While walking a nature trail this beautiful Hawk swooped in just ahead of me. I absolutely love Birds of Prey and watch them carefully when I am fortunate enough to encounter them. This Hawk was a bit

Watch your step when you walk on a nature trail in Florida. I crossed paths with this beauty one early morning, slithering across the trail. I've encountered Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes before, so I knew

Brown Thrashers are relatively common, however I don't usually get any good pictures of them. I usually hear them "thrashing" around in bushes and shrubs before I actually see them. I was pleased

This male red cardinal swooped in just above me while walking a nature trail. Their quick, sharp chirps are easy to distinguish in a foreat full of diverse sounds. We took a moment to consider each other's

We found this baby softshell turtle near our home. He was not much larger than my clenched fist. He was far from water and his shell was very dirty. He was alert but apprehensive regarding the photo shoot.

This week I saw four Marsh Rabbits. A calm, slow approach will bring you close to them. This one had a slice in its left ear. I wonder what happened? They are adorable when they chew on grass. This one's

Watching a cute little Tufted Titmouse led to a wonderful surprise! I spotted this fluffy little cutie surprisingly close to me. The Titmouse started to hop around the branches. When suddenly a baby shot

I stumbled upon this Southern Black Racer while peacefully walking a nature trail. It was about 3 feet long and quite thick for a Black Racer. I patiently spent time watching it while staying a healthy

While birding one of my favorite nature locations, a flash of orange fluttered past me into the brush. My first thought was "that is a huge butterfly!". It stopped for a moment and my eyes popped

Anoles are common in Florida. It is easy to forget how amazing and beautiful these little lizards are. While birding today I watched and interacted with a variety of Anoles. Look at the before and after

A lovely woodpecker. Earning her meal. Watching and listening. The touch and feel. Cute Downy markings. Enhance the appeal. What do you see... When you look at me? All pictures taken by @rawruss with a

My daughter loves catching reptiles. She is especially adept at catching Brown Anoles. They really do look like minature dinosaurs. This male had an especially beautiful dewlap. Vivid reds and oranges,

The historic Cummer Museum. Rests gently on the banks of the St. Johns River. Their gardens contain many treasures. For those who may appreciate such beauty. Unique, worn and historic. Raising the spirits.

My first encounter with a Tricolored Heron was memorable! I heard about a birding area that was new to me and went to check it out. When I arrived on the other side of the lake I heard these strange sounds

House Finches may be common in North America, but this is the first time I have seen one in North Florida. I thought it was a House Sparrow until I saw the distinct red markings. I learned that males have

While exploring a local park I discovered a unique stone bench. It didn't look very special from a distance. However, when I drew closer I found a captivating scene etched into the surface. It was an amazing

I'm a Red-Tailed Hawk and this is my story. Some birds sing songs... pathetic and sad if you ask me. If they sing a song about my glory and adventures I might just let them live. If not, they are probably

I moved into the middle of a good set of trees and waited... After a few moments my senses adjusted and heightened and it was like seeing through the simulated matrix into the natural world beyond... and

One of the cutest little birds you can imagine, the Tufted Titmouse. They are common in the United States, but I still love seeing them in the wild. This little beauty was deep in a trail I enjoy for both

High up at the top of the tree canopy, watching silently, sat a beautiful Barred Owl. The owl rests... While at one of my favorite parks I saw an old pro walking around with an expensive camera and a tripod.