I'll have to give my #BestOfTheMonth award to this beautiful Cooper's hawk. I love its sneaky foot! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #coopershawk #hawk #raptor #birdsofprey 🦉 🪶

Standing on a flat, mossy branch, a gorgeous Cooper's hawk looks to our right and raises its right foot underneath its fluffy chest feathers, so just its yellow toes and parts of its black talons are visible. Its feathers are white and covered in a brown teardrop pattern. Its eyes are large and yellow with big black pupils. Its beak is gray, sharp, short, and curved. Bright sunlight highlights the underside of the tree branches surrounding it.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/60, ISO 1600, 500mm
8/3/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Love the bands of color surrounding this great blue heron for #EFG today #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #greatblueheron #heron #heronsofbluesky #HeronsAndEgrets 🦉 🪶

Standing alone in bright green seaweed, a great blue heron stares off to the right. Behind this tall bird, blue water from a channel off the ocean flows with a choppy surface. A bar of bright tan-colored sand on the other side creates a new layer of color behind the bird's head. Pale blue sky sits at the top of the frame.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 200, 500mm
7/13/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Rufous hummingbirds come through our backyard every year and land near our deck, giving me ample #BokehBirds opportunities #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #rufoushummingbird 🦉 🪶

A tiny rufous hummingbird lands on a thin branch, which doesn't look thin compared to the small body of this cute little bird. Its sides are a beautiful shade of light orange. Its breast is mostly white with hints of orange. Its throat and head are covered in scaly orange and green feathers. Its long, thin beak sticks out to the left as it looks to the side.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/1000, ISO 1000, 700mm
4/10/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Two gulls touch beaks and seemingly show affection towards each other at the top of a rock by the ocean #Pairs #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #gull #gullsofbluesky #gulls 🦉 🪶

Two bright white gulls with vibrant orange beaks face each other with what look like loving expressions as light drops of mist fall around them.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/8, 1/400, ISO 2500, 454mm
5/2/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Love the summer vibes in this shot of a #Brown marsh wren doing its typical tail-up pose #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #marshwren #wren #summer #warm 🦉 🪶

Perched on a thin, leaning branch, a marsh wren tilts forward, looking to the right, and raises its tail feathers straight up in the air. Sitting slightly off-center in the photo, the majority of the frame consists of a blurry, swimming mix of yellow, orange, and soft green from close and distant dry plants in the summer heat.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/800, ISO 1000, 500mm
7/27/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Kinda felt like I was getting a #BirdStare from this diver, the common loon #TheDiver #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #commonloon #loon #waterbirds 🦉 🪶

A common loon in bright sunlight looks almost directly at the camera. The lower half of its bright red left eye catches the light, making it look like a gemstone. Its colors are dull gray, brown, and white. Water splashes on its back from the slightly choppy water around it.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/640, ISO 640, 500mm
5/4/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Maybe more pink than red, but the gorgeous Anna's hummingbird was the first thing that came to mind for #Redheads this morning #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #annashummingbird 🦉 🪶

Perched atop a thin, leafless alder branch, an Anna's hummingbird beats its wings to show off its brilliant head feathers. Neon pink and striking yellow feathers cover its entire head, while its body is a mixture of gray and shiny, scale-like green feathers.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/80, ISO 1600, 500mm
12/8/24
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Fiery sunrise light bounces off of the side of a yellow-rumped warbler on a cold January morning #LightAndShadow #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #warbler #yellowrumpedwarbler 🦉 🪶

Perched on the end of a spiky pine branch, a yellow-rumped warbler catches the early morning sunrise. Its body faces the camera and its head is turned to our right. Reddish-orange light warms the side of its head, breast, and tail feathers. Behind the bird is a flat, light blue sky.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/800, ISO 2500, 500mm
1/24/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

"Excuse me, sir. Did you happen to see where that fish went?" #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #baldeagle #baldeagles #raptor #raptors #CaptionThatBird 🦉 🪶

