Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • A western pond turtle basks in the sun on a beautiful California day on Lower Klamath Lake near the Oregon border. Listed as a vulnerable/threatened species, these small turtles are slow-growing, often maturing at around 10 years old and are taking a hard hit from invasive bird and animal species - especially bullfrogs and bass.
    Western Pond Turtle
  • A western pond turtle basks in the sun on a beautiful California day on Lower Klamath Lake near the Oregon border. Listed as a vulnerable/threatened species, these small turtles are slow-growing, often maturing at around 10 years old and are taking a hard hit from invasive bird and animal species - especially bullfrogs and bass.
    Western Pond Turtle
  • Ice is forming around the edges of Gold Creek Pond at the top of Washington's Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains. A full size print is sized at 5.2 feet x 2.2 feet (1.58m x 0.68m) and was created from two images. The final image can be enlarged significantly with little to no distortion up to 800%.
    Gold Creek Pond with First Ice
  • Sunset over Ocean Pond - deep in the Osceola National Forest.
    Sunset over Ocean Pond
  • After photographing this beautiful alpine lake at the top of Snoqualmie Pass from all directions on a very cloudy day, the sky opened up as I was getting ready to pack up and leave. This is truly one of the most beautiful lakes I've seen so far in the mountains. There were trout swimming in the water and a bald eagle screaming somewhere in the distance.
    Gold Creek Pond
  • A protective mother wood duck hen speeds across a duckweed-covered pond with her chicks hot on her tail by Soos Creek in Kent, Washington on a hot summer day.
    Wood Duck Hen with Ducklings
  • This big male American bullfrog was found trying to woo a couple of nearby females to his territory with his incredibly loud croaking in a small pond connected to Soos Creek in Kent, Washington, about 20 miles south of Seattle. Native the to American Southeast, this large aggressive true frog is out-competing other frog species outside of it's native habitat and not only spreading to the West Coast, but globally as well!
    Bullfrog2020-2
  • This big male American bullfrog was found trying to woo a couple of nearby females to his territory with his incredibly loud croaking in a small pond connected to Soos Creek in Kent, Washington, about 20 miles south of Seattle. Native the to American Southeast, this large aggressive true frog is out-competing other frog species outside of it's native habitat and not only spreading to the West Coast, but globally as well!
    Bullfrog2020-3
  • This big male American bullfrog was found trying to woo a couple of nearby females to his territory with his incredibly loud croaking in a small pond connected to Soos Creek in Kent, Washington, about 20 miles south of Seattle. Native the to American Southeast, this large aggressive true frog is out-competing other frog species outside of it's native habitat and not only spreading to the West Coast, but globally as well!
    Bullfrog2020-1
  • The common horsetail is found in every province of Canada and every state of the continental United States except for the states of Florida and Louisiana. Pushing this amazing range of terrain, habitat and geography, these brown fertile, spore-bearing male shoots are surrounded by the new growth of their female counterparts. Photographed at the edge of Gold Creek Pond at the top of Washington's Snoqualmie Pass.
    Common Horsetail
  • Of all of the wild violets growing in the Cascade Mountains, the stream violet is by far the most common. This huge group of violets growing on the edge of Gold Creek Pond were competing for space with another huge patch of wild mountain strawberries.
    Stream Violet
  • This group of yellow stream violets are blooming near the edge of Gold Creek Pond with common horsetails in late spring at the top of Washington's Snoqualmie Pass.
    Stream Violet
  • The marsh violet is a member of the viola family that is found all over the western United States, most of all of Canada and even throughout many parts of Eurasia. Also known as the alpine marsh violet - it is mostly found in wet habitats, such as these that were photographed near the edge of Gold Creek Pond in Washington's Snoqualmie Pass.
    Marsh Violet
  • This big male American bullfrog was found trying to woo a couple of nearby females to his territory with his incredibly loud croaking in a small pond connected to Soos Creek in Kent, Washington, about 20 miles south of Seattle. Native the to American Southeast, this large aggressive true frog is out-competing other frog species outside of it's native habitat and not only spreading to the West Coast, but globally as well!
    Bullfrog2020-5
  • This big male American bullfrog was found trying to woo a couple of nearby females to his territory with his incredibly loud croaking in a small pond connected to Soos Creek in Kent, Washington, about 20 miles south of Seattle. Native the to American Southeast, this large aggressive true frog is out-competing other frog species outside of it's native habitat and not only spreading to the West Coast, but globally as well!
