Mother and Baby

In a tender moment, mama javelina nestles her baby. Tucson, AZ.

Mountain Goat

A stunning mountain goat crosses a snow drift before disappearing down the sheer side of a mountain face. What a magical creature!
Mt. Evans, CO.

Mountain Kingsnake

This Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake is one that I’ve been dying to see since moving here, and it finally happened! While hiking in the mountains, it slithered across the path mere feet away. What an exciting day!!! Even beyond his/her (didn’t check) beauty and the aforementioned benefits, kingsnakes like this one will readily consume other snakes. This includes rattlesnakes, the venom of which they have a strong tolerance and possible immunity.

Onandaga Falls

Despite my dozens of visits to Rickett’s Glen State Park, I’ve never hiked amidst such powerful torrents. It was downright awe-inspiring!

Orange Barrel

Presenting one of my favorite succulent flower displays, the barrel cactus comes in yellow, orange, and red. Photographed near Picture Rocks, AZ.

Orange Mycenas

As seen from beneath, this large cluster of beautiful, tiny mushrooms were found growing on a rotting hemlock log. Photo taken at Tall Timbers State Park, PA, USA.

Outer Mongolia

Primarily a rock-climbing area, the Outer Mongolia area was scenically incredible. Following hours of climbing on these rock faces, partial cloudiness and interesting light further enhanced the photo-ops! Joshua Tree National Park, CA.

Oystercatcher and the Egret

An American Oystercatcher traipses by while the snowy egret hunts in the shallow tide pool. Puerto Penasco, MX.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady, aka “American Lady” butterfly, sipping the nectar from a dwarf sunflower. Photo taken near Hartleton, PA, USA.

Patch-Nosed Snake

First snake of the season! While hiking, this beautiful Eastern Patch-Nosed Snake slithered across the trail right in front of me. He was a very accomodating subject, laying on this rock for several minutes while I snapped away!

Peccary Piglings

Yes, they are really called “piglings,” even though javelina aren’t really pigs. These tiny cuties were frolicking among and eating the fallen palo verde blossoms. Catalina Foothills, AZ.

Peculiar Pollinators

Despite being notorious blood-suckers, mosquitoes are actually quite wonderful pollinators. Only females suck blood, leaving the boys to visit flower after flower. Winfield, PA.

Phainopepla

Female phainopepla spreading her tail feathers. These interesting birds will actually lay two clutches a year; once in the higher elevations, and once in the lower. Picture Rocks, AZ.

Pied Grebe

When exhibiting the right facial expression, these adorable little divers can actually look quite sinister. Pied grebe photographed in Tucson, AZ, USA.

Pincushion Flowers

The tiny pincushion cactus isn’t so easily overlooked when showing off a full bouquet of flowers! Saguaro National Park West, AZ.

Pinwheel Marasmius

A cluster of pinwheel marasmius mushrooms. These beige-colored, extremely tiny shrooms are easy to overlook. Photo taken in Bald Eagle State Forest, PA, USA.

Posing Prothonotary

Named after the golden-yellow robes the early Roman prothonotaries used to wear, these beautiful warblers spend their days foraging and defending brushy territory, often bordered by water. Prothonotary Warbler photographed in Okefenokee NWR, GA, USA.

Prairie Play

These adorable creatures were hilarious to watch! In this case, play consisted of one youngster tackling his / her sister. Rocky Mountain Arsenal, CO.

Pretty Pronghorn

What a beautiful, elegant creature! This power pronghorn paused atop a hill just above me. Yellowstone National Park, WY.

Purple Russula

How often do you see purple mushrooms?!?! This purple-bloom russula is relatively common on well-drained slopes of healthy Pennsylvania forests. Bald Eagle Forest, PA.

Pygmy Baby

The look on the face of this fledgling northern pygmy owl is beyond adorable. He/she was watching mom in the hopes that the recent catch would be passed along. Madera Canyon, AZ, USA.

Pygmy Blue

Meet the world’s smallest butterfly (as far as we know)! This is the western pygmy blue. With a total wingspan of only 0.5″, the name is no surprise! They were all over the place on a recent adventure!

Raccoon

Adorned in the finest Zorro mask, this charming trash panda was perched atop the tree trunk when I encountered him/her. The raccoon seemed to be nibbling on something indistinguishable while up there, but soon turned it’s attention to a thorough cleaning (sorry, no salvageable pictures) before descending and disappearing into the cattails. Tucson, AZ.

Rainbow at Sunset

June is known for being one of the driest months in the Sonoran Desert, so when a freak storm lands in the middle of the month, it’s cause for celebration. Celebrate is just what the sky seemed to be doing as the dramatic sunet met with a double rainbow in the storm’s wake. Saguaro NP West, AZ.