A young but large bald eagle stands on its two large yellow feet in soft, wet sand by the edge of a channel near the ocean. Because it's not fully matured, its feathers throughout its body are a combination of mottled brown and white. Its signature large, sharp, curved yellow beak stands out on its brown and white head.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/3200, ISO 1600, 500mm
6/29/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The oil slick colors of this pelagic cormorant and its spiky feathers on top of its head made me think of today's #Elegant theme #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #pelagiccormorant 🦉 🪶

Sitting on its nest, nestled against the cliffside of a massive boulder in the ocean, a beautiful pelagic cormorant raises its head as it looks down at the camera. Its feathers are iridescent and a mixture of green, blue, and purple. Its eyes are a gorgeous light bluish-green. Its beak is long and straight, meant to catch fish.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 1250, 500mm
6/26/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This #Paridae theme is tough for me since the only thing that fits where I live is the chestnut-backed chickadee 😅 #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #chickadee #chestnutbackedchickadee 🦉 🪶

A cute and fluffy chestnut-backed chickadee perches on an angled branch in front of softly blurred shades of light green. It's facing to the right so we're seeing mostly its right side as it eyes the camera. Its head is brown with a band of white that stretches from its beak to the back of its head. Its back is a chestnut brown color and its tail feathers are dark brown.

📷 Canon 5D Mark III
Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon EF 1.4x III
M, f/8, 1/125, ISO 1600, 560mm
9/4/23
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A black-headed grosbeak chews on bright red elderberries on a sunny summer day #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #grosbeak #blackheadedgrosbeak 🦉 🪶

A black-headed grosbeak sits in a bush next to a cluster of bright red elderberries. One berry is squished between its thick gray beak. As its name suggests, its head is black, and its body is various shades of light and dark orange with some yellow.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 1600, 500mm
7/7/24
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Not quite a full #Silhouette but this black phoebe did its best to look nice with some spots of light as it looked back at me #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #blackphoebe #lighting 🦉 🪶

Perched on a thin branch against a flat, pale blue sky, a black phoebe looks back at the camera while facing the other direction. Spots of early morning sunlight land on its face and back, but the rest of the bird is mostly in shadow. The black phoebe - unsurprisingly - is mostly black, except for lines of white on its wings and a hint of white on its breast feathers. Its two tail feathers stick out like the blades of a pair of scissors.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/2000, ISO 1600, 700mm
6/13/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I swear this Cooper's hawk's expression is saying, "dude, stop with the photos. You already took like 1,000 of me. Chill." #AngryBirds #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #coopershawk 🦉 🪶

A Cooper's hawk stares directly at the camera with a perturbed expression, as if to say, "Can you stop, please?" Its head tilts to the left and its eyes have a blank stare, as if it has no more patience for me as I stand below taking tons of photos.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/1000, ISO 1000, 500mm
7/28/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A belted kingfisher lurks behind a wall of fir tree branches as it searches for food in a shallow channel #BirdsInAbstract #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #beltedkingfisher #kingfisher 🦉 🪶

Mostly obscured by a wall of soft green and yellow - fir branches and their needles that are very close to the lens and thus very out of focus - a belted kingfisher can barely be seen as it turns its head to the left, perched on a thick tree branch that stretches across the lower portion of the frame..

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/200, ISO 1250, 500mm
6/14/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This pelagic cormorant is by far the most stuffed cormorant I've ever seen. Possibly most stuffed bird in general! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #black #pelagiccormorant #cormorant 🦉 🪶

Against a deep blue sky, an all-black pelagic cormorant soars above. It has a gray beak and an orange face. Its neck appears distended, as it seems to have eaten a large fish that it could not fully swallow before it took flight.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/4000, ISO 1600, 700mm
6/14/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A belted kingfisher holds onto a massive (for its size) fish. I didn't get to see it eat the fish. Curious if it was actually able to! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #beltedkingfisher 🦉 🪶

A big belted kingfisher holds a large fish in its beak as it perches on a thick tree branch on an overcast day. The bird's spiky blue head feathers stick up, and a thick band of white separates its body from its head. The fish hangs lifelessly on its side and faces the camera. Strands of lichen and fir branches hang down around the bird and its meal.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/2000, ISO 1600, 500mm
6/29/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A bufflehead starts to dive underwater on a beautiful sunny day at the beach #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #abcd #bufflehead #waterbirds 🦉 🪶

A bufflehead begins to dive underwater on a bright and sunny day. This low-angle shot shows this black and white bird from the side, with its iridescent head and neck feathers reflecting green, yellow, orange, and brown as they fade to black. Its body and the sides of its head are white, and its back is black. Its beak sits just above the water before it breaks the surface.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/6400, ISO 800, 500mm
4/4/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Look at these cute #BirdBuddies! These two pigeon guillemots were fun to watch as they played together #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #pigeonguillemot #guillemot #seabirds #seabird 🦉 🪶

Two pigeon guillemots, black birds with white on their wings, touch beaks as they playfully interact on the surface of the ocean near the shore; the one on the right has its beak slightly open, which gives a glimpse of its bright red mouth.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/2500, ISO 1600, 700mm
6/14/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Green herons are my favorite type of heron. Got two birds with one post with this beauty doing its best #Borb impression #HeronsAndEgrets #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #greenheron 🦉 🪶

Perched just above the water on the base of bent cattail reeds, a green heron faces the camera and looks slightly to the right. While the gorgeous iridescent green feathers on its wings, which are the typical highlight of this bird's beauty, are not visible in this photo, its chest and underside are also beautiful. Streaks of white run through reddish-brown feathers from its throat to its sides and all the way down to its legs. The top of its head is dark blue and its eyes are bright yellow with large black pupils.

📷 Canon 5D Mark III
Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
M, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 500, 400mm
9/14/19
Northern California

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

A common loon eats a small eel-like fish while #SittingOnWater near the ocean #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #commonloon #loon #loonsofbluesky 🦉 🪶

A common loon, a large bird with an all-black head, bright red eyes, and a striped and checked black and white neck and body, rests on calm blue water as it pinches a small, eel-like yellow fish between its beak.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/5000, ISO 800, 700mm
4/4/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Flying up and down like it was on a midair roller-coaster ride, this northern harrier was doing something intentional, it seemed #BirdsInFlight #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

With the tops of trees and blue sky in the distance, a northern harrier pulls its wings above its body as it dives down in midair. Its head is dark brown with a light brown ring around it. Its body is a combination of very light brown and orange that fades to dark brown with patches of white underneath its wings. A thick band of white stretches across the top of its tail feathers. Beneath the white band, its tail feathers are dark brown.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/4000, ISO 1000, 700mm
4/18/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I realized I posted my last hummingbird photo already, so here's a new shot of an Anna's hummingbird with its aggressive display for #BrightAccents #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

A brightly colored Anna's hummingbird makes an aggressive display toward another hummingbird as it comes in toward our backyard feeder. Bright orange and pink shine on its scaly, iridescent head and throat feathers. Its body is a combination of shiny green, a hint of yellow, and flat gray. Its gray wings extend backward, and each of its gray and green tail feathers fans out in a bladelike position.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/320, ISO 1600, 500mm
12/8/24
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A frequent winner of the #BrightAccents competition in my backyard is the Anna's hummingbird. Loved this display I captured! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #annashummingbird 🦉 🪶

An Anna's hummingbird fans out its tail feathers, throws its wings back, puffs up its chest, and extends its shiny neon pink head and throat feathers in a competitive display towards an inbound hummingbird. Its tail feathers are gray with a hint of shiny green. Its chest is gray with metallic green highlights. Sparse yellow leaves hang off the tree it sits in.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 1250, 500mm
11/30/24
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I love these #Thrushes - I can never tell if these are Swainson's or hermit thrushes though 😆 #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #swainsonsthrush #hermitthrush #thrushbird 🦉 🪶

