by Rich Leighton | Mar 25, 2018
The cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin, is the only semiaquatic viper, usually found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. The snake is a strong swimmer and even enters the sea. It has successfully colonized...
by Rich Leighton | Mar 20, 2018
The only raptor in North America that dives into the water after fish, the osprey is the sole bird of prey to feed only on fish. Weighing only 3 pounds, this strong flyer with a 6 foot wingspan can carry a trout of 2 or 3 pounds. The osprey’s only natural enemy,...
by Rich Leighton | Dec 7, 2017
This male black-tailed gnatcatcher and his mate weren’t very happy when I peered out of my tent in the bright Sonoran Desert morning in the Ajo Mountains of Southern Arizona’s Pima County. I was scolded almost the entire time as I packed up my camera...
by Rich Leighton | Oct 31, 2017
Following up on yesterday’s post in the Halloween theme, today’s post of another “spooky” bit of wildlife and nature – the mountain death camas. Over the summer I found myself in the Rocky Mountains looking for native orchids at around...
by Rich Leighton | Oct 30, 2017
Recently I was out on a day off from the photography studio, working on a side project that involved foraging of lots of wild apples in one of my favorite recreation places in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. While I did have a camera with me (just in case,...
