iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

It’s been years since I’ve encountered a bear while walking a trail. This morning, I met two. I’m guessing they were siblings who had recently left their mom. The first one took off, but this one decided I was a curiosity worth exploring, so I had to stand my ground. This is after I scared it back.🌿

823025

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

I am over the moon. I stalked this ruffed grouse for over half an hour, only moving when he drummed so that I could slip close enough through the tangle to get a relatively clear shot. This was filmed with my Z8 and 180-600 lens, hand-held while in a full squat over wet ground. #GlobalBigDay #birds

32756117

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Caroline B @vegancb.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

🤍

231

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

A few more photos from last week's amazing #aurora show. #NorthernLights

Two bright ribbons of green light shoot out in a V behind the silhouetted spires of snow-covered spruce trees.

Two bright ribbons of green light sweep across the night sky behind the silhouetted spires of snow-covered spruce trees.

745454

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Each night of our aurora tours in Churchill is spent in a different location. This yurt just inside the treeline is one of my favourite places. We had a spectacular show there the other night. #aurora #northernlights

Three very bright ribbons of green light swirl in the night sky over a round yurt surrounded by a wooden deck. The silhouetted spires of spruce trees rise up around the snow-covered yurt and stand against the bright green lights.

439246

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Of the three seasons during which I guide tours in Churchill, #aurora season is by far of the most stressful, because we have no control over what people are coming up to see. Tonight’s show was a big relief and a huge excitement for my guests. Now I can sleep. 😊

A bright winding ribbon of green light shoots diagonally up from the bottom, left to the top right of the night sky. The bottom of the image is framed with the silhouettes of spruce trees.

755561

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dreamcatcher @dreamcatcher01.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Pileated Woodpecker Make a plan, then execute...

A black and white and red Pileated Woodpecker is on the side of a tree. The background is blurry branches and snowy sky.

📷 Dreamcatcher

1485

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

A few more moments from last week's time in Churchill. Hoping for just as good luck next week. #aurora.

Ribbons of green light with faint reddish tops stretch across the sky, lighting up the snow and silhouettes of spruce and larch trees below.

A huge swirl of green light with faint reddish tops stretch across the sky, lighting up the snow and silhouettes of spruce and larch trees below.

343351

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Turn the sound on to listen to why I do what I do. Nothing makes me happier than listening to people experience the majesty of the #aurora for the first time. We had an amazing night starting with a seven course meal and ending with this show.

931127

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Brett "Solidarity 2026" Banditelli @banditelli.org · 21/02/2026

GLORIOUS pelican roll this morning! Thank you, bird! 🪶

1959191

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

The next shot in this sequence. Look out below. #birds 🌿

A pudgy, ruby-coloured pine grosbeak swoops down from his perch.

126032

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Fog and frost on the lake this morning. It’s an absolute perfect winter day.

921129

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Very foggy and frosty this morning. Made for a lovely walk.

Frost covered spruce trees interspersed with Aspen are just visible through the fog just after sunrise.

819018

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

A cute white-breasted nuthatch borb to brighten your day :) #birds

A bluish-grey and white nuthatch with a black cap looks out from his perch upside-down on a tree trunk in winter.

417919

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

My backyard right now. Just put this on loop if you need something to calm you. ❄️

1028742

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Another pine grosbeak just after take off. They look so hefty, but are excellent fliers. I'm pretty sure most of the bulk is feathers to keep them warm. #birds

A pinky-red male pine grosbeak is just about to start the upstroke with his wings as he flies towards the camera.

621319

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Okay - something fun to hopefully brighten your day. I was so excited when I spotted these track on the side of the road yesterday. Does anyone want to guess who made them? (answer will follow later).

Long tracks in the snow at sunset. It looks like something has been dragged or slid through the snow.

A long slipway through the snow made by an animal that will be reveals in a later post.

2012414

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

I took this photo this morning, and I'm so in love with it - the timing, the focus, the colour. I can't quite believe it worked so well. The new camera definitely helped. Also, she's so cute and chubby! #birds 🌿

A female pine grosbeak spreads her wings as she drops from her perch in a bare polar. Her golden head feathers shine in the morning light as she aims down and out of the image.

30816110

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dreamcatcher @dreamcatcher01.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Some moments are made for gentle reflection...

A row of trees is reflected on the surface of a small stream.

📷 Dreamcatcher

1636

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

A brief moment with a few of my neighbours this morning. The deep cold didn’t seem to be bothering them. Deer grow a dense coat for winter and their legs and ears have a counter current system where the blood vessels keep the heat in the core of their body. #mammals 🌿

017120

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I will never get tired of looking out the window and seeing these brilliant birds. - Pine Grosbeak #birds 🌿

A bright red male pine grosbeak perches on a black metal hook.

624428

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

We're in the middle of a little blizzard, so I'm bringing some sunshine into the day with a look at the great gray owl I met last weekend. Hoping for similar luck this weekend. #birds 🌿

A large grey owl floats through the air on huge but weightless-looking wings. The sun lights up its bright, yellow eye and facial disk as it flies in front of a snow-covered spruce tree.

522822

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

A bright, crisp sunrise over Lake Winnipeg this morning. Perfect conditions for a walk.

The bright orange ball of the sun just peeks over the horizon in the mostly clear sky. A small smudge of grey/orange clouds are smeared around the top of the image. The bright orange sunbeams sweep across the enormous snow-covered frozen lake lighting up, the purple coloured snow. A few grasses poke out of the snow in the foreground on the shore.

1134660

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I came across this pileated woodpecker this morning. While they often work on the base of trees, I was not expecting to see her head popping out from behind a pile of snow. #birds

925136

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

The pine grosbeaks decided to pose for me this morning. They are a welcome flash of colour on a grey day. #birds

a ruby red male pine grosbeak perches on a black, metal hook and looks down at the feeder tray just out of frame on a grey day.

A grey female pine grosbeak shows of her golden, yellow head feathers while she munches on a sunflower seed on a grey day.

738059

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

I had an incredible moment today. I found great gray owl hunting along the road. I'm always very careful to keep my distance and make sure the owl is not distracted by me. I was doing well until I stepped out of the car when it was deeper the woods. It suddenly landed right over my head. 1/2 #birds

A great gray owl perches on a hydro line right near the pole and transformer and glares down at the photographer on a clear evening.

A great gray owl perches on a hydro line right near the pole and transformer and glares down at the photographer on a clear evening. Tighter zoom.

3076897

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Sunrise walk on the lake. Looks like another planet.

Looking out over an enormous frozen and snow-covered lake. The sky is pale blue with pink clouds along the horizon and a waning moon high in the sky.

1221020

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Still gong through the highlights of 2025. I'm still in February. We had some amazing #aurora evenings when I was up in Churchill guiding tours.

A huge wave or green light fills the sky behind a winter forest. The silhouettes of the stunted spruce are stark against the bright sky.

A huge wave or green and red light fills the sky behind a winter forest. The silhouettes of the stunted spruce are stark against the bright sky.

468370

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

A solstice sunrise over Lake Winnipeg.

Looking out over a frozen snow covered lake about a half an hour into sunrise. The golden sun lights up the sky in a triangle just above the purple horizon before it disappears behind a bank of equally purple clouds. The snow gives everything kind of a marshmallow effect and tall grasses stand in the foreground to show where the land is.

221074175

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Katherine @wordwatcher.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

I just have a feeling that it’s going to be a wonderful day. Happy Wednesday, everybody.

0132

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

I'm still going through my photos from this past year. These are from the Churchill aurora tours in February. I'm really looking forward to doing these are again in the new year. The town is right under the auroral oval, so your chances of lights are quite high.

An enormous concentric swirl of green light fills the night sky, lighting up the snowy river and spruce-covered hills below.

A large series of swirls of green light fills the night sky. The snow and spruce-covered hills are bathed in the green glow while a person kneels next to two cameras on tripods in the right foreground.

332128

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dreamcatcher @dreamcatcher01.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Sometimes you have to hold on to your place...

A brown Fox Squirrel is standing on a small branch while leaning against a tree. The background is blurry foliage.

29213

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

A fluffy forest chicken (ruffed grouse) pecks away at dormant buds on a -25°C morning. There were two more poking around nearby. #birds

424835

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora

A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees

A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees. The light is reflected in the thin layer of ice covering the pond in the foreground.

914812735

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.

A ribbon of green light topped with red swirls across the sky, high above the silhouettes of spear trees. The forest rims a barely frozen pond that reflects a bit of the light.

