{"id":10465,"date":"2021-03-18T16:28:49","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T16:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=10465"},"modified":"2021-03-18T17:04:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T17:04:42","slug":"march-2021-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/18\/march-2021-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2021 Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-latest-highlights\/2021\/march-2021.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March highlights<\/a> range widely across the world. From Africa we have Suzi Eszterhas&#8217; very engaging leopard family images, Will Burrard-Lucas&#8217;s rare black panthers and Ben Cranke&#8217;s dramatic eagle\/stork confrontation. From Asia we&#8217;ve added more great content from Wild Wonders of China, including many Taiwanese endemic species. From Europe we have lovely starling murmurations, birds in the snow and mammal portraits. From South America the world&#8217;s highest waterfall and largest flying bird. From Australia, urban wildlife and a variety of reptiles and frogs. And as ever there has been a fantastic influx of strong marine material, including Andy Murch&#8217;s unrivalled coverage on many of the world&#8217;s sharks and rays.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Male melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) at night, under a starry sky. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya. Photographed with a camera trap. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. All other uses require clearance.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670936-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Male melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) at night, under a starry sky. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya. Photographed with a camera trap. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. All other uses require clearance.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Granitic boulders at Karlu Karlu \/ Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, framed by Eucalyptus tree trunks. Northern Territory, Australia. 2008.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669876-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Granitic boulders at Karlu Karlu \/ Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, framed by Eucalyptus tree trunks. Northern Territory, Australia. 2008.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Golden Birdwing butterfly (Troides aeacus) Sheding Forest park, Kenting National Park, Taiwan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670540-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Golden Birdwing butterfly (Troides aeacus) Sheding Forest park, Kenting National Park, Taiwan\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) group walking past Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony, mountains in background. St Andrews Bay, South Georgia. October 2017.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668261-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) group walking past Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) colony, mountains in background. St Andrews Bay, South Georgia. October 2017.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) and lupins (Lupinus sp.), Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA. April.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) and lupins (Lupinus sp.), Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA. April.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Swinhoes pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) male, endemic species, Yunlinshan, Taiwan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670384-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Swinhoes pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) male, endemic species, Yunlinshan, Taiwan\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), two adults with baby, overlooking town and ships in sea at sunset. Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Gibraltar. August 2018.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668222-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), two adults with baby, overlooking town and ships in sea at sunset. Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Gibraltar. August 2018.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Misty mountains, Alishan National Recreational Forest, Taiwan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670418-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Misty mountains, Alishan National Recreational Forest, Taiwan\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Oriol Alamany &#8211; Family Unity<\/h3>\n<p>We had already been walking the Annapurna Conservation Area, which encompasses the entire huge Annapurna mountain range, for 23 days. We ventured there in the monsoons, because the reason for the trip was to accompany two botanists, to study and photograph the flora of the Himalayas. That day it had been raining since dawn, and we\u2019d spent the whole morning locked up in a guesthouse, in the village of Ghorepani. In the afternoon the rain eased and we took the opportunity to go out to explore the surrounding rhododendron forests.<\/p>\n<p>While photographing orchids at 3,000 meters altitude, a patch of colour appeared far away on the mountain path. A Nepalese family &#8211; the woman in the red dress, her son and her daughter, as well as the grandmother &#8211; were descending from the nearby mountain pass, flanked by their two faithful Tibetan Mastiffs. As fast as I could I switched from the telephoto lens to a wide angle and stood at the edge of the trail to capture the scene. From that moment I was struck by the image of unity of the family with their dogs, in front of the nature that surrounds them, as well as the contrast of colours that they gave with the lush green forest wrapped in the mist.