Rain started falling just as this starling positioned itself to watch the elephant herd pass by. #BirdOfTheDay #weather #WildlifePhotography #birds #Tanzania #TarangireNP

This tundra swan took off right in front of me at Ridgefield NWR. Used 1/20th shutter speed to blur the wings while managing to keep the head sharp. #WildlifePhotography #birds #Swan #MotionBlur #BirdOfTheDay #LargeBirdsInFlight #NaturePhotography

This wild dog was stalking past some wildflowers at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Less than 7,000 remain in the wild across all of Africa. #WildlifePhotography #AfricanWildDogs #Conservation #mammals

This American Coot worked hard to extract its prize earthworm, pulling and tugging until it finally came free from the muddy ground. #WildlifePhotography #birds #AmericanCoot #RidgefieldNWR #BirdOfTheDay #snacks

The waterfowl suddenly scattered, then this bald eagle swooped in from behind me for low passes over the lake. #WildlifePhotography #BaldEagle #birds #RidgefieldNWR #BirdOfTheDay #BestOfTheMonth

An American Robin catching the golden morning light as trees begin their spring bloom. #BirdOfTheDay #BestOfTheMonth #birds #WildlifePhotography #birdphotography #photography #robin #naturephotography

A wildebeest in the Okavango Delta that wandered close enough for me to capture a tight headshot. #WildlifePhotography #Botswana #mammals #OkavangoDelta

A Secretary Bird with #ruffledfeathers surveying the Ndutu plains from an acacia perch. #WildlifePhotography #birds #SecretaryBird #Serengeti #BirdOfTheDay

Golden morning light on a female tule elk at Point Reyes. These California natives were nearly extinct but have made a remarkable comeback through conservation efforts. #WildlifePhotography #TuleElk #PointReyes #mammals

Found this Kori Bustard foraging with chicks in Ndutu. Can't tell if that's a beetle or seed in its beak that it found. #WildlifePhotography #birds #KoriBustard #Serengeti #BirdOfTheDay #Adultswithchicks

A young lion took a playful climb up this tree, then settled in to study us from her perch. #WildlifePhotography #lions #mammals #TarangireNationalPark

This bull elephant seal was putting on a display at Point Reyes National Seashore, showing off that impressive inflated nose that gives the species its name. #WildlifePhotography #ElephantSeal #PointReyes #mammals

On a cold December morning this California Scrub-jay was perched on this thin branch at Ridgefield NWR. #BirdOfTheDay #blue #birds #WildlifePhotography #naturephotography

The Bobcat flattened himself in the grass at first, then raised up to get a better look at us. #WildlifePhotography #bobcat #mammals

African Darter drying its wings after a fishing dive on the Chobe River. Unlike most waterbirds, darters lack waterproof feathers and must spread their wings to dry them out. #BirdOfTheDay #WingsOpenNotFlying #birds #WildlifePhotography #Botswana #ChobeNP

A young elephant continuing to master control of its trunk as it drinks at a waterhole in the Okavango Delta. It takes practice to master those 40,000 trunk muscles. #WildlifePhotography #elephants #mammals #Botswana

A juvenile American Robin discovered the blueberry bush last spring. #BirdOfTheDay #Speckled #WildlifePhotography #birds

A male lion on the prowl in Serengeti National Park. Lions can walk up to 15 miles a day searching for territory boundaries and prey. #WildlifePhotography #Serengeti #mammals #lions

Caught this yellow-billed hornbill mid-toss with a tiny pebble in the bright Namibian sun. For today's #BirdOfTheDay #OpenBeak theme. #WildlifePhotography #birds #namibia #hornbill

The river otter spotted me and decided I was worth a closer look. River otters are naturally curious about anything new in their territory. #WildlifePhotography #RiverOtter #mammals #wildlife

Busy gathering nesting materials, this barn swallow paused just long enough for a quick look my way. #WildlifePhotography #birds #BarnSwallow #RidgefieldNWR #BirdOfTheDay #tricolour

This pika spent the morning darting between rocks making it hard to photograph, finally it paused on this boulder just long enough. Mount Rainier, WA. #Pika #mammals #WildlifePhotography #MtRainier

This Southern Ground Hornbill looked like he was raising his hand to ask a question mid-scratch in Tarangire National Park. #BirdOfTheDay #Preeners&Scratchers #WildlifePhotography #birds #Tanzania

