Shadow Cat

Soon after a thorough cleaning, this young male bobcat rests in the shadows for a time. Not long after, he fell into a deep sleep. Tucson, AZ

Sharp-Tailed Grouse

A sharp-tailed grouse briefly poses before bursting toward cover. Medicine Lake, MT.

Sheep Tongue

Have you ever had a sheep stick her tongue out at you? This was a first for me! Mt Evans, CO.

Short-Horned Lizard

A greater short-horned lizard “basking” on a chilly day at a very high elevation. Mt. Lemmon, AZ.

Simplicity

Goldfinch on a millet stalk. They love to forage the seeds. I’m quite taken by the simplistic appearance of this shot. Photographed in Michaux State Forest, PA, USA.

Simplicity

Goldfinch on a millet stalk. They love to forage the seeds. I’m quite taken by the simplistic appearance of this shot. Photographed in Michaux State Forest, PA, USA.

Sleepy Otter

While watching a group of sea otters just offshore, an elderly woman informed me it was the best show this location had seen in years! What a wonderful experience! Morro Bay, CA.

Snapping Turtle

Common snapping turtles rarely venture far from water. Unfortunately, however, when the time of year comes for laying eggs, females don’t have much choice but to venture onto dry land. This girl was seeking a cozy place to lay her eggs. Photographed at John Heintz NWR, PA, USA.

Snapping Turtle, Snapping

While snapping pictures of this Common Snapping Turtle, I may have been at risk of getting snapped, myself. John Heintz NWR, PA, USA.

Snowy Egret

The easiest way to distinguish snowy from great egrets is to look at their feet! Great egrets have black feet. Tucson, AZ.

Solfugid Profile

The Solfugid is an arachnid, but is neither scorpion or spider. These terrestrial hunters prowl the desert floor in search of pretty much anything they can overpower and eat. They are non-venomous and, therefore, entirely harmless, but pack a pretty painful bite! The largest species, affectionately known as camel spiders, are well-known by soldiers stationed in the Middle East, as they have a tendency to chase shadows in search of a shady refuge. This behavior is often mistaken for aggression. Saguaro NP West, AZ.

Sonoran Snow

Every few years, the valleys surrounding Tucson will receive a gentle dusting of snow. Once in a blue moon, however, snow will actually accumulate, turning this normally hot/dry desert into a winter wonderland. I was extremely fortunate to witness this aberration within 2 months of living here. This photo even managed to capture a few falling snowflakes. Saguaro National Park West.

Sonoran Spring

When certain conditions are met, the desert will briefly become engulfed by poppy flowers. This scene offers a nice look at the poppies, cloaked in the golden hour’s spectacular light! Saguaro National Park West.

Sora

One of the strangest birds you may encounter, meet the Sora. This unusual water bird looks like a cross between a duck and a chicken, and will readily masquerade as either. Photo taken in Tucson, AZ, USA.

Sphinx Cat

This fat, juicy caterpillar is the larval stage of the gregarious white-lined sphinx moth. Catalina Mountains, AZ.

Spicebush Swallowtail

The lovely spicebush swallowtail butterfly sips the nectar from an equally lovely thistle flower. Photo taken in Bald Eagle State Forest, PA, USA.

Spicebush Swallowtail

The lovely spicebush swallowtail butterfly sips the nectar from an equally lovely pasture thistle flower. Photo taken in Bald Eagle State Forest, PA, USA.

Spotted Sandpiper

While observing the eared grebes from my rocky outpost and between visits from the marbled godwit, I had the pleasure to this sandpiper picking off insects from the rocks. Medicine Lake Wildlife Refuge, MT.

Stallion and the Saguaro

This is one of the healthiest-looking saguaros I’ve seen! One of the wild stallions was kind enough to walk in front of it soon before daylight had vanished.

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Stargazer Lily

The stargazer lily is a lovely oriental hybrid, quite popular among gardeners in the Eastern US. Photographed in Winfield, PA, USA.

Stillness

Stillness is not a time or place. It does not come from any external situation. Stillness is a state of mind, a place of joy and peace. Over the last few years, it has become the most important intention within my life (and a grand struggle, you can be assured). This stunning hooded merganser drake, floating peacefully across the serene water is (at these moments, anyway) the embodiment of stillness to me. What thoughts or images come to mind when you imagine stillness? Tucson, AZ.

Storm Clouds

Clouds engulf the sky and there is a powerful energy in the air as the winds intensify, drawing in the storm. Saguaro NP West, AZ.