Tim Gels
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Tim Gels
@timgels.bsky.social
150 followers 150 following 93 posts
Environmental educator and conservationist. Occasional poet and writer. Lately, I really like birds. Near Huntsville, AL.

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We have a few juveniles hanging out at a pond in Huntsville (north Alabama). They’re fun to watch, but mine just sit and sit! ( The turtles aren’t bothered.)
October 9, 2025 at 1:43 AM
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From Camperville on Facebook
October 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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I love a “three woodpecker” morning at the house! #birding #birds #slowbirding
A screenshot from the Merlin app showing a Northern Flicker, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
July 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
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This picture was a gift. I was just standing on the porch with my phone! #birds #birding
A brilliant yellow American Goldfinch standing in the midst of some purple coneflowers.
July 4, 2025 at 12:42 AM
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Some folks just have the hardest time with boundaries!
#birding #greatblueheron #birds
A great blue heron standing in shallow water behind a no fishing sign.
May 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM
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This was a real gift today. I’d been standing still for a while when this Summer Tanager landed just above me. She seemed as curious about me as I was about her! #birding #birds
A female Summer Tanager in a tree. The bird is a dull yellow with a tan beak and gray legs.
May 4, 2025 at 11:16 PM
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One of my favorite things about being a relatively new birder is seeing birds that I never even knew existed. I heard a bird and saw a silhouette in flight after a late evening at work. I’d never heard or seen it before, but Merlin helped me out: a Common Nighthawk. Beautiful flyer!
#birding #birds
The silhouette of a bird in flight. It has a narrow body and long narrow wings. There are white marks outside of the wrists.
May 2, 2025 at 1:43 AM
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My nature highlight of the day was watching a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher building a nest! #birds #birding
The blue-gray gnatcatcher is a small bird. This picture shows a blue-gray gnatcatcher sitting in a nest that it is making. The nest is gray and brown, and appears to be made of mud and lichen.
April 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
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Want to see just a few more species before you wrap up for the morning? Go ahead and hit “Submit” on your eBird checklist!
#birding #ebird #birds
A poor picture of a Purple Finch seen through tree branches. The bird has a brilliant red raspberry coloration.
March 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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Seeing a Bald Eagle in the wild is always a thrill for me!
#birding
A mature Bald Eagle in flight with outstretched wings.
March 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
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A poorly drawn drawing of a pigeon.
March 8, 2025 at 8:42 PM
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A Golden-crowned Kinglet, viewed from the rear!
#birds
A small bird with a golden patch on its head. Its body appears greenish ,grey, and white.
December 16, 2024 at 1:39 AM
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Yesterday was a slow day birding, but I did see my first Red Fox Sparrow. What a beautiful bird with striking grey feathers on its neck and head!
#birding #birds
A large sparrow with reddish-brown feathers and grey features around its head and neck. A large sparrow with reddish-brown feathers and grey features around its head and neck.
November 29, 2024 at 1:12 AM
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Yesterday I added the one-hundredth species to my eBird list. It was a purple finch, one of several that were present at a local bird blind. #birds #birding
A purple finch sitting on a piece of wood. It’s a small bird with purple shading on its head and breast.
November 13, 2024 at 11:01 AM
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Oddly enough, I knew what bird this was despite having never seen one before!
(See the alt text if you don’t know!)
#birds #birding
A golden-crowned kinglet sitting on a branch. It’s a small bird with a bright yellow patch on the top of its head.
October 24, 2024 at 12:55 AM
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One of my favorite things about being a new birder is seeing birds that I never knew existed. Yesterday it was the Blue-Headed Vireo. I also saw the Bay-Breasted Warbler and the White-Throated Sparrow, which I knew of but had never seen.

#birds #birding
A Blue-Headed Vireo sitting on a branch in the shade A Bay-Breasted Warbler standing on a branch A White-Throated Sparrow standing in a shallow pool of water.
October 22, 2024 at 10:33 AM
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To hang out with my forest friends!
October 22, 2024 at 10:28 AM
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With the brown thrasher, its stare makes me imagine it having the supraorbital ridge of a raptor. A beautiful bird!
A brown thrasher standing in front of a piece of wet wood. The bird has what appears to be a harsh stare.
September 26, 2024 at 11:44 AM
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I’m a big fan of common birds, especially the ones that are probably smarter than me!
A Blue Jay standing an a wet log.
September 24, 2024 at 11:57 PM
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Looking out my kitchen window a few minutes ago, I *saw* what I believe is my first neighborhood eastern phoebe. I’ve heard them around the house for years, but don’t know if I’ve ever seen one.

#birds #backyardbirding
A fuzzy picture of an eastern phoebe sitting on a chain link fence. A fuzzy picture of an eastern phoebe sitting on a chain-link fence.
September 22, 2024 at 11:19 PM
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This is my first season really appreciating warblers. The local Land Trust has a bird blind that has allowed so many people to enjoy these little wonders!
A banded Canada warbler landing in a shallow pool of water.
September 22, 2024 at 7:43 PM