Stephen Barten
@stephenbarten.bsky.social
Veterinarian (retired), naturalist, wildlife photographer, field herper, habitat restoration volunteer, prescribed burn crew, bluebird monitor, frog monitor, bumblebee monitor. NE Illinois. All images on this page are mine.
Marbled Godwit on final approach
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
January 11, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Marbled Godwit on final approach
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Semipalmated Plover championship match
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#semipalmatedplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#semipalmatedplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
January 9, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Semipalmated Plover championship match
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#semipalmatedplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#semipalmatedplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
California Sea Lions chasing a BIG fish.
OK, maybe they're just all eating at the same bait ball restaurant.
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
OK, maybe they're just all eating at the same bait ball restaurant.
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
January 8, 2026 at 10:20 PM
California Sea Lions chasing a BIG fish.
OK, maybe they're just all eating at the same bait ball restaurant.
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
OK, maybe they're just all eating at the same bait ball restaurant.
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
White-crowned Sparrow
Asilomar State Beach, CA, 10.22.25
#whitecrownedsparrow #birdphotography #birding #birdphotography
Asilomar State Beach, CA, 10.22.25
#whitecrownedsparrow #birdphotography #birding #birdphotography
January 7, 2026 at 11:33 PM
White-crowned Sparrow
Asilomar State Beach, CA, 10.22.25
#whitecrownedsparrow #birdphotography #birding #birdphotography
Asilomar State Beach, CA, 10.22.25
#whitecrownedsparrow #birdphotography #birding #birdphotography
For my herper friends: this drab box turtle from Jackson County, IL, last September was an IL lifer for me.
IYKYK
IYKYK
January 7, 2026 at 12:22 AM
For my herper friends: this drab box turtle from Jackson County, IL, last September was an IL lifer for me.
IYKYK
IYKYK
Snowy Plover, a lifer for me
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#snowyplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#snowyplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
January 5, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Snowy Plover, a lifer for me
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#snowyplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#snowyplover #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
The American White Pelican's 9-foot wingspan is second only to the California Condor in North America. This is a huge bird.
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
January 3, 2026 at 10:56 PM
The American White Pelican's 9-foot wingspan is second only to the California Condor in North America. This is a huge bird.
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Maybe not the FIRST backyard bird of 2026, but the BEST backyard bird so far.
Great Horned Owl 01.02.26
#greathornedowl #owl #BackyardBirding #backyardbirds #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Great Horned Owl 01.02.26
#greathornedowl #owl #BackyardBirding #backyardbirds #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
January 2, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Maybe not the FIRST backyard bird of 2026, but the BEST backyard bird so far.
Great Horned Owl 01.02.26
#greathornedowl #owl #BackyardBirding #backyardbirds #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Great Horned Owl 01.02.26
#greathornedowl #owl #BackyardBirding #backyardbirds #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Red-tailed Hawk, immature.
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#redtailedhawk #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#redtailedhawk #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
January 1, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Red-tailed Hawk, immature.
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#redtailedhawk #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve, CA, 10.24.25
#redtailedhawk #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Asilomar State Beach, CA 10.24.25
Asilomar State Beach, CA 10.24.25
December 31, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Asilomar State Beach, CA 10.24.25
Asilomar State Beach, CA 10.24.25
It looks like a stealth bomber skimming the waves.
Humpback, Monterey Bay, 10.23.25
Humpback, Monterey Bay, 10.23.25
December 29, 2025 at 11:35 PM
It looks like a stealth bomber skimming the waves.
Humpback, Monterey Bay, 10.23.25
Humpback, Monterey Bay, 10.23.25
Surfin' Bird by the Trashmen
Now the ear worm is planted
Long-billed Curlew, Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Now the ear worm is planted
Long-billed Curlew, Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
December 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Surfin' Bird by the Trashmen
Now the ear worm is planted
Long-billed Curlew, Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Now the ear worm is planted
Long-billed Curlew, Moss Landing, CA, 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
This poor Humpback had a run in with a boat propeller. Luckily the wounds are healing nicely in the salt water.
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
December 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
This poor Humpback had a run in with a boat propeller. Luckily the wounds are healing nicely in the salt water.
