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.
Sometimes when I’m birding I look down instead of up and I get distracted.
59 F but sunny after 2 frigid days; best find so far.
59 F but sunny after 2 frigid days; best find so far.
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Sometimes when I’m birding I look down instead of up and I get distracted.
59 F but sunny after 2 frigid days; best find so far.
59 F but sunny after 2 frigid days; best find so far.
Belted Kingfisher, my nemesis bird.
Up until this afternoon I struggled to get within 100 yards of one of these shy birds.
#beltedkingfisher #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Up until this afternoon I struggled to get within 100 yards of one of these shy birds.
#beltedkingfisher #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Belted Kingfisher, my nemesis bird.
Up until this afternoon I struggled to get within 100 yards of one of these shy birds.
#beltedkingfisher #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Up until this afternoon I struggled to get within 100 yards of one of these shy birds.
#beltedkingfisher #birding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
A tale of two Northern Harriers
I took the first shot this evening on the East Coast in golden light. I took the second one 2 1/2 weeks go on the West Coast.
#northernharrier #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
I took the first shot this evening on the East Coast in golden light. I took the second one 2 1/2 weeks go on the West Coast.
#northernharrier #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
November 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
A tale of two Northern Harriers
I took the first shot this evening on the East Coast in golden light. I took the second one 2 1/2 weeks go on the West Coast.
#northernharrier #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
I took the first shot this evening on the East Coast in golden light. I took the second one 2 1/2 weeks go on the West Coast.
#northernharrier #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
My afternoon commute
IYKYK
IYKYK
November 9, 2025 at 1:09 AM
My afternoon commute
IYKYK
IYKYK
November 7, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Bending over backwards
Elephant Seal, Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA 10.21.25
#elephantseal #wildlifephotography
Elephant Seal, Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA 10.21.25
#elephantseal #wildlifephotography
November 6, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Bending over backwards
Elephant Seal, Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA 10.21.25
#elephantseal #wildlifephotography
Elephant Seal, Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA 10.21.25
#elephantseal #wildlifephotography
For such a big guy, he's kind of a scaredy cat.
I think the trailcam in a new spot last night spooked him.
I think the trailcam in a new spot last night spooked him.
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
For such a big guy, he's kind of a scaredy cat.
I think the trailcam in a new spot last night spooked him.
I think the trailcam in a new spot last night spooked him.
Brewer's Blackbird
San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#brewersblackbird #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#brewersblackbird #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
November 5, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Brewer's Blackbird
San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#brewersblackbird #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#brewersblackbird #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
American White Pelican, with a wingspan of 8 to 9.5 feet, second only to the California Condor in North America.
Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #Birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #Birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
American White Pelican, with a wingspan of 8 to 9.5 feet, second only to the California Condor in North America.
Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #Birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA, 10.24.25
#americanwhitepelican #Birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Elephant Seal with a Great White Shark bite scar.
These seals have a layer of blubber that is many inches thick. If the bite doesn't go deeper than the blubber, they can heal nicely with the aid of the salty seawater in which they live.
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseal
These seals have a layer of blubber that is many inches thick. If the bite doesn't go deeper than the blubber, they can heal nicely with the aid of the salty seawater in which they live.
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseal
November 3, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Elephant Seal with a Great White Shark bite scar.
These seals have a layer of blubber that is many inches thick. If the bite doesn't go deeper than the blubber, they can heal nicely with the aid of the salty seawater in which they live.
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseal
These seals have a layer of blubber that is many inches thick. If the bite doesn't go deeper than the blubber, they can heal nicely with the aid of the salty seawater in which they live.
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseal
Long-billed Curlew found a Pacific Mole Crab in the sand.
Moss Landing, CA 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Moss Landing, CA 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
November 3, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Long-billed Curlew found a Pacific Mole Crab in the sand.
Moss Landing, CA 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Moss Landing, CA 10.24.25
#longbilledcurlew #birding #birdingphotography #birdphotography
Elephant Seals are built to stay warm in cold water. They flip sand over their backs to keep themselves cool and prevent sunburn.
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseals
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseals
November 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Elephant Seals are built to stay warm in cold water. They flip sand over their backs to keep themselves cool and prevent sunburn.
