iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos @jimsphotos.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/10/2026

@kolombiken I'm assuming the RSPB webpage for this bird is correct. It may have come off, but definitely still showing as red here

100 1

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Kolombiken @kolombiken.front-end.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/10/2026

Is it still #WrensDay ?

A scruffy wren is peaking out from a the branches if a fir tree, they got a tiny black peppercorn eye, a brown back and a lighter chest, a big, in comparision to the bird, pink leg and foot with claws.

002 2

Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos @jimsphotos.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/10/2026

After 4 years of photographing birds, I have finally managed a photo of a Water Rail. It appeared for all of 2 seconds before it shot across the pond and hid back among the reeds. #nature #birds #Wildlife #photography #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #UK #BirdScrolling

Smaller and distinctly slimmer than the Moorhen, the Water Rail is a fairly common but highly secretive inhabitant of freshwater wetland. It has chestnut-brown and black upperparts, a grey face and underparts, black-and-white barred flanks, and a long red bill.

124 4

Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos @jimsphotos.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/10/2026

The Desert Wheatear is a rare visitor to the UK, typically appearing in late autumn. It is a migratory insectivorous bird that breeds in the Sahara and northern Arabian Peninsula. In the UK, it has been recorded in late autumn. I saw this one at Cley Marshes […] [Original post on ohai.social]

The Desert Wheatear is known for its striking plumage, with males having a sandy body and black face, while females are more muted in coloration. It prefers dry, open areas and is often seen perched on bare ground or rocky surfaces.

000 0

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/10/2026

My cup plants, a native sunflower, were marvelous this yr. Several were 7-8 ft (~2-2.5 m) tall & all produced a huge # of flowers. The largest ones produced 50+ flowers from continuously blooming inflorescences. Each plant was like its own micro-ecosystem and […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Photograph of several blooming cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum) with the corner of an out of focus brown painted building visible in the far-left frame and a gray overcast sky in the background. Each green plant is as tall as 8 ft (~2.5 m) with a thick (2-2.5 in, ~5-6.5 cm) and stiff central stalk lined with large leaves that attach directly to the stalk and form a cup-like shape around it. Tall, multi-branched inflorescences top each plant that produces multiple stalks. Cup plants are a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a central disk or cone filled with florets. This species has long yellow petals that radiate from a center with green and yellow florets.

Photograph of a small cluster of cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) flowers with out of focus flowers in the background. Each green cup plant is as tall as 8 ft (~2.5 m) with a thick (2-2.5 in, ~5-6.5 cm) and stiff central stalk lined with large leaves that attach directly to the stalk and form a cup-like shape around it. Tall, multi-branched inflorescences top each plant that produces multiple stalks. Cup plants are a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a central disk or cone filled with florets. This species has long yellow petals that radiate from a center with green and yellow florets.

Photograph of a cluster of blooming cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) inflorescences with an out of focus brown building in the background. Each green cup plant is as tall as 8 ft (~2.5 m) with a thick (2-2.5 in, ~5-6.5 cm) and stiff central stalk lined with large leaves that attach directly to the stalk and form a cup-like shape around it. Tall, multi-branched inflorescences top each plant that produces multiple stalks. Cup plants are a member of the Asteraceae family and have the typical flower shape of that family with long petals that radiate from a central disk or cone filled with florets. This species has long yellow petals that radiate from a center with green and yellow florets.

002 2

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/10/2026

3-4 yrs ago I noticed sheets of #spider web covering patches of nearby juniper bushes. Following the sheet's gradient leads to a web hole that plunges into the juniper interior. Been trying to catch a good pic of the (likely) spotted orbweaver for yrs now […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Extreme closeup photograph of a (likely) spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera) sitting at the center of a funnel-shaped web with out of focus webbing and bright green juniper branches and leaves in the foreground. The spider takes up most of the left frame and is looking directly at the camera with its legs grasping the interior webbing. It's face and mandibles are in sharp focus while most of its body is out of focus. This spider species has a large, tan, flat, heart-shaped abdomen with darker markings, a brown cephalothorax with darker markings, dark brown mandibles, and tan segmented legs with darker striping at or near the joints.