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
Montery Bay, CA, 10.23.25
California Sea Lion
Montery Bay, CA 10.23.25
Montery Bay, CA 10.23.25
December 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
California Sea Lion
Montery Bay, CA 10.23.25
Montery Bay, CA 10.23.25
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
For my herper friends: I bet a lot of you have herp-themed Christmas decorations.
Here are some of my favorite ornaments that have been gifted to me over the years.
Here are some of my favorite ornaments that have been gifted to me over the years.
December 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
For my herper friends: I bet a lot of you have herp-themed Christmas decorations.
Here are some of my favorite ornaments that have been gifted to me over the years.
Here are some of my favorite ornaments that have been gifted to me over the years.
A whale of a cannonball
Monterey Bay, CA, 10.23.25
Monterey Bay, CA, 10.23.25
December 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A whale of a cannonball
Monterey Bay, CA, 10.23.25
Monterey Bay, CA, 10.23.25
Humpback Fluke, Monterey Bay. 10.23.25
December 22, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Humpback Fluke, Monterey Bay. 10.23.25
Bath Time
Marbled Godwits, Moss Laning, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Marbled Godwits, Moss Laning, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
December 21, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Bath Time
Marbled Godwits, Moss Laning, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Marbled Godwits, Moss Laning, CA, 10.24.25
#marbledgodwit #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Townsend's Warblers
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.26
#townsendswarbler #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.26
#townsendswarbler #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
December 20, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Townsend's Warblers
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.26
#townsendswarbler #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.26
#townsendswarbler #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Black Phoebe and Say's Phoebe, two related western species. The latter was a lifer for me.
Baylands Nature Preserve and Alisomar State Beach, CA, 10.24.25 and 10.22.25 respectively
#phoebe #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve and Alisomar State Beach, CA, 10.24.25 and 10.22.25 respectively
#phoebe #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
December 19, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Black Phoebe and Say's Phoebe, two related western species. The latter was a lifer for me.
Baylands Nature Preserve and Alisomar State Beach, CA, 10.24.25 and 10.22.25 respectively
#phoebe #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve and Alisomar State Beach, CA, 10.24.25 and 10.22.25 respectively
#phoebe #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Magpie Tanager, Iguazú Falls, Brazil
A Brazilian ornithologist found my image in Cornell's Macaulay Library from a 10-YO eBird list, and asked to use it in his new book "Birdlife of Brazil's Cerrado: Natural History and Biogeography." Initially it will be in Portuguese; English version in 2027.
A Brazilian ornithologist found my image in Cornell's Macaulay Library from a 10-YO eBird list, and asked to use it in his new book "Birdlife of Brazil's Cerrado: Natural History and Biogeography." Initially it will be in Portuguese; English version in 2027.
December 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Magpie Tanager, Iguazú Falls, Brazil
A Brazilian ornithologist found my image in Cornell's Macaulay Library from a 10-YO eBird list, and asked to use it in his new book "Birdlife of Brazil's Cerrado: Natural History and Biogeography." Initially it will be in Portuguese; English version in 2027.
A Brazilian ornithologist found my image in Cornell's Macaulay Library from a 10-YO eBird list, and asked to use it in his new book "Birdlife of Brazil's Cerrado: Natural History and Biogeography." Initially it will be in Portuguese; English version in 2027.
Gloger's Rule: populations from warm, humid environments have more saturated colors than those from cool, dry areas. Dark-eyed Juncos (Oregon group) from the Pacific NW and coastal CA areas have reddish-brown patches unlike our "Slate-colored" Juncos.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.25
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.25
December 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Gloger's Rule: populations from warm, humid environments have more saturated colors than those from cool, dry areas. Dark-eyed Juncos (Oregon group) from the Pacific NW and coastal CA areas have reddish-brown patches unlike our "Slate-colored" Juncos.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.25
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, CA, 10.22.25
This Chestnut-backed Chickadee from Point Lobos State Natural Preserve, CA, sure looks different from our Midwestern Black-capped Chickadees. 10.22.25
#chestnutbackedchickadee #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
#chestnutbackedchickadee #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
December 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
This Chestnut-backed Chickadee from Point Lobos State Natural Preserve, CA, sure looks different from our Midwestern Black-capped Chickadees. 10.22.25
#chestnutbackedchickadee #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
#chestnutbackedchickadee #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography