iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Mantis on the side of the house today.

Straw-colored mantis on the stucco siding of the house.

Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Interesting encounter at a nearby pond. Saw a snake with a California newt in its jaws. Newts are highly toxic, but garter snakes have evolved some immunity. That said, the snake released the newt after 10 minutes and the newt appeared in good condition. Fascinating!

Aquatic garter snake with a highly toxic California newt in its jaws.

After ten minutes, the snake suddenly released its grip, and the newt walked away apparently none the worse. I wonder if the toxins were starting to get to the snake?

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Not a pet, just a little bitty Western pond turtle along a stream.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

California condors feed on a coyote alongside Pacheco Pass Highway. I counted 26, including one (1217) we hadn’t located in over two weeks.

California condors feeding in a field alongside Pacheco Pass Highway. I counted 26.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Two year old condor #1301 perched on a snag in Harvey Bear County Park east of San Martin. There were three wild pigs carcasses nearby that condors had been feeding on.

Condor #1301 perched on a snag in Harvey Bear County Park near San Martin.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Foothill yellow-legged frog, San Benito River above Hernandez Reservoir.

Young foothill yellow-legged frog along the banks of the San Benito River.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Young condor 1262 launches himself from the ground to the top of the observation blind at Pinnacles, my second home. Note the sound as he lands! Also, this window is one-way glass: I can see him but he doesn’t see me inside.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

California condor #943 perches atop the flight pen in Pinnacles National Park, dwarfing the turkey vulture beside him.

California condor #943 perches atop the flight pen in Pinnacles National Park, dwarfing a turkey vulture perched beside him.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Long-nosed snake, Pinnacles National Park

Beautiful long-nosed snake in Pinnacles National Park.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Two condors mating atop a boulder in Pinnacles National Park. Both are female and are part of a trio involving a male.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Four condors circling overhead at Pinnacles National Park.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Southern alligator lizard beneath a cover board on a cold winter day.

Southern alligator lizard takes refuge from the cold beneath a cover board.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

So cool to see Warrior’s Plume blooming on the property; the only ones I’ve ever seen have been in this patch of dense chamise. Note the soon-to-bloom Hound’s Tongue in the background.

The red blossoms of Warrior’s Plume next to soon-to-blossom Hound’s Tongue in a patch of chamise.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Gorgeous mix of clouds and sunshine looking towards the Balconies in Pinnacles National Park.

Mix of clouds and sunshine looking towards the Balconies formation in Pinnacles National Park.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Not a turkey vulture, but hoping he’ll do…..

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Bush lupine already in bloom, Pinnacles National Park.

Bush lupine in bloom with dozens of purple blossoms on a gorgeous winter afternoon.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Milkmaids in bloom above some miner’s lettuce, Pacheco Pass.

The white blossoms of Milkmaids above miner’s lettuce.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Condor #1123 just hanging out in the High Peaks at Pinnacles NP.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Morro Rock from the beach in Cayucos.

Morro Rock in the distance from the shore near Cayucos.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Young condor #1261 landed in a tree just above me but evidently decided she didn’t like the company! (Pinnacles NP).

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Dreaded tule fog creeping over the ridge to the east. Eleven days in a row with scant sunshine and sketchy driving conditions.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

My newborn granddaughter, born Thanksgiving morning!

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

The first rays of sunlight hit the High Peaks in Pinnacles National Park

The first morning light shines on the High Peaks in Pinnacles National Park.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Noticed this Western toad in my headlights this morning as I left for Pinnacles.

A Western toad crawling across a meadow just before dawn.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Looking east near the summit of Parkfield Grade. Hardly a road or building in sight.

Looking east from Parkfield Grade near the summit, with blue oak woodland in the foreground and the San Joaquin Desert in the distance.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Predawn sky this morning along Pacheco Pass.

Brilliant orange skyline colors the predawn sky along Pacheco Pass.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Most definitely not a pet, nor did I even take this photo of a week-old condor tended to by a parent, taken by a colleague at Pinnacles. (Photo credit Gavin Emmons, NPS).

