A California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus) in the tide pools surrounded by Opaleye (Girella nigricans). Photographed in San Diego County, CA November 2021

An Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) revealing a small glimpse of its iridescent feathers. Photographed in San Diego County, CA November 2021 #annashummingbird #calypteanna #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #coastalsagescrub #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

The arrival of this new specimen highlights the crucial relationship zoos play in ensuring rare and endangered species are represented in museum collections like ours: go.nhm.org/white-rhino

This day I was graced with the presence of the second largest whale, the Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus). Photographed in San Diego County, CA November 2021 🛥️🐋 Gone Whale Watching #finwhale #balaenopteraphysalus #zoology #mammalogy #sandiegocounty #california #ocean #wildlifephotography #canon

🦎 Dilophosaurus? Actually, it's a frilled lizard! Learn more about the frilled lizard with Collection Manager Nefti Camacho as we go behind the scenes in NHMLA's Herpetology Collection!

This stunning slipper orchid (Selenipedium palmifolium) currently has been documented less than 25 times on iNaturalist! 📷 marie973 on iNaturalist 📍 French Guiana 🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations... #ObservationOfTheDay

An early morning hike led to this perched Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) showing off its gorget. Photographed in San Diego County, CA October 2021 #annashummingbird #calypteanna #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #wetland #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

When I embarked upon this all day whale watching trip, I was treated with witnessing a small pod of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). All day they showed an enormous amount of activity, but seeing breaches were a first for me…

A group of Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus) at the Channel Islands. Photographed in Orange County, CA October 2021 🛥️🐋 @pacificoffshore #royaltern #thalasseusmaximus #zoology #ornithology #orangecounty #california #coast #wildlifephotography #canon

One of my favorite sounds on this planet, is the exhale of a whale (this one being a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)) as it surfaces. Photographed in Orange County, CA October 2021 🛥️🐋 Pacific Offshore Expeditions

A beautiful Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) fluke descending. Photographed in Orange County, CA October 2021 🛥️🐋 Pacific Offshore Expeditions #humpbackwhale #megapteranovaeangliae #zoology #mammalogy #orangecounty #california #ocean #wildlifephotography #canon

It's genuinely absurd that Hank has co-created the most popular app in the United States. This is only going to encourage him.

a globally rare blind harvester (Speleonychia) moves slowly through the perpetual darkness of a shallow but lengthy lava tube, far southern Washington

earlier this year we described the species Cybaeozyga furtiva from the Klamath Mtns Geomorphic Province of far northern CA at time of description, the male was unknown. here he is, from the type locality my son earned $10 for this find, later discussed how he'd like to go to a salary arrangement

A small pod of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) creating rainbows with their misty exhale. Photographed in Orange County, CA October 2021 🛥️🐋 Pacific Offshore Expeditions

I asked Orin what kind of guy he was and he said he was an octoguy because he’s eight years old.

Painted this Aldabra giant tortoise slowly with a limited palette and a lot of coffee (literally). These gentle giants can live over 150 years. That kind of long, steady survival feels like a small miracle lately. #sciart #addherper #watercolor

A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) preparing to dive into the ocean below. Photographed in Orange County, CA October 2021 🛥️🐋 Pacific Offshore Expeditions #humpbackwhale #megapteranovaeangliae #zoology #mammalogy #orangecounty #california #ocean #wildlifephotography #canon

A Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) making an appearance above the water’s surface. Photographed in Orange County, CA October 2021 🛥️🐋 Pacific Offshore Expeditions #commondolphin #delphinusdelphis #zoology #mammalogy #orangecounty #california #ocean #wildlifephotography #canon

A last look at this beautiful individual Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin). Photographed in San Diego County, CA October 2021 #allenshummingbird #selasphorussasin #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

Something about watching Allen’s Hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) in the late afternoon light that is just simply beautiful. Photographed in San Diego County, CA October 2021 #allenshummingbird #selasphorussasin #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

An Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) getting a good scratch in. Photographed in San Diego County, CA October 2021 #allenshummingbird #selasphorussasin #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

An Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) perched in the afternoon light. Photographed in San Diego County, CA October 2021 #allenshummingbird #selasphorussasin #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

A Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) taking a moment to groom itself. Photographed in San Luis Obispo County, CA August 2021 #southernseaotter #enhydralutrisnereis #zoology #mammalogy #sanluisobispocounty #california #coast #wildlifephotography #canon

A California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) perched on a coastal rock. Photographed in San Luis Obispo County, CA August 2021 #californiagroundsquirrel #otospermophilusbeecheyi #zoology #mammalogy #sanluisobispocounty #califonia #coast #wildlifephotography #canon

A California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) scouting the area for any human-related food sources. Photographed in San Luis Obispo County, CA August 2021

A pod of Risso’s Dolphins (Grampus griseus) patrolling the Monterey Bay. Photographed in Monterey County, CA August 2021 🛥️🐋 Fast Raft #rissosdolphin #grampusgriseus #zoology #mammalogy #montereycounty #california #coast #wildlifephotography #canon

A Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) getting a moment of rest. Photographed in Monterey County, CA August 2021 #longbilledcurlew #numeniusamericanus #zoology #ornithology #montereycounty #california #wetland #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

A Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) munching away on its snack. Photographed in Monterey County, CA August 2021 #southernseaotter #enhydralutrisnereis #zoology #mammalogy #montereycounty #califonia #wetland #wildlifephotography #canon

A river of clouds. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021 #humboldtcounty #california #redwoodforest #landscapephotography #canon

Foggy forest & lagoon reflections. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021 #humboldtcounty #california #lagoon #landscapephotography #canon

A pair of Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) grazing in the meadows. It really is just astounding to see such an animal in person. Especially, driving around the redwood forest to just see herds of these animals scattered around. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021

A Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) on the lookout in the early morning after emerging from the redwood forest. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021

The Northern California coast in the early, foggy morning. Photographed in Del Norte County, CA August 2021 #delnortecounty #california #coast #landscapephotography #canon

If you are adventuring through redwood forest, it is very likely you’ll come across one of these invertebrates. The Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus) is the second largest terrestrial slug in the world, reaching a length of up to 10 inches. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021

While in Northern California, I thought I would try my luck to find any sights of a Stellar Sea Lion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any. However, I did come across the familiar sounds (and smells) of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).

One of my favorite places in the Redwood Forest. This bridge makes me feel like I’m embarking on the start of this grand adventure (which it will be) despite the fact I have been surrounded by gorgeous redwoods on the drive up. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021

Quite the wonder to see towering giants lining the trails in the Northern California redwood forest. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021 #humboldtcounty #california #redwoodforest #landscapephotography #canon

Into the Redwoods we go…🥾🌲 Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021 #humboldtcounty #california #redwoodforest #landscapephotography #canon

A Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) finding refuge in small indentations in the sand. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021 #leastsandpiper #calidrisminutilla #zoology #ornithology #humboldtcounty #california #coast #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

A Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) roaming the coastal sand. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021 #leastsandpiper #calidrisminutilla #zoology #ornithology #humboldtcounty #california #coast #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

It was a pleasant surprise walking around and finding this Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) on the meadow floor. Flickers, in comparison to other woodpeckers, will forage for food on the ground. Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021

A pair of juvenile Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) grazing in the morning meadow. One of my first encounters with large mammals outside of whales and pinnipeds :,) Photographed in Humboldt County, CA August 2021

A Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) surveying the wetland waters. Photographed in San Diego County, CA July 2021 #blackneckedstilt #himantopusmexicanus #zoology #ornithology #sandiegocounty #california #wetland #wildlifephotography #canon 🪶

An Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis) taking a moment to rest after playing around with other island foxes (also, some of the cutest guys around :,)). Photographed in Santa Barbara County, CA July 2021

Happy Earth Day everyone! Today and every other day is a time to reflect on appreciating what we are a part of and what is part of us. Even in these uncertain times, I hope we can still find ways to preserve and protect our natural spaces and our diverse wildlife.

An Island Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi) striking a pose as my welcome onto the island. Photographed in Santa Barbara County, CA July 2021

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) emerges to hunt for crabs and other small prey on the wetland shoreline. Photographed in San Diego County, CA July 2021

While photographing birds on the mudflat, I was accompanied by this Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium). Photographed in San Diego County, CA July 2021

The eyes of a Large Mexican Fiddler Crab (Uca princeps) peeking out from behind its one (unfortunately, broken) large claw. Photographed in San Diego County, CA June 2021 #largemexicanfiddlercrab #ucaprinceps #zoology #carcinology #sandiegocounty #california #wetland #wildlifephotography #canon