Thirsty Moose
After descending the hillside from shelter, this bull moose takes a big swig of water. Rocky Mountain Nat Park, CO
Three-Toed Woodpecker
Right at the trailhead to to Quandary Peak, in Breckenridge, CO, this three-toed woodpecker was drilling away without a care in the world.
Tiger Profile
Despite potent venom, the tiger rattlesnake is considered low-risk (for a rattlesnake). Small fangs, reluctance to bite, and tiny venom glands are all to thank. Photo taken in Saguaro NP West, AZ.
Tiny Treefrog
This young green treefrog was barely over an inch long, and I discovered him/her sitting on a palmetto at the edge of my campsite. Photo taken at Stephen Foster State Park, GA, USA.
Toad Lily
Toad lilies bloom rather late in the year. This one didn’t even start to open it’s mesmerizing flowers until the last days of September. Although I’m always a tad biased against non-native plants, this Japanese perennial is a lovely shade-tolerant plant which offers beauty when many others are going to seed. Photo taken in Winfield, PA, USA.
Tortoise and the Desert
A Sonoran Desert Tortoise proudly poses in front of it’s desert home. Photo taken in Saguaro NP West, Tucson, AZ.
Towering Trees
Monstrous sequoias towering above their forest floor.
Translucent Scorpion
Backlighting from the late-afternoon sun offered a translucent effect to this large devil scorpion. Picture Rocks, AZ, USA.
Trio of Seals
My companion and I spent hours watching these quirky creatures. They really are endless entertainment! Shelter Cove. CA.
Tuscarora Falls
This is my absolute favorite waterfall on Rickett’s Glen State Park’s (PA) Fall’s Trail. Many of the other waterfalls are more intricate, but something about the setting of Tuscarora Falls reminds me of something from a fairy tale.
Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion flycatchers specialize in catching flying insects “on the wing,” often returning to the same favored perch sites. Tucson, AZ.
Water Dog
When striking certain poses, it’s amazing what an uncanny resemblance harbor seals share with puppies. Shelter Cove, CA.
Welcome to Yellowstone
One of the most iconic scenes in Yellowstone National Park, this powerful bison forages amidst his beautiful home.
Western Cicada
Although short-lived, a mass cicada emergence spells a feast for any number of birds and reptiles in the Sonoran Desert. This Western Cicada was hanging on a gate at the end of my backyard hiking trail.
Western Diamondback
A western diamondback rattlesnake “tastes” the air with it’s tongue. Saguaro National Park, AZ.
White Weevil
This weevil was much larger than any I’ve previously met. He/she posed beautifully amidst the acacia leaves. Portal, AZ.
White-Lined Sphinx
This large, beautiful moth is a key pollinator in the Sonoran Desert, especially amidst generous monsoons. Catalina Mountains, AZ.
Wild Turkeys
To find food, turkeys often kick up piles of leaves and dirt, pecking at the yummy insects left exposed. Madera Canyon, AZ.
Wing Waving
America’s quintessential duck, the mallard can be seen just about anywhere with a body of water. This fellow seems to be conducting an orchestra. Photographed near Lewisburg, PA, USA.
Wing Waving
America’s quintessential duck, the mallard can be seen just about anywhere with a body of water. This fellow seemed to be conducting an orchestra. Photographed near Lewisburg, PA, USA.
Wood Frog
A young wood frog, well camouflaged in his/her woodland habitat. Photographed in Bald Eagle State Forest, PA, USA
Woodland Wrestling
A large part of coati play-time includes wrestling! Sometimes the youngsters really surprise and frustrate each-other with the endless antics.
Woodpecker and the Squirrel
While on a hike the other day, I heard an unmistakable ruckus ahead. It was a group of acorn woodpeckers. These charismatic birds are funny both in appearance and behavior. They will form tribes which defend territory and cache sometimes thousands of acorns, each contained within it’s own tiny, perfectly-shaped hole of a dead tree. These food stores often sate them through lean times, such as winter. This particular family was in trouble, as a squirrel had discovered their larders. Every time the squirrel would attempt to pluck an acorn from it’s hole, he / she would get dive-bombed by alternating woodpeckers defending their food. The squirrel would sprint for an acorn and rush for cover (the crook of two tree limbs), attempting to evade the relentless birds. This went on for over 10 minutes before the squirrel, content and no doubt eager for stress reduction moved along and the woodpeckers inspected their losses.
Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard
The profile of a beautiful Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard. These common high-elevation lizards change their colors to absorb more/less heat and for camouflage. As the sky quickly became overcast, I watched this particular lizard immediately darken. Madera Canyon, AZ.