Bob Bell 🇨🇦

Thanks for the repost, and kind words!

🤣

Thanks GG!

Two ducks swimming in calm water in front of a grassy bank, which is reflected in the water. The female is in the foreground, in profile view looking to the right, while the male is the reverse, in the back looking left. His hood is not flared up.

It was nice of this pair of Hooded Mergansers to stop by our pond on the weekend. #Birds #birding #ducks #Ancaster #HamOnt #Bobsbackyard

I got lucky seeing the NSWO, but I haven't seen one LEOW, my fave owl. Last year I saw lots of them.

Yes!

Thanks Glen. They're gorgeous!

Decoding Bird Names with Bob Bell - BurlingtonGreen Date:Thursday, March 12th, 2026Time: 7pmLocation: Zoom Webinar

Just a reminder that I'll be giving a talk on bird names on Thursday, March 12th at 7 pm. You can register with the host, @burlingtongreen.bsky.social, using the link below:

www.burlingtongreen.org/events/decod...
#birds

A King Eider swimming away from me in royal blue, choppy water. His head is turned so that he's looking to the left, showing off his black-and-white plumage accented by a red-and-orange bill, pearl-blue crown, and spring-green cheek (thanks Cornell for this wonderful description!).

A King Eider in profile view, swimming away from me in royal blue, choppy water. He has black-and-white plumage accented by a red-and-orange bill, pearl-blue crown, and spring-green cheek (thanks Cornell for this wonderful description!). There are two tiny black "sails" projecting from his back.

A King Eider in profile view, looking towards the left, swimming in royal blue, choppy water. He has black-and-white plumage accented by a red-and-orange bill, pearl-blue crown, and spring-green cheek (thanks Cornell for this wonderful description!).

Hail to the king - the King Eider is a spectacular duck! #birds #birding #ducks

Too funny!!

Right on! Funny you say that. On Thursday I'm giving a Zoom talk on bird names, and one that I mention is the saw-whet!

Thank you!

Thanks! Yes, it was in the Hamilton area. Although most are seen N of Kitchener and Guelph, a few usually come down here. Seems like most winters there is one around Bronte Harbour in Oakville. I once saw one at LaSalle in Burlington, and last year I saw one south of Hamilton in Haldimand county.

🦉🤣

Love snow buntings!

Crown jewel! Hope you get to see one too.

Thanks! I might as well delete almost every previous photo - this was by far my best encounter with one.

A tiny saw-whet owl perched on a horizontal branch of a coniferous tree, with a larger branch just above its head, creating a frame. It is in profile view, but has its head turned and is looking directly at me with its yellow eyes

Whenever I'm lucky enough to find a Northern Saw-whet Owl, they are usually sound asleep. This one was awake and active, looking around, especially straight down - something on the ground had its interest. #birds #birding #HamOnt #owl

I had basically given up on them!

Thanks very much, Rob!

A redpoll perched on a bare branch, on profile view looking to the right. The background is blurred out white. It has a small red cap and a faint pink blush on its breast.

A redpoll perched on a bare branch, on profile view looking straight up. The background is blurred out white. It has a small red cap and a faint pink blush on its breast.

A redpoll perched on a bare branch, on profile view looking to the left. The background is blurred out white. It has a small red cap and a faint pink blush on its breast.

Since the winter finch forecast has fizzled out, I wasn't expecting to see Redpolls this winter. I was delighted to happen upon a few last week. Missing the winter of 2021 when I had about 50 at my feeders for months! #birds #birding #finch #redpoll

Thanks!

A flock of redheads swimming in grayish-blue water, with ice behind the. Mostly males, with a few females. They are more or less lined up parallel with the edge of the ice.

A flock of redheads swimming in grayish-blue water, with ice behind the. Mostly males, with a few females. A handful have formed two parallel lines swimming towards me.

I got my ducks in a row, more or less. Lots of Redheads this year! #birds #birding #ducks #redheads

Yes to both cats (indoor/catio ones) and birds!

A raven in profile view looking to the right, standing in a snow-covered harvested cornfield.

A raven in profile view looking to the left, standing on a snowbank.

Here are two Common Ravens that I've seen this winter. Magnificent birds! #birds #birding #raven #corvid

The full moon with just the upper left edge in the earth's shadow

About 25 to 30% of the moon is eclipsed

About 59 to 55% of the moon is eclipsed

Dawn sky looking eastwards to a pink glow

It was looking so promising this morning until the moon was about 70% eclipsed, and then it slipped behind cloud cover so I never saw totality. Meanwhile, frustratingly, the sky was mostly clear to the east! #lunareclipse #eclipse #HamOnt #Ancaster

My track record is mostly the latter.....sigh!

Three ducks in profile view swimming towards the left. The furthest back is a male Mallard, and the closest is a female Mallard. Between them is the hybrid, with a combination of mallard and pintail features.

The hybrid in profile view, preening. The way he's turned to preen really shows off the combination of brown and green on his head.

A male Northern Pintail standing on ice, in profile view looking to the right. He's surrounded by two male and two female Mallards.

This spectacular looking duck is a hybrid, a cross between a Mallard and a Northern Pintail. In the first photo it is swimming with a pair of Mallards, and in the second it is preening. The third is a male Northern Pintail for comparison, surrounded by male and female Mallards. #birds #birding

Same here! Saw it until about 70 percent eclipsed then lost it in the clouds. 😭

Such noble critters!