Perched on an angled light brown branch, a fluffy white and light brown bird turns its head up and to the right as it looks toward the camera. Its breast is white with dots of brown that fade from faint spots lower on its body to darker spots beneath its head. Its head is light brown, and its eyes are small, circular, and black. It has a short and pointy black beak. Thin, blurred branches streak across the frame in front of and behind the bird.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/80, ISO 1600, 500mm
11/27/24
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

At least when it comes to this gull's head, #ItsAllWhite. Not quite sure what it's eating, but I find myself asking that often when watching gulls #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

A close-up of a gull's head as it floats on gray ocean water. Its head and neck are pure white. Its eye is a rocky gray-blue and has a ring of orange flesh surrounding it. Its beak is vibrant orange with a highlight of red at the tip of its lower bill. A piece of food, part of a crab possibly, is pinched at the edge of its beak.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800, 500mm
6/7/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

A rufous hummingbird approaches a yellow flower for #FlowerPower day #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #hummingbird #rufous #rufoushummingbird 🦉 🪶

A rufous hummingbird flies toward a yellow flower tucked away among green leaves. The hummingbird is all orange except for a patch of white on its upper chest and its scaly, green, orange, and iridescent throat. Its wings are gray and extend backward behind it.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/1000, ISO 1000, 700mm
5/18/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

A curious Cooper's hawk landed in my backyard last year. My first thought for a good #BirdsUpClose candidate #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #coopershawk #hawk #raptor #birdsofprey 🦉 🪶

A Cooper's hawk cocks its head to the right in a curious and slightly aloof expression. Its gorgeous breast feathers are white with teardrop-shaped streaks of brown. The same pattern extends up to its throat. Its head and back are dark brown with light brown highlights. Its eyes are bright yellow with large black pupils. A tiny white feather sticks up on the top of its head.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/50, ISO 1600, 500mm
7/28/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The bird isn't #Blue but at least the color is a big part of this shot of an osprey! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #osprey #birdsofprey #raptor 🦉 🪶

Flying against a pure blue sky, a beautiful osprey is captured from underneath. Its underside is mostly white except for the mottled and striped brown and white pattern on the undersides of its wings. Its head is mostly white but has a choppy streak of brown running from its visible eye to its right shoulder. Its bluish legs are tucked against its tail feathers.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, 500mm
7/3/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

For #BestOfTheMonth I have to go with this cedar waxwing shot - possibly the best I've ever taken. A lot of luck is required to get close to these birds! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

A beautiful cedar waxwing looking left stands on a bent branch against a background of blurred blues and greens from distant brush and the ocean. These amazingly pretty birds have light brown heads and a striking dark black mask that runs from their beak, across their eyes, and up to the small crest on the top of their head. Their wings are dark brown and gray and have red wax-like tips on the ends of the feathers (but aren't seen in this photo). Their tail feathers are dark gray and end with bright highlight yellow tips.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/2500, ISO 1000, 500mm
6/14/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I'm always on a #KingfisherQuest. We get a lot of belted kingfishers here, but getting a good close-up is NOT easy! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #beltedkingfisher #kingfisher 🦉 🪶

A belted kingfisher rests on an old branch that sticks up and to the left through the frame. Its body is obscured by the branch, but we can see the navy blue feathers on its spiky head, its back, and its tail feathers. It's looking down to the right, giving us a glimpse of its right eye. Spots of its white and orange breast feathers poke through the wood.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/250, ISO 1250, 700mm
6/14/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I've posted these flying surf scoters before but this shot of them got the reflections nicely in frame for #ReflectionsAndShadows #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #surfscoter 🦉 🪶

Two surf scoters fly low over blue water with their reflections beneath them. These birds are mostly black, but they have bright orange legs and feet and white and colorful heads. Their heads have patches of white, and their large, shovel-like beaks are a striking combination of white and orange.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/640, ISO 200, 500mm
1/5/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Excited to see today's #BuntingBirds theme so I can share one of my favorite local birds, the lazuli bunting! #ThinPerches #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #lazulibunting #buntings 🦉 🪶

A beautiful blue, orange, black, and white bird perches on a thin brown branch with bright green leaves surrounding it. This bird, the lazuli bunting, has a blueberry-blue head and back, which is covered by its black and blue wings. Its upper chest is light orange, and its body is white with a hint of orange.

📷 Canon 5D Mark III
Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon EF 1.4x III
M, f/8, 1/500, ISO 400, 560mm
7/3/21
Northern Oregon

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A young Wilson's warbler looks towards the sky through a hole in the bushes against a #Simple green background #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #wilsonswarbler #warbler #yellowbird 🦉 🪶

Perched on a thick green stalk of the Queen Anne's lace plant and against a smooth dark and light green background, a beautiful and small yellow bird, the Wilson's warbler, looks up towards the sky. A spot of light shines through the leaves above it directly onto its dark brown eye.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/320, ISO 1600, 500mm
7/4/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

A common favorite of the #ColourfulCharacters out there - the peacock 🦚 caught this portrait as it raised its amazing display #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #ColorfulCharacters #peacock 🦉 🪶

The head of a beautiful and colorful peacock leans forward in front of its bright and magnificent green and yellow iridescent feathers. This is a side view of the head and neck of a peacock that has all of its tall and amazing feathers spread in a semi-sphere around it. Behind its head are a wall of large green, orange, and blue spots that look like big colorful eyes in the round cage it created with its display of feathers that surrounds its body. Its neck is covered in brilliant dark blue iridescent feathers. They fade to green and blue at its face. Two white stripes surround its large black eye.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/200, ISO 1600, 500mm
3/7/25
Central Oregon

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I feel like the sunny day birds are getting all the attention, so here's my #RainyDayBirds submission - a scarlet-rumped tanager in Costa Rica #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

Streaks of rain fall all around a scarlet-rumped tanager that's perched on a thin branch. It has a light brown head, reddish-orange chest, yellow-brown body, and dark brown wings and tail feathers. Its beak is light gray.

📷 Canon 5D Mark III
Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon EF 1.4x III
M, f/8, 1/100, ISO 800, 560mm
7/9/22
Costa Rica

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

When I think of #iridescence I think mostly of pelagic cormorants. Their blue, green, and purple shine is so incredible! #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #pelagiccormorant #cormorant 🦉 🪶

Standing on the edge of a rough black rock, a pelagic cormorant spreads its wings and turns its head to our right, exposing the iridescence on its body, neck, and face. While otherwise appearing black, due to the angle of the light and our view of the bird, its body and neck shine green while its face has more of a blue-green color. Bright red skin surrounds its eye.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/3200, ISO 1250, 700mm
5/17/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

A peacock roams around a rock and gem garden - fitting for #UnusualPlaces - in central Oregon #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #peacock #rockgarden #centraloregon 🦉 🪶

A peacock stands on the left side of the frame of this photo, where the bird is in front of a red-roofed house made of multicolored rocks and gems. The bird's body is large and has white, orange, dark brown, and light brown feathers. Its neck and head are covered in fluffed-up iridescent blue-green feathers. Roughly ten tall feathers stand straight up off its head.

