Brock Gunter-Smith
@brockgs.bsky.social
Semi-retired bird nerd, terrible programmer, devourer of books, and goofball to three beautiful young women who thankfully are smarter than their father.
Today’s birding anecdote is brought to you by the letter “H”, for “Harris Sparrow”. I definitely have days where I feel bloated. I just wish I could show it as spectacularly as #birds because then people would know that I might not be as chi(r)pper as usual! 😜 #winnipeg #canada #borb
May 6, 2025 at 11:28 PM
If you’ve never taken your camera (or camera phone) out during the golden hour before sunset, GO. Do it. A female Canvasback. It’s mate. Then a female and male Blue-winged teal. I mean, really, how could you NOT fall in love with birds in this light! 🤩 #birds #winnipeg #canada
May 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
The lady butter butts are showing up the boys by a large marg(ar)in, hence why lack photos of the butter boys 😄
May 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
The lady butter butts are showing up the boys by a large marg(ar)in, hence why lack photos of the butter boys 😄
Warblers….WARBLERS!🤬 😂 The annual Warbler ID guessing game is upon me. I strongly believe this is an Orange-crowned Warbler because of the broken eye-ring, faint smudgy streaks on the breast, dull olive and yellow colouring, and yellow undertail coverts. #birds #winnipeg #canada
May 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I love answering questions about blackbirds, because they really aren’t black! The Brewer’s Blackbird is one that flies under the radar of many people. Often confused with the Common Grackle, the Brewer’s Blackbird has a PURPLE head vs. BLUE in the males, they are smaller, and have more pale eyes.
April 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I love answering questions about blackbirds, because they really aren’t black! The Brewer’s Blackbird is one that flies under the radar of many people. Often confused with the Common Grackle, the Brewer’s Blackbird has a PURPLE head vs. BLUE in the males, they are smaller, and have more pale eyes.
The mating chase is still on-going for almost all #bird species in my backyard. On any given day we have between four and eight Northern Shovelers on the pond. The males outnumber the females so the females are quite literally run/flown ragged fending them off. #birdwatching #winnipeg #canada
April 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The mating chase is still on-going for almost all #bird species in my backyard. On any given day we have between four and eight Northern Shovelers on the pond. The males outnumber the females so the females are quite literally run/flown ragged fending them off. #birdwatching #winnipeg #canada
This morning I went looking for #birds including a rare, stray visitor that @jeope.bsky.social got to have an amazing encounter with. While I didn’t see that bird, I did see around 50 Tree Swallows Zooooooooming inches above the water grabbing small insects. AMAZING! #Winnipeg #Canada
April 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
This morning I went looking for #birds including a rare, stray visitor that @jeope.bsky.social got to have an amazing encounter with. While I didn’t see that bird, I did see around 50 Tree Swallows Zooooooooming inches above the water grabbing small insects. AMAZING! #Winnipeg #Canada
Now, the female Buffleheads, being far smarter and wiser than their testosterone laden lads, relax and let the boys wear themselves out before she picks one that she deems worthy of giving her everything she wishes. :-)
April 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Now, the female Buffleheads, being far smarter and wiser than their testosterone laden lads, relax and let the boys wear themselves out before she picks one that she deems worthy of giving her everything she wishes. :-)
Good morning fellow birders. The pond by our house is currently inundated with Buffleheads, YAY! These tiny diving ducks are some of the best water skiiers around. I LOVE watching the males trying to prove who’s the biggest and bravest to the females this time of year. #birds #winnipeg #canada
April 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Here’s the female. In contrast to the males that have to prove how macho they are by being all flashy, I love how the female is more subtle, but just as, if not more, full of incredible colours and patterns. She’s much smarter than the male and becomes lunch less often because of improved camouflage
April 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Here’s the female. In contrast to the males that have to prove how macho they are by being all flashy, I love how the female is more subtle, but just as, if not more, full of incredible colours and patterns. She’s much smarter than the male and becomes lunch less often because of improved camouflage
The humble “Butter Butt”, a.k.a. Yellow-rumped Warbler. A simple, common bird, but one that certainly helps brighten up the place. #birds
April 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The humble “Butter Butt”, a.k.a. Yellow-rumped Warbler. A simple, common bird, but one that certainly helps brighten up the place. #birds
Mrs. Northern Shoveler.
April 24, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Mrs. Northern Shoveler.
Northern Shoveler today on the retention pond. Yes, it does have a shovel on its face! I hope they nest and make little “shovelettes” like they did last year!! #birds #notpolitics
April 24, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Northern Shoveler today on the retention pond. Yes, it does have a shovel on its face! I hope they nest and make little “shovelettes” like they did last year!! #birds #notpolitics
Sometimes birding though turns into a mad dash down your street knocking on doors warning people to not let their kids or animals out as a VERY sick Raccoon stumbles through their yards, across walking paths and literally up to several people’s front doors! #giantJuncos? :-D Ah, the life of a birder
April 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Sometimes birding though turns into a mad dash down your street knocking on doors warning people to not let their kids or animals out as a VERY sick Raccoon stumbles through their yards, across walking paths and literally up to several people’s front doors! #giantJuncos? :-D Ah, the life of a birder
We’re not alone people. The birds are just as affected!!!
April 12, 2025 at 10:14 PM
We’re not alone people. The birds are just as affected!!!
It’s a day time silhouette but still one that makes me giggle! A tiny Pied-billed Grebe went running and then sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiding across the retention pond attached to my backyard :-D Bless those tiny little legs and alien feet!
April 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
It’s a day time silhouette but still one that makes me giggle! A tiny Pied-billed Grebe went running and then sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiding across the retention pond attached to my backyard :-D Bless those tiny little legs and alien feet!
I just did a quick drive around my area this afternoon. 5 Western Meadowlarks but only had time to stop and capture the song on this one. Such amazing birds!!!
April 11, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I just did a quick drive around my area this afternoon. 5 Western Meadowlarks but only had time to stop and capture the song on this one. Such amazing birds!!!
HARUMPH! No blooms have pushed through the thin crust of ice still holding back any semblance of spring yet in central Canada. This Grackle in my backyard so perfectly communicates the mood right now as we wait for sunshine, warmth and happiness!
April 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
HARUMPH! No blooms have pushed through the thin crust of ice still holding back any semblance of spring yet in central Canada. This Grackle in my backyard so perfectly communicates the mood right now as we wait for sunshine, warmth and happiness!
Ok, a new fun way to waste billions of dollars of investment into AI…making your own political cartoons!
April 8, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Ok, a new fun way to waste billions of dollars of investment into AI…making your own political cartoons!