A male Black-throated Blue Warbler pauses to sing among the vibrant spring foliage at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Ohio. Its striking blue, black and white plumage made this one of the memorable encounters of spring migration.
A young Common Tern stretches its developing wings among the dunes at Wrightsville Beach, NC. Shot low and in black and white for a quieter, dreamlike feel.
A quiet exchange between two Cedar Waxwings near the Old Bynum Bridge in Bynum, North Carolina. Perched above the lush summer foliage, one waxwing gently passes a berry to the other—a fleeting moment of connection along the Haw River.
A male Bay-breasted Warbler rests briefly along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Ohio. Its rich chestnut coloring and delicate spring plumage made it a beautiful highlight of migration season.
Two young Black Skimmer chicks squabble in the sand while an adult watches closely at Wrightsville Beach. Still covered in soft down, they're already exploring their busy nesting colony.
A Common Tern arrives with a fresh catch as its hungry chick calls out, warm evening light on the sand at Wrightsville Beach. Feeding time never looks calm.
A hawk gliding low against a backdrop of distant mountains.
A small warbler perched on a slender branch, its blue-gray back and yellow throat catching the morning light. One of those birds I had to look up afterward.
A bright yellow warbler gripping a bare stem, its color glowing against the dark green background.
A warbler perched against a solid green backdrop, its yellow face and streaked plumage lit up in the sun.
A male Common Yellowthroat with his signature black mask, perched on a budding spring branch.
A bird stretching its wings wide against the golden glow of sunrise on the water.
Osprey at Jordan Lake Dam in Moncure, NC
A bird in flight against mountains lit up by sunset light.
An Osprey coming in with a fresh catch, wings braced and talons ready to grab hold.
An Osprey pulling up out of the water, fish already in its grip.
An Osprey banking over the marsh, wings pulled tight mid-turn.
An Osprey hovering in place, scanning the water below before the dive.
Another look at the same Osprey, wings tucked as it drops toward the water.
A male Bufflehead drifting on golden water, its iridescent head catching the light.
A male Wood Duck, hands down one of the most colorful ducks out there, gliding across still water.
A hawk gliding low against a backdrop of distant mountains.
An American Wigeon resting on calm water, its reflection nearly a mirror image.
A Cedar Waxwing perched on a bare branch, its sleek crest and yellow-tipped tail unmistakable.
A misty morning at Multnomah Falls in Oregon, the footbridge tucked between the two tiers.
A small flock in flight low over the marsh grass at golden hour. Getting all three in formation took a few tries.
A Ring-necked Duck tucks in for a rest, golden water all around. Peaceful contrast to the chases and dives I usually end up chasing.
Rolling Palouse hills from Steptoe Butte State Park, Washington. I can see why locals call it God's Country.
A small bird backlit in golden light, perched on a seed head.
Another Wigeon, this time cruising across deep blue water.
A heron silhouetted against a fiery sunset sky, coming in for a landing.
A bird flaring its wings to stick the landing on a thin perch.
A low, water-level view of a male Wood Duck, showing off just how sharp his markings are up close.
A Cedar Waxwing balanced on a thin twig, its soft colors blending into the green backdrop.
A duck tipped completely upside down, tail in the air while it feeds below the surface.
A bird crossing a burning orange sunset sky over distant hills.
A female Bufflehead paddling along, her muted brown tones a nice contrast to the males.
A hawk landing wings-out over the water, its reflection creating a perfect mirror image.
A female Wood Duck, with her distinct white teardrop eye ring, resting on the water.
A sparrow tucked among dried seed pods, warm light wrapping around the whole scene.
A sparrow with wings fully spread, frozen mid-landing against a clear blue sky.
A bird gliding through the shadows, wings raised against the dark background.
A small bird perched on a bare stalk, glowing gold in the evening light.
Another small sparrow, this one perched on a low shrub branch. These little birds are easy to overlook but full of personality up close.
A Barred Owl perches silently at dusk with a tree frog in its beak. Getting this close to one of these elusive hunters felt like pure luck.
A male Red-breasted Merganser surfaces with a fresh catch off the jetty at Huntington Beach State Park. Love that spiky crest.
A Barred Owl tucked into the berry brush at Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park. It sat still long enough for me to get several good frames.
A raptor comes in low over golden grass, wings fully spread. Moments like this are why I keep the camera ready even when nothing seems to be happening.
A Piping Plover was "piping" for a worm along North Carolina's coast at sunrise. The wind was brisk, it was brutally cold, but he didn't seem to mind. It appears he was banded near the Great Lakes area which is all I could find online. It would be interesting to know where his journey has taken him. Update: I contacted the research agency and turns out it was banded in Tawas, Michigan - hatched in 2024 and made it south. My sighting was the first from this batch. So very excited.
An injured Brown Pelican along North Carolina's coast, backlit by a warm evening sky. Hard to photograph without thinking about the bird's story.
Fall color along Skyline Drive, seen from Stony Man Trail in Shenandoah National Park. Well worth the hike up.
A duck glides through golden reflections just after sunrise. Simple scenes like this are often my favorites.
Rolling green hills under a moody sky near Colfax, Washington. The Palouse never disappoints.
