Spidermax

Cormorant

#FlyDay #Birds 🪶 Cormorant heading somewhere important .

An Amazonian motmot (Momotus momota) perched on a thick branch in a sort of profile facing the right of frame

Happy #flyday
Amazonian #motmot - Momotus momota
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 5-24-25) 🐦🦜 #photography #animal #bird #zoo #cincyzoopic

A huddle of rain dropped ladybirds amongst the cross of stems,green leaves,counted 20

Crossroads at the wood edge a little huddle of loveliness #insectthursday

A house fly on a yellow and maroon tulip. Camera: iPhone 15 Pro. March 2026. Gamble Garden.

A housefly on a colorful tulip at Gamble Garden. From my visit last week.

#InsectThursday
#dailyflowers 🌱
#flowerreport
#bloomscrolling

A back insect with yellow markings rests on top of a container of water. It is casting a shadow with a thin body and rounded markings where its legs are.

Above and below #AlphabetChallenge
#WeekJforJuxtaposition #Wasp
#InsectThursday #FlyDay
#LightAndShadow #ECK #Photography #VT

A fly on purple flowers.

Hello #InsectThursday

A jumping bristletail (Trigoniophthalmus sp.) on a rock facing the right of frame and shot in profile

#insectthursday
Jumping bristletail - Trigoniophthalmus sp.
(Shot near Cincinnati 3-10-26) 🪳🪲 #photography #macrophotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #nature #animal #invertebrate #insect #bugsky #bug #ento

An eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) standing with their back to the camera and turning their nose to the left of frame near the tree trunk ready to bolt up the tree as soon as I move too suddenly.

Eastern gray #squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis
(Shot near Cincinnati 3-10-26) 🐿️🦊 #photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #nature #animal #mammal #rodent

An American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) sitting on a log in an algae filled pond. The frog is shot in profile facing the left of frame, perpendicular to the log

American #bullfrog - Lithobates catesbeianus
(Shot near Cincinnati 10-6-25) 🐸 #photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #nature #animal #herps #amphibian #frog

Love to see it

Front view of a leopard frog with one eye showing very prominently. There are two bulging air sacs at the back of the head indicating this is a male about to croak.

A view of a leopard from from above and slightly behind. This view shows the rear end of the frog well with the legs spread wide and the splayed webbed feet.

I'm told these are leopard #frogs, the southern variety I suspect given the location. How about those air sacs! Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia, USA 9MAR2026. #herps #naturephotography

Thank you!

Nope, that’s just the way the lighting made the water look

A pair of mute swans (Cygnus olor) sort of canoodling as they swim by each other and the nearby ice on the pond

Mute #swans - Cygnus olor
(Shot near Cincinnati 2-9-26) 🐦🦢 #photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #animal #nature #bird #waterfowl #swan #mallardmonday

A red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) nosing through the dirt as they are shot in a sort of profile facing the left of frame.

Happy Sunday
Red river #hog - Potamochoerus porcus
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 2-21-26) 🐗🐖🦊 #photography #animal #mammal #zoo #cincyzoopic #pig

A male African lion (Panthera leo) standing majestically facing the left of frame.

A male African lion (Panthera leo) standing facing the left of frame and roaring

A male African lion (Panthera leo) standing facing the left of frame and roaring towards the camera

A male African lion (Panthera leo) standing facing the left of frame majestically after his roar

Happy #caturday
Male African #lion - Panthera leo
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 2-21-26) 🦁🐱🦊 #photography #animal #mammal #cat #zoo #cincyzoopic

A blue-tanager (Thraupis episcopus) perching on a branch and looking towards the camera so we mostly see their left side

Happy #flyday
Blue-gray #tanager - Thraupis episcopus
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 2-21-26) 🐦 #photography #animal #birds #zoo #cincyzoopic

A dragonfly is perched, clutching a dead leaf on a single vertical stem. It is a sunny day; the dragonfly has a golden cast to it and the fuzz on it's body can be seen 'outlining' the abdomen & thorax. The background is a blurred light green, making the veins on the wings highly visible.

#Insect #Arthropod #InsectThursday #ThrowbackThursday This dragonfly was nicely positioned between Saskatoon bush branches. The blurred background was perfect for showing off the veins in the wings.

A sunburst diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus) underwater on a grassy aquatic plant with some patches of algae on the blade. The beetle is in profile and looking right of frame with their body angled a bit downwards. The beetle’s black and yellow exoskeleton has some sort of organic white fuzz on it. Not sure if it’s an algae, fungus, or other.

#insectthursday
Sunburst diving #beetle - Thermonectus marmoratus
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 2-21-26) 🪲🪳 #photography #macrophotography #animal #invertebrate #insect #zoo #cincyzoopic

A downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) on the right side of a pole looking towards the feeder on the opposite side

Downy #woodpecker - Dryobates pubescens
(Shot near Cincinnati 2-18-26) 🐦 #photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #nature #urbanwildlife #animal #bird #birding

A little American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) sitting in a hand facing the right of frame.

