iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 5h

It's nice to see Golden-crowned Kinglets back from their northern breeding grounds. Some will overwinter here while others might move on further south. As I say every year, photographing them is like trying to shoot popcorn popping! Little perpetual motion machines. #birds #birding #Ancaster #HamOnt

3434

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A few days ago I encountered a small flock of House Finches. Here are two shots of a pair, and two more of a male. #birds #birding #HamOnt

A pair of House Finch, with the female on the left, looking left, and the male on the right, looking towards me

A pair of House Finch perched together on a tiny vertical branch, with nothing but pale grayish-blue sky behind. The raspberry coloured male is in front, looking left, and the brown-gray female is behind him, looking to the right

A male House Finch on a small twig, sitting upright towards me, looking slightly to the right and upwards, with the background blurred out

2383

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This little female Wood Duck has been hanging out at our pond for about a week now. birds #birding #Ancaster #HamOnt

5699

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It was nice to see this Great Egret standing on a log in a local creek, within my 5MR. #birds #birding #HamOnt

0505

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Check out the adorable photo of a House Finch below, taken by my friend @lori2whibbs.bsky.social. If you're here for the #birds and not following Lori, you should!

2403

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The first photo is a male Canada Warbler on territory in northern Ontario, taken in June. The second photo is a first year female (I think!) taken a couple of weeks ago by our pond, a stopover on her way south for the winter. #birds #birding #Algoma #HamOnt #Ancaster

A male Canada Warbler perched in an alder, looking to the right. He has a gray head, yellow throat and underparts, white eye ring, and beautiful black "necklace"

0413

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Yesterday, a Belted Kingfisher actually perched for a minute close enough to get some photos of her. #birds #birding #HamOnt

A female Kingfisher perched in a leafy tree that is along the shoreline of a creek which she was flying up and down, rattling away like a gatling gun. She's looking over her shoulder towards the creek on the left side of the image. You can just see the chestnut brown belly bands which the males lack.

3717

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

That time Loshi slowed down enough to pose for a boudoir shot. Happy #Caturday!

Loshi, our all gray cat with green eyes, is laying on a purplish couch next to a pillow with flowers on its case. His legs are stretched out in front of himself, and he's looking slightly left of the camera.

2505

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

How it started vs how it's going - a male Cape May Warbler in his fancy breeding plumage in June, and one taken a few days ago, after molting into his non-breeding plumage. #birds #birding

Cape May Warbler dressed for success in his dating outfit in the spring. He's perched low in a small tree, at eye level, showing of his yellows and orange.

514820

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Sometimes you don't look your best when you're going through a molt, like this Chestnut-sided Warbler. #birds #birding #Algoma

A very shambolic looking chestnut-sided warbler perched in a small shrub, looking to the right and looking like it is about to fly.

3458

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Flycatchers aren't the fanciest of birds, but I'm kind of partial to them. Here's a four pack - Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Least Flycatcher, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. #birds #birding #Algoma

An Alder Flycatcher sitting upright, looking left, on a bare branch. It is a fairly drab olive-brown bird with two white wingbars

A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on a thin branch, surrounded by large green leaves, looking to the right. It is a soft grayish yellow colour, with a whitish eye ring

0321

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I wonder where my gang of Baltimore Orioles are now. My backyard has sure been quiet since the last one left on September 5th. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #HamOnt #Ancaster

I took this photo of an adult female Baltimore Oriole in the spring. She's on a bare branch, looking over her shoulder to the left, with a green backdrop of a blurred out spruce tree behind

A photo of my feeding system, with four juvenile Baltimore Orioles and two adult males

A closeup of my oriole feeder with three juveniles on it. They are all looking to the right, I wonder what caught their attention.

4482

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Check out the gorgeous iridescent colours of this Brewer's Blackbird! #birds #birding #Algoma

0607

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I saw this Great Crested Flycatcher near our camp in northern Ontario when I was there birding in June. #birds #birding #Algoma

A Great Crested Flycatcher perched on a lichen covered dead tree branch, oriented towards me but looking to the right towards the trunk of the tree. The background is a cloudless blue sky.

0474

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I've posted before how happy I am that a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers have chosen to nest near our camp in northern Ontario. Here are two more shots of these beautiful birds. #birds #birding #Algoma

A close up of a red-headed woodpecker perched at the top of a hydro pole. It is facing me, but looking to the right. This angle shows how its red hood becomes a bib on its upper chest.

A red-headed woodpecker clinging to the left side of a hydro pole, leaning back and looking to the left. Behind it is clear, blue sky.

181095106

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Happy #Caturday! Loshi can barely contain his excitement.

Our all gray cat Loshi laying on his back on his window perch.

