My Best Nature Pictures

Guess my definition of ‘nature’ is ‘anything out there that does not fall into the ‘birds’ or ‘landscape’ category. While birds are my biggest passion, I also enjoy all other wildlife photography. Much of it is truly ‘in the wild’, though some of these images show animals in captivity. In parallel, plants, forests, etc. also often show the beauty of nature and I am happy to capture some of it.

We all know that “beauty lies in the eyes of the beer holder”, as a friend of mine likes to say, so it is perfectly ok if your views disagree with mine.  I nevertheless hope you will enjoy these pictures as much as I do. 

Ritsurin-koen is one of Japan's premier gardens
Ritsurin-koen is one of Japan's premier gardens
The Hummingbird Hawk-moth behaves just like a hummingbird does
The Hummingbird Hawk-moth behaves just like a hummingbird does
The famous Blue Pond
The famous Blue Pond
A small group of trees caught my eye...
A small group of trees caught my eye...
Late summer in the forest
Late summer in the forest
Jackals relaxing in the morning sun
Jackals relaxing in the morning sun
A friendly European Ground Squirrel
A friendly European Ground Squirrel
Pelicans and Cormorants in morning light
Pelicans and Cormorants in morning light
A curious Thomas' Langur
A curious Thomas' Langur
This Orang Utan mom kept watching us with mistrust
This Orang Utan mom kept watching us with mistrust
New Zealand Fur Seal Baby
New Zealand Fur Seal Baby
Thistle
Thistle
Red-bellied Black Snake
Red-bellied Black Snake
Tree Top
Tree Top
A deeply relaxed Kangaroo
A deeply relaxed Kangaroo
The Black Skink isn't the prettiest of lizards
The Black Skink isn't the prettiest of lizards
Curious Flying Foxes
Curious Flying Foxes
A Seal taking a bath in the sun
A Seal taking a bath in the sun
Ice structures on Diamond Beach
Ice structures on Diamond Beach
The size of this Moth is merely half an inch or so
The size of this Moth is merely half an inch or so
A small artificial pond, created to attract birds, obviously held some attraction for this Lizard, too
A small artificial pond, created to attract birds, obviously held some attraction for this Lizard, too
A Hyena enjoying the shade at Leipzig Zoo
A Hyena enjoying the shade at Leipzig Zoo
This is called a 'Turkey Orchid'
This is called a 'Turkey Orchid'
Spider Monkey jumping from tree to tree
Spider Monkey jumping from tree to tree
A Spider Monkey lost in thought
A Spider Monkey lost in thought
At the Santa Elena Sloth Rescue Center, more than 20 of these animals wait for a recovery that will hopefully see them returning into the wild
At the Santa Elena Sloth Rescue Center, more than 20 of these animals wait for a recovery that will hopefully see them returning into the wild
Possibly our most spectacular encounter ever, this Puma sat down for a rest right on our trail in Corcovado National Park
Possibly our most spectacular encounter ever, this Puma sat down for a rest right on our trail in Corcovado National Park
A Green Iguana posing as a tree flower
A Green Iguana posing as a tree flower
A Howler Monkey with her baby in Corcovado National Park
A Howler Monkey with her baby in Corcovado National Park
For the longest time, we mistook this Emerald Basilisk for a leaf. Easy to see why.
For the longest time, we mistook this Emerald Basilisk for a leaf. Easy to see why.
This Cayman was watching our boat while touring Caño Negro Nature Reserve, near Costa Rica's northern border
This Cayman was watching our boat while touring Caño Negro Nature Reserve, near Costa Rica's northern border
These Tent-making Bats get their name from cutting up and folding, tent-like, large plant leaves
These Tent-making Bats get their name from cutting up and folding, tent-like, large plant leaves
Coatis are cute furry animals that roam much of Costa Rica
Coatis are cute furry animals that roam much of Costa Rica
A wide-angle lens can make a beech forest look spectacular
A wide-angle lens can make a beech forest look spectacular
This beauty posed for us at the Armand Bayou Nature center, on the outskirts of Houston, TX
This beauty posed for us at the Armand Bayou Nature center, on the outskirts of Houston, TX
This Chipmunk liked the Cactus blossoms at the Arizona Sonoma Desert Museum
This Chipmunk liked the Cactus blossoms at the Arizona Sonoma Desert Museum
Colorful Cactus blossoms at the Arizona Sonoma Desert Museum
Colorful Cactus blossoms at the Arizona Sonoma Desert Museum
This scene unfolded at the River Bend Nature Center in Wichita Falls, TX
This scene unfolded at the River Bend Nature Center in Wichita Falls, TX
Upon careful reflection, this Red Squirrel decided its nut was much more relevant than I was
Upon careful reflection, this Red Squirrel decided its nut was much more relevant than I was
A Lynx was watching me carefully at a wildlife center just south of Berlin
A Lynx was watching me carefully at a wildlife center just south of Berlin
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is home to a large herd of Zebras
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is home to a large herd of Zebras
A Springbok mother feeding her offspring
A Springbok mother feeding her offspring
An annual Gnu family gathering at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve
An annual Gnu family gathering at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve
Seriously, this guy is officially called a 'CMR Bean Beetle'
Seriously, this guy is officially called a 'CMR Bean Beetle'
A Baby Giraffe at one of South Africa's private game reserves
A Baby Giraffe at one of South Africa's private game reserves
A Baboon lost in thought near the Cape of Good Hope
A Baboon lost in thought near the Cape of Good Hope
This male lion was sound asleep at Kruger National Park when the sound of an ultralight plane up in the air woke him
This male lion was sound asleep at Kruger National Park when the sound of an ultralight plane up in the air woke him
For a moment, I mistook this Kudu for a statue when driving past it. It did not move at all.
For a moment, I mistook this Kudu for a statue when driving past it. It did not move at all.
