While hiking the Assateague Over Sand Vehicle area in search of a snowy owl in 15 degree temperatures, we came across this beautiful scene of the whelk on the dune with the Assateague ponies foraging in the background. We never found the snowy but I was happy to have this photo after a grueling search.

This was taken at sunrise on a chilly January 2024 morning near the Assateague camp sites. It was beautiful watching the sun come up over the ponies.

Taken on the very last day of February, February 29th, this beautiful hooded merganser pair enjoyed an early morning swim at Font Hill Wetlands in Ellicott City.

This eastern screech owl photo was taken on March 13th 2024. This particular screech owl seems to use at least 3 different roosts in the same nearby locations. This particular roosts in a sycamore tree is my favorite but at some point squirrels took it over for a nest for themselves and kicked the screech out.

Taken on April 26th 2024 , this barred owl gets some rest hidden in plain site amongst the vines of a tree. It used this perch to keep a watchful eye on the nest that housed a single owlet. Once the owlet emerged, these restful moments quickly vanished as the work of teaching the owlet how to fly and hunt began.

This was an absolute dream to find an accessible nest with the babies poking their heads out. Taken May 20th 2024, this image captures the feeding of 2 of the 4 pileated babies. 

Taken on June 28th 2024 at Huntley Meadows this photo illustrates the  green tree frog peeking around the foliage. From June to September you can walk the boardwalk path and hunt for these inch long tiny creatures. Local nature lovers will often help point some out to you as you walk by. 

Taken on July 18th, 2024 from the observation tower at Huntley Meadows these 3 great egrets were 3 of around 80 that decided to make their way to the park. 

This photo was taken August 1st, 2024, at Cades Cove in Tennessee. This was one of 12 bears that I saw on the day. It was incredible to watch them climb out on the limbs, break off a branch filled with the berries they wanted and climb back down. I was amazed that the trees could hold their weight as they climbed out.

Taken on September 6th, 2024, this is one of my my most fortunate interactions with nature. This barred owl is one of of a pair that lives near me. I have been lucky enough to earn their trust to the point that I can often be within 5 of them and they are completely unbothered. I have watched them hunt and raise their young and it is a pure pleasure.

Taken October 25th, 2024, this belted kingfisher was taken at Buddy Attick park in Greenbelt. The belted kingfisher is notorious for it's fickleness. Once it sees you, it immediately takes off and it can see from what feels like a mile away. So, I felt very lucky to get this close up image in the fall foliage.

Taken on November 13th, 2024 this bluebird of happiness enjoys a bath in the stream at Font Hill Wetlands. Birds will often find pools within a stream where the water flow is not strong. It is important not to move rocks around in streams so that the wildlife is not affected.

Taken early morning on December 28th, 2023 the snow geese rise up from a farm near Smyrna Delaware. Watching the thousands of snow geese take flight is an incredible sight to behold.

A short-eared owl hunt over the the phragmite on the Eastern Shore. Watching them pop up out of seemingly nowhere after a typically long wait is a a great pleasure.

A resting great egret shares a log with the turtles at Lake Artemesia in College Park. The scene was so peaceful and was taken at dusk as I began to look for the comet that was coming through this year.