Mike Melton
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mikemelton.bsky.social
Mike Melton
@mikemelton.bsky.social
35K followers 810 following 7.9K posts
All photos are my own and not AI.

I am a filmmaker and photographer based in Olympia, WA, and Bijagua, Costa Rica @casabentbill.bsky.social but I spend as much time as I can in hot, humid, tropical forests. Because that's where the birds are!

he/him
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mikemelton.bsky.social
Sunrise on Golfito Bay #costarica

#sunrise
Beautifully lit clouds have sunrise over smooth water.
December 1, 2025 at 11:42 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
This Three-toed Sloth was taking care of its morning ablutions on the Osa Peninsula this morning.

#sloths #costarica #mammals
A sloth hangs upside down from a tree trunk, gripping the branches with its long curved claws, surrounded by large green tropical leaves.
December 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
#BirdoftheDay is #BerriesandBeaks and I think this Golden-browed Chlorophonia qualifies. These are amazing high-elevation birds that are usually elusive but are much easier when the fruits are ripe.

#birds #nature

bsky.app/profile/mike...
mikemelton.bsky.social Mike Melton @mikemelton.bsky.social · Apr 7
Male Golden-browed Chlorophonia at Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica

#birds #nature 🌿
Close-up portrait of a vibrantly colored bird with a small purple berry in its beak. The bird displays a stunning combination of colors: bright green head and wings, brilliant yellow underside, striking light blue crown, and yellow band across its forehead. Its dark eye stands out against the colorful plumage. The bird is perched among small pinkish-red berries and green leaves, seemingly in the midst of feeding.
November 30, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Reposted by Mike Melton
jhmsparky.bsky.social
#birdoftheday alternate is #corvid, so here’s a Clark’s Nutcracker I snapped with my iPhone in Central Oregon a couple years ago.
November 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Mike Melton
whistberry.bsky.social
New image in my threadless shop!

For the blue jay (or pink dogwood) fan in your life

Available on t-shirts as well as a variety of other products and everything is currently

ON SALE!!!

whistberry.threadless.com
Photo of brown t-shirt with the stylized illustration of a blue jay perched on gray branch amid pink dogwood blooms with gold centers. Photo of black tote bag with the stylized illustration of a blue jay perched on gray branch amid pink dogwood blooms with gold centers.
November 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
A very special humid, tropical forest bird, the White-throated Shrike-Tanager today at La Tarde Wildlife Reserve in the Osa Peninsula #CostaRica

These birds lead mixed flocks through the forest, micro-managing other species. I'm not sure what benefit they get from that behavior.

#birds #nature
A bird with a black head, white throat, and bright yellow chest perched on a green branch in a forest setting.
November 30, 2025 at 12:59 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
I love spending time with Scarlet Macaws. They're such entertaining, funny birds. They form very tight pair bonds; you never see a single macaw fly over, you always see two.

Before bedtime, they perch next to each other and preen one another.

#CostaRica #osapeninsula #birds #macaws
Two brightly colored macaws perched on a tree branch. The bird on the left is preening its mate on the right.
November 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Fiery-billed Aracari in San Vito #CostaRica

#toucanoftheday #toucans #birds #nature
A colorful toucan with a long orange-and-black bill perches on a branch against a soft green background.
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
I really love the Speckled Tanagers in the south of #CostaRica. Such exquisite coloration.

#birds #tanagers #nature
A small bird with bright green, yellow, and blue patterned feathers perches on a branch against a soft, blurred green background.
November 29, 2025 at 2:34 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
A very opinionated Mangrove Swallow this afternoon at Rio Rincon #CostaRica #birds #swallows #nature
A small bird with blue-green wings and a white belly perches on a rail with its beak wide open against a smooth green background.
November 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
This male Giant Cowbird was doing a bit of courtship display today here in southern Costa Rica. I never saw the female.

#birds #nature
A dark, glossy black bird with a red eye perches on a vertical branch against a pale sky. A dark, glossy black bird with a red eye perches on a vertical branch against a pale sky.
November 29, 2025 at 1:29 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
So many great birds this morning at our casitas in San Vito #CostaRica. I lost count of how many White-necked Jacobins were buzzing around.

#hummingbirds #birds #nature
A close-up of a brightly colored hummingbird with iridescent blue and green feathers against a soft green background.
November 29, 2025 at 12:40 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
We got to observe a bird banding station at Finca Cantaros in San Vito #CostaRica this morning. They're doing some incredible conservation work there and it was fun to see these birds up close.

This is an Eye-ringed Flatbill for #birdoftheday #headshots

#birds #nature
Close-up of a small green bird being gently held in a person’s hand, showing its eye, beak, and soft feathers next to silver and green rings.
November 28, 2025 at 1:40 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
One of the fun southern #CostaRica specialties, the Speckled Tanager. In San Vito, Puntarenas.

#birds #green #nature
Small green and yellow songbird with heavily speckled black-and-white chest, perched on a leafy branch against a soft green background.
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
#ToucanButtoftheDay

Something away from Bijagua (finally!), a Fiery-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus frantzii) at San Vito, Puntarenas #CostaRica

#toucans #birds #nature
Colorful toucan perched on a branch, showing its bright orange-red bill, dark body, and red tushy against a soft green forest background.
November 27, 2025 at 2:35 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
A lovely butterfly that I found up above the Bribri community of Salitre in #CostaRica

I believe this is a Tracta Sister (Adelpha tracta)

#bugsky #butterflies #lepidoptera
Dark brown butterfly with wide wings and bright orange bands, resting on a dry twig among pale grass.
November 27, 2025 at 1:36 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
The mama tapir came by last night looking for me. Then she checked to see if my car was there. ☹️

I guess I can never leave the house.

@casabentbill.bsky.social #costarica

#tapirs #bairdstapir
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
I love it! 🖤

Is it possible to buy a copy?
timdesousa.bsky.social Tim de Sousa @timdesousa.bsky.social · 6d
Been a bit time poor lately so had to do this in pieces over a few days. I think they’re more of a classic 90s boy band rather than a goth band.
November 25, 2025 at 10:49 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Finally!

My neighborhood Ocelot is a sneaky one and I haven't been able to get a photo of it until tonight. At @casabentbill.bsky.social

#cats #ocelot #nature #costarica
Spotted wild cat standing alert in dense green undergrowth at night, lit by a camera flash.
November 24, 2025 at 2:40 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
One of Barry's descendants surveying the area at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

#birds #herons #nature
Tall heron standing alert in wet grass, showing flared, finely barred neck feathers, a streaked chest, and a long sharp bill with a bright yellow eye.
November 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Me, in my happy place: sitting in the mud with army ants and antbirds.

At @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica

#loco #birds #puravida
A man in muddy boots lies on a forest trail in dense green jungle, aiming a camera with a long lens at the base of a tree.
November 23, 2025 at 12:39 PM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Incredible image, Glen!
glengrambo.bsky.social Glen Grambo 🇨🇦 @glengrambo.bsky.social · 8d
African buffalo are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. They can way 900 kg and are apparently considered grumpy.
I’d be grumpy too if I had to carry a bunch of yelling red-billed oxpeckers around all the time!
This bull was slowly eating his way down the Sabi River in Kruger Park, SA
A bull African Buffalo crosses a river in Kruger park, South Africa. He is walking towards us and has quite large horns. He is carrying about a dozen red-billed oxpecker birds on his back. The oxpeckers are eating ticks and parasites off the buffalo and also acting as sentinels to warn the buffalo about approaching predators.
November 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
I watched a large group of young Ocellated Antbirds hunting in an antswarm with their parents yesterday. I've never been this close to this species, as I could have literally reached out and touched this bird.

This is an obligate antbirds, meaning...

#birds #costarica
Brown and black speckled bird with a blue face and pale bill perched on a slanted branch against a soft, blurred background.
November 23, 2025 at 2:16 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
Here's a little more detail of the eye ring on the male Black-headed Trogon at Agami Island. The blue is skin; not feathers.

One day, I hope to get a closer view of this species.

#birds #nature #costarica
Close-up of a dark-feathered bird with a pale beak and bright blue eye ring against a soft green background.
November 23, 2025 at 1:56 AM
mikemelton.bsky.social
I found this amazing Trosia semirufa moth on my window last night at @casabentbill.bsky.social

#moths #lepidoptera #nature #costarica
Fluffy white moth with bright red spots and tufts resting on a dark reflective surface.
November 23, 2025 at 1:46 AM