This young Masai giraffe was curious about us and seemed to be watching us as much as we were watching her. Tarangire NP, Tanzania. #Giraffe #AfricaWildlife #WildlifePhotography #mammals #Tanzania

An African Hoopoe in the Okavango Delta. That long, decurved bill is used for probing for pulling insects out of soil and dung. #BirdOfTheDay #BugCatchers #birds #WildlifePhotography #OkavangoDelta

On an early morning hike at Point Reyes National Seashore. I caught this bachelor herd of Tule Elk just as the sun broke over the hills. There’s nothing like that golden California light. #WildlifePhotography #mammals #Photography #TuleElk #PointReyesNationalSeashore #wildlife

A Tree Swallow emerging from its nesting hole in a tree at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #ridgefieldNWR #BirdOfTheDay #LookingAtMe

A young African Wild Dog in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. #wildlifephotography #mammals #naturephotography #botswana #okavangodelta #africanwilddogs

The Marabou Stork might be one of the most unattractive birds out there, though still fascinating (and large!). Any other birds that compete with it for the title of ugliest? For today's #BirdOfTheDay #grounded theme. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #ndutu #tanzania

An up-close portrait of an Oryx in Namibia, showcasing its distinctive black and white markings. #wildlifephotography #mammals #naturephotography #namibia

A pair of Gray-crowned Cranes in the Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #Tanzania #ngorongoro #BirdOfTheDay #MarriedCouples

A Bobcat moving over a hill as the sun begins to set. #wildlifephotography #mammals #naturephotography #nature #cats #bobcats

A beautiful scene on the shore of Lake Ndutu in Tanzania, where some shorebirds in the golden light of the setting sun. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #ndutu #tanzania #nature #BirdOfTheDay #LandMeetsWater

Black-crowned Night Herons spotted in Ndutu, Tanzania. The reflections were so sharp that the camera repeatedly focused on them rather than the birds themselves. #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birds #ndutu #serengeti #tanzania #BirdOfTheDay #Reflections

A group of Cape Cormorants gathers along Swakopmund's coastline in Namibia where the desert meets the sea. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #swakopmund #namibia #BirdOfTheDay #Splash

I spotted this coyote at in the field. At first, he appeared as an odd lump in the grass. I grabbed my binoculars for a closer look, and sure enough, it was a coyote. After some time, he eventually rose before meandering away. #wildifephotography #naturephotography #mammals #coyote #ridgefieldNWR

An African Green Pigeon in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birds #tanzania #BirdOfTheDay #Green

A Sandhill Crane in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #cranes #nwr #ridgefieldNWR #BirdOfTheDay #GreyDay

A Cliff Swallow perched on a small twig at the Oregon Coast. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #BirdOfTheDay #TwigsAreUs

A Barred Owl just after it flew down to try and catch something on the ground. #wildlifephotography #birds #owl #naturephotography #BirdOfTheDay #WingsOpenNotFlying

A Tundra Swan coming in for a landing. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #swans #ridgefieldNWR #BirdOfTheDay #WingsOverWater

A Great Blue Heron hunting in the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #BirdOfTheDay theme #CollectingFood and Alt theme #Grey

A Ruffed Grouse in Olympic National Park. This guy was hanging out in the campground when I first arrived. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #olympicNP #BirdOfTheDay theme #BirdButts

A Spotted Hyena who was curious about us in Ndutu, Tanzania. #wildlifephotography #mammals #naturephotography #hyenas #tanzania #ndutu #serengeti

An American Coot in the morning light at Ridgefield NWR. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #ridgefieldNWR #nwr #BirdOfTheDay #reflections

A flamingo walking in the sandy dunes in Namibia. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #namibia #birdoftheday #walking

A Kori Bustard strutting his stuff in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #birds #serengeti #tanzania #birdoftheday #TailsUp

A Yellow-headed Blackbird singing from the top of a reed in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #ridgefieldnwr #nwr #birdoftheday #singing

A Black-shouldered Kite in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #tarangirenp #tanzania #birdoftheday #FeedingTime

The vultures managed to push the hyena off the kill when one of the marabou storks took the opportunity to quickly to steal a chunk of meat and fly off with it with the other stork giving chase. #wildlifephotography #birds #naturephotography #tanzania #ndutu #birdoftheday #TwoOfAKind