Day at the beach! Velella velella, a small free floating invertebrate, washed up on the sand and bending light like a gemstone. And a curious whimbrel takes a break from probing the wet sand between waves to check me out. April 26. #biodiversity #nature

Cormorants and gulls enjoying the sun and ocean spray. January 19. #seabirds #nature

One small picturesque part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. February 18. #nature #seabirds

A native pollinator garden at work: A Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus) foraging on firecracker penstamon. The Yellow bumble bee is designated as Vulnerable by the IUCN and shows a decreasing population trend. One of the threats to this species is habitat loss. Perhaps more pollinator gardens are needed. June 9. #NationalPollinatorWeek #pollinators #flowers #wildflowers #ecology #nature #publiclands #nationalwildliferefuge #idaho #bumblebee

Showy milkweed in bloom! While essential for Monarch butterfly reproduction, it also provides a valuable food source for other pollinators. June 18. #flowers #wildflowers #pollinators #NationalPollinatorWeek #idaho #ecology #nature #publiclands #nationalwildliferefuges

Three….two….one…..three Canada geese take off! May 17. #nature #wildlife #birds #publiclands #idaho #nationalwildliferefuges #wetlands

Killdeer chicks scurrying about. May 21. #wildlife #birds #idaho #publiclands #nationalwildliferefuges #nature

More waterbirds from the day: Northern pintail, cinnamon and blue-winged teal, great blue heron, mallards. April 28. #wildlife #birds #nature #wetlands #idaho #publiclands #nationalwildliferefuges #biodiversity

A hairy woodpecker bopping and knocking around the pollinator garden. April 28. #nature #wildlife #birds #publiclands #idaho #nationalwildliferefuges

Waterbirds reflected in the wetlands essential for their existence but also incredibly rare in the arid high desert of the Intermountain West. April 26. #wildlife #nature #birds #ecology #wetlands #idaho #publiclands #nationalwildliferefuges