North American Nature Photography
01.05.202523:22
Goldenrod Crab Spider
Goldenrod crab spider eating a variegated fritillary butterfly in the Lake Talquin State Forest in North Florida. This little camoflaged spider really blends in with these flowers where the butterfly feeds!
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Goldenrod crab spider eating a variegated fritillary butterfly in the Lake Talquin State Forest in North Florida. This little camoflaged spider really blends in with these flowers where the butterfly feeds!
See more at: www.richleighton.com
30.04.202522:34
Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus
These strawberry hedgehog cacti are showing some flower buds in Joshua Tree National Park. You can see the distinctive spine coloration which is light grey at the top and reddish/pinkish-brown towards the base, which can be a helpful in identifying which member of the Echinocereus genus you have. The spines are also flattened, and somewhat "sword-like".
See more at: www.richleighton.com
These strawberry hedgehog cacti are showing some flower buds in Joshua Tree National Park. You can see the distinctive spine coloration which is light grey at the top and reddish/pinkish-brown towards the base, which can be a helpful in identifying which member of the Echinocereus genus you have. The spines are also flattened, and somewhat "sword-like".
See more at: www.richleighton.com
29.04.202519:15
Acmon Blue Butterfly
An acmon blue butterfly pauses for a moment on an antelope-brush on a chilly late spring morning in Central Washington, just south of Naches.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
An acmon blue butterfly pauses for a moment on an antelope-brush on a chilly late spring morning in Central Washington, just south of Naches.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
25.04.202519:39
Sea Stacks of Cape Flattery
The rocky coastline of Cape Flattery is located at the most extreme northwestern corner of the contiguous United States. Millennia of pounding waves, tides and erosion have sculpted the landscape into something from a fairytale.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
The rocky coastline of Cape Flattery is located at the most extreme northwestern corner of the contiguous United States. Millennia of pounding waves, tides and erosion have sculpted the landscape into something from a fairytale.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
13.04.202514:48
Texas Tan Tarantula (Aphonopelma anax)
A great find! A subadult Texas tan tarantula is seen out in the open in broad daylight in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas on a hot autumn afternoon. These long-lived, gentle spiders are harmless to humans and can be found throughout most of Southeast Texas.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
A great find! A subadult Texas tan tarantula is seen out in the open in broad daylight in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas on a hot autumn afternoon. These long-lived, gentle spiders are harmless to humans and can be found throughout most of Southeast Texas.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
12.04.202514:38
Florida Everglades
Florida Everglades. Absolutely Beautiful!!!
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Florida Everglades. Absolutely Beautiful!!!
See more at: www.richleighton.com
01.05.202523:22
Moab Rock Formations https://fineartamerica.com/featured/moab-rock-formations-richard-leighton.html
30.04.202518:18
Chokecherries
The chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a beautiful shrub or small tree found throughout most of North America except for the southeastern states. While the small beautiful cherries are inedible when ripe (mostly because of the dangerously toxic hydrocyanic acid inside the pits of the ripe berries), the cooked or dried berries are perfectly safe for consumption, and are fantastic for making delicious jams, jellies, syrup, sauces or even beer! These were found growing next to Lake Gulch in rural Baker County, Oregon on a warm summer day.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
The chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a beautiful shrub or small tree found throughout most of North America except for the southeastern states. While the small beautiful cherries are inedible when ripe (mostly because of the dangerously toxic hydrocyanic acid inside the pits of the ripe berries), the cooked or dried berries are perfectly safe for consumption, and are fantastic for making delicious jams, jellies, syrup, sauces or even beer! These were found growing next to Lake Gulch in rural Baker County, Oregon on a warm summer day.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
29.04.202517:45
Holboell's Rockcress
Holboell's rockcress is a very common member of the mustard family found across most of the American west and all of Canada, excluding the Maritime provinces. It is eaily recognized by drooping white or pink flowers and fruits. These were photographed in Central Washington just outside of Yakima.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Holboell's rockcress is a very common member of the mustard family found across most of the American west and all of Canada, excluding the Maritime provinces. It is eaily recognized by drooping white or pink flowers and fruits. These were photographed in Central Washington just outside of Yakima.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
13.04.202520:34
Bonaparte's Gull
One of the smallest American gulls - this little beachcomber was showing off its winter plumage on Anastasia Island, near St. Augustine, Florida.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