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A Nepalese family, flanked by their two Tibetan mastiff dogs, walks along path through the Rhododendron forests at an alttude of 3,000 metres on their way to the village of Ghorepani, during the monsoon season. Annapurna Conservation Area, Myagdi District, Himalayas, Nepal, July.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01673180-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A Nepalese family, flanked by their two Tibetan mastiff dogs, walks along path through the Rhododendron forests at an alttude of 3,000 metres on their way to the village of Ghorepani, during the monsoon season. Annapurna Conservation Area, Myagdi District, Himalayas, Nepal, July.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Suzi Eszterhas &#8211; Rough and Tumble<\/h3>\n<p>The fascination with their mother\u2019s tail begins early for leopard cubs. If you think about it, the way her tail is almost always in motion, flicking about, and the bright white fuzzy fur on the end, her tail is an ideal toy for the cubs. True to their solitary nature, leopard cubs are aggressive in their play. Sometimes there was a lot of snarling and growling involved, and if you were to just hear the ruckus in the bushes, you\u2019d be shocked to find out that it was all coming from such young cubs.<br \/>\nLeopard mothers of very young cubs are notoriously secretive, and I feel very privileged to have been able to photograph this leopardess over a two-year period, starting when the cubs were just five-weeks old and still in the den and ending when they had reached adulthood.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cub age six weeks, playing with mother&#039;s tail, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660955-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cub age six weeks, playing with mother&#039;s tail, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660988-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age six weeks, playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01660953-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age six weeks, playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Oscar Dewhurst &#8211; On Parade<\/h3>\n<p>While I was at university in Durham, I was keen to make the most of the eiders that frequented the harbour at Seahouses in Northumberland, particularly when the stunning males were displaying. One March day, I set off early to make the drive north, arriving at the harbour shortly after sunrise. I spent most of the day there, photographing the males as they performed their display to the females, and getting pretty drenched in the process (turns out my waterproofs weren&#8217;t so waterproof)! As well as photographing the males displaying, I was keen to make the most of how tame the birds are, and use my wide-angle lens to show them in their environment a bit more. Fortunately, there were some clouds to provide a bit of interest in the sky, so I lay down on the sand to photograph this male as it strutted across the beach, with the town in the background. (<em>below left<\/em>)<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Eider (Somateria mollissima) male walking on the shoreline with Seahouses in the background. Northumberland, UK. March.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670022-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Eider (Somateria mollissima) male walking on the shoreline with Seahouses in the background. Northumberland, UK. March.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), two males fighting in snow. Pasvik, Norway, May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667630-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), two males fighting in snow. Pasvik, Norway, May.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Erlend Haarberg &#8211; Dancing Redshank<\/h3>\n<p>In mid-May, the spotted redshank return to their nesting areas in northern Norway. Last spring was very late with a lot of snow, and there was only open water in a few locations, so large numbers of birds gathered here. On some days, I could count up to 50 spotted redshank from my hide, in search of food. When large concentrations of spring birds gather in one place, there may be a little friction, especially when they are in search of a mate and full of adrenaline.<\/p>\n<p>This picture shows two males having a disagreement. I spent many evenings and mornings in the hide to observe and photograph, and got a lot of action and entertainment as a reward. At the end of the month, ice and snow began to melt. The birds quickly disappeared out to their nesting grounds to start preparations for a new breeding season. With the spotted redshank, it is the male who is given the responsibility for hatching and young care, the female considers her duties as over when the eggs are laid. (<em>above right<\/em>)<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Introducing Andy Murch<\/h3>\n<p>Andy has been obsessed with sharks and rays since learning to dive in the mid 90\u2019s. He has photographed more than 200 species, often going to extraordinary lengths to find new species that few other photographers have encountered. He has co-authored two books on sharks and is the principal photographer in a number of other field guides. His images have appeared in hundreds of diving magazines, scientific journals, and travel and nature publications. He also owns and runs Big Fish Expeditions, and we\u2019re delighted to welcome him as a new contributor.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) mouth wide open, feeding in shallow water, surrounded by fish. South Bimini Island, Bahamas.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669372-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) mouth wide open, feeding in shallow water, surrounded by fish. South Bimini Island, Bahamas.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) mouth wide open, feeding in shallow water, surrounded by fish. South Bimini Island, Bahamas.<\/strong> by Andy Murch<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Circular stingaree (Urolophus circularis) above sea floor. Albany, Western Australia. October.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669327-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Circular stingaree (Urolophus circularis) above sea floor. Albany, Western Australia. October.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Circular stingaree (Urolophus circularis) above sea floor. Albany, Western Australia. October.<\/strong> by Andy Murch<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Japanese bullhead shark (Heterodontus japonicus) on reef. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669408-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Japanese bullhead shark (Heterodontus japonicus) on reef. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. May.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Japanese bullhead shark (Heterodontus japonicus) on reef. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. May.<\/strong> by Andy Murch<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei) with Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group and smaller fish in background. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. September.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669520-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei) with Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group and smaller fish in background. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. September.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei) with Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group and smaller fish in background. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. September.<\/strong> by Andy Murch<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) below surface. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669421-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) below surface. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) below surface. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas.<\/strong> by Andy Murch<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>(1) Smooth hammerheads are notoriously elusive. When this curious individual showed up during a mako shark trip in Baja, I immediately abandoned the makos and concentrated on documenting the hammerhead from every angle. I particularly like this shot which emphasizes this species\u2019 iconic, smooth-edged cephalofoil.<\/p>\n<p>(2) Pyjama catsharks are a common sight within the bamboo kelp forests in False Bay, South Africa. Unlike their larger cousins, catsharks are surprisingly nonchalant to the presence of humans, so it is often possible to follow them along the reef while they go about the business of finding a meal.<\/p>\n<p>(3) A chaotic scene of bronze whaler sharks and Cape Gannets feeding on baitfish during the annual South African sardine run. One might think there are exhaling divers below, but all of the bubbles come from the cavitation of the gannets plunging into the water, and from scores of (out of shot) common dolphins that create bubble curtains to confuse and control the movements of the bait fish. The sharks are simply opportunistic predators that plough through the bait ball, often breaking it up in the process.\u00a0This was the culmination of many long days at sea in the harsh South African winter. Within minutes it was all over but the encounter was more than worth the hardship of the chase.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669545-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum), two in reef, amongst kelp. Simon&#039;s Town, Western Cape, South Africa. May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669506-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum), two in reef, amongst kelp. Simon&#039;s Town, Western Cape, South Africa. May.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) group feeding alongside Cape gannet (Morus capensis) during sardine run. Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa. June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669300-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) group feeding alongside Cape gannet (Morus capensis) during sardine run. Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa. June.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>David Pattyn &#8211; Endless Possibilities<\/h3>\n<p>Every winter starlings gather in huge numbers, known as murmurations, at a variety of different locations. These locations are more or less the same for days or weeks on end, and when I have the opportunity to visit such a place I will try to go and see it. It is strange to arrive at a place in late afternoon where it seems nothing at all is happening. Then the first small group of starlings arrives and then gradually more and more groups arrive and the excitement builds. The groups tend to become bigger as time progresses and they start to mingle.<\/p>\n<p>When it is a beautiful evening (not too much wind and rather sunny), huge murmurations will form that make the most fantastic displays, with constantly changing shapes in the sky. As the shapes change the murmurations are never easy to predict, I photograph with my camera handheld to be able to react quickly when interesting shapes become visible. In this image I used a 24-105 mm lens at 45mm as the starlings were pretty close. I used a shutter speed of 1\/100 sec to get the trees sharp and I thought that at that shutter speed the shape of the murmuration would be clearly visible too. I used ISO 500 to avoid noise in the image. As the light fades, you can photograph at higher ISO settings or experiment with gradually longer shutter speeds. The starlings provide endless opportunities!<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668641-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Ben Cranke &#8211; Breakfast Tussle<\/h3>\n<p>These images were taken at a drying waterhole in Liuwa Plains\u00a0National Park, Zambia. This happens late in the dry season, when it has not rained for at least 6 months. As the waterhole dries and the water\u00a0levels drop, it becomes much easier for birds to catch the trapped fish. The dominant bird species catching the fish, were Saddle-billed Storks and African Fish Eagles &#8211; except the eagles had worked out it was easier to steal a fish from the highly successful storks, than\u00a0to try and catch one for themselves! Flying in with their talons exposed, the storks would always be intimidated by the eagles. However, once dropped, the storks would occasionally attempt to reclaim their meal.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) pressurises a Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) into dropping a freshly caught fish, so that it can be stolen for a meal. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670949-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) pressurises a Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) into dropping a freshly caught fish, so that it can be stolen for a meal. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) pressurises a Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) into dropping a freshly caught fish, so that it can be stolen for a meal. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670947-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) pressurises a Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) into dropping a freshly caught fish, so that it can be stolen for a meal. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) pressurises a Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) into dropping a freshly caught fish, so that it can be stolen for a meal. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01670946-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) pressurises a Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) into dropping a freshly caught fish, so that it can be stolen for a meal. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Franco Banfi \u2013 Free Souls<\/h3>\n<p>A band of Atlantic spotted dolphins, followed the zodiac for a while. I was in the middle of no-where with about twenty spotted dolphins very interested to surf the small waves alongside the hull and to play which one another, jumping over the surface to splash back to the ocean. I could not ask for more fun. It is always a great pleasure to share time with these acrobatic and playful mammals, feeling their curiosity and observing the behaviours of the group\u2019s individuals. They are free souls of the marine vastitude, and usually they do not tolerate people sharing the water to close. With this though in my mind, I glided alone in the water, dressing only mask and fins, holding my camera steadily, and trying to disturb as little as possible to merge with the dolphins. The entire group came to look at me for a few seconds, before turning back to their path. That day I was very lucky indeed!<\/p>\n<p>The image was shot on the way to Formigas islet, part of a submarine volcano located about 25 miles northeast of Santa Maria island (Azores archipelago), which hardly come a dozen metres above the sea surface. The rocky outcroppings are very small and isolated in the vast blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, which makes them a hot-spot of marine life.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-9' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Atlantic spotted dolphins, (Stenella frontalis), Formigas Islet dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01671165-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Atlantic spotted dolphins, (Stenella frontalis), Formigas Islet dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Jack Dykinga &#8211; Wrens and Wonder<\/h3>\n<p>I live in the Sonoran Desert next to the Santa Catalinas (a Sky Island Mountain range). I am privileged to watch in real time the ebb and flow of desert creatures as they negotiate a life fraught with difficulties of survival in an arid land.\u00a0The cactus wren is my curious neighbour. He survives by assembling a nest in the protective embrace\u00a0of the spine covered chain cholla cactus. Somehow, he threads plant scraps into a complex dwelling without fear. Cactus wrens are amazingly curious jovial little devils that enter any opening including open windows or door. I spend the best mornings sipping coffee as a voyeur at their construction site.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-10' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668564-470x470.jpg\" class=\"attachment-square-overview size-square-overview\" alt=\"Cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) nest building on Chain cholla cactus (Opuntia fulgida), in flight with nesting material in beak. Arizona, USA.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668564-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668564-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668564-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) nest building on Chain cholla cactus (Opuntia fulgida), in flight with nesting material in beak. Arizona, USA.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668584-470x470.jpg\" class=\"attachment-square-overview size-square-overview\" alt=\"Moran Point with snow on the pinnacles, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668584-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668584-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668584-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Moran Point with snow on the pinnacles, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>In Arizona, it&#8217;s simply called \u2018The Canyon\u2019. It\u2019s assumed that it is indeed \u2018GRAND\u2019. But, during the winter months the high desert of the South Rim is a mecca for cameras when the temperature drops and storms flow though the high country. Trudging through troughs of new snow offers a significant reward, when the miracle of light paints the cliffs. After forty years of devoted observations, the sense of wonder never ends.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>John Shaw &#8211; Blooming Gorgeous<\/h3>\n<p>The Columbia River Gorge, running almost due east from Portland, Oregon, for about 60 miles, is best known for the many waterfalls that tumble from the steep walls, and for the strong winds the gorge creates. For a short period in spring an intense wildflower display may happen on a few of the open bluff tops.