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseals
Piedras Blancas Rookery, San Simeon, CA, 10.21.25
#elephantseals
October 31, 2025 at 11:02 PM
An actor is never so great as when he reminds you of an animal - falling like a cat, lying like a dog, moving like a fox.
Francois Truffaut
Lake County, IL 10.18.25
#backyardwildlife #redfox #trailcam #trailcamera
Francois Truffaut
Lake County, IL 10.18.25
#backyardwildlife #redfox #trailcam #trailcamera
October 30, 2025 at 1:23 PM
An actor is never so great as when he reminds you of an animal - falling like a cat, lying like a dog, moving like a fox.
Francois Truffaut
Lake County, IL 10.18.25
#backyardwildlife #redfox #trailcam #trailcamera
Francois Truffaut
Lake County, IL 10.18.25
#backyardwildlife #redfox #trailcam #trailcamera
Cooper's Hawk vs. Eastern Gray Squirrel
Spoiler: Squirrel gets away.
Lake County, IL 10.20.25
#coopershawk #graysquirrel #backyardwildlife #trailcam #trailcamera
Spoiler: Squirrel gets away.
Lake County, IL 10.20.25
#coopershawk #graysquirrel #backyardwildlife #trailcam #trailcamera
October 28, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Cooper's Hawk vs. Eastern Gray Squirrel
Spoiler: Squirrel gets away.
Lake County, IL 10.20.25
#coopershawk #graysquirrel #backyardwildlife #trailcam #trailcamera
Spoiler: Squirrel gets away.
Lake County, IL 10.20.25
#coopershawk #graysquirrel #backyardwildlife #trailcam #trailcamera
October 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Juvenile (first year) Cooper's Hawk patrolling the bird feeders yesterday evening.
Lake County, IL 10.14.25
#coopershawk #backyardbirding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Lake County, IL 10.14.25
#coopershawk #backyardbirding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
October 15, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Juvenile (first year) Cooper's Hawk patrolling the bird feeders yesterday evening.
Lake County, IL 10.14.25
#coopershawk #backyardbirding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Lake County, IL 10.14.25
#coopershawk #backyardbirding #birdphotography #birdingphotography
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Those vertical bars on the lips are one characteristic that differentiates harmless common water snakes from venomous Cottonmouths.
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#plainbelliedwatersnake #watersnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Those vertical bars on the lips are one characteristic that differentiates harmless common water snakes from venomous Cottonmouths.
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#plainbelliedwatersnake #watersnake #fieldherping #insituherps
October 14, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Those vertical bars on the lips are one characteristic that differentiates harmless common water snakes from venomous Cottonmouths.
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#plainbelliedwatersnake #watersnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Those vertical bars on the lips are one characteristic that differentiates harmless common water snakes from venomous Cottonmouths.
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#plainbelliedwatersnake #watersnake #fieldherping #insituherps
October 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Peek a boo!
Timber Rattlesnake looking out from his den, high in the bluff some 10 to 12 feet above the ground.
Jackson County, IL 2.26.25
#timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Timber Rattlesnake looking out from his den, high in the bluff some 10 to 12 feet above the ground.
Jackson County, IL 2.26.25
#timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
October 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Peek a boo!
Timber Rattlesnake looking out from his den, high in the bluff some 10 to 12 feet above the ground.
Jackson County, IL 2.26.25
#timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Timber Rattlesnake looking out from his den, high in the bluff some 10 to 12 feet above the ground.
Jackson County, IL 2.26.25
#timberrattlesnake #fieldherping #insituherps
Two cooperative Northern Cottonmouths on the trail. Which one of these is the cell phone shot?
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
October 12, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Two cooperative Northern Cottonmouths on the trail. Which one of these is the cell phone shot?
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#cottonmouth #fieldherping #insituherps
Portraits of two Eastern Copperheads: an adult and a neonate. They tend to raise their heads when approached, but don't open their mouths like closely related Cottonmouths do.
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#copperhead #fieldherping #insituherps
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#copperhead #fieldherping #insituherps
October 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Portraits of two Eastern Copperheads: an adult and a neonate. They tend to raise their heads when approached, but don't open their mouths like closely related Cottonmouths do.
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#copperhead #fieldherping #insituherps
Jackson County, IL 9.26.25
#copperhead #fieldherping #insituherps
October 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM