Bob Bell 🇨🇦
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thebirderbob.bsky.social
Bob Bell 🇨🇦
@thebirderbob.bsky.social
9.4K followers 1K following 3K posts
Avid birder, Lyme patient, author of "Out of the Lyme Light and into the Sunlight" Read about my frustrating journey with Lyme, and how birding helps me cope with chronic pain. Photos all by me. #birds #cats #Lyme #naturetherapy #wellness #birding
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thebirderbob.bsky.social
Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · Sep 18
Proud to post this link to the article that I wrote in the September issue of @aba.org's Birding magazine - much easier to read than the scanned jpgs I posted earlier. Thank you ABA and @birdizlife.bsky.social! #birds #birding #Lyme #Lymedisease #wellness

www.aba.org/birding-and-...
Birding and Wellness - American Birding Association
After Lyme disease forced him into retirement, geologist Bob Bell found healing in birding, improving wellness, sharing knowledge, and inspiring people to connect with birds.
www.aba.org
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Red-tailed Hawk hunting in our backyard late yesterday afternoon #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #hawk #raptor #redtailedhawk
I watched this red-tailed hawk fly by my window 4 times, in pursuit of birds at my feeders. It took a pause in one of our backyard maples. In this scene it is facing me but looking off to the right, and is a bit hunched down, ready to take off again
January 31, 2026 at 11:35 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A Blue Jay that I saw at Algonquin Park a couple of weeks ago, looking a bit windswept in the second photo. #birds #birding #Algonquin #bluejay
A blue jay in profile view perched on lichen and moss covered branches of a spruce tree, looking to the right. A blue jay in profile view perched on lichen and moss covered branches of a spruce tree, looking over its shoulder to the left. its crest is up and is a bit windswept.
January 30, 2026 at 12:08 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A floofed up male House Finch with a snow covered snoot after rooting around for seeds. He doesn't look impressed! #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
A male house finch glaring directly at me, sitting in deep snow on my table where I put out seeds. He's been digging around with his beak to find them, so it is covered in white snow, which contrasts strongly with his pink colour
January 29, 2026 at 11:48 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I thought that these photos were a good comparison between female House Finches (left) and Pine Siskins (right), taken at the same spot having a sip from my bird bath. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
A female house finch perched on the far side of my water tray, with the background blurred out. She's looking to the left. She is soft brown and white, with a fairly thick bill. A female pine siskin perched on the far side of my water tray, with the background blurred out. She's looking directly at me. She is soft brown and white, with less streaking than the house finch, and a smaller, daintier bill. She has white wing bars and greenish-gray wings
January 28, 2026 at 12:08 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
We are lucky that in most years, a Pied-billed Grebe chooses to spend its winter in a local canal. #birds #birding #grebes #HamOnt
Pied-billed grebes are small birds. This one is in non-breeding winter plumage - grayish-brown on its back, streaky orangish-brown on its chest and flanks. It is in profile view in gray coloured water, looking to the left. Pied-billed grebes are small birds. This one is in non-breeding winter plumage - grayish-brown on its back, streaky orangish-brown on its chest and flanks. It is in profile view in gray coloured water, swimming to the left but looking over its shoulder to the right.
January 27, 2026 at 12:26 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I'm getting a complex! My two regular, backyard hawks take turns hunting birds visiting my feeders, and even seem to prefer the same perch. However, they also seem to prefer sitting with their backs to me! Cooper's Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. #birds #birders #Bobsbackyard #HamOnt #Ancaster
A Cooper's Hawk perched with its back to me, looking to the right. It is mostly dark gray and white. A Red-tailed Hawk perched with its back to me. It is mostly various shades of reddish brown, reddish white, and dark brown.
January 26, 2026 at 5:09 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I don't think the birds can find my feeders this morning. #birds #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
My snow covered backyard and feeders. The aftermath of almost 24 hours of light, fluffy snow falling. My snow covered backyard and feeders. The aftermath of almost 24 hours of light, fluffy snow falling.
January 26, 2026 at 12:34 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
The Pine Siskins at my feeders are quite feisty, often scolding the Dark-eyed Juncos and American Goldfinch. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #HamOnt #Ancaster
A view of my tray feeder, with a pine siskin on the right and a dark-eyed junco on the left. The siskin is flapping its wings and has its head tilted up towards the junco, and appears to be yelling at it. The junco is calmly looking down at the feisty siskin. A closer up view of a pine siskin with its wings partly raised, its head up and mouth open, staring to the left at another bird which is out of the frame.
January 25, 2026 at 12:33 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A very distant Snowy Owl that I saw last week. #birds #birding #owl #snowyowl
A snowy owl perched on a wooden fence, looking to the left. It was about 150 metres away from me, across a snow covered farm field. I believe it is an older, mature male given how white it is.
January 24, 2026 at 11:52 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
The always elegant Mute Swan. #muteswan #birds #birding
A mute swan with its head turned to its back, doing a bit of grooming with its orange bill A profile portrait of a mute swan, looking to the left
January 23, 2026 at 12:14 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
One good thing about winter, with no leaves in the way you can see and admire the "handiwork" required in the making of bird nests, such as these two Baltimore Oriole nests. #birds #birding #birdnests #oriole #BaltimoreOriole
A Baltimore Oriole nest is like a bag suspended from a branch high up in a tree, narrow where it is attached but widening at the bottom. The sky is gray and cloudy behind this nest. A Baltimore Oriole nest is like a bag suspended from a branch high up in a tree, narrow where it is attached but widening at the bottom. The sky is totally clear, blue, behind this nest.