One of the smallest American gulls - this little beachcomber was showing off its winter plumage on Anastasia Island, near St. Augustine, Florida.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
13.04.202513:17
Bald Eagle in Flight https://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-bald-eagle-rich-leighton.html
11.04.202519:02
American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)
Pretty much ignored until Christmastime, American mistletoe (also called oak mistletoe) is a very interesting member of the sandalwood family. It is hemiparasitic, meaning it not only makes food like typical green-leaved plant with chlorophyll, but since it grows high in (mostly) oak trees, it actually steals some of its nutrients directly from the branches it attaches itself to! This species is widely found across Mexico, the southern United States, California and parts of Oregon. This one was photographed in Harlingen, Texas on a hot spring afternoon in the Rio Grande Valley.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Pretty much ignored until Christmastime, American mistletoe (also called oak mistletoe) is a very interesting member of the sandalwood family. It is hemiparasitic, meaning it not only makes food like typical green-leaved plant with chlorophyll, but since it grows high in (mostly) oak trees, it actually steals some of its nutrients directly from the branches it attaches itself to! This species is widely found across Mexico, the southern United States, California and parts of Oregon. This one was photographed in Harlingen, Texas on a hot spring afternoon in the Rio Grande Valley.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
01.05.202518:49
A Moment in the Great Smoky Mountains https://www.richleighton.com/great-smoky-mountains/
30.04.202515:37
Valley of Fire, Nevada https://www.richleighton.com/valley-of-fire/
26.04.202518:40
Bald Eagle in Flight
Bald eagle flying overhead in the Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County, Florida.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Bald eagle flying overhead in the Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County, Florida.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
13.04.202515:15
Nature & Wildlife Featured Gallery: Lakes, Rivers & Waterfalls!
From the deafening waterfalls and raging rivers swollen by alpine snow melt to our gentle lowland creeks and streams, ponds and lakes, fresh water sources are vitally important to all of our ecosystems and habitats, both at the source and downstream.
Visit gallery: https://leightonphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Lakes-Rivers-Waterfalls/G0000ZRRt6fNUBRo/C0000KyjrTZTOwEc
From the deafening waterfalls and raging rivers swollen by alpine snow melt to our gentle lowland creeks and streams, ponds and lakes, fresh water sources are vitally important to all of our ecosystems and habitats, both at the source and downstream.
Visit gallery: https://leightonphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Lakes-Rivers-Waterfalls/G0000ZRRt6fNUBRo/C0000KyjrTZTOwEc
13.04.202500:05
Golden Scalycap
This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
11.04.202517:50
The Florida Sandhill Crane - Sentinel of the Okaloacoochee Slough *Updated* https://www.richleighton.com/sentinel-of-the-okaloacoochee-slough/
01.05.202517:15
Boisduval's Blue Butterfly
Hindwing (underwing) view of a Boisduval's blue (Icaricia icarioides), a small member of the brushfoot butterfly family collecting moisture from the edge of a creek in Kittitas County, Washington.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Hindwing (underwing) view of a Boisduval's blue (Icaricia icarioides), a small member of the brushfoot butterfly family collecting moisture from the edge of a creek in Kittitas County, Washington.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
29.04.202520:28
Interesting Nature Facts #4 – Bumblebees https://www.richleighton.com/interesting-nature-facts-4-bumblebees/
26.04.202517:25
Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris ssp. macroceras)
The common butterwort found growing on some wet rocks on the edge of a mountain stream high up in the Olympic Mountains below Hurricane Ridge in NW Washington. Look closely and you can just see the buds which in about a few weeks will extend out above the sticky leaves and produce a beautiful purple flower. These sticky leaves trap insects which the plant will dissolve and ingest as food. Look closer and you will see one mosquito already caught!
See more at: www.richleighton.com
The common butterwort found growing on some wet rocks on the edge of a mountain stream high up in the Olympic Mountains below Hurricane Ridge in NW Washington. Look closely and you can just see the buds which in about a few weeks will extend out above the sticky leaves and produce a beautiful purple flower. These sticky leaves trap insects which the plant will dissolve and ingest as food. Look closer and you will see one mosquito already caught!
See more at: www.richleighton.com
13.04.202514:48
Trio of Trilliums! https://www.richleighton.com/trio-of-trilliums/
12.04.202516:59
Springtime Chocolate Lilies on the Olympic Peninsula! https://www.richleighton.com/springtime-chocolate-lilies/
11.04.202514:21
Craighead's Noddingcaps (Triphora craigheadii)
Craighead's noddingcaps just about to bloom. The heart-shaped leaves have a rich, velvetly purple underside - a key identification factor in these tiny and very rare terrestrial orchids.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
Craighead's noddingcaps just about to bloom. The heart-shaped leaves have a rich, velvetly purple underside - a key identification factor in these tiny and very rare terrestrial orchids.
See more at: www.richleighton.com
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