    Bullfrog2020-4
  • Male catkins of the Sitka alder on a summer afternoon at the very top of Snoqualmie Pass at the edge of Gold Creek Pond. These unlikely looking flowers supply the pollen that will pollenate the nearby cone-like female catkins - not with insect pollinators, but by the wind!
    Sitka Alder Catkins
  • Male catkins of the Sitka alder on a summer afternoon at the very top of Snoqualmie Pass at the edge of Gold Creek Pond. These unlikely looking flowers supply the pollen that will pollenate the nearby cone-like female catkins - not with insect pollinators, but by the wind!
    Sitka Alder Catkins
  • Female catkins of the Sitka alder on a summer afternoon at the very top of Snoqualmie Pass at the edge of Gold Creek Pond. These nondescript small "cones" patiently await pollen to be carried by the wind from the nearby male catkins to ensure the next generation of Sitka alders.
    Sitka Alder Catkins
  • Spectacular view of the trees acrtoss Gold Creek Pond at the top of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington's Cascade Mountains during a snow flurry. A full size this print is sized at 8.68 feet x 3.7 feet (2.65m x 1.13m) and was created from two images.
    Across the Alpine Lake Panorama
  • One of my favorite trees to photograph at high elevations in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest in the fall, the vine maple in the springtime is equally gorgeous with new leaves and flowers. This one was photographed by Gold Creek Pond high atop Washington's Snoqualmie pass on a late June afternoon.
    Vine Maple Flowers
  • Ocean Pond at sunset - it was a beautiful evening for camping in the North Florida wilderness!
    Lone Cypress
  • Common in ponds and lakes all over Florida and eastern North America, this native spadderdock is often confused with the water lily, and is found as far north as Nova Scotia. The difference between spadderdock and true water lilies is that spadderdock has heart-shaped leaves and small, half-opened flowers and water lilies have round leaves and large showy flowers. This one was found growing in a lake in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Spadderdock2021-2.jpg
  • Common in ponds and lakes all over Florida and eastern North America, this native spadderdock is often confused with the water lily, and is found as far north as Nova Scotia. The difference between spadderdock and true water lilies is that spadderdock has heart-shaped leaves and small, half-opened flowers and water lilies have round leaves and large showy flowers. This one was found growing in a lake in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Spadderdock2021-1.jpg
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • An adult Cuban treefrog actively hunting late at night for prey among the foliage in Fort Myers, Florida. These aggressive and voracious natives to Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas are wreaking havoc among Florida's native species of treefrogs, and are outcompeting them in terms of resources and habitat.
    Cuban Treefrog
  • An adult Cuban treefrog actively hunting late at night for prey among the foliage in Fort Myers, Florida. These aggressive and voracious natives to Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas are wreaking havoc among Florida's native species of treefrogs, and are outcompeting them in terms of resources and habitat.
    Cuban Treefrog
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • Not really a toad - it's a spadefoot (no poison glands), this Couch's spadefoot toad was one of many dozens found after a sudden flash-flood in Western Texas along and near the Rio Grande River. Because they are found only in very dry, desert-like habitats, these spadefoots spend a significant amount of their lives buried underground in a state of hibernation, only emerging after the first spring or summer rains. They will find water immediately and mate the first night. Because these sudden seasonal pools can dry up so quickly, emerging tadpoles can mature in as little as nine days after hatching from their eggs!
    Couch's Spadefoot
  • A fantastically camouflaged western toad comes out from under cover on a rainy summer day on Washington's Rattlesnake Mountain.
    Western Toad
  • Unusual as it sounds, this Pacific treefrog was found under a rock in a sagebrush desert in Central Washington as I was looking for snakes and scorpions. While normally associated with damp forests, this highly adaptable amphibian can be found from sea level to alpine mountain habitats, and is very common in the Pacific Northwest. Considered a keystone species, their abundance in the wild is important to many other species that rely on the Pacific treefrog as a food source.
    Pacific Treefrog
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  • A close-up of a western trillium at the top of Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains in Washington.
    Western Trillium
  • A juvenile green heron blends in perfectly against the cypress knees at the edge of a Florida lake.
    Juvenile Green Heron
  • This beautifully blue male Sierra Madre dancer (Argia lacrimans) was found and photographed on a rock sticking out of Sonoita Creek in Patagonia, Arizona on a mild spring morning. Like all damselflies in the dancer family (named so because of their jerky, erratic and highly active movements during flight) males tend to be extremely colorful while the females tend to be drab in color. Unlike other damselflies, dancers tend to catch their prey "on the fly" rather than catching prey on the ground, and this probably explains why they fly in such an erratic manner.
    Sierra Madre Dancer
  • New vine maples leaves in the soft afternoon sunlight at the top of the Cascade Mountains in Washington's Snoqualmie Pass.
    Vine Maple Leaves
  • New vine maples leaves in the late afternoon sunlight at the top of the Cascade Mountains in Washington's Snoqualmie Pass.
    Vine Maple Leaves
  • Late springtime in the Cascade Mountains means new growth and a flurry of activity as winter finally recedes. This western hemlock is putting out not only new growth with new needles, bit small cones will soon follow to produce further generations of this majestic tree.
    Western Hemlock
  • This southern cricket frog (probably the subspecies called Florida cricket frog) is nearly perfectly camouflaged in the thick, humid undergrowth of South Florida's inland wetlands near Immokalee, Florida where there are plenty of insects and plenty of cover from the numerous snakes, birds and alligators that share its habitat.
    Southern Cricket Frog
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  • A rare male subarctic bluet rests on the shore of Lake Elizabeth in the Cascades Mountains in Washington's Steven's Pass. Found most often in Alaska, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and most of the rest of Northern Canada, these beautiful members of the damselfly family occasionally are found in the extreme northern contiguous United States.
    Male Subarctic Bluet
  • Sheep sorrel is a very widespread invasive member of the buckwheat family that originated from the Mediterranean region of Eurasia. Found in every state of the US and in every province of Canada, it is usually found in disturbed areas from the coastline to the sub-alpine elevations of mountain ranges across North America.
    Sheep Sorrel
  • Close up of the male stalks of the common horsetail. Widespread across almost all of North America, these unusual plants reproduce by spores - much like that of ferns and mosses.
    Common Horsetail
  • This unlikely member of the lily family is easily overlooked. Tiny white flowers, low growth, and most often-unnoticed as green forest carpeting, this extremely adaptable water-loving perennial can be found all over Canada, and almost all over the United States except for Texas and the Southeastern states.
    Star Solomon's Seal
  • The salmonberry is of the most common berries to be found in the PNW, and also a historically important food source for the original natives of the area. From the lowest elevations to nearly the sub-alpine meadows of the Cascade Mountains, these commonly encountered and beautifully vibrant wildflowers are found everywhere in the springtime and summer.
    Salmonberry
  • A salmonberry blooms in early June at the top of the Cascade Mountains in Washington's Snoqualmie Pass, while at lower elevations near the Pugeet Sound the flowers are long gone and the bright orange salmonberries are being eaten by animals and people alike!
    Salmonberry
  • A group of a western trilliums at the top of Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains in Washginton.
    Western Trillium
  • One of the most vivid and striking autumn trees in the Pacific Northwest is the vine maple. The image was made at the top of Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains.
    Vine Maple in Autumn Blaze
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  • Chapman's milkwort found growing in a dried-out bog in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Chapman's Milkwort
  • A fuzzy-headed juvenile green heron at the edge of a lake in Central Tallahassee, Florida.
    Juvenile Green Heron
  • A fuzzy-headed juvenile green heron on the edge of a Tallahassee, Florida lake.
    Juvenile Green Heron
  • Already becoming a skilled hunter - this juvenile green heron easily catches a blue dasher dragonfly.
    Juvenile Green Heron with Dragonfly
  • A young hunting green heron remains motionless while looking for small fish and insects.
    Juvenile Green Heron
  • Glowing sunlight in the salt marshes and a great white egret is already on the hunt in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Gulf Coast.
    Great Egret in the Morning Dew
  • A very common aquatic wildflower found all across Western North America,  the yellow pond-lily is a type of spatterdock often confused with water lilies. This one was photographed in the sub-alpine elevations of Oregon's Mount Hood. An interesting side note is that the seeds are edible, and will pop just like popcorn!
    Yellow Pond-lily
  • This super-rare color form of the clamshell orchid blew me away as I waded around a pond apple tree and saw it in a remote pond in Collier County, Florida. It's exact location is a secret!
    Pale Clamshell Orchid (Prosthechea c..ava)
  • These very pretty little aquatic wildflowers are native to the American Southeast, and can be found in all the coastal states from Texas to Maryland in calm, still water such as ponds swamps and lakes, and are most abundant in Florida. These are perhaps best known to aquarium hobbyists as "banana plants" due to the thick underwater rhizomes that look lie a small cluster of bananas. These were found is a small pond in a pine scrub woodland just north of Jupiter, Florida.