101 1

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/10/2026

Margined calligrapher fly sampling Asiatic dayflower pollen. One of my favorite pics from late summer/fall. Whelp, I finally got moved to another server and will start posting more regularly soon. Still recovering from back surgery but things seem to be […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

$Margined calligraphy fly (seems likely) feeding on the yellow pollen on an anther of an Asiatic dayflower. The fly is standing on the flower's protruding and downward facing stamens while gathering pollen on the anthers with its abdomen pointed up, its head pointing down, and its wing extended on either side. The wings are at an angle to the incoming light, and the typically clear wings flash a rainbow of colors due to refraction. Asiatic dayflowers have two "true" blue vertical petals above the flower's center and one, smaller, horizontal white petal below. They have a green spathe or sheathing that supports from below and encloses the flower interior. The flower has three, long infertile white stamens with brown anthers, three shorter, fertile blue stamens with yellow and maroon anthers, and a white pistil. The dayflower is a small and roughly ½ - 1" wide. Margined calligraphy flies (a species of hover fly) have gold and brown-black striped and marked abdomen, a brown-black thorax with gold sides, a gold head that is mostly made up of two, large, brown compound eyes, two small antennae, six gold and brown segmented legs, and two transparent wings with dark veining.$

0120 20

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Piotr Walicki 📸 🦅 @zvrt.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/10/2026

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus, 🇩🇪 Wintergoldhähnchen, 🇵🇱 mysikrólik). #birds #birdphotography #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #nature #naturephotography #vogelflausch #ptaki

A goldcrest is perched facing forwards on a cherry tree branch, surrounded by leaves.

030 3

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Kolombiken @kolombiken.front-end.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2026

Been trying to get a decent photo of a rough-legged buzzard. I’ve had a couple of close encounters. But somehow my camera settings have always been completely off. Took a couple of photos last week when one passed me. Was convinced that all of them would be […] [Original post on front-end.social]

A flying buzzard seen from the side, it’s head is a tilted a tiny bit as if it’s glancing at the camera, the beak is chubby, fairly small and light yellow, the wing is lifted showing off a brown spotted inside, a broad white streak and then the dark border of the wing, the base of the tail is light but the tail is dark, the sky behind is a very bright blue.

104 4

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 17/10/2026

Boatmobile found 5 dark ibises late yesterday. By the time I got there they had retreated deep into the wetlands and out of view. This morning I looked at the map and decided to be at the Usual Patch by daybreak. Turned out I didn't have to worry about them […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

I'm pretty sure this one is a White-faced Ibis. They are hard to ID even on a good day! All ibises are vagrant in our region. White and Glossy flyovers are not unheard of, but White-faced may be a first! This one has red eyes and a small red patch near the base of the bill. Huntley Meadows Park, Hybla Valley, VA

This one is definitely a White-faced Ibis, and not a juvenile. The red under the wing and red legs are apparent, as is the red eye. It is a vagrant bird! Is this the same bird as the other? That I'm not sure. Huntley Meadows Park, Hybla Valley, VA

225 5

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Karen @kpdooty.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/10/2026

All the Indigo Buntings we saw yesterday were merely uncommon, but today they are rare, requiring eBird comments. As usual, I got a blurry photo when one popped up long enough for me to question my bird ID skill. They fledged in August and it's been a while […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

A blurry photo of an immature Indigo Bunting. Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon, VA

021 2

Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos @jimsphotos.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026

This is Geoff, the youngest of our many daily Goldfinch visitors. Geoff isn't afraid, he lets you get to within feet without being flustered. Usually we find Geoff having a sleep on our bird bath. Today he was just chilling on the garden wall. We do like Geoff […] [Original post on ohai.social]

a juvenile Eurasian Goldfinch perched on a stone wall

134 4

Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos @jimsphotos.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/10/2026

Sat in a hide after work this afternoon. Bar a few ducks and a Long-tailed tit, this was pretty much the only other bird I saw. Marsh Harrier #nature #birds #Wildlife #photography #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #UK #BirdScrolling

a brown bird of prey with yellow on its head

022 2

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos @jimsphotos.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/06/2026

For those in the UK, you have the chance to vote on 1 from each of the 3 categories of animal that will be adorning our bank notes in the coming future. I don't use cash, but it will be cool to have animals on our notes all the same. Just like Costa Rica does […] [Original post on ohai.social]

015 5

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Kolombiken @kolombiken.front-end.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2026

Proud and fierce! #WrensDay

A wren is standing on top of a branch covered in grey lichen, tail straight up and legs wide apart, looking very fierce.

015 5

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

RichKellerPhotography @rihilismphotography.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/10/2026

Look, a squirrel! Now that I have your attention, I wanted to say that I've not posted for quite a bit b/c I'm getting ready for back surgery this month. Be back ta postin' soon after. And I got a lot 'o pics. To Mastodon folks (I'm cross-posting), I need to […] [Original post on toot.community]

002 2

Reposted by Jim Howard-Birt 🐦📸: Photos

Derick Rethans @derickr.phpc.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/09/2026

Dartford Warbler Posing In nearly the same spot as the Stonechat from the previous post, this tiny Dartford Warbler sat still here for a few moments. #photography #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfFediverse #NaturePhotography #wildlife #Norfolk

I tiny brown bird with orange cheeks and legs, a white belly, and a black tail. It's perched upon some needles of an evergreen. The background is green and blurry.

043 4