Mike Melton
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mikemelton.bsky.social
Mike Melton
@mikemelton.bsky.social
36K followers 820 following 8.4K posts
All photos are my own and not AI.

I am a filmmaker and photographer based in Olympia, WA, and Bijagua, Costa Rica @casabentbill.bsky.social but I spend as much time as I can in hot, humid, tropical forests. Because that's where the birds are!

he/him
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mikemelton.bsky.social
Another #SuperbOwl, the Northern Pygmy-Owl

#owls #nature
A small speckled owl with bright yellow eyes perches on a branch among green leaves.
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
I heard that it's #SuperbOwl Sunday so here's a very judgy Spectacled Owl at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica

#birds #owls #nature
A brown owl with bright yellow eyes and white facial markings perches on a mossy branch against a blurred green background.
February 9, 2026 at 1:21 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
A sleepy male Wood Duck this morning at my local pond.

#ducks #birds #nature
Close-up portrait of a colorful duck with an iridescent green head, red eye, and patterned chest against a soft, blurred background.
February 4, 2026 at 10:08 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
A sweet Dark-eyed Junco in my yard today.

#WashingtonState #birds #nature
A small songbird with a black head and chest, pale gray belly, and brown wings perched on a branch.
February 4, 2026 at 8:31 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Spotted Puffbird in the wet forest of Amazonas #Peru

#birds #nature
A small gray-and-brown bird with a rusty crown and stout black bill perches on a mossy branch, looking over its shoulder.
February 2, 2026 at 10:21 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Collared Inca at @montezumalodge.bsky.social #Colombia

#birds #nature #hummingbirds
A black hummingbird with a bright white throat patch and a long straight bill perches on a branch against a soft green-yellow background.
February 1, 2026 at 9:51 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Velvet-purple Coronet at @montezumalodge.bsky.social #Colombia

#birds #hummingbirds #nature
A close-up of a dark hummingbird with iridescent green-blue feathers and a purple crown perched on a branch against a blurred background.
February 1, 2026 at 9:33 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
A bonus Harlequin Duck for #birdoftheday #ducks

#nature
A colorful duck with bold black-and-white markings and rusty sides stands in profile against a softly blurred background.
February 1, 2026 at 6:46 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
#Ducks for #birdoftheday

Three male Harlequin Ducks in Washington state

#birds #nature
February 1, 2026 at 6:43 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Red-legged Honeycreeper at La Carolina Lodge #CostaRica

#birds #nature
A close-up of a bright blue bird with a pale blue cap and curved black bill, perched among green leaves.
January 30, 2026 at 9:48 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Indigo-capped Hummingbird at El Retorno de los Colibris, Anaime, Tolima #Colombia

#birds #hummingbirds #nature
A close-up of a green hummingbird with a deep blue cap perched on a dried seed head against a soft, blurred yellow-green background.
January 30, 2026 at 9:39 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
The special little Chestnut-belted Gnateater in the dark forests of Amazonas. #Brazil

#birds #nature
Close-up of a small bird with a black face and throat, a white eyebrow stripe, and a warm orange-brown chest, perched on a branch against a blurred forest background.
January 27, 2026 at 3:03 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Kori Bustard at Kruger National Park #SouthAfrica for #birdoftheday #walking

Or #strutting

#birds #nature
A large brown-and-white long-legged bird walks across sandy ground with green vegetation in the background.
January 24, 2026 at 4:00 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Black-crested Coquette at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica

#birds #hummingbirds #nature
Close-up of a tiny hummingbird with long crest feathers and an orange ruff, perched on a green branch with water droplets against a soft green background.
January 23, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Mike Melton
colinbushell.bsky.social
That’s the @wisebirding.bsky.social Thailand tour finished for this year. Over 400 species, starting with Spoon-billed Sandpiper, ending with Slaty-backed Forktail, with many goodies like this Blue Pitta in between #WiseBirding #Thailand 🇹🇭
Blue Pitta, Kaeng Krachan January 2026
January 21, 2026 at 9:49 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
For #wrensday a very vocal Bewick's Wren from today.

#birds #nature
A small brown songbird perched on a thin branch with its beak open, appearing to sing against a soft green background.
January 22, 2026 at 4:03 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay #WinterLight

White-throated Sparrow with a snowflake ornament.

#snow #birds #nature
Small gray and brown bird perched on a snowy branch, shown in close-up with a striped head, yellow facial markings, and a soft pale background. There's a perfect snowflake on the top of its head.
January 19, 2026 at 6:17 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
White-booted Racket-tail at @montezumalodge.bsky.social

#colombia

#birds #hummingbirds
Green hummingbird perched on a thin branch, shown in profile with a slender bill and long tail streamers ending in oval tips, against a soft green background.
January 19, 2026 at 5:21 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Bonus #bushtitoftheday

You differentiate the sexes of Bushtits by their eye color. Females have the pale iris like this one.

#birds #nature
Close-up of a small fluffy gray bird facing the camera, with dark eyes, a short pointed bill, and softly blurred surroundings.
January 18, 2026 at 4:17 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Here's #TwoOfAKind for #birdoftheday

Papa Bushtit with his son as the family was visiting the suet feeder.

#birds #nature
Two small fluffy gray birds perched side by side on a branch, facing slightly different directions against a soft green background.
January 18, 2026 at 4:14 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
The delightful Red-breasted Nuthatch, always on the move.

#birds #nature
Small blue-gray bird perched sideways on a tree branch, shown in profile with a pointed bill and a soft green background.
January 18, 2026 at 5:21 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Barred Puffbird in #Colombia for #birdoftheday #perfectperch

#birds #nature
Brown, heavily patterned bird perched on a mossy branch in a forest, shown in profile with a stout bill and soft green background.
January 17, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Mike Melton
gettoknownature.bsky.social
NUTHATCH TONGUE!!!

I don’t know why bird tongues surprise and intrigue me so much but they do

#birds 🌿
A close up photo of a gray and white bird hanging upside down. Its beak is open and tongue slightly sticking out.
January 16, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Mike Melton
frwildflowers.bsky.social
Mountains "won't stop being dramatic" 🤗🤪

#FallBack to July 16 🌿
Rocky tundra, Mt Neva on right
January 16, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Mike Melton
conniemenefee.bsky.social
Brood X cicada (2025) #Inverts 🌿
Red-eyed cicada on a stem
January 17, 2026 at 3:04 AM