Eastern Bluebird from this morning's bird walk. The 19-box bluebird nest box trail that I monitor already has three partially completed bluebird nests! #easternbluebird #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Great Egret trying to impress the ladies #greategret #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Good morning, sunshine

Spoonbill to Tricolored Heron: "Get offa my lawn!" #roseatespoonbill #tricoloredheron #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography

Marbled Godwit found a snack #marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

American Oystercatchers are my favorite shorebird, with their charismatic orange bill, yellow eyes, and pink legs. #americanoystercatcher #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography

Where’s Waldo? WHAT’S Waldo? Hint: SE Georgia, US

Normal speed, not sped up Mr. Coachwhip knew exactly where his hidey-hole was. #fieldherping #coachwhip

With a close look in good light, even relatively plain birds exhibit stunning beauty. American Black Duck #americanblackduck #birdingphotography #birdphotography #birding

An uncommon backyard visitor for us: the Fox Sparrow #backyradbirding #birding #foxsparrow #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Every fly by is a treat Sandhill Crane #sandhillcrane #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Song Sparrow I wonder how it got its name? #songsparrow #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Must have snowed a little yesterday. That's snow blocking the lens lower right.

Sometimes when you go birding you find bonus species. North American Beaver, McHenry Dam #NorthAmericanBeaver #beaver

No means no! She swiped left. Red-breasted Mergansers #redbreastedmerganser #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Red-breasted Mergansers show what it's like for single women at a bar #redbreastedmerganser #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

In the spotlight No doubt wondering why he came north so early in light of today's snow. #sandhillcrane #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Was expecting Coyotes but found a Red Fox instead. The wee hours of this morning. #redfox #backyardwildlife #trailcam #trailcamera

All the cool ducks hang out together: Ring-necked, Canvasback, Redheads #ducks #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Look who’s back! Big flocks were moving north these last two days with a few pairs foraging on the ground, unconcerned by the nearby humans (as long as those humans stayed on the trail). #sandhillcrane #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Trumpeter Swans McHenry Dam, 3.8.26 #trumpeterswans #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Putting together some images of the 8 bumblebee species I documented on CFC property in 2025 for next week's annual meeting. Character limit won't let me list them all. No. 5. is the Rusty-patched BB (federally endangered) #bumblebee #bumblebees #beemonitor #citizensforconservation

The eastern bluebirds have been back for a while - some never left - but hopefully with all this rain and warmer temps, spring won't be too far away. In spite of the groundhog! #easternbluebird #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

In front and behind; between the two of us we can hear everything. #backyardwildlife

Neighbors: I look forward to talking to you about our local wildlife tonight at the village hall. Hope to see you there. I'll mention how a water feature can attract wildlife. I took this photo through my kitchen window yesterday evening.

Common Mergansers doing a fly-by up the river Fox River Preserve #commonmerganser #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

People who let helium balloons go only to have them land in forest and nature preserves are the same as people who throw their fast food containers and empty bottles out of their car windows as they drive down the street. They're doing the same thing. #balloonsblow

Gulls are underappreciated. Ring-billed Gull in morning light. Fox River Preserve, 3.1.26 #ringbilledgull #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotograp

That time last summer I found an Eastern Foxsnake shed coming out of a hollow log. #easternfoxsnake #fieldherping

First prescribed burn of the season!

Winter coats are fuzzy, thick, and warm. #whitetaileddeer #backyardwildlife

I may have to rethink putting the birdbath right in the middle of the wildflower garden. #whitetaileddeer #backyardwildlife

There was a James Bond movie named after this bird. It was released 30 years ago and was the first Bond movie that didn't use material from original Bond author Ian Flemming. McHenry Dam, 2.15.26 #goldeneye #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Today's backyard hawk: Redtail This one's an immature whose tail hasn't turned red yet. #redtailedhawk #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Backyard Sharpie Sharp-shinned hawk scoping our the bird feeders, 2.14.26 #sharpshinnedhawk #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography

Looking forward to the return of spring birds, like this Bobolink who travels all the way from Argentina. Argentinians never see this bold breeding plumage, but only their drab winter colors. #bobolink #birding #birdingphotography #BirdPhotography

American Black Duck McHenry Dam, Lake County, IL, 2.15.26 #americanblackduck #birding #birdingphotography#birdphotography

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sunrise, heat shimmer, and pelican Little St. Simons, GA 11.13.25 #brownpelican #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Stephen Barten All I can think of is that meme where Homer Simpson shrinks back into the bushes. Black-crowned Night Heron, Little St. Simons, GA 11.13.25 #blackcrownednightheron #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Tri-colored Heron Little St. Simons, GA 11.12.25 #tricoloredheron #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Hunkered down in the cold snap Willets (big) and Short-billed Dowitchers; amazing size difference Little St Simons, GA, 11.12.25 #willets #shortbilleddowitchers #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

You've got a little something on your beak Short-billed Dowitcher, Little St. Simons, GA, 11.12.25 #shortbilleddowitcher #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Coyote pair on the prowl, 4:00 AM They proceeded up our front walkway to the driveway and across the street, leaving tracks in the fresh snow. #Coyotes #TrailCam #TrailCamera #backyardwildlife

Happy Superb Owl Sunday! #snowyowl #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #owl

Stephen Barten Semipalmated Plover Little St. Simons, GA, 11.12.25 #semipalmatedplover #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Osprey taking off Little St. Simons, GA, 11.12.25 #osprey #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Belted Kingfisher Little St. Simons, GA, 11.12.25 #beltedkingfisher #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography #littlestsimonsisland

Northern Harrier hunting over the salt marsh Little St. Simons, GA, 11.12.25 #northernharrier #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography #littlestsimonsisland

This morning's (Feb 3) big surprise while watching eagles at McHenry Dam (north of Chicago): half a dozen Sandhill Cranes flew over! Pretty late for migration; I wonder where they have been foraging. #sandhillcranes #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography