Cracked Mud
These seasonal wetlands become dry and barren during the spring and early summer. Willcox, AZ.
Dapper Drake
Well, aren’t you a dapper drake, Mr Merganser! When living in PA, I can’t even venture a guess at the number of hours I spent in the freezing cold, sitting in bird blinds at Montour Preserve just as the ice was beginning to thaw. I saw many stunning hooded mergansers but these spectacular ducks always kept their distance. They really are one of, if not my all time favorite species! With that in mind, ya’ll can imagine the excitement when this handsome fellow shows up at a beautiful park just outside of Tucson! He was entirely unphased by humans and put on a number of wonderful shows during my 3 visits. Thank you so very much, Mr Merganser! Tucson, AZ
Desert Blooms
The generous monsoons of 2021 inspired the emergence of untold numbers of wildflowers! Chiricahua Monument, AZ.
Desert King
The desert kingsnake won’t hesitate to eat rodents, lizards, small birds, and even rattlesnakes. This truly is the desert king! Catalina Foothills, AZ.
Desert Spiny Lizard
Not unlike humans, the male gender of many lizard species are rather territorial. One of the many ways that some lizards (such as this Desert Spiny Lizard) show their bravado is by performing territorial “push-ups.” This fellow’s brazen masculinity (combined with the palo verde flowers) made for an excellent photo op! Tucson, AZ, USA.
Desert Storm
As the storm builds, bolts of lightning pierce the sky. This spectacle unifies with the hint of sunset struggling to show itself through the thick cloud cover. Saguaro National Park West, AZ.
Dew Droplets
This “super-macro” photograph depicts tiny dew drops covering a small spider web. The silk of the web was so fine that, even at this level of magnification, it can’t be seen. Photo taken in Loyalsock State Forest, PA, USA.
Dramatic Dragon
This dragonfly chose a perch with a beautiful background of duckweed, resulting in the stunning deep green. Tucson, AZ.
Dreamy Eyes
A Chinese Praying Mantis, possibly day-dreaming about what it’s like to be a butterfly or some other creature? Who’s to say. Photographed in Sunbury, PA, USA.
Dusky Grouse
While exploring Arizona’s White Mountains, I nearly stepped on this dusky grouse hen. Taking several steps backward and sitting down, she soon resumed sauntering along. Greer, AZ.
Eastern Bluebird
A fan favorite, this shot was taken at the edge of a cow pasture, in late autumn. I love the color scheme, as well as the old wire, meeting the new. Photographed in Winfield, PA, USA.
Eft in the Forest
Red efts are the larval stage to the eastern newt. This image attempts to capture the essence of a beautiful eft in it’s forest home. Rickett’s Glen State Park, PA.
Elk Face
Nearly too close to photography, this beautiful elk stag shows off his velvety antlers. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
Ephemeral Rapids
These raging torrents, powerful though they are, will only be a short-term luxury in this arid land. Saguaro National Park, AZ.
Eye of the Gecko
Mediterranean House Gecko found in my backyard, a bit far from home. These tiny geckos have successfully established themselves in Phoenix, Tucson, and a number of other metropolitan areas in warmer parts of America. Interestingly enough, this area’s climate is pretty similar to that of their home range, making for an ideal match. Despite their success, this species doesn’t appear to be having a negative impact on native species. This may be largely due to their presence strictly in/around cities, as well as their arboreal / nocturnal niche, one that seems to be largely unoccupied by local species of lizards. Picture Rocks, AZ.
Fairy Swamp
Such beautiful carnivorous plants, pitchers supplement with insects in order to compensate for the nutritionally poor soil in which they thrive. The swamp looked so magical…..I could just imagine a fairy darting across the scene. Tannersville, PA, USA
Fancy Fly
An simply stunning fly pollinates a wild mallow flower amidst the early-morning dew drops. Catalina Mountains, AZ.
Fighting Flickers
While traipsing through a grassy meadow, I noticed these two flickers behaving quite strangely. They would repeatedly hop around this isolated rock, occasionally bobbing heads at each other. Every so often one would chase the other a few feet away before going right back at it. Apache National Forest, AZ.
Fighting Whiptails
These tiger whiptails were having a heated territorial dispute when I happened upon them. Tucson, AZ, USA.
Finches in the Thistle Patch
Goldfinches, dispersed amongst the pasture thistles. They seemed to be quite fond of the seeds! Photographed in Michaux State Forest, PA, USA.
Flowers on a Barrel
Presenting one of my favorite succulent flower displays, the barrel cactus comes in yellow, orange, and red. Photographed near Picture Rocks, AZ.
Flying Cranes
A trio of sandhill cranes fly across the beautiful background of the Chiricahua Mountains. Willcox, AZ.
Flying Fish
Victorious, this juvenile bald eagle flies away to devour her fresh catch. Conowingo Dam, MD, USA.
Fox in the Forest
Before dawn had broken, I encountered this fox trotting along the road with a ground squirrel in her jaws. Soon veering into the forest, she briefly paused to turn around before vanishing amidst the trees. Yellowstone National Park, WY.