\u00a0 I say \u201cmay\u201d as so many factors affect the bloom from year to year. Being there on a good year, at peak bloom, and in calm weather can be more a matter of luck than of planning.\u00a0 For a photographer it means returning again and again. Late one afternoon I arrived at a small bluff opening when weather, flowers, and soft light merged into opportunity.\u00a0 Knowing that I most likely had only a short window of time to photograph, I anxiously searched until I found this arrangement of balsamroot and lupine. I used a wide-angle lens positioned close to the balsamroot in order to emphasize the foreground blossoms, while at the same time including the background plants. (<em>below left<\/em>)<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-11' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) and lupins (Lupinus sp.), Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA. April.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667649-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) and lupins (Lupinus sp.), Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA. April.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) male with esca \/ lure extended on illicium \/ rod to entice prey. Skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae) parasites on fish&#039;s body. Ariake Sea, Japan.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01667700-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) male with esca \/ lure extended on illicium \/ rod to entice prey. Skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae) parasites on fish&#039;s body. Ariake Sea, Japan.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Tony Wu &#8211; Hairy Frogfish<\/h3>\n<p>This is a large male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) with his esca, or lure, extended to entice prey. The esca is situated at the end of a long rod called the illicium, which is the fish\u2019s front-most dorsal fin. The white hair-like protrusions on the fish\u2019s body are actually small skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), clearly visible at 100% magnification. The water during the late summer and autumn is thick with nutrients, with nearly every available surface covered with filter feeders of all description. It is possible that the small crustaceans were making use of this fish as a mobile platform for catching prey. This photograph was taken during the frogfish\u2019s reproductive season, five days prior to this fish spawning with a smaller female.<\/p>\n<p>I found the colour combination of blue eyes set against the fish\u2019s orange body to be visually compelling, close to being complementary colours. The colour of the eye depends to some extent upon the angle of reflection. By adjusting the light, I could shift the colour more toward green, but I preferred blue. The angle of light was also better suited to accentuating the nooks and crannies on the fish\u2019s body. (<em>above right<\/em>)<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Doug Gimesy &#8211; A Drink Between Trains<\/h3>\n<p>It was late and raining, and I had just got off the train to come home in Melbourne. Walking along the platform as the train departed, I noticed a ring tail possum jump down from a tree onto a platform bench to drink from some water droplets that had gathered.<\/p>\n<p>People walked past without noticing, which was sort of sad, but also nice as the possum wasn&#8217;t disturbed. I waited, quietly pulled out my camera, knelt down in the rain, and was lucky enough to get a few shots under the platform lights before he\/she finished drinking and jumped back up into the overhanging trees. (<em>below left<\/em>)<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-12' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668601-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) licks water droplets from a train station bench at night. Gardenvale train station, Gardenvale, Victoria, Australia. September.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668601-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668601-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668601-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) licks water droplets from a train station bench at night. \nGardenvale train station, Gardenvale, Victoria, Australia. September.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) basking on rock beside Merri Creek. Melbourne, Australia. 2017. Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666742-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) basking on rock beside Merri Creek. Melbourne, Australia. 2017. Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Robert Valentic &#8211;\u00a0Growling Grass Frog<\/h3>\n<p>This was a shoot that brought forth mixed emotions. Initially, I was excited, happy to be viewing this highly photogenic species through the viewfinder. I thought how lucky I was to encounter this particular frog, as in the past decade I could go years without seeing one. Then I found myself reminiscing about my childhood in the mid 1970&#8217;s and the vast amount of time I had spent frequenting that very stretch of creek. The populations of Growling Grass Frogs and indeed the entire natural world, were in a radically different state back then.<\/p>\n<p>Back then, this was the most abundant frog in the outer Melbourne suburbs. As a boy I would wade along the bull-rushes lining the pools of this creek in summer catching them. These frogs were in such numbers, they would shoot into the water like emerald green bullets fired from a roaring machine gun upon my approach as they basked in the fringing vegetation. These frogs were collected and used to feed the snakes housed at the Melbourne Zoo and used as a test species in science laboratories throughout Victoria. Back then, there was no urban sprawl and habitat obliteration, no threats of chytrid fungus, no global warming or over-population to speak of, no pressing pollution issues in our waterways and no threat of extinction for the Growling Grass Frog. And then I realised, &#8216;back then&#8217; really wasn&#8217;t that long ago.\u00a0It was about then that I was pervaded by feelings of great sadness and loss. (<em>above right<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>David Tipling &#8211; Hares and Hair-dos!<\/h3>\n<p>Each June I visit a favourite field that is covered in Ox-eye daisies and is favoured by hares. \u00a0I have spent some memorable summer evenings photographing here. \u00a0Hares are creatures of habit and tend to move along the same routes and so by sitting close to one of these hare highways that are obvious through the flowers I wait. \u00a0This image was taken last June on one of my evening visits. \u00a0The hare loitered for a few minutes feeding on vegetation and occasionally looking alertly through the flowers.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-13' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669859-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Brown hare, (Lepus europaeus) in meadow of Oxeye Daisies, North Norfolk, June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669859-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669859-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669859-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669859-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Brown hare, (Lepus europaeus) in meadow of Oxeye Daisies, North Norfolk, June\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669855-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Red deer (Cervus elaphus) stag during rut, has cleared floor of bracken to sit and has bracken stuck in antlers, Richmond Park, London, September\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669855-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669855-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669855-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669855-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red deer (Cervus elaphus) stag during rut, has cleared floor of bracken to sit and has bracken stuck in antlers, Richmond Park, London, September\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>I have been visiting Richmond Park to photograph the deer rut annually for around 25 years. \u00a0On this morning there was very little activity, the deer were quiet and so I set off away from the usual areas where I photograph to look for birds. \u00a0While walking along a path something caught my eye, it was a tiny speck of antler poking out of the bracken and very close only around 3 metres from the path. \u00a0I realised it was a large stag sat deep in the bracken so I moved slowly until I could get a clear view of him. \u00a0He was so covered in bracken that when you moved a metre or two either way he became completely invisible. \u00a0Successful wildlife photography is often about waiting until something happens, so I stood back and waited for him to move, it took 2 hours until he decided to get up and show himself better which allowed me to get these shots.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>David Fleetham &#8211; Parrots and Unicorns<\/h3>\n<p>The beak of a parrotfish grinds away at hard corals in order to ingest the algae that grows along with the corals. After the flora is digested the remains pass through, and sand comes out the other end. It is estimated that a single parrotfish can expel hundreds of pounds of sand annually and are massively important to a healthy reef environment. The fish leave the reef when defecating and swim upward to do so. I have several photos of this, but one can never have too many! I was following this individual around waiting for the right moment when I caught him munching on these polyps.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-14' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Close up at the dental plates of Three color parrotfish (Scarus tricolor) as it comes in for a bite of hard coral, Fiji\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668624-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Close up at the dental plates of Three color parrotfish (Scarus tricolor) as it comes in for a bite of hard coral, Fiji\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Pletail unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) juvenile, its horn will continue to grow as it gets older. Fiji Pacific Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01668625-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Pletail unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) juvenile, its horn will continue to grow as it gets older. Fiji Pacific Ocean.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Unicornfish are part of the surgeonfish family and have the tell-tale blade back by their tails. The all begin feeding on plant life growing on the seabed, but unicornfish, as they age and their horn grows, are forced to switch to feeding on planktonic morsels in midwater. I photographed this individual at night when it was sleeping down on the reef.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Jeff Vanuga &#8211; A Second Look<\/h3>\n<p>This grizzly boar was actually pursuing a sow in heat. When the\u00a0sow reached the other side of the highway the boar finally crossed the road, through parked cars that were already on the side of the road observing the bears activities. \u00a0This woman was walking to her car and had no idea the boar was crossing behind her. \u00a0As the bear ran across the road it momentarily glanced at the woman as he was passing by, when I captured this image. She was rather careless for not paying attention to the whole situation, but was not being chased by this bear (as it may at first glance appear). At\u00a0the Bridget-Teton National Forest where this was photographed,\u00a0people are allowed to get out of their cars to watch and photograph the bears. This is in contrast to the adjacent National Parks where there is distance law for bears, which to me is also just common sense!