January 22, 2026 at 12:26 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I was surprised to see this Great Blue Heron in Hamilton last week. #birds #birding #heron #greatblueheron #Hamilton
A great blue heron, in profile view looking to the right. it is hunched down, making it look neckless. There are some weeds and young trees between me and the bird, which is standing on the shore of a pond with open water
January 21, 2026 at 12:49 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I saw this Horned Grebe last week, in its rather bland, non-breeding, winter plumage. Hard to believe that in a few months it will look like the one in the second photo! #birds #birding #grebe
A disheveled looking horned grebe, with its back feathers ruffled up. It is various shades of off-white and gray, with a ruby red eye. The water is gray and choppy in this winter scene. A horned grebe in breeding plumage. Its body is orangish brown on the beast and flanks, while its back is gray. The head is black, with a wide stripe of orange on each side. The eye remains ruby red. The water is blue and calm.
January 20, 2026 at 11:42 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
The beautiful Greater White-fronted Goose breeds in the arctic tundra and winters in western North America and Mexico. We seem to get a few most winters; this one was kind enough to show up within my 5MR. As you can see, they are much smaller than our Canada Goose. #birds #birding
A profile shot of a Greater White-fronted Goose, swimming towards the right in gray coloured water. It is a various shades of soft brown, with a bright orange bill (and legs and feet which can't be seen in this shot) A profile shot of a Greater White-fronted Goose, swimming towards the left in gray coloured water, surrounded by half a dozen much larger Canada Geese. It is a various shades of soft brown, with a bright orange bill (and legs and feet which can't be seen in this shot) A profile shot of a Greater White-fronted Goose, swimming towards the left in gray coloured water, surrounded by much larger Canada Geese. It is a various shades of soft brown, with a bright orange bill (and legs which are just barely visible in this shot) A Greater White-fronted Goose, swimming towards me in gray coloured water. It is a various shades of soft brown, with a whitish-brown chest, and a bright orange bill (and legs and feet which can't be seen in this shot)
January 19, 2026 at 11:33 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
The Cedar Waxwings keep returning to our backyard, typically late in the afternoon, and every time they seem to bring more friends with them. Here's just some of them in a backyard maple. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
About 20 waxwings perched on the upper bare branches of a young maple tree, with a gray cloudy sky in the background Three waxwings lower down in the maple, all looking to the left and leaning forward, ready to launch!
January 18, 2026 at 11:38 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Loshi just reminded me that it's #caturday!
Our all gray Russian Blue cat Loshi asleep on his window perch.
January 17, 2026 at 9:18 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
This past week I was thrilled to see a Northern Saw-whet Owl. These pop can sized predators are our cutest little murder birds! #Birds #birding #owl
A tiny northern saw-whet owl sleeping in a white pine tree. I only stayed a minute as it was aware of my presence, keeping one squinty eye on me. A tiny northern saw-whet owl sleeping in a white pine tree. A profile view. I only stayed a minute as it was aware of my presence, keeping one squinty eye on me.
January 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
The aftermath of yesterday's storm. Serenity now! #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
My backyard, with the coniferous trees all laden with fresh snow. My bird feeding station is on the right, and bottom centre is what I call my "stage" set up for photographing birds from my home office window.
January 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A couple of Northern Cardinals in our redbud during yesterday's snowstorm. #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #birds #birding #cardinal
Two bright red male cardinals, both perched in profile view looking to the left, with one situated above and slightly behind the other. The backdrop is our spruce tree laden with snow.
January 16, 2026 at 11:39 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
When I was up at Algonquin Provincial Park last week, it was nice to see that the visitor's centre has installed Feather Friendly window treatments. #birds #AlgonquinPark #birdconservation @birdsonghamilton.bsky.social
The glass enclosure providing access from the visitor's centre to their platform to view the bird feeders is covered with a series of white dots on a grid pattern of about 2 inches by 2 inches, to alert birds so that they won't fly into the glass.
January 15, 2026 at 3:38 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A couple of days ago I'd been out birding for the morning. When I got home I found that a squirrel had somehow managed to jump onto my feeders and knock down the platform feeder. The Wild Turkeys thought that they'd won the lottery! #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #HamOnt #Ancaster
My green coloured tray feeder, full of seeds, is on the ground in my backyard, under the feeding station. There are 8 wild turkeys around it, having a feast.
January 15, 2026 at 11:44 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A Red-breasted Nuthatch perched on my ornamental chickadee in the backyard. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #HamOnt #Ancaster
I have a metal ornament of a chickadee mounted on my backyard fence. I am always trying to capture images of various birds that land on it, in this case a wee red-breasted nuthatch, in profile view, looking downwards towards the chickadee's head
January 14, 2026 at 11:39 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
What a thrill to see this magnificent beast this morning while out birding. Beautiful coyote! #notabird #coyote
A coyote standing directly in front of me, on a leaf covered forest floor (no snow!) looking slightly downwards.
January 13, 2026 at 9:00 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Here's another dose of cuteness overload, the always adorable Tufted Titmouse. Trigger warning for @saskajanet.bsky.social - caution, your heart might melt! #birds #birding #tuftedtitmouse
A titmouse perched on a snowy branch, with a blurry gray background. It is oriented towards me, but looking over its shoulder to the left side of the image, showing off its big, black eye and cute crest really well. You can just see the cinnamon colouring on its flanks
January 13, 2026 at 11:48 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
This 17 minute Vinyl Cafe story "The Bird" is a hilarious account of "twitching", the pursuit of rare or vagrant birds. #birds #birding

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOe1...
The Bird
YouTube video by Stuart McLean - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM