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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) – Teacher! Teacher! Teacher! Here's a handsome ground-dweller to grace your feeds on this autumnal #WarblerWednesday. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) – From the Instagram archive… One of my favorite summer birds in West Michigan. I love hearing its ethereal songs. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Wood thrush perched on an obliquely oriented thin tree trunk

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) – A whole bunch of these birds are migrating thru West Michigan at the moment, so here are a couple shots for you to appreciate from several winters back. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

White-throated sparrow perched on a bare branch during winter

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sanderling (Calidris alba) – Wind 'em up, and let 'em go. Here's a cute little sanderling during the fall migration a few years back. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Sanderling foraging among the rocks along Lake Michigan

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) – From the Instagram archive… I can almost hear the WITCHITY-WITCHITY-WITCHITY when I see this little masked warbler. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Male common yellowthroat perched on a branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca) – For this week's #WarblerWednesday, here's a warbler in the act of catching some breakfast during the early days of fall migration. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Blackburnian warbler during fall migration perched on a branch and about to snatch an insect out of midair

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) – From the Instagram archive… Just a couple of dinosaurs walking through a field. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Two sandhill cranes standing next to each other in a field and looking to the left

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) – It's Merganser Monday, so here's a stylish shaggy-headed diver that I saw on Lake Michigan a couple winters ago. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Male red-breasted merganser swimming on Lake Michigan

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – It's FLYCATCHER FRIDAY, so here's a shot I got of this ruby-colored fire-head when I was in southern California this past summer. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Brilliant red male vermilion flycatcher perched on a short branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) – From the Instagram archive… One of my favorite summer-time residents in West Michigan. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Indigo bunting peeking out from amongst some green foliage

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) – Seeing a swamp lemon is always a great way to brighten your day. Happy #WarblerWednesday! www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Prothonotary warbler perched on a branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Medium ground-finch (Geospiza fortis) – From the Instagram archive… One of the endemic ground-finches that I saw in the Galápagos Islands when I taught there in 2018. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) – I pulled over to the side of the road to take these photos when I spotted this bird in a field north of the Grand River this past spring. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Ring-necked pheasant in a field along the side of the road

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) – As summer nears its end, here's the source of one of the most ubiquitous sounds of the season. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Red-winged blackbird perched on a cattail stem

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula) – From the Instagram archive… A frenetic little bird that is always tricky to get in focus! www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Ruby-crowned kinglet perched on a branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – One of the more striking shorebirds that can show up along Lake Michigan during migration. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Ruddy turnstone on the rocks along the shore of Lake Michigan

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) – From the Instagram archive… I will never tire of seeing these sleek songbirds. One of my all-time favorites for sure. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Cedar waxwing perched among some colorful flora

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

LeConte's sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) – Is it autumn yet? Here's a sharp little pumpkin-faced sparrow to celebrate the coming of my favorite season. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography #sparrowappreciationsociety

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) – After a relative dearth of these birds in recent years near my house, it was nice to see a good influx of them this past winter. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Red-breasted nuthatch foraging in a conifer

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) – From the Instagram archive… Such a striking bird. Not super common where I'm at in West Michigan, but there are a handful of reliable locations. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Red-headed woodpecker ascending an angled trunk

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Northern parula (Setophaga americana) – Here's a sharp little parula for #WarblerWednesday. I describe their song as sounding a bit like a zipper being zipped up. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Lava heron (Butorides sundevalli) – From the Instagram archive… This bird was long considered a subspecies of the striated heron, but new data suggest that it is its own species endemic to the Galápagos. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Striated heron (lava subspecies) perched on a trunk along the shore

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) + tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) – Just a couple of swallow species sitting together on a branch, with one definitely looking like a borb. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Northern rough-winged swallow and a very spherical tree swallow sitting together on a branch over a river

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) – From the Instagram archive… This sandpiper was enjoying an afternoon snack when I spotted it through my lens a couple springs ago. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Solitary sandpiper wading through a flooded lowland

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) – Fall migration is underway, but I've been too busy to get out much. So here's a scrumptious little butterbutt from a previous autumn. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Super cute yellow-rumped warbler on a leafy branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) – From the Instagram archive… One of my favorite warblers singing its little heart out. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons) – I had a lot of fun watching this bright little bird forage in a blossoming eastern redbud tree a couple springs ago. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Yellow-throated vireo foraging along a branch in a blossoming redbud tree

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) – I was floored by the gorgeous iridescent plumage of this ibis when I encountered it foraging this summer. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

White-faced ibis with gorgeous iridescent plumage wading through the water

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea) – From the Instagram archive… One of my spark birds. DNA demonstrates that these birds are not true tanagers—they're actually more closely related to cardinals! www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Bright red male scarlet tanager sitting on a stick with a green background

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum) – It's a glorious #WarblerWednesday, so here's a curious little palm warbler for your viewing pleasure. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Palm warbler perched on a branch and tilting its head

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) – Happy #TitmouseTuesday! This species is undoubtedly one of my favorite year-round residents in West Michigan. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Tufted titmouse on a twig with a moth in its bill

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris, 10 Apr 2024) – From the Instagram archive… An absolutely gorgeous duck on a pond that was as smooth as glass. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Gorgeous ring-necked duck floating on pond that is as smooth as glass

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) – As summer wanes, I found myself recalling a run-in with two avocets in 2024 that helped me win a local photo contest. Here are a few shots from that encounter. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

American avocet wading along the shore of Lake Michigan

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Louisiana waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) – From the Instagram archive… The specific epithet of its scientific name means tail-wagger, which is pretty appropriate given its frequent sashay. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Louisiana waterthrush perched on a log over a creek

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Hooded warbler (Setophaga citrina) – For #WarblerWednesday, here's a glimpse of this lemon-colored moth-eater hiding behind a spiderweb. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Male hooded warbler hiding behind a faintly visible spiderweb

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) – From the Instagram archive… Could this be the bird to make you join the #SparrowAppreciationSociety? www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) – This will always and forever be one of my favorite birds. Whenever I see one, it makes my think of my dearly departed mom and her parents. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Male northern cardinal perched on a branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) – From the Instagram archive… A few summers back, I found a whole bunch of young swallows side-by-side on a power line. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Young tree swallows perched on a power line

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata) – This spring I finally got some decent shots of this striped moth-eater and its dapper orange legs. Have a great #WarblerWednesday! www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) – It’s #MammalMonday! Given my scholarly research on early whale evolution, I have a serious soft spot for all semiaquatic mammals. So I love seeing little muskrats do their thing. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography #wildlifephotography #mammals

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) – Last summer I spied this tiny little finch eating its breakfast. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Blue-winged warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) – If you're on a hike & hear that distinctive "BEE-buzz," then turn your eyes to the trees to find this blue-winged worm-eater. Have a great #WarblerWednesday! www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) – From the Instagram archive… It's always a good day when I hear a buzzy song and spot one of these bluish moth-eaters. One of my favorite warblers. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Black-throated blue warbler perched in the canopy

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) – These gray marsh runners aren't super common in West Michigan, so I was thrilled to spot several of them this past spring. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Short-billed dowitcher foraging in the margins of a lake

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) – For #FlickerFriday, here's a gilded chiseller that I came across this spring. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) – From the Instagram archive… Here's a cute little bunny to brighten up your Tuesday. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography #mammals #rabbits #wildlifephotography

Eastern cottontail rabbit munching on some grass

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) – This young bird gave me great views as it confidently swam right past me a few autumns ago. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Double-crested cormorant swimming in the water

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Pine siskin (Spinus pinus) – It’s #FinchFriday, so here’s one of my favorite visitors during Michigan winters. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) – For #WarblerWednesday, here’s the masked bandit caught in the act of singing witchity-witchity-witchity. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Male common yellowthroat singing from a branch

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Ryan Bebej @ryanbebej.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Brown creeper (Certhia americana) – These birds have such excellent camouflage on their backs that they frequently climb up a tree without me ever seeing them. www.instagram.com/ryan.bebej.photography 🪶 #birds #birding #birdoftheday #wildlifephotography

Brown creeper pausing while climbing up a trunk

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