American #bullfrog - Lithobates catesbeianus
(Shot near Cincinnati 10-3-25) 🐸 #photography #macrophotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #nature #animal #herps #amphibian #frog

A red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) shot top down and focused on their head facing the right of frame

#macromonday
Red-backed #salamander - Plethodon cinereus
(Shot in Cincinnati 2-19-26) 🦎 #photography #macrophotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #animal #herps #amphibian #urbanwildlife

On a calm, gray body of water, an adult male Hooded Merganser duck floats in the foreground, facing slightly left. His plumage is crisp and high-contrast: a glossy black head with a bold white oval “hood” patch on the side, a bright golden eye, a clean white chest, and warm chestnut-brown sides. A thin, pointed black bill extends forward just above the water’s surface. Soft ripples spread outward from his body, creating gentle rings that distort his reflection. Behind him, farther away and out of focus, a second duck—likely a female Hooded Merganser—appears smaller and browner, with a subtle crest shape. The background water is smooth and muted, giving the scene a quiet, subdued atmosphere, as if on an overcast day. Overall, the image conveys a peaceful moment of two Hooded Mergansers resting on still water, with the sharply detailed male standing out against a softly blurred backdrop. Photo Credit: Gregory Rothman 2026 Info about Hooded Mergansers 1. Their “hood” is adjustable The male’s white crest is made of specialized feathers he can raise into a dramatic circular fan during courtship displays or flatten when relaxed. 2. Expert underwater hunters They are diving ducks that pursue prey visually, mainly eating small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Their eyes can rapidly adjust focus underwater. 3. Built-in fish grips Like other mergansers, their bills have fine serrations along the edges—often described as “saw-toothed”—that help hold slippery prey. 4. Cavity nesters Unlike most ducks, they nest in tree cavities (often old woodpecker holes) and readily use nest boxes near wooded wetlands. 5. Early leap of faith Hooded merganser ducklings jump from the nest cavity—sometimes 10–15 meters (30–50 ft) above ground—within a day of hatching, bouncing safely due to their light weight and down. 6. One of the smallest mergansers At roughly 40–49 cm (16–19 in) long, they’re the smallest species in the merganser group and are native to North America.

An adult male Hooded Merganser duck is centered on a calm, gray lake, captured mid-motion as he rises partly upright from the water. His body is vertical, with his chest lifted clear of the surface while his tail and lower body remain submerged. Its wings are extended outward in a broad arc, showing layered feathers in shades of brown, gray, and black, like a partially opened fan. His head is turned slightly to the right, displaying the species’ distinctive pattern: a glossy black head with a large, bright white crest patch and a vivid yellow eye. The slim black bill points forward. Small splashes and droplets surround his body where the water breaks, and faint ripples spread outward from the movement. The background is softly blurred water with muted tones, emphasizing the duck’s striking black-and-white head and the dynamic wing stretch. The moment feels brief and energetic, as if the Hooded Merganser has just popped up to stretch before settling back down.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfTheMonth
A Pair of #HoodedMergansers are mergansering about. I was lazy this month. Low on posts and images. My apologies.
#EastCoastKin #PhotographerUnited #SwimmingDucks #urbanWildlife #NorthPond

A male lion (Panthera Leo) roars from the left of frame as his mate appears to be sort of walking away to avoid being bothered by his loud antics

Happy #caturday
Panthera leo - #lion
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 2-21-26) 🦁🐱🦊 #photography #animal #mammal #cat #bigcat #zoo #cincyzoopic

Marsh Harrier in flight

Marsh Harrier at RSPB Snettisham. Just got back from a couple of days in Norfolk #photography #birds #ukwildlife #Nature #wildlife #birdphotography

A bee on lavender, the greenery and flowers in the background are blurred.

#FlyDay #Scape
#Macro #FloralFriday #FlowersOnFriday #BloomScrolling #OnlyBeautifulThings
#EastCoastKin #Photography #NaturePhotography

A crow perched on a rock beside a river with its back to the camera and its head turned slightly back, eying the photographer perhaps.

American Crow, Zion National Park. #MlevelPhotos #Flyday

A kea (Nestor notabilis) mischievously attempting to pick-pocket a guest at the zoo sitting on a bench.

A kea (Nestor notabilis) mischievously looking to the camera after being caught trying to get inside the pocket of a zoo guest on the bench.

A kea (Nestor notabilis) mischievously attempting to look cute after being caught trying pick-pocket a guest at the zoo sitting on a bench.

Happy #flyday to the mischievous #kea at the #zoo
Kea - Nestor notabilis
(Shot at @cincinnatizoo.bsky.social 2-21-26) 🐦🦜 #photography #animal #bird #parrot #cincyzoopic

An oak titmouse emerges from a bird house with grass dangling from the opening.

Nest building underway -
must keep
neighbor's cat away!

Oak Titmouse, Feb. 2026, #RohnertPark, #California.
#birds #birdphotography #photography #wildlife #nature #birdwatching #sonomacounty #nature #m43 #haiku

a pair of damselflies conjoined. The blue damselfly is upright with its legs holding on to a tall narrow leaf with its tail curved round in an arc. The female yellow damselfly is hanging underneath the male with its tail meeting the thorax of the male and its head meeting his tail. Her body is also making an arc shape so that, together they create a heart shape

#ShowHeart #hearts
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekHforHs
#insectthursday #insects #photography #photo #wildlife #nature #gardens #ponds
2 damselflies sending us a heart