    Big Floatinghearts
  • A pair of spiny softshell turtles - probably the Texas subspecies (Apalone spinifera emoryi)  which is only found near the Rio Grande - keeping a wary eye out for alligators in a pond in next to Estero Llano Lake in Weslaco, Texas. Large with a somewhat flexible, leathery shell, the spiny softshell turtle and all of it's subspecies can be found in most freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds where the water is clean and has a range from Southern Canada to Mexico in mostly the Eastern and Central part of the continent.
    Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spin..era)
  • Common throughout most of North America, the variegated meadowhawk is a small-to medium dragonfly in the skimmer family that can be found near ponds and somewhat stagnant water where it actively hunts and devours large numbers of mosquitos, like this one was doing next to a recently dried-up pond in Pharr, Texas. This brightly-colored red male was easy to identify by the two yellow spots on either side of its body.
    Male Variegated Meadowhawk
  • Common throughout most of North America, the variegated meadowhawk is a small-to medium dragonfly in the skimmer family that can be found near ponds and somewhat stagnant water where it actively hunts and devours large numbers of mosquitos, like this one was doing next to a recently dried-up pond in Pharr, Texas. This female is easy to identify by the two yellow spots at the bottom of the two whitish lines on either side of its body.
    Female Variegated Meadowhawk
  • Perhaps the most strikingly beautiful of all of the large dragonflies of Western Canada and the United States, the eight-spotted skimmer contrasts greatly with its environment, whether it is in lowland marshes and ponds or along desert creeks and rivers. This one was seen perching over a duckweed-covered pond near Soos Creek, part of the Green River watershed system in Kent, Washington on a very hot summer day.
    Eight-spotted Skimmer
  • These very pretty little aquatic wildflowers are native to the American Southeast, and can be found in all the coastal states from Texas to Maryland in calm, still water such as ponds swamps and lakes, and are most abundant in Florida. These are perhaps best known to aquarium hobbyists as "banana plants" due to the thick underwater rhizomes that look lie a small cluster of bananas. These were found is a small pond in a pine scrub woodland just north of Jupiter, Florida.
    Big Floatinghearts
  • One of the many species of wild roses in the Pacific Northwest, the Wood's rose is a water-loving summer-bloomer, often found growing near lakes, ponds, and streams. This was photographed next to a pond in Kent, Washington.
    Wood's Rose
  • Black-bellied whistling duck is one of the coolest and most beautiful southern dabbling ducks that visit the southern United States, with their tricolor black, tan and brown plumage and bright orange bills and feet.  Widespread from the southern tips of Texas and Arizona to nearly all of Central and South America, their range is creeping northward and they have been seen more and more frequently in more southern states including Florida and the Caribbean. This pair was just two of hundreds found and photographed in a pond near Weslaco, Texas on a late winter morning.
    Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (Dendr..lis)
  • A Mexican fan palm growing in an unusual place: right at the edge of a pond in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas. Native to Baja California and parts of the Sonoran Desert, this very attractive palm has made it around the world in landscaped land and gardens where it can avoid frost. This extremely tough palm is drought and heat resistant and can tolerate the windiest of desert habitats.
    Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta)
  • Unique underwing view of a red admiral butterfly feeding on what looks like sap a damaged shrub stem. Although the upper-side (top of the wings) is brightly-colored you can see how expertly camouflaged it is with its wings folded while resting in the shade. This one was found next to a pond near Alamo, Texas on a bright warm sunny winter day.
    Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
  • Unusual and secretive, the South Texas satyr is a member of the often brightly-colored brushfoot butterfly family (monarchs, fritillaries, crescents, etc.) but are often small, a muted brown are more likely to be confused with moths as they flitter throughout the shady forests, often on the ground, blending in with fallen leaves. This small species is known only from the Rio Grande region of Southern Texas and Northern Mexico, and was found in a grove of wild oaks next to a pond in Southern Hidalgo County, Texas.
    South Texas Satyr (Hermeuptychia her..ius)
  • A very cool find: a western pondhawk dragonfly laying her eggs in a pond in Soos Creek in Kent, Washington! When the eggs hatch, the voracious aquatic nymphs that emerge will active hunt down any kind of aquatic insect it can find, such as mosquito and mayfly larvae, and even small fish and tadpoles until it is time for them to emerge from the water as adults.