Ribbons of bright, red and green light fill the sky behind the tall silhouettes of spruce trees. The red light is on top of the green.

Looking straight up into the night, sky, green swirls of Aurora form of Phoenix, like image surrounded by red light that is glowing higher up behind it.

Looking up into the night, sky, curtains of red and green light pour down from high in the atmosphere a start contrast of the silhouettes of trees.

12700121

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

I really need to get to bed, but I just poked my head out the back door again. This is the view from my deck. All of this is looking south. When the geomagnetic storms are like this, the oval overshoots me and stretches into the US, which is why so many are seeing it tonight. #aurora

A bright red glow reaches up into the darkness, illuminating the silhouettes of tall slightly scraggly, spruce trees

Swirls of green and red light sweep down from the sky, lighting up the forest and contrasting against the Stark silhouettes of trees

Dramatic swirls of green and red light swirl down from the middle of the sky, starkly contrasting against the bear of Poplar, tall Spruce trees.

Still more dramatic curtains of light sweep down from above in sheets of green and red. The tall bear poplars and spruce spires our starkly silhouetted.

453012499

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Happy Exploding Whale Day for those who celebrate :)

713136

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

A rather regal-looking polar bear on the fall tundra. #mammals 🌿

A polar bear sniffs the air from where he is lying on the dry tundra moss. Pale grasses sway gently behind him.

738438

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

A beautiful afternoon along Hudson Bay with a bunch of polar bears. It was much too warm for this time of year, so the bears were resting up and saving their energy. #mammals 🌿

629740

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Sunrise on the beach from a view that's never been possible before. Lake Winnipeg's levels are very low this fall and the strong south wind we've been having has pushed more water into the north basin, revealing sand bars I've never seen in 40+years.

The pale sun rises over the forested shore of a large lake. Waves are crashing in the distance, but the photographer is standing on a large sand bar that stretches out from the beach into the lake.

211410

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

The northern lights put on quite a show last night. This was the view at the end of my driveway. #aurora

A curtain of green light sweeps up into the sky behind a silhouette of forest trees

An arc of bright green light swooped across the night sky

A ribbon of bright green light fills the sky and lights up the darkness behind the silhouette of a forested road

A ribbon of not quite as bright green light and a bit of red swoops across the sky against the silhouettes of boreal forest trees

1227939

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I almost missed the flareup, but the lights were back out for a while this evening. #aurora

Swirls of green light dance in the sky, and are reflected in the water of a pond surrounded by the dark black silhouettes of spruce trees

19735108

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

I was being watched last night while on my kayak. This large, healthy coyote was sitting on the breakwater and judging me :) I'm glad I had the big camera in the boat with me this time. #mammals 🌿

A large, fluffy coyote sits atop a pile of limestone boulders and stares placidly off into the distance. Dark green spruce trees in the background offset its pale fur nicely.

2261972

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

A fuzzy friend in the yard yesterday. The snowshoe hares are starting to change colour starting with their ears. I took this through a double-pane window so it's a bit blurry, but still cute. #mammals

A brown snowshoe hare with white ears, muzzle and legs sits in the tall grass on the edge of a fores.

1234541

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Amy Gann @amygann.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

An adorable bird of prey against a bright blue sky. #birds #kestrel #raptor #nature #wildlife #photography #protectnature #birdoftheday #bluesky #EastCoastKin

A kestrel stands on a thin branch of a tree. Its back is to the camera, but its head is turned to look behind it

79911

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

We were sort of cloudy yesterday evening, but the aurora still shone through. A few longer-exposures with the 'good camera'. #aurora

Sheets of green light ripple behind thin cloud and are reflected in a still pond surrounded by the black silhouettes of tall spruce trees.

Sheets of green light ripple behind thin cloud and are reflected in a still pond surrounded by the black silhouettes of tall spruce trees. A few bright spots are really reflected in the water.

413920

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Heron go Bragh @davidtothejay.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Two local Sandhill Cranes telling me to back off. Sound up! Love these #birds. They are young ones still getting color.

1129029

Reposted by @markstinson.bsky.social

Ed @notdred.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

I guess this has probably already gone viral somewhere but I am simply dying at this picture of a bear that looks like it hired a photographer to do a glamour shoot

A bear in the wild, smiling and posing coyly

297223294621