<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-15' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) boar \/ male chasing female bear on the other side of the road, with tourist returning to her car. Togwotee Pass in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming, USA. May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01666782-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) boar \/ male chasing female bear on the other side of the road, with tourist returning to her car. Togwotee Pass in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming, USA. May.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Doug Perrine &#8211; Let Sleeping Turtles Lie<\/h3>\n<p>Turtles, as reptiles, are derived from ancestral fish that left the water to live on land. Sea turtles, in a case of reverse evolution, then re-adapted to living in the ocean. The transition, however, is not complete. Sea turtles, lacking gills, must rise to the surface to breathe air, and females must come ashore to lay their eggs in pits dug in sandy beaches. This is a laborious process as the turtles, having adapted to zero gravity while buoyed by seawater, must drag their heavy bodies up onto the shore using flippers that are designed for swimming, not walking. Slow and clumsy onshore, turtles become easy prey for large terrestrial predators such as jaguars, crocodiles, and humans. Therefore, in most of the world, male sea turtles never come ashore again after hatching from their eggs and scrambling into the ocean. Females normally only leave the water long enough to lay their eggs and cover the nest.<\/p>\n<p>In a few locations, so remote that large land-dwelling predators never arrived, green sea turtles of both sexes may come onto the beaches frequently and lay there dozing \u2013 a behavior termed \u201cbasking\u201d by biologists. This is regularly seen only in the Galapagos and Hawaiian Islands, which have no animals ashore that would eat the turtles, and where humans arrived only relatively recently. This behavior vanished from Hawaii after humans began harvesting sea turtles for consumption. When sea turtle soup became a popular item on tourist menus, sea turtles nearly vanished from the islands as well, before they were protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1973. As the population recovered, basking behavior began to re-emerge.<\/p>\n<p>Basking ashore has several potential advantages for sea turtles: protection from large tiger sharks that patrol nearshore waters; eliminating the need to partially awake and swim to the surface to breathe while sleeping; escape from strong ocean surges and waves while sleeping; possible reduction of ecto-parasite loads and algae accumulation by drying and over-heating; warming the body to speed digestion, etc. In Hawaii, however, sandy beaches are increasingly surrounded by resorts, condominiums, and luxury homes, and turtles basking ashore may be surrounded by curious, noisy humans, posing themselves next to the weary animals for selfies. While all shorelines are legally public in Hawaii, laws requiring public access are not universally enforced. Beaches without easy access seem to attract the most turtles.<\/p>\n<p>This picture was taken at a small beach with a private residence (visible) on one side, and a condominium complex (out of frame) on the other. Accessing the beach requires either passing through a coded gate at the condominium, or wading around a rocky point in the surf. Turtles come ashore here most frequently around sunset, and tend to spend a few hours onshore before returning to the ocean late at night or early the next morning. I came on a night when the full moon was nearly bright enough to balance out the artificial lights outside the house next door. Exposing the turtles and the stars in the night sky required keeping the shutter open for an extended period with the camera on a tripod. The turtles remained nearly motionless, but a light breeze shook the palm trees at the house, blurring the fronds, and a gentle surge washed waves up and down the beach, rendering them as a dreamy mist.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-16' class='gallery gallery-10465 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) sleeping at night illuminated by moonlight, on sand beach next to condominium complex, Kahana, West Maui, Hawaii.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/01669098-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) sleeping at night illuminated by moonlight, on sand beach next to condominium complex, Kahana, West Maui, Hawaii.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Check out the full\u00a0<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-latest-highlights\/2021\/march-2021.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March highlights<\/a>\u00a0gallery for more fabulous images, or why not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.natureplprints.com\/march-2021-highlights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buy a print<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The March highlights range widely across the world. From Africa we have Suzi Eszterhas&#8217; very engaging leopard family images, Will Burrard-Lucas&#8217;s rare black panthers and Ben Cranke&#8217;s dramatic eagle\/stork confrontation. From Asia we&#8217;ve added more great content from Wild Wonders of China, including many Taiwanese endemic species. From Europe we have lovely starling murmurations, birds&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/18\/march-2021-highlights\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"button\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-natural-inspiration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10465"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10465"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10465\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10488,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10465\/revisions\/10488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}