    Female Western Pondhawk
  • Native to North America, muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents named for their musky smell and rat-like appearance. They are found in most of Canada and the United States, as well as some parts of Northern Mexico where they inhabit extremely variable habitats and altitudes. Muskrats are always associated with wetlands, whether that is a lake, swamp, pond, river, etc. Although the common name contains the word "rat", it is taxonomically just a very large, semi-aquatic vole, and not related to any rat species. This one was found munching on vegetation at the edge of Tule Lake in Northern California, near the Oregon border.
    Muskrat
  • A juvenile black-crowned night heron practices to hunt for prey in a tree overhanging a pond in the Big Cypress National Preserve in SW Florida.
    Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron
  • This large adult male alligator lives in a pond in my hometown of Bradenton, Florida and is a particularly aggressive fellow. Every time I got near him, he gaped and hissed like he is in this image. For some reason he shut his eyes in this shot.
    Gaping Male Alligator
  • A female hooded merganser swims apart from the group in a pond in Medina Washington.
    Female Hooded Merganser
  • A male hooded merganser shows off his head-crest in a small pond in Medina, Washington.
    Hooded Merganser
  • This fast little warbler was seen in the Florida Everglades foraging along the edge of a pond.
    Palm Warbler
  • Canada goose photographed on 1/18/2010 next to a pond in Southern Alabama. I couldn't have asked for better natural lighting!
    Alabama Canada Goose
  • The snowy egret is one of the New World's most widespread egrets, found pretty much everywhere from Southern Canada to Argentina where it is often found along just about any kind of water source, pond, lake, ocean or river where it can find food. With its distinctive bright yellow feet and lores (area in front of the eyes), white plumage and long thin necks this beautiful water bird is often curious and not terribly shy around people. This one was photographed by a lake in Southern Hidalgo County near Weslaco, Texas.
    Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
  • The snowy egret is one of the New World's most widespread egrets, found pretty much everywhere from Southern Canada to Argentina where it is often found along just about any kind of water source, pond, lake, ocean or river where it can find food. With its distinctive bright yellow feet and lores (area in front of the eyes), white plumage and long thin necks this beautiful water bird is often curious and not terribly shy around people. This one was photographed by a lake in Southern Hidalgo County near Weslaco, Texas.
    Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
  • The snowy egret is one of the New World's most widespread egrets, found pretty much everywhere from Southern Canada to Argentina where it is often found along just about any kind of water source, pond, lake, ocean or river where it can find food. With its distinctive bright yellow feet and lores (area in front of the eyes), white plumage and long thin necks this beautiful water bird is often curious and not terribly shy around people. This one was photographed by a lake in Southern Hidalgo County near Weslaco, Texas.
    Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
  • The black-bellied whistling duck is one of the coolest and most beautiful southern dabbling ducks that visit the southern United States, with their tricolor black, tan and brown plumage and bright orange bills and feet.  Widespread from the southern tips of Texas and Arizona to nearly all of Central and South America, their range is creeping northward and they have been seen more and more frequently in more southern states including Florida and the Caribbean. This raft of ducks was just part of a huge number of them found and photographed in a pond near Weslaco, Texas on a late winter morning.
    Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (Dendr..lis)
  • Found all across nearly all of the Northern Hemisphere and Southeast Asia and common in many parts of Africa and India, the northern shoveler is a dabbling duck that has a large, spade-like bill that it uses to filter out tiny plants, seeds and invertebrates from the water. This beautiful drake (male duck) was found in a pond in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge near the Texas-Mexico border.
    Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
  • The rose-bellied lizard (also known as the rosebelly lizard) is a handsome little member of the spiny lizard family and is native to Central and North America with a range from Costa Rica to Southern Texas. This one was found near the edge of a pond in just south of Alamo, Texas.
    Rose-bellied Lizard (Sceloporus vari..lis)
  • Unique underwing view of a red admiral butterfly feeding on what looks like sap a damaged shrub stem. Although the upper-side (top of the wings) is brightly-colored you can see how expertly camouflaged it is with its wings folded while resting in the shade. This one was found next to a pond near Alamo, Texas on a bright warm sunny winter day.
    Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
  • The national butterfly of Finland, this tiny and fast-flying gossamer-wing butterfly is found across much of the world in the Northern Hemisphere. Like most blues, the underwings are spotted and splotched in specific patterns that are important for species identification, but the upper wings are often bright blue, hence their name. Unfortunately they seldom rest with their wings spread. This one was one of about a dozen found frantically skittering around a duck pond near Soos Creek in Kent, Washington State on a very hot summer day.
    Holly Blue Butterfly
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