Week-old California condor tended to by a parent.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Mist surrounding valley oaks this morning along Pacheco Pass.

Pre-dawn mist shrouds valley oaks in Whiskey Flat along Pacheco Pass.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Tonight’s sunset, Pacheco Pass

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

My secret frog spot, a tiny pool in a shaded erosion gully below an earthen dam. It’s only 10’x7’ but it’s over 3 feet deep. There were a half dozen red-legs here when I scrambled down today.

My go-to place to find California red-legged frogs: a small pool in an erosion gully below an earthen dam. I saw at least a half dozen at this spot which is no more than ten feet long and seven feet across. The surface is covered with duckweed and the pool is surprisingly deep, over three feet.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

A favorite patch of California fuschia in full bloom at Pacheco State Park.

Slope full of California fuschia with their brilliant bright red blossoms.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

True. Here’s a picture of my album (just released yesterday!) on the subway. The image is fabricated, but the album is real. Can’t compare to the Gallagher brothers, but it has its moments.

Depiction of my album on a NY subway. The image is fabricated, of course, but the album is real!

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Clouds over Pacheco Peak following the first real rain here since spring.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Two condors circling above on a toasty afternoon at Pinnacles.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Fiery sunset tonight along Pacheco Pass.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Late afternoon clouds along Pacheco Pass.

Late afternoon clouds against a blue sky along Pacheco Pass

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Fog bank over Pacheco Pass at sunrise.

A thick fog bank envelops Pacheco Pass at sunrise.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Thunderheads over the Diablo Range at sunrise following a dramatic night of weather.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Newly-transformed foothill yellow-legged frogs, thumbnail sized. Saw hundreds like this today in a watershed in Henry Coe State Park. This species is finally slated for listing as Threatened under the ESA. About time!

Two newly-transformed yellow-legged frogs basking at the edge of a small pool along upper Coyote Creek in Henry Coe State Park. They’re the size of my thumbnail.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Mountain lion track. Upper Coyote Creek, Henry Coe State Park, CA

A mountain lion track in the dust along a dirt road near upper Coyote Creek in Henry Coe State Park, CA.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Fog hovering over Pacheco Pass at sunrise.

Fog gently hovering over Pacheco Pass at sunrise.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

After hearing strange noises outside, I walked out to the deck and noticed a half-grown bobcat kitten and the mother nearby. (My videography skills could use some sharpening!)

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

This newly-hatched horned lizard scurried across the High Peaks trail in Pinnacles National Park right in front of me. It’s no bigger than a quarter.

I’m holding a recently-hatched horned lizard which scurried in front of me along the High Peaks trail in Pinnacles National Park. It’s about the size of a quarter.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Last summer I noticed a Pacific chorus frog hanging out on a nightly basis at my front doorstep. This continued into fall, and ended before winter. Tonight I opened the door and saw my friend for the first time this year. So glad to see him (?) return!

Pacific chorus frog hanging out at night at my front door.
I first noticed this behavior last summer on a near-nightly basis. Once fall arrived he disappeared; glad to see he’s back!

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

A pair of condors flying past the observation blind where I’m stationed at Pinnacles National Park.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

San Joaquin kit fox. We saw this pup on lightly-traveled Little Panoche Road this morning. I know the survival rate for young foxes is low, but seeing roadkill like this is especially frustrating.

A young San Joaquin kit fox dead on Little Panoche Road in Panoche Valley.

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Joseph Belli @josephpbelli.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Newly-released blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Panoche Hills. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo administers the only captive breeding program for this endangered species and has been releasing them to bolster a declining population. The transmitter will provide important information before falling off in 2 months.

Captive-born blunt-nosed leopard lizard upon release in the Panoche Hills, CA.
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo administers the only breeding program for this endangered species and has been releasing them to replenish a declining population.
The radio transmitter attached to the back will provide important information about the lizard's activity before falling off in several months.

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