📷 Canon R5
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
M, f/4.5, 1/8000, ISO 1600, 500mm
3/7/25
Petersen's Rock Garden, Central Oregon

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

These horned grebes have the coolest red eyes. I also love the red line running under their beak #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #50shadesofgray #50shadesofgrey 🦉 🪶

A horned grebe swims slowly through gold-colored water. This bird has a body that is covered in a few different shades of gray and white. Its neck is dark gray and leads to a band of white that covers the bottom half of its face. The top half of its face is also dark gray. Its eyes are a mesmerizing red color. A line of red flesh runs from its eye to under its beak.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/800, ISO 1000, 700mm
4/11/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

It's crazy to me how close the wings of these belted kingfishers get to the water when the fly low like this #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #bbirdname #beltedkingfisher #kingfisher 🦉 🪶

A belted kingfisher flies very low over the surface of calm, pale blue water. Its wings, which are dark blue with white spots, are at their lowest point and are just millimeters from the water's surface. Its dark blue head is up and looking forward. A band of white on its neck separates the blue feathers on its head and back.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Av, f/7.1, 1/4000, ISO 1600, 500mm
12/30/24
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This song sparrow decided to play a quick game of #PeekABoo before flying away #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #songsparrow #sparrow #sparrowsofbluesky 🦉 🪶

Perched momentarily before flying away, a small, mostly brown bird is slightly obscured by a few bright green leaves as it bends forward. With its short brown tail feathers pointing up in the air, it leans forward (to our right) and looks back at the camera. Behind the bright green leaves, its eye is perfectly visible, as well as its short gray beak.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/1600, ISO 2000, 700mm
5/10/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A bald eagle #RunningFromTheLaw against a misty blue sky near the ocean #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #baldeagle #baldeagles #eagle #eaglesofbluesky 🦉 🪶

Soaring directly above, a bald eagle is centered in the frame. Its body marks a split between light blue sky on the left, which is partially white from thin and misty clouds, and dark blue sky on the right. Its massive wings are so dark brown they appear black. Its tail feathers are mostly white with some black. Its big, tucked-up feet are yellow. Its head is white and its large, curved beak is yellow.

📷 Canon R5
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
M, f/7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, 500mm
3/13/25
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

An oystercatcher stands on its best foot for today's #BestFootForward theme #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #oystercatcher #blackbird #red 🦉 🪶

A black and brown bird with a bright red beak stands on one foot on top of a black rock. The rock is spotted with an occasional light brown barnacle. The bird, an oystercatcher, has pink legs and big feet with black claws. Its body is dark brown and appears black without direct sunlight. Its head is jet black. Its eyes are bright yellow and have a ring of vibrant red flesh around them. Its long beak is extremely bright red.

📷 Canon R5 Mk II
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
Canon RF 1.4x Extender
Av, f/10, 1/5000, ISO 1600, 700mm
5/3/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I'll opt for today's #ShadesofPurple alt theme for #birdoftheday so I can share the incredible feathers of the bufflehead #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday #bufflehead #iridescent 🦉 🪶

Bright morning sunlight shines on a male bufflehead as it calmly swims through flat blue water. Its face and neck are covered in shiny iridescent feathers that reflect blue, green, yellow, and purple. The back of its head is pure white. Its sides and chest are white, but its back is black.

📷 Canon R5
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
M, f/7.1, 1/5000, ISO 800, 500mm
4/4/26
Northern Oregon Coast

Chelton's Bird and Wildlife Photography @bird-photography.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I haven't edited my July photos yet, so here's a favorite - an orange-crowned warbler - that I edited and published to Flickr in July! #BestofJuly #birds #bird #photography #ornithology #birdphotos #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birdoftheday 🦉 🪶

Perched on a spiky fir tree branch and looking to our left, an orange-crowned warbler puffs up its throat as it prepares to warble. The bird only has a slight hint of orange on the back of its neck. From this angle, we can't see the orange feathers on top of its head. Its beak is short and pointy. Its eyes are small, circular, and black. The sky behind it is bright and slightly bluish-gray.

📷 Canon R5
Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
M, f/7.1, 1/1000, ISO 1000, 500mm
5/3/25
Northern Oregon Coast