Headfirst into the buffet — this Ruby-throated Hummingbird knows where to find the sweetest sips. 🐦🍯 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #rubythroatedhummingbird #hummingbird #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Dinner time chaos — two hungry Purple Martin chicks making sure Mom doesn’t forget who’s next in line! 🐦🍽️ #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #purplemartin #purplemartins #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird perches in the warm glow of evening light, her feathers shimmering with flashes of emerald. ✨💚 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #rubythroatedhummingbird #hummingbird #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Caspian Tern sweeps gracefully over the waters of Chicago Botanic Garden, gliding in the soft light of dusk in search of its evening catch. 🕊️🌅 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #caspiantern #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 In the summer gardens of Chicago Botanic Garden, this American Goldfinch glows like sunshine against lavender hues. 💛💜 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #goldfinch #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Green Heron locked in — eyes down, beak open, ready to strike at unsuspecting prey below. 🪶🎯 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #greenheron #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Great Blue Heron on the move — a majestic lift-off from lush green pondside at Chicago Botanic Garden." 🪶💚 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #greatblueheron #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovers in place, sipping nectar from fiery salvia blooms in the soft light of twilight at Chicago Botanic Garden. 🌺✨🐦 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #rubythroatedhummingbird #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Just caught! 🐟 An Osprey clutches its prize just inches above the water as it heads back to the nest. 🦅💦 #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #osprey #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Papa just stopped by with another tasty morsel, and guess who got the prize! #bird #birds #cbg #chicagobotanicgarden #chicago #purplemartin #purplemartins #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Like squabbling siblings at the dinner table, these young Purple Martins got so caught up in bickering they dropped their lunch! Mom worked hard for that bug—she wouldn’t be happy to see it lost to sibling rivalry. 😆🐦 #birds #chicagobotanicgarden #purplemartin #birdphotography #naturephotography

An Elegant Tern soars triumphantly back to shore after a successful fishing trip. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #nuevonayarit #puertovallarta #eleganttern #tern #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

This Hooded Oriole earned some serious street cred as it defended its stretch of razor wire in San Jose del Cabo. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #hoodedoriole #oriole #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Brown Pelican begins its takeoff in the San Jose del Cabo estuary. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #whitefacedibis #brownpelican #pelican #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A gulp of Cormorants lines up and reports for duty in Nuevo Nayarit. And yes... a flock of Cormorants is technically referred to as a "gulp." Fun fact! #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #nuevonayarit #cormorant #cormorants #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Roseate Spoonbill tiptoes through the water, trying to go unnoticed among flocks of gulls, terns, and egrets in Nuevo Nayarit. #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #nuevonayarit #roseatespoonbill #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A mating pair of Ring-necked Ducks glides gracefully across a quiet pond during the twilight hour. #bird #birds #midwest #ringneckedduck #illinoiswildlife #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

This Great Egret had the time of its life as it danced like nobody was watching. It jumped, bobbed, and swooped all over. I thought it might be a courtship ritual, but there weren't any nearby egrets. Maybe it was just cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs! 😊 #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #birdphotography

I caught this stunning White-faced Ibis mid-landing at the San Jose del Cabo estuary, just as the light hit at the perfect angle. Its feathers shimmered in unreal shades of emerald, bronze, and silver. #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #whitefacedibis #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

A vibrant House Finch just sittin' there looking pretty! I loved seeing so many of these in San Jose del Cabo! #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #housefinch #finch #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

An Osprey soars through the amber sky, with eyes locked and talons poised, hunting for the day's last meal before sun sets in San Jose del Cabo. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #osprey #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

White-faced Ibises fly back to their roosts as the sun sets over San José del Cabo. Hard to miss those silhouettes against a sky like this! #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #whitefacedibis #ibis #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

After a ton of patience and a little luck, I captured a clean shot of a Least Tern in flight as it soared over the San Jose del Cabo estuary. These little guys move FAST and erratically, like swallows. #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #leasttern #tern #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

A Least Tern does a quick roll after snatching its prey from the San Jose del Cabo estuary. These little guys move FAST! Notice the bands on its legs... common for many species in the area. #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #leasttern #tern #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

A magnificent Snowy Egret soars directly overhead in San Jose del Cabo. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #snowyegret #egret #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Cactus Wren calls out expectantly during the waning hours of sunlight in San Jose del Cabo. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #cactuswren #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofinstagram

A little fish is about to meet its ultimate fate as it slides down the gullet of a big Brown Pelican in San Jose del Cabo. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #brownpelican #pelican #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

The White-faced Ibis may look dark at first glance, but catch it in just the right sunlight and its feathers explode with iridescent greens, purples, silvers, and bronzes. #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #whitefacedibis #ibis #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography

A Common Gallinule spies something vaguely familiar in the estuary waters of San Jose del Cabo. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #commongallinule #gallinule #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Killdeer tiptoes gently through the estuary in San Jose del Cabo, in search of bugs, grubs, or small minnows. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #killdeer #killdeerbird #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky #wingspan

A majestic Great Egret soars silently through the cloud-swept skies of San Jose del Cabo, gliding home to its roost before nightfall. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #greategret #egret #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

As daylight fades in San Jose del Cabo, this brilliant yellow Hooded Oriole calls out to his crew—one last check-in before nightfall. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #hoodedoriole #oriole #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofinstagram

An Osprey shows off his magnificent wings as he soars away with his fresh caught dinner in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #sanjosedelcabo #loscabos #cabosanlucas #osprey #yellowlegs #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Lesser Yellowlegs patiently patrols the shores of Banderas Bay in Nuevo Nayarit. #bird #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #lesseryellowlegs #yellowlegs #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

I was in Arizona in early January, and came across this beautiful buck Mule Deer casually resting in a ravine with his herd of does. #thebuckstopshere #deer #arizona #naturephotography #wildlifephotography

A stunning male Mallard drifts effortlessly across a kaleidoscope of reflections in a hidden pond at Half Day Forest Preserve — nature’s serenity in motion. #bird #birds #midwest #mallard #illinoiswildlife #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Caught this tiny jewel in a rare moment of stillness! A Golden-crowned Emerald hummingbird pauses between nectar stops at the stunning PV Botanical Gardens. Nature doesn’t get more magical than this! #birds #birdphotography #hummingbird #birdsofmexico #vallartabotanicalgardens #naturephotography

A Great Blue Heron roared over me like a jet airliner the other day, and I was just quick enough to capture him directly above me. I was half-expecting a sonic boom to follow! #birds #midwest #greatblueheron #illinoiswildlife #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

An Eastern Phoebe paused just long enough for me to snap a nice photo of it gazing wistfully into the distance. #bird #birds #midwest #easternphoebe #illinoiswildlife #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

I happened to capture this shot in just the right circumstances - with a dark background on the far bank of the Ameca River, and sunlight hitting this Snowy Egret at just the right angle. #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #snowyegret #naturephotography #wildlifephotography

Like a seasoned pilot on final approach, a Brown Pelican banks sharply right before lining up for a smooth touchdown along the shores of Banderas Bay in Nuevo Nayarit. #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #brownpelican #pelican #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

An Elegant Tern soars back to shore in Nuevo Nayarit, still shedding water from its recent plunge in Banderas Bay. #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #eleganttern #tern #royaltern #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Black-necked Stilt glides gracefully over the blue water of the Ameca River in Nuevo Nayarit. #birds #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #blackneckedstilt #stilts #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Tricolored Heron struts its stuff in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico. #bird #birds #birdphotography #tricoloredheron #heron #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #nuevonayarit #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

Common Grackles are deceivingly beautiful birds. They often look black at first glance, but when the sun hits them just right, their iridescent feathers come to life. #birds #birdphotography #commongrackle #illinoisbirds #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography

I'm changing things up a little bit today with an adorable squirrel nibbling on new spring buds in the treetops. Too cute! #squirrel #squirrels #midwest #illinoiswildlife #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography

A Roseate Spoonbill soars over the Ameca River in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico. #bird #birds #birdphotography #roseatespoonbill #spoonbill #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #nuevonayarit #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A female Anhinga spreads her wings in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico. #bird #birds #birdphotography #anhinga #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #nuevonayarit #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

You know it's springtime in the Midwestern United States when you see & hear the Red-winged Blackbirds trying to attract a mate. This male looks like quite a catch! #bird #birds #birdphotography #redwingblackbird #blackbird #nextdoornature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky

A Rose-throated Becard enjoys the early fruit of a tamarind tree in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico. #bird #birds #birdphotography #rosethroatedbecard #becard #birdsofmexico #puertovallarta #nuevovallarta #nuevonayarit #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdsofbluesky