TheIneptBirder

Ack!, well then me too! I just looked and eBird had a Western for me in British Columbia last year. Thanks for this info! I hadn't seen the news.

Oh and congrats sorta!

What was the vireo?! 🤞

Yesss! Congrats!

A U.S. quarter coin for the state of Idaho with a bird profile and map of state on it

Google search autofills on the question "what kind of bird is on the ___"

In confirming what bird was on my Idaho quarter I discovered some fun Google auto-fills. (Peregrine Falcon, but you knew that already.) 🪶

Isn't that eye weird?! The location is in central Ohio. It's an old quarry, so the water is fairly deep (and obvs fresh-water). Not too much vegetation around the quarry. The spot is known for attracting diving ducks in colder months. 🪶

It was really really far away and it was the first fun duck of the season so I really wanted to ID it. As always, quantity did not automatically produce quality. 🪶

Thanks for the input, everyone. (Oh and sorry here are the terrible originals.) It def. had Ruddy Duck vibes from a distance, but the white near the bill confused me. Ring-necked intrigues me, but the white on the tail is confusing. 🪶

Back-of-camera pic of a blurry brown diving duck in water.

Ok you smartypantses, I’m at a loss on this diving duck. Any ID guesses are appreciated. Location: a quarry lake in central Ohio three days ago. Note: that’s a solid block of white under its tail. (And please don’t say “definitely a…” or “obviously a…”
because that's mean.) Thx in advance. 🪶

Ha, noted! I knew there must be a trick to it.

Sesame bagel with cream cheese sitting on a dashboard of a car overlooking a lake and pier

Two fancy coffees and sparkling waters on a cafe table

Visited one of the top birding spots in Cleveland (Edgewater Park) but it’s too early for the ducks and gulls so we coped with bagels from Cleveland Bagel Company and coffee from Rising Star Coffee. 🪶

Huge white wading bird standing on a log in the water. (a Great Egret)

A line graph showing the frequency of reports (in %) of Great Egrets throughout the year. The line goes up a lot in the spring and then drops a lot in the fall.

One of the last Great Egrets to hang around before they've all gone south. (the graph is for my county) 🪶

Nine birds stand on a log in the river. Eight black Double-crested Cormorants and one white Great Egret. They seem to be getting along.

COEXIST poster of the day 🪶

By the way, events are happening all week. A great organization! 🪶

Thousands of protesters at a protest

Protesters on the steps of a capitol building

Many protesters at a protest; two dinosaurs in the foreground

Many thousands at the anti-authoritarian No Kings protest in Columbus, Ohio, today. The vibe was positive, inclusive, funny, and resolute. Not a lib-terrorist to be seen, though I did see a Peregrine Falcon terrorizing some pigeons! 🪶🇺🇸

Protest flyer: NO KINGS, October 18, First Locally: Bexley, Cambridge, Clintonville, Delaware, German Village, Grandview, Grove City, Hilliard, Lancaster, London, Marion, Mount Vernon, New Albany, Newark, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Springfield, Sunbury, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Zanesville; FIND YOUR LOCAL EVENT: nokings.org/#map Then join us at the OHIO STATEHOUSE, 4-5:30PM

Check out this new birding trip, y’all. Sounds like a great balance of birds, good vibes, culture, and, wait for it, ethical coffee. 🪶🦜☕

A large duck with a long bill (a Common Merganser) stands on a rock. It is mid-contortion, and its head is upside-down and tucked against its side.

Common Merganser doing some advanced yoga 🪶

A large hawk with a brown head, dark mottled wings, and a rusty barred chest sitting on a branch

Love the intent look on this Red-shouldered Hawk. It’s like me looking at a buffet table. 🪶

That is exactly what's happening. Sigh.

Two brown birds--barely visible--sit among shrubbery

Ha, fine work! And I have one! When I took this (this week) I was excited—it’s not one but TWO young female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. And look you can see them! Another small miracle of bird migration. But yeah I guess it’s not gonna make any calendars. 🪶

A yellow, dark gray and white bird stands on a thin branch with almost all of its upper body hidden by a perfectly placed leaf. It looks intentional to avoid photography.

Warbler photography is hard and also sometimes very funny.

Anyone else have something for #PhotoFailFriday?#IThinkThisBirdMightBeInWitnessProtection #LeafHappens #WorstBirdPic #birds 🌿

A wooden nest box in a field of yellow goldenrod flowers. The box has the number 23 on it. Trees and blue sky in the background.

That lil Tree Swallow went on to win six NBA championships…
🪶

Ha!

I thought the highlight of this vid would be the amazing iridescence on the young Wood Duck, but then a special guest came into frame (Pied-billed Grebe!). I’ve had some big misses lately, but, this morning, birding was (yet again) the best thing ever. 🪶

A small bird with a yellow throat (a Yellow-throated Warbler) is seen between a small gap in green leaves. No one would ever take this photo on purpose.

Honestly the original is probably a better/worst pic. #worstbirdpic

A small bird with a yellow throat (a Yellow-throated Warbler) is seen between a small gap in green leaves. No one would ever take this photo on purpose.

Fall birding is tough, but we managed to find a few warblers hopping around the trees this morning, including a stunning Yellow-throated Warbler. This was my best pic. Nailed it. #worstbirdpic 🪶

Your new Zen screensaver 🪶

No! I don't think so. But I also don't closely inspect roadkill. I'm soft like that.

Not only did I not see any, I've NEVER seen one IRL.
Not entirely sure they're real.