Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

A lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) emerges from rocks along the banks of the Salmonberry River. Spring, western Oregon. Native americans would use this fern to cover food, and eat the filddleheads in early spring.



lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

Flying Bee

The same bee from several different angles, displaying different flight attitudes. I mentioned yesterday that this bee was a very graceful flyer, and because of that, I had very little trouble getting these images. 



digital composite of the same mining bee in flight (genus: Andrena ) 

Female Mining Bee (genus: Andrena)

This small bee was in my garden and seemed to have a more controlled flight that most bees I have observed. It flew in a steady, slow and generally straight direction. It had full pollen baskets on its legs, and almost appeared to be wearing trousers.



mining bee (genus: Andrena)

Bumble Bee Portrait

Twenty separate exposures were combined in layers (called focus stacking) to create this portrait of a bumble bee.



portrait of a bumble bee (Bombus huntii).

Native Bee (bombus huntii)

bombus huntii - a native bumble bee.

Yellow Bee (andrena sp.)

This fuzzy, yellow bee really caught my eye. A beautiful insect, doing something it was designed to do - flying.



male short tongued bee (andrena sp.)



male short tongued bee (andrena sp.)

Camouflage Frog (Pseudacris cadaverina)

A small oasis in the Sonoran Desert with a spring burbling between granite rocks. How do these frogs make it into isolated water in the middle of nowhere? 


Cryptic coloration makes these treefrogs difficult to spot when sitting on a granitic rock. 



camouflage frog


Look at the same image a bit smaller. Blends in pretty well doesn't it?






california treefrog (Pseudacris cadaverina)

Bat Light Trail

Bat researchers will sometimes place a temporary glow stick on a bat before releasing it back into the wild. This gives a visual cue to someone holding a microphone for recording their ultrasonic calls. On a moonless night in the deep forest, this is a remarkable sight to behold.



bat light trail

Anza-Borrego Sunrise

Early morning hike in darkness. Hit the peak just as dawn begins. Exhilarating.



desert sunrise