Bob Bell 🇨🇦
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thebirderbob.bsky.social
Bob Bell 🇨🇦
@thebirderbob.bsky.social
9.2K followers 990 following 2.7K posts
Avid birder, Lyme patient, author of "Out of the Lyme Light and into the Sunlight" Read about my frustrating journey with Lyme, and how birding helps me cope with chronic pain. Photos all by me. #birds #cats #Lyme #naturetherapy #wellness #birding
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thebirderbob.bsky.social
Bob Bell 🇨🇦 @thebirderbob.bsky.social · Sep 18
Proud to post this link to the article that I wrote in the September issue of @aba.org's Birding magazine - much easier to read than the scanned jpgs I posted earlier. Thank you ABA and @birdizlife.bsky.social! #birds #birding #Lyme #Lymedisease #wellness

www.aba.org/birding-and-...
Birding and Wellness - American Birding Association
After Lyme disease forced him into retirement, geologist Bob Bell found healing in birding, improving wellness, sharing knowledge, and inspiring people to connect with birds.
www.aba.org
thebirderbob.bsky.social
This Red-bellied Woodpecker was posing (posting?) nicely for me. #birds #birding #woodpecker #BirdOfTheDay
A woodpecker is perched on the left side of a square post, part of a boardwalk through a very birdy marsh. He's looking over his shoulder towards the right side of the image. As is usually the case, there is only a smidgeon of a hint of red on its lower belly!
November 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Yesterday I saw this Red-tailed Hawk fly in & perch behind my house. I went out & was amazed by the racket of alarm calls. The loudest were squirrels and nuthatches, joined by house finch, chickadees and blue jays. Soon crows came and chased it away. #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #birds #birding
A red-tailed hawk in profile view, looking to the left. He's perched on a thin horizontal branch of a maple tree, which has shed most of its leaves, with a few orangish-brown leaves still clinging on.
November 21, 2025 at 12:32 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A couple of days ago I went to get a fix of cuteness overload, visiting a spot with Tufted Titmice. Here's one with launch sequence activated.  #birds #birding #BirdOfTheDay #tuftedtitmouse
A tufted titmouse is perched in a small, bare tree with whitish bark. It is in profile view, looking to the left with its body angled downwards about 30 degrees, ready to launch
November 20, 2025 at 1:38 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
An Evening Grosbeak dining with a couple of woodpecker pals. First, with a Hairy Woodpecker, and second with a Red-bellied Woodpecker. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
The female Evening Grosbeak is on the left side of the image, perched on my tray feeder in profile view looking to the left. A male Hairy Woodpecker is behind her, perched on my suet feeder. A female Red-bellied Woodpecker is perched on the left side of my tray feeder, while the female Evening Grosbeak is perched on the side facing me, with her back to me, but her head turned to the left, looking at the woodpecker.
November 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
The Evening Grosbeaks seem to have been a one day wonder, but at least a few Pine Siskins have stuck around, hanging out with the American Goldfinch. Here's a siskin enjoying a drink. #birds #birding #BirdOfTheDay #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #pinesiskin
A siskin is perched on the edge of my water bath, in profile view looking to the left, with the background blurred out. It is streaky brown and white, with hints of yellow on the wings.
November 18, 2025 at 12:18 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Here's a few of the hundreds of photos that I took yesterday of the pair of female Evening Grosbeaks in our backyard. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #finch #eveninggrosbeak #Ancaster #HamOnt
A female evening grosbeak perched in my spruce tree, in profile view looking over her shoulder to the left. Her body is soft grays and off-whites, with hints of yellow, while her wings are bold black and white, and of course, she has a huge beak hence the name grosbeak. A female evening grosbeak perched on my tray feeder, in profile view looking to the left. Her body is soft grays and off-whites, with hints of yellow, while her wings are bold black and white, and of course, she has a huge beak hence the name grosbeak. A female evening grosbeak perched on my heated bird bath, in profile view looking to the left, with her head tilted up slightly, as she swallows water. Her body is soft grays and off-whites, with hints of yellow, while her wings are bold black and white, and of course, she has a huge beak hence the name grosbeak. A female evening grosbeak perched in my spruce tree, in profile view looking to the right. Her body is soft grays and off-whites, with hints of yellow, while her wings are bold black and white, and of course, she has a huge beak hence the name grosbeak.
November 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Oh Canada! The winter finch report has been spot on. Two female Evening Grosbeaks and a flock of Pine Siskins in our backyard this morning. #birds #birding #eveninggrosbeak #finch #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
A female grosbeak on my backyard photography table, standing between a mossy log and birch log, and my heated water bath, with a Canadian flag behind her, pinned to our gray privacy fence
November 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
On Fri, just at dusk, a beautiful pair of Purple Finch appeared in my yard for about 3 minutes. Very briefly on the tray feeder, then bounced from tree to tree and gone - it looked like they were migrating. Haven't seen them again since. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #BirdOfTheDay
A pair of purple finch perched on the same skinny, bare branch of one of my backyard maple trees. The pinkish-purple coloured male is higher up the branch, in profile view looking to the right and about to take off. Below him is the streaky brown and white female, looking over her shoulder to the left.
November 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Happy #caturday to all who celebrate it!
Loshi sitting on our backyard patio, wearing his orange collar and leash. He's all gray with green eyes.
November 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
This Northern Mockingbird was quite wind blown, but that didn't stop him from singing his heart out. #birds #birding #mockingbird #BirdOfTheDay
A rather disheveled looking mockingbird, perched in a bare tree, in profile view looking to the left, singing. The entire scene is in shades of white to gray.
November 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
This shot of a Winter Wren is similar to one I posted last week, but it looks even more jaunty with its tail cocked way up in this one #birds #birding #wren #winterwren #BirdOfTheDay
A winter wren is standing on a lichen covered old log, in profile view looking to the left. There is a nail protruding from the log on either side of him. Its tail is cocked up in a jaunty pose.
November 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Big and small. A pair of Buffleheads swim past a Mute Swan. #birds #birding #HamOnt
Calm blue water, with a mute swan in profile view, swimming to the left, while a pair of tiny buffleheads are swimming to the right, in front of the swan
November 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
My latest backyard visitor, this morning just at daybreak - not a bird, a Virginia Opossum! #virginiaopossum #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt
An opossum is on my backyard patio, under the bird feeders eating dropped seeds. He's quite wet and shaggy looking thanks to rain/snow mixtures coming down.
November 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I was very pleased to see a small flock of American Pipits yesterday, foraging on mud flats. We only see these birds during migration when they are traveling from the Arctic to their wintering grounds in the southern US and Mexico. #birds #birding #pipit #BirdOfTheDay
American Pipits are beautiful birds in a subtle, understated fashion, with beautiful soft browns and taffy colours. This one is standing in mud surrounded by puddles, facing me - showing off its streaked breast American Pipits are beautiful birds in a subtle, understated fashion, with beautiful soft browns and taffy colours. This one is standing in a water puddle, in profile view looking to the right. American Pipits are beautiful birds in a subtle, understated fashion, with beautiful soft browns and taffy colours. This one is walking in a water puddle, in profile view walking to the left. It is high stepping, with its right foot raised above the water. American Pipits are beautiful birds in a subtle, understated fashion, with beautiful soft browns and taffy colours. This one is standing in a water puddle, in profile view looking to the right. Immediately behind it is a snow covered log
November 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Here's two more shots of the Fox Sparrow that visited my backyard last week. Sure wish he'd stayed more than just one day! #Birds #birding #Ancaster#HamOnt #BirdOfTheDay #Bobsbackyard #sparrow #foxsparrow
A fox sparrow standing on the grass in my backyard, surrounded by fallen leaves. He's oriented towards me, showing off his gorgeous foxy brown chevrons on his breast and belly, while looking off to the right A fox sparrow standing on the grass in my backyard at the edge of the patio stones, surrounded by fallen leaves. He's oriented towards me, showing off his gorgeous foxy brown chevrons on his breast and belly, while looking off to the left
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A small flock of Cedar Waxwings briefly visited my backyard a couple of days ago. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #waxwing
A Cedar Waxwing perched on a thin branch with nothing but gray sky behind it. Its back is to me, and it is looking off to the left.
November 10, 2025 at 11:42 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
One more shot of the Fox Sparrow, which, sadly, was just a one day wonder #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #birds #birding #foxsparrow #sparrow
A fox sparrow is perched in our miniature lilac bush, its body towards me (thus showing off its beautiful foxy brown chevrons on its white breast), looking over its shoulder to the left side of the image
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
A couple of days ago I saw my first American Tree Sparrows of the fall. Beautiful winter visitors!
#sparrow #Birds #birding #BirdOfTheDay
An American tree sparrow is perched on top of a broken branch, in profile view looking to the left. The background is blurred fall colours with a few red berries.
November 9, 2025 at 1:13 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Happy #caturday to those who celebrate, like Loshi does every day!
Loshi is an all gray cat with green eyes. He's laying on a green wool sweater in front of our fireplace, looking directly into the camera.
November 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
My backyard keeps delivering! I'm over the moon excited to have had my favourite sparrow visit yesterday - and it has the boldest markings of any Fox Sparrow I've ever seen. There just might be a few more postings in the coming days. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #sparrow
A fox sparrow in profile view, standing under my feeders and looking upwards. The foxy brown chevrons on his breast and underparts are the boldest that I've ever seen
November 8, 2025 at 11:57 AM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing my first Winter Wren of the fall. A tiny bird with a BIG attitude! #birds #birding #wren #BirdOfTheDay
A tiny winter wren standing on a mossy log, looking to the left. They are very round "borbs" and carry their tail cocked up. The background is blurred out fall colours.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
Owl season has begun, with sightings of Long-eared Owls being reported. Northern Saw-whets should be arriving as well. I took this photo of a Saw-whet back in February. #birds #birding #owls #BirdOfTheDay
A northern saw-whet owl, which is the size of a pop can, is perched in a spruce tree, looking off to the right
November 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
I took these photos of a White-crowned Sparrow in my yard last spring; I still haven't seen one passing through here this fall. #birds #birding #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #BirdOfTheDay #sparrow
A white-crowned sparrow perched on my backyard fence, in profile view looking downwards, which shows his crown nicely A white-crowned sparrow perched in my spruce tree, in profile view looking to the left
November 5, 2025 at 1:11 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
This Cooper's Hawk has been regularly stalking (not stocking!) my feeders for the past two weeks. He or she is looking directly down at the feeders. #Bobsbackyard #Ancaster #HamOnt #BirdOfTheDay #Coopershawk #birds #birding
A Cooper's Hawk is perched high in a maple tree directly above my feeders, looking down at them. Most of the leaves have fallen from the tree, but there are a few orange ones remaining. The sky is a cloudless blue behind the tree and bird.
November 4, 2025 at 12:31 PM
thebirderbob.bsky.social
From my archives, a closer up look at a gorgeous male Pine Grosbeak, taken at Algonquin Park a few winters ago. #pinegrosbeak #winterfinch #finch #birds #birding #Algonquin
A gorgeous male Pine Grosbeak, in profile view looking to the left. He's all pink, with some gray and brown on and around his wing, with white wing bars. He is perched in a pine tree, with some snow on the needles.
November 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM