Curled Pill Bug. The best part of spring is playing with the returning bugs! This pill bug might have me note that he is in fact not a true bug at all, nor is he even an insect. He is a land crustacean, and breathes damp air through adapted gills. #macro #macro-creais #macrophotography #macroinvertebrates #invertebrates #nature #naturephotography #urbangarden #urbannature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #Wirbellosen #natgeonature #natgeo #small

"Pick meeeeee! I am making you a beautiful nest! " The reeds were home to a cacaphonous choir of marsh wrens building nests nests and not being shy about it, in hopes that one of the available ladies would like theirs the best. #wren #marshwren #nest #nestingbird #birds #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #vogel #oiseaux #birdsofpixelfed #birdsofmastodon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #bcbirds #natgeonature

Lesser Scaup Preening As the Sun Lowers. #birds #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #vogel #oiseaux #birdsofpixelfed #birdsofmastodon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #bcbirds #scaup #lesserscaup #duck #waterbirds

Killdeer and her "nest" of Eggs
I did not need to worry that I was disturbing her, as she laid her eggs directly next to a busy railway track- I snapped the photo on the other side of the tracks between trains passing through! I can't figure out if the nest location was brilliant (fewer predators hanging around tracks) or profoundly silly- as even precocial babies are pretty limited on world experience that might tell them not to hang out on rails! Her success certainly lays in camouflage- I barely noticed her and almost missed the eggs altogether! Dad was nearby eating, getting ready for his turn with the eggs. #killdeer #nest #birds #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #vogel #oiseaux #birdsofpixelfed #birdsofmastodon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #bcbirds

Common Loon with a common fish a commonly gloomy late winter day- but she does make common look elegant. #loon #commonloon #water #birds #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #vogel #oiseaux #birdsofpixelfed #birdsofmastodon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #bcbirds

Bluebird in Flight: No wonder these guys are symbols of happiness and prosperity- Is there anything else that can evoke such happiness and serenity as quickly as spotting a bluebird? #bluebird #easternbluebird #birds #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #vogel #oiseaux #birdsofpixelfed #birdsofmastodon #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature

Mom and Baby Snuggling
I almost never use black and white for photos, and I am not sure I can say why I prefer it here- maybe it's about the stillness between these two, in an otherwise frenetic environment. The elephants are almost always on the move, especially in the dry season, when the days are spent foraging and travelling to watering holes to drink and bathe. There is a safety risk to cuddle time, and the hugs don't last as long as this little guy would like. But, I'd say they are making the most of it. #Hwange #Zimbabwe #zebra #savannah #conservation #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #natur #wildlife #natgeo #wildlifeconservation #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #natgeotravel #animalplanet #ecosystem #grassland #wildplanet #wildanimals #elphant #africanelephant #animalbabies #animalfamilies

Elephant Calf Asking to Nurse: It won't be long before this guy is ready to be cut of completely, but for now, well, it looks like he still knows how to get his mom to indulge him. #Hwange #Zimbabwe #zebra #savannah #conservation #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #natur #wildlife #natgeo #wildlifeconservation #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #natgeotravel #animalplanet #ecosystem #grassland #wildplanet #wildanimals #elphant #africanelephant #animalbabies #animalfamilies

Zebra Kerfuffle: No one can go as fast from snuggles to scuffles as zebras can! I'm not sure what the fight was about or who won, but they seemed to feel they got it sorted in the end. #Hwange #Zimbabwe #zebra #savannah #conservation #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #natur #wildlife #natgeo #wildlifeconservation #ethicalwildlifephotography #natgeonature #natgeotravel #animalplanet #ecosystem #grassland #wildplanet #wildanimals

Snowy Egret At Dawn
If we all could have the confidence that snowy egrets exude in their poses! #bird #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ethicalwildlifephotography #oiseaux #oiseau #natur #vogel #birdwatching #oiseaux #naturfotografie #birdsofpixelfed #Ornithologie #birds #natgeo #natgeonature #egret #snowyegret #sandiego #birdsofcalifornia