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scottdenkers.bsky.social
Scott
@scottdenkers.bsky.social
400 followers 140 following 200 posts
Lover of birds, bugs, fungi, lichen and, frankly, the whole natural universe. Apart from reposts, media by yours truly.
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scottdenkers.bsky.social
Several different species of #Ibis were seen on our recent visit to the #Pantanal in #Brazil. Here's four of them distinguished by their large decurved bills, perfect for probing soft ground and mud for invertebrates and other small critters. ID in ALT. 🪶🌿🇧🇷 #brazilbirds #avesbrasil #birdinginbrazil
Plumbeous Ibis - Stocky grey-brownish bird, with a bushy neck feathers, a white forehead, pink legs, a dark orange eye and a long, decurved grey bill. Buff-necked Ibis - A handsome bird with a grey decurved bill and having a bright buffy head and neck, brownish-red eyes, brownish-grey back, white sides and dark underparts. Bare-faced Ibis - Bird with black plumage and readily distinguished from other species of ibises by its pink bare face and pink decurved bill. It's legs are greyish pink. Green Ibis - Stocky bird with a decurved greenish bill, dark eyes, greenish-blue legs and feet, dark purple-green plumage, and a dull black belly.
December 13, 2025 at 6:02 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
One of the prettiest finches we saw in the #Cerrado of #Brazil. But hang on a minute, after doing a little checking, it turns out this *red-crested finch* is currently classified as a #Tanager thanks to recent phylogenetic analyses.

#redcrestedfinch #thraupidae #brazilbirds #avesbrasil 🇧🇷 🪶 🌿
A finch-like bird mostly dark red with a brownish-cinnamon back and a black and bright red raised head crest. White eye rings really add to the stunning colour scheme of the bird. It's perched on a branch of a leafless tree. A finch-like bird mostly dark red with a brownish-cinnamon back and a black and bright red raised head crest. White eye rings really add to the stunning colour scheme of the bird. It's perched on a single branch protruding from a tree.
December 9, 2025 at 7:03 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Burrowing owls live in grasslands, deserts and other open habitats such as the Brazilian Cerrado, where this individual was found perched next to its burrow. They are daytime hunters, preying mainly on insects and small rodents. #owl #burrowingowl #brazilbirds #avesbrasil 🇧🇷 🪶 🌿
Small brown owl with patchy white spots. It's on the ground and looking to the left with large yellow eyes with black pupils. Rough, tall grass surround the owl.
December 7, 2025 at 8:47 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Northern Flicker on the west coast of Vancouver Island in September. My goal now, for comparison, is to get a similar shot of his eastern north American yellow-shafted cousin. 🪶 🌿

#northernflicker #woodpecker #birdinginbritishcolumbia #birdphotography #birdlove
A black-barred brownish bird is caught in flight with downward extended wings exhibiting sunlit orange-red wing shafts. A small, brightly-lit, tree trunk stretches diagonally across the upper left side of the image and the background is shadowed green foliage.
December 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Many song birds, such as this #SongSparrow, love nutritious Black-eyed Susan seeds through fall and winter. Good reason not to get too ambitious with garden fall cleanup! 👍🤗

#nodeadheading #birding #gardening #nature 🪶 🌱 🍁 🌿
December 1, 2025 at 11:52 PM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Several #macaw species were seen on our recent trip to #Brazil, but they were a bit shy. Not surprising since they've been historically hunted for their feathers & illegal pet trade. The #Pantanal, in western Brazil, is the last stronghold of the endangered #HyacinthMacaw seen here. 🪶🌿 #avesbrasil
Profile of a large blue parrot with yellow-encircled eyes perched on the side of a tree. Close up of two large blue parrots with yellow-encircled eyes perching in a tree. One of the birds also shows a yellow patch at the base of its beak. Green leaves surround the parrots and partially obscure their bodies.
November 23, 2025 at 11:52 PM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Although threatened by habitat loss and illegal trapping, Brazil is still home to around 35 named parakeet species. On our recent trip to the country, my DW and I were delighted to spot several of these lovely birds, four of which are seen here (named in ALT text). #avesbrasil #brazilbirds 🇧🇷 🪶
Two Blue-crowned Parakeets next to each other on a tree branch looking like they're having a chat with each other. The birds are yellowish-green with barely visible blue tone on their heads just above their beaks. Their eyes are surrounded with a spectacle-like band of white. A Peach-fronted Parakeet on a tree branch in profile looking to the right. The bird shows green wings and a yellow body with green, yellow, blue and peach tones on its head just above the beak. Its visible eye is surrounded with a spectacle-like band of pale yellow. A Monk Parakeet on a diagonal shrub branch in profile looking to the left. The bird shows green wings and nape with a white throat and chest merging in colour to a pale yellow and then green into its tail. A Yellow-chevroned Parakeet on a diagonal shrub branch in profile looking to the left. The bird shows mostly green throughout with a hint of yellow below its wing. The bird is partially obscured by branches and leaves on its tail end.
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
And here's the full image portraits. 🪶
November 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Brazil is home to ~20 species of #toucans, the highest number of any country. Catching images of 3 of these iconic tropical #birds on a recent trip was a thrill: the chestnut-eared aracari, toco toucan & channel-billed toucan. Each sport their own distinct bill colours. #avesbrasil #brazilbirds
Close up of the chestnut-eared aracari, a type of toucan found in Brazil. The beak is yellow and black with a touch of chestnut-brown at its base. Its head is black on top and chestnut-brown on the side. Its chest seen in the picture is pale yellow with a splash of red. The wings and and back are a slate grey colour. Close up of the toco toucan, a bird found in Brazil. The beak is orange fading to yellow on the upper mandible with a black patch on the tip with a band of black at its base. Its head is black on top and white below extending down its neck. Its chest and wings seen in the picture are black. Close up of the channel-billed toucan, a bird found in Brazil. The beak is black with a yellow band at the base. Its head is black on top and white on the side extending down its neck to its chest meeting a splash of red. The wings and lower chest seen in the picture are black with a bluish tint above.
November 18, 2025 at 6:04 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Jabiru storks from a recent trip to central Brazil. It's a big bird with impressive wingspan, stretching up to 2.8 m. Looking ungainly on the ground, we saw it was a powerful and even graceful flier. The name, Jabiru, comes from the Tupi–Guaraní language and means "swollen neck." Good name for it! 🪶
Large stork-like bird with white wings and body. Its head, bill and neck are black with a prominent red band around the base of its neck. The bird is standing amidst tall grasses and its wings are outstretched. Large stork-like bird in flight with white wings and body. It's outstretched legs are black as is its neck, head and bill. A red band adorns the base of its neck. Close up view of a large stork-like bird with white wings and body. Its featherless head, large bill and neck are black and it has a prominent red band around the base of its neck.
November 16, 2025 at 8:52 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
The #northernlights were pretty amazing last night from my location in British Columbia. There may be another opportunity to see them tonight for some. It's raining here unfortunately 😮‍💨. Nov 12, 2025. Thanks to @connielavon.bsky.social for sharing my enthusiasm outside in the cold! 🔭🪐🌿 #astronomy
Red and green aurora lights up the night sky with mountain and trees silhouetted in the foreground. The constellation Cassiopeia and other stars can be seen through the aurora's colours. Streaks of red and green aurora colours light up the night sky with a tree silhouetted in the foreground on the right side of the image. The moon (at the lower left) and other stars can be seen through the aurora's colours. Streaks of red and green aurora colours light up the night sky with trees silhouetted in the foreground. A person is taking a picture of the stunning display with her cell phone on the right side of the image. Stars can be seen shining through the aurora's colours.
November 13, 2025 at 6:10 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Took advantage of the dry weekend to dig up our #dahlia tubers. With some melancholy, I felt compelled to grab some pictures of the few remaining #flowers saved to brighten the house. Thanks to @connielavon.bsky.social for help with the operation! #gardening #autumn 🌿🍁
Close up of an orange dahlia flower. Close up of a yellow dahlia flower. Bouquet of sunlit yellow, orange and lilac coloured dahlia flowers in a small glass vase.
November 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
This eccentric-looking guira cuckoo was spotted on our recent trip to Brazil. Despite their name, they build nests and don't lay eggs in other species' nests like old world cuckoos. They also don't have the archetypical call of the common cuckoos of Europe, but have a more shrill, hawk-like, call. 🪶
Right-facing profile of a bird nestled in foliage exhibiting a stunning reddish crest and prominent yellow-orange beak.
November 3, 2025 at 6:15 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Looking for something Halloween-ish and came across this image taken from the kitchen window a couple of years ago. Missing is the witch flying on her broomstick!

Title: Moon Over Qemqemó (a.k.a. Mt. Ogilvie in southern B.C., Canada).

#risingmoon #moon #astronomy #nature 🌿
Black and white image of a full moon rising behind a mountain's silhouetted tree line.
November 1, 2025 at 4:34 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
With a glare like that I'm glad I'm not a small bird or other critter! This ferruginous pygmy-owl is a small predator with a big appetite and like its northern cousin, can actually take down prey over twice its size. Central Brazil on a recent trip with @connielavon.bsky.social. #brazilbirding 🪶🌿🦉
Small, but ferocious-looking owl staring straight at the photographer from its perch in a tree.
October 27, 2025 at 4:24 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Nice colours showing on the Fraser River yesterday morning. 🌿🍁

#HopeBC #Rivercolours #Fallcolours #Autumn #Dogwalk
Large river with boulders in the foreground water showing reflection of autumn colours from opposite bank. Large river with boulders in the foreground water showing reflection of autumn colours from opposite bank.
October 23, 2025 at 8:10 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
It was a great fall day for watching bluebirds on the move yesterday. @connielavon.bsky.social and I even had a bright blue sky at a beautiful location surrounded by snow-dusted mountains. 🪶 🌿

#mountainbluebird #skagitvalleyprovincialpark #birding #bc #canada
Mountain bluebird sitting on a stump. Two mountain bluebirds sitting on a stump looking in different directions. Framed by golden aspen leaves, a mountain with a dusting of snow is in the background.
October 15, 2025 at 7:06 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
This here is a dragonfly called an Eight-spotted Skimmer. So, not being an Odonata-ologist and after a bit of research I found that you count the dark splotches on all four of the wings (not the white opaque spots) to make sense of the name. Hope this helps--it helped me anyway! 🤗 #bugsky 🌿
Powder-blue dragonfly in green grass with black and white splotches on its outstretched wings. Powder-blue dragonfly in green grass with black and white splotches on its outstretched wings. Red circles have been drawn to highlight the eight dark splotches that give this dragonfly its name -- Eight-spotted Skimmer.
August 18, 2025 at 5:27 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
So many different kinds of wasps--all (and more) in the backyard herb garden! Tentative IDs: 1) Common Thread-waisted wasp, 2) European Paper Wasp, 3) Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp, 4) Great Golden Digger Wasp. Please let me know if I need to fix any IDs. #bugsky #wasps #hymenoptera #bcbugs 🌿 🐝
Black, narrow-waisted wasp with orange midriff on head of small white flowers - Common thread-waisted wasp. Southwestern BC, Canada. Black and yellow wasp in mid-flight - European paper wasp. Southwestern BC, Canada. Black, narrow-waisted wasp on white flowers - Mexican grass-carrying wasp. Southwestern BC, Canada. Black and orange, narrow-waisted wasp on white flowers - Great golden digger wasp. Southwestern BC, Canada.
August 14, 2025 at 2:23 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
This, believe it or not, is a fly! Specifically, it is a representative of a genus (Spilomyia) of hoverflies that are experts in wasp mimicry. They look mean, but are actually harmless and beneficial pollinators. Found on parsley flowers in the backyard herb garden. 🌿 #bugsky #waspmimic
Dark brown and yellow-striped fly looking like a wasp on green budding out parsley flower heads. Dark brown and yellow-striped fly looking like a wasp on green budding out parsley flower heads.
August 8, 2025 at 2:14 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Nice #moonset tonight over the Olympic Mountains across the Puget Sound in Washington followed by some later amazing nighttime cloud effects.🌛🌠🌿 #moon #clouds
Sliver moon setting over a mountain range with a slight reddish sky. Dramatic clouds in a nighttime sky with silhouette trees in the foreground.
July 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Pretty much at the northern terminus of its North American distribution, this beautiful California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica) was seen in a sub-alpine area of Manning Provincial Park in southwest British Columbia a couple of weeks ago. 🌿 #bugsky #butterfly
Butterfly shown resting in the green needles of a fir tree. The butterfly's wings have ragged dark edges with the upper side of the wings (pictured) having various shades of orange with black spots and blotches. Side view of a butterfly shown resting in the green needles of a fir tree. The butterfly's wings have ragged dark edges with the upper side of the wings having various shades of orange with black spots and blotches.
July 24, 2025 at 1:52 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
Check out this American dipper's long legs and feet! They are perfectly-adapted for their aquatic lifestyle, using their strong toes and claws to grip the bottom of streams while walking underwater or clinging to rocks in swift currents. From a hike to Flood Falls, just outside of #HopeBC today. 🪶 🌿
Slate-blue bird with long legs and toes standing on a rotting log with out-of-focus rocks and water in the background. It's yellowish bill indicates a non-breeding adult or juvenile.
July 16, 2025 at 6:30 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
I think these barn swallow babies are ready to fly the coop after 3 weeks in tight quarters! July 14th at International Point, Skagit Valley Provincial Park, British Columbia. 🪶
Three fledgling barn swallows can be seen on the edge of their mud nest cup waiting for their parents to feed them.
July 15, 2025 at 7:02 AM
scottdenkers.bsky.social
In Canada, long-term trends based on North American Breeding Bird Surveys and Christmas Bird Counts indicate a serious decline in evening grosbeak numbers. In spite of the sobering data, we've had an irruptive year here, possibly due to a huge increase of spruce budworm in our forests. 🪶 🌿 #HopeBC
Two birds in flight, with yellow-ochre bodies, black tails and black and white wings. Their beaks are large and greenish and they show distinctive yellow eyebrows. Two birds, with large yellow eyebrows, perched in a tree, with yellow-ochre, black and white colouration. Bird perched in a tree with typical female colouration of black, grey, white and a tinge of yellow around its neck. Bird, with large greenish beak, perched on a gravel road with typical male colouration of black, white, yellow-ochre and a noticeable yellow eyebrow.
July 9, 2025 at 12:52 AM