This species has its name for a reason: 'Elegant Grasshopper'
This species has its name for a reason: 'Elegant Grasshopper'
A Brown Bear whiling away time at a German animal resort
A Brown Bear whiling away time at a German animal resort
New Zealand's prime export article
New Zealand's prime export article
Kaikoura is the prime Dolphin spotting location on New Zealand's southern island
Kaikoura is the prime Dolphin spotting location on New Zealand's southern island
Fortunately, a long lens allowed me to stay far away from this Baby Seal cuddling with its mother
Fortunately, a long lens allowed me to stay far away from this Baby Seal cuddling with its mother
A Tasmanian Devil trying to make sense of its name
A Tasmanian Devil trying to make sense of its name
Ok, NOW I understand how Koalas got that reputation of being cute
Ok, NOW I understand how Koalas got that reputation of being cute
How did Koalas get a reputation of being cute?
How did Koalas get a reputation of being cute?
Kangaroos on their annual family outing near Castlemaine in Victoria state
Kangaroos on their annual family outing near Castlemaine in Victoria state
We followed this tiger on an open jeep in Nepal's Bardia National Park when we finally saw it 'eye to eye'
We followed this tiger on an open jeep in Nepal's Bardia National Park when we finally saw it 'eye to eye'
A Rhesus Macaque watching the action at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu's cremation grounds
A Rhesus Macaque watching the action at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu's cremation grounds
On a boat tour in Nepal's Bardia National Park, we spotted this Jackal from afar
On a boat tour in Nepal's Bardia National Park, we spotted this Jackal from afar
A Bumblebee at a Japanese garden near Berlin
A Bumblebee at a Japanese garden near Berlin
These crabs were about to start a good fight in Ecuador's Parque National Machalilla
These crabs were about to start a good fight in Ecuador's Parque National Machalilla
Bumblebee on a flower
Bumblebee on a flower
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a huge and beautiful lake area in eastern Ecuador
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve is a huge and beautiful lake area in eastern Ecuador
An Iguana taking a sunbath
An Iguana taking a sunbath
A butterfly trying to scare away enemies with its large 'eyes'
A butterfly trying to scare away enemies with its large 'eyes'
An unusually large bee spotted in southern Colombia
An unusually large bee spotted in southern Colombia
A gorgeous butterfly on an equally gorgeous Heliconia
A gorgeous butterfly on an equally gorgeous Heliconia
A simple scene in the midst of a deep Costa Rican forest
A simple scene in the midst of a deep Costa Rican forest
Heliconias are beautiful flowers. This one is a little buggy.
Heliconias are beautiful flowers. This one is a little buggy.
This Frog was just waking up
This Frog was just waking up
A Howler Monkey Toddler at an animal refuge
A Howler Monkey Toddler at an animal refuge
Costa Ricans call this lizard 'Jesu Christo' - because it can walk on water
Costa Ricans call this lizard 'Jesu Christo' - because it can walk on water
A Caterpillar hanging down from a tree near Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica
A Caterpillar hanging down from a tree near Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica
Spotted these Sea Lions on a boat tour near Puerto Natales
Spotted these Sea Lions on a boat tour near Puerto Natales
Guanacos are much smaller than Llamas - and even cuter
Guanacos are much smaller than Llamas - and even cuter
Pet or food? Let's hope this curious puppy, shot on the streets of Shanghai, was the former.
Pet or food? Let's hope this curious puppy, shot on the streets of Shanghai, was the former.
Sometimes, like with this fawn in Olympic National Park, you get the best shots from your car window
Sometimes, like with this fawn in Olympic National Park, you get the best shots from your car window
A Balloon Fish shot at Maui Aquarium, Hawaii
A Balloon Fish shot at Maui Aquarium, Hawaii
A fern leaf still rolled up early in the morning
A fern leaf still rolled up early in the morning
Technically, this would be categorized as a moth. A beautiful one, though!
Technically, this would be categorized as a moth. A beautiful one, though!
A butterfly gathering in Peru
A butterfly gathering in Peru
This little White-faced Capuchin Monkey was getting quite excited, but mom calmed him down
This little White-faced Capuchin Monkey was getting quite excited, but mom calmed him down
Costa Rica's national symbol, the Red-eyed-Leaf-Frog, shot with the help of a dim flashlight
Costa Rica's national symbol, the Red-eyed-Leaf-Frog, shot with the help of a dim flashlight
Most orchids are tiny, so the first thing we received at this orchid garden in Costa Rica was a loupe
Most orchids are tiny, so the first thing we received at this orchid garden in Costa Rica was a loupe
Our second day ever in Costa Rica, and this lizard shows up right outside of our lodge room
Our second day ever in Costa Rica, and this lizard shows up right outside of our lodge room
This fellow, at the Costa Rican police station right at the Nicaraguan border, thought he was a guard dog
This fellow, at the Costa Rican police station right at the Nicaraguan border, thought he was a guard dog
An extraordinary species of butterfly spotted in Costa Rica
An extraordinary species of butterfly spotted in Costa Rica
Blue Jeans Frogs are tiny but poisonous. This one lived near the Nicaraguan border of Costa Rica.
Blue Jeans Frogs are tiny but poisonous. This one lived near the Nicaraguan border of Costa Rica.
This Chipmunk showed us the beauty of Glaciers National Park in Montana
This Chipmunk showed us the beauty of Glaciers National Park in Montana
A baby Spider Monkey at an animal refuge on Yucatan Peninsula
A baby Spider Monkey at an animal refuge on Yucatan Peninsula
This Alaskan Red Fox was so curious that it came closer and closer...
This Alaskan Red Fox was so curious that it came closer and closer...