Quite excited about the multiple Red-winged Blackbirds I heard today! They are harbingers of spring in this region.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, February 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, January 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) snacking on the frozen Maumee, Middle Grounds, Toledo, Ohio, USA, January 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

I think I see Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) and Herring (Larus smithsonianus) Gulls here on the frozen Maumee, Middle Grounds, Toledo, Ohio, USA, January 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

At the birding spot I visited this morning, Shima-enaga (Long-tailed Tit) showed up again and again. Quite a few people had gathered just to catch a glimpse of these little fluff balls 😅 🪶 さっき知ったのですが今日（1月20日）は #シマエナガの日 だそうです！㊗️ #nature #photography #animals #wildlife #Long-tailedTit #シマエナガ #birds #野鳥

While I haven't kept any formal record of when I post, I haven't noticed any time or day that seems to garner more engagement.

European (Common) starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, January 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

From New Year's Day, my first photo of the year. Happy New Year, my friends! American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea), Middle Grounds, Toledo, Ohio, USA, January 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

Cooper's Hawk, Middle Grounds, Toledo, Ohio, USA, December 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #winter

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, December 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio

Consumer PSA: A lot of stores will advertise an Xmas tree, but the package actually *contains* a Ymas tree. DON'T BE FOOLED.

Completely off-topic for me, but the music app on my phone seemed eager for me to share this list, and this is the only social medium I use, so here are the top 10 bands I listened to while driving this past year ... (my at-home playlist would look much different)

Twofer. I was surprised when the Downy hopped in from the other side of the tree! Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) and Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, December 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio

Cropped a lot tighter than I would've liked, but was so excited to get even this close to the duck I'm showing you anyway … Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) on Swan Creek, Middle Grounds, Toledo, Ohio, USA, December 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, December 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

WHAT⁉️ Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Another seasonal visitor to this region. I believe it's an … American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

I love seeing these cool characters show up after most of the other little birds have left for the winter. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Working on my bird-in-flight photos … Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Howard Marsh Metropark, Curtice, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Commerce and Recreation on the Mighty Maumee (Captured a few days ago, before the temperature dropped). Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #photography #maumeeriver #toledo #ohio #autumn

Each time I think I've seen the last bloom for the season I am pleasantly surprised … Purple Aster (Sympyotrichum patens), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Here's another shot of this week's supermoon over downtown Toledo. I think I like this one a bit better that the one I posted earlier. Moon crossing the cables, last bit of sunlight, and traffic on the bridge. Got all of it! #photography #moon #supermoon #Toledo #ohio

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Howard Marsh Metropark, Curtice, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Am I to believe that I saw a Cattle Egret in Ohio in November? Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis), Howard Marsh Metropark, Curtice, Ohio, USA, November 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Word.

🧛‍♂️ Happy Halloween! 🎃 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Howard Marsh Metropark, Curtice, Ohio, USA, July 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio

Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on – you guessed it – Milkweed (Asclepias). Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #plants #plantphotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

おハトうございます🐦 久々にインスタ更新した #アオバト #野鳥

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) on the riverbank, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Autumn. Common(?) Sulphur (Colias philodice) on Aster, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Orange(?) Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) on Aster, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

A real dearth of birds lately, so another … Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) on Aster, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

This cutie ☺️ has no idea just how special he/she is! Super rare and as good as extinct 😢… the Red Wolf. It did seem to notice the dragonfly in the upper left corner. I will Cheri’s this encounter for the rest of my life! Soo precious 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 #wildlifephotography #wildlife #EastCoastKin #photography

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) on Aster, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) on Aster, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, October 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Wattle you doin' later? Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #toledo #ohio #autumn

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) on Aster, Middlegrounds Metropark, Toledo, Ohio, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #toledo #ohio #autumn

Interesting interference from foreground foliage. Great Egret (Ardea alba), Magee Marsh, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #mageemarsh #ohio #autumn

Tawney-edged(?) Skipper (Polites themistocles) on Zinnia, Duck, North Carolina, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #townofduck #obx #outerbanks #northcarolina

Atlantic Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata), Duck, North Carolina, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #crab #crustacean #nature #photography #naturephotography #townofduck #beach #obx #outerbanks #northcarolina

Reflections at Tarn Hows. #LakeDistrict #landscapephotography #TarnHows #Treescape #Nature #photography #photographersunited #photographersofbluesky

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on Zinnia, Duck, North Carolina, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #townofduck #obx #outerbanks #northcarolina

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on Zinnia, Duck, North Carolina, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #butterfly #insects #insectphotography #nature #photography #naturephotography #flowers #flowerphotography #bloomscrolling #townofduck #obx #outerbanks #northcarolina

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head, North Carolina, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #nagshead #jockeysridge #obx #outerbanks #northcarolina

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) , Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head, North Carolina, USA, September 2025. ©2025 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #nagshead #jockeysridge #obx #outerbanks #northcarolina