2504

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I was surprised to see this young Northern Cardinal land on my feeders. Must have been a 2nd clutch. It did the typical kid 'shaking all over" thing, begging, and dad came and obliged. By the time I got my camera, I'd missed the action and only managed this pic. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #HamOnt

1604

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I found this in my archives today. I still can't believe I spotted this bird while driving a rural road. Bird, what bird? Look closely for the American Bittern peeking out! #birds #birding #Algoma #Bittern

A photo of a hayfield with a few yellow wildflowers. In the center of the photo you can just see the head of an American Bittern, tipped back with his beak at a high angle, mimicking the grass.

411412

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This floofed up American Goldfinch makes me think of Sesame Street's Big Bird! #birds #birding #Algoma

An American Goldfinch is perched on a thin branch running horizontally across the photo. He's on the right side of the photo, looking left. He's floofed up, making him look larger than he really is. The background is blurred out green leaves with patches of blue sky between.

314414

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In breeding plumage, there is no mixing up male Bay-breasted and Blackpoll warblers (first two). In fall, after molting, they look so similar birders jokingly refer to them as "Baypolls". How to tell them apart in the fall? Thankfully the legs and feet of Blackpolls are yellow year-round. #birds

A male Blackpoll Warbler taken in the spring. He's in a small tree that is just leafing out, looking upwards and to the left. Note the yellow-orange legs and feet.

A Blackpoll Warbler perched high above me on bare branches, with blue sky behind him. It is now in non-breeding plumage, looking similar to the fall Bay-breasted Warbler. However, note the yellow-orange feet, same as in the spring.

1636

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I think this is the best shot of a Mourning Warbler that I've ever managed, taken in May during spring migration. #birds #birding

39312

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

On Thur we had our annual tour of The Owl Foundation's facilities in Vineland. They do amazing work, rehabbing injured owls. We saw 7 species, here are 3 of them. Tricky focusing on the Snowy thru a double layer of fine mesh to keep out mosquitoes, as they are vulnerable to West Nile Virus. #birds

A male Snowy Owl standing looking at me. He is totally white, with no barring

0402

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Earlier today I posted two photos of Swainson's Thrush. Ironically this morning I went to Birds Canada's Long Point banding station, arriving just as they were about to release a Swainson's Thrush. As always, I'm amazed how small birds actually are when in hand! #birds #birding

A closeup view of a Swainson's Thrush, in the hand of a man wearing a short sleeve dark blue shirt

A closeup view of a Swainson's Thrush, in the hand of a man wearing a short sleeve dark blue shirt. The bird is facing towards me in this shot

814113

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Here are two Swainson's Thrush. The first photo was taken of one on its territory in the boreal forests of northern Ontario in early June. The second is a migrant, on his way south, that I saw near our pond yesterday. I'm going to imagine they are the same bird! #birds #birding #Ancaster #HamOnt

A Swainson's Thrush perched on a lichen covered branch, partially obscured by a small hemlock branch inf the foreground. It is looking to the left

A Swainson's Thrush on a horizontal branch looking to the left. The background is blurred out blue sky and branches.

4423

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Here's a variety pack of Blackburnian Warblers - male and female in the spring, a fall male in non-breeding plumage, and a youngster. #birds #birding #Algoma

A male Blackburnian warbler perched on the bough of a hemlock tree, looking to the left. You can see why some people nickname them "flame throat", given its vivid orange colour.

A female Blackburnian Warbler perched in a spruce tree, looking to the left. She has similar colouring patterns as the male, but the actual colours are toned down. He has the flame throat' hers is soft yellowy orange. Where he has rich black, she has soft gray.

49110

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Here's a few Black-and-white Warblers shots from this summer, one of a female, and two of a male. #birds #birding #Algoma

A male black-and-white warbler looking over his shoulder to the left. He's perched on a lichen covered branch, with blurred out spruce boughs in the background.

A male black-and-white warbler looking over his shoulder to the left and upwards. He's perched on a bare branch, with blurred out gray behind him

0403

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

This Rose-breasted Grosbeak sure knew how to strike a pose. #birds #birding #HamOnt

A female rose-breasted grosbeak perched near the top of a broken off, dead tree limb, looking over its shoulder to the right side of the image. A perfect pose for her portrait!

1625

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

When you're willing to stick your neck out more than your buddy! Two Green Herons. #birds #birding #Ancaster #HamOnt

Two green herons standing along the shore of a local stormwater retention pond. They are both looking to the left, towards the water, with grass growing on the banks of the pond behind them. The closer heron is doing a giraffe imitation, showing off its long neck, typical of herons. The second heron in the background is hunched over, giving a no-neck look to it.

A closeup portrait of the heron with its neck extended, looking to the left

A closeup portrait of the "no neck" heron, looking to the left

2476

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Our dozen Baltimore Orioles have been slowly departing. Last evening at dusk this guy, the last man standing, came for one final refueling and to say goodbye. Always heartbreaking when they leave. Travel safe, and we'll be waiting for you in May! #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt

A male Baltimore Oriole is perched on the rung of our oriole feeder, looking to the right.

A male Baltimore Oriole is perched on the rung of our oriole feeder, looking to the left

51029

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I'd love to know what these two were chatting about, but whatever it was, it didn't seem to end well and turned into an argument. Black-throated Green Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo. #birds #birding #HamOnt

A Black-throated Green Warbler on the left and a Red-eyed Vireo on the right, looking at each other, seemingly engaged in a conversation

A Black-throated Green Warbler on the left and a Red-eyed Vireo on the right, looking at each other, seemingly engaged in an argument - the vireo is squawking at the warbler.

3584

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Yesterday morning I spotted this molting Scarlet Tanager - what a handsome dude! #birds #birding #HamOnt

A scarlet tanager is perched on a bare branch running diagonally from middle left to the lower right corner. Behind it is clear blue skies while above it there is a horizontal branch with leaves. The bird is oriented towards the left but is staring back over its shoulder to the right. Its wings are jet black while the rest is a soft greenish-yellow, with a few blotches of red

A scarlet tanager is perched vertically in some bare branches of an alder, with some leaves on other branches behind it blurred out. It is facing towards the left. Its wings, barely visible in this shot, are jet black while the rest is a soft greenish-yellow, with a few blotches of red.

A scarlet tanager is perched vertically in some bare branches of a pine tree, with pine needles on other branches behind it blurred out. It is facing towards the right. Its wings, barely visible in this shot, are jet black while the rest is a soft greenish-yellow, with a few blotches of red, especially on its lower belly.

1788

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

It is #caturday, and rather than posting a photo of Loshi, I'm posting this meme which says it all!

A cartoon which states "My anxiety level when I can't find: car keys at 70%, credit cards at 80%, cell phone at 90%, and your beloved cat at 1 million %!"

5453

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Yesterday I scored a vireo hat trick, finding Philadelphia, Red-eyed, and uncommon Yellow-throated Vireos in the same location. #birds #birding #Ancaster #HamOnt

A Philadelphia Vireo perched in a bush with red berries (blurred out in this shot). It has its head turned, looking to the right side of the image.

A Red-eyed Vireo hanging its head over a branch, looking downwards, in a bush with red berries. This shot is close enough that you can see the tiny hook on the tip of its beak, characteristic of vireos.

A Yellow-throated Vireo playing peekaboo, partly concealed by leaves.

2492

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A Northern Parula that I saw up at camp two weeks ago, in a mixed flock of migrating warblers. #birds #birding #Algoma

A warbler perched on a dead branch, looking slightly to the left. It has soft, pastel colouring - white to pale yellow from its breast to throat, with a soft gray head and white eye arcs.

The same warbler perched on a dead branch, looking slightly to the right and downwards. It has soft, pastel colouring - white to pale yellow from its breast to throat, with a soft gray head and white eye arcs.

0361

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Today's featured migrant is a cute little Semipalmated Plover foraging in a flooded farm field. #birds #birding #HamOnt

A small shore bird standing in a wet, muddy field, turned slightly towards me, showing off the single black ring around its neck. Taken at the same spot as the last photo, where there is more water giving a nice reflection of the bird.

2333

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Confusing fall warbler season has arrived! This one is a Bay-breasted Warbler. #birds #birding #Algoma

2714

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Lifer alert. Yesterday I saw my first Baird's Sandpiper. #birds #birding #HamOnt

A rusty brown and white shore bird, with a fairly long, blunt black beak, and dark coloured legs, standing in a flooded farm field, giving a nice reflection

7674

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

When birding in northern Ontario last week, I saw several Wilson's Warblers migrating with a mixed flock of warblers and vireos. #birds #birding #Algoma

Wilson's Warblers are overall yellow or greenish yellow, with a black beady eye and small black cap. This one is on a bare branch, oriented towards the right, but looking over its shoulder to the left.

1464

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I sounded like Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory when I told Loshi "You're in my spot!" Happy #caturday!

Our all gray, green-eyed Russian Blue, Loshi, is laying on an unmade bed and looking directly at me/my camera.

5602

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Last week I was thrilled to see that a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers are nesting at a location just a few kilometres from our camp, for the fourth year in a row. Gorgeous birds! #birds #birding #Algoma

A red-headed woodpecker is clinging to the side of a weather, light brown hydro pole, with some shrubs and blue sky blurred out behind it. It is facing left towards the pole.

11549

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Monarch butterfly at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden in Dundas #notabird #butterfly #butterflies #Monarch

A monarch, with its wings folded shut, hanging upside down from the bottom of a purple flower

0322

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Chestnut-sided Warblers change considerably in appearance when they molt into their non-breeding plumage in the late summer-fall. This beauty is either a female, or a hatch-year bird of either sex. #birds #birding

A Chestnut-sided Warbler perched on a bare branch oriented towards me, looking over its shoulder to the left side of the image. The backdrop is blurred out green. It has a grayish-white, unstreaked breast and face, white eyering, yellow cap, and yellow wingbars

0403

Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I didn't see this American Mink up at camp in the Algoma district of northern Ontario, it was right here in Ancaster at a local stormwater retention pond. #notabird #mammals #mink

1424