Bison grazing in the sage at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

American Bison (Bison bison)

Location:  Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

Although you wouldn't guess it from its huge size, the American Bison is strictly a plant eater.  We learned that Bison primarily eat grass, but we spotted this individual grazing on sage in a meadow near the edge of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Female House Finch (Carpodacus mexicana)

House Finch - female (Carpodacus mexicana)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Mrs. House Finch snatched a sunflower seed from the bird feeder and flew to a nearby tree branch to enjoy it in peace.  She may not be as colorful as her mate, but we still think this female house finch is a nice looking little bird.

Hula Girl tropical hibiscus blossom

Hula Girl hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinesis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is the 'Hula Girl' tropical hibiscus , a cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.  Among the many varieties of hibiscus in our garden in Hawaii, this one produces the largest blossoms -- about six inches (15 cm) across.  It is one of our favorites.

In case you are wondering about the name, this hibiscus variety is often worn by hula dancers in their hair, or tucked behind the ear.  This flower is chosen for practical reasons:  Unlike most hibiscus, these large yellow blossoms stay fresh-looking for quite awhile after they are picked, thus they are preferred by hula dancers.

Kayaking on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park

Kayaking on the Snake River at Oxbow Bend

Location:  Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

This past September my husband and I vacationed in Wyoming, where we visited both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  Both were dream destinations for a nature photographer.  This is the first of many photos I will post from that trip.

P.S.  I wrote a short article about that trip as an invited guest post for the "Remembering 2010 Travels" series on the Harrisburg International Airport blog:  Wyoming’s Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks: Wild America

White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae)

White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae)

Location:  Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

This is the White-faced Heron, the most common heron in New Zealand.  This individual was wading -- apparently looking for a meal -- in the shallows at the edge of the fur seal colony on the Kaikoura Peninsula on the eastern cost of New Zealand's South Island.

According to information about this species on NZBirds.com:

White-faced herons can be found anywhere where there is water, from tidal mudflats and coastal reefs to moist grasslands and gardens. They feed on a wide variety of prey, including fish, insects and amphibians. Food is obtained in a variety of ways, such as walking and disturbing prey, searching among damp crevices or simply standing in the water and watching for movement.

Taiaroa Head on New Zealand's Otago Peninsula

Taiaroa Head

Location:  Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

The Otago Peninsula juts eastward from the city of Dunedin on New Zealand's South Island.  The cape at the tip of the Peninsula is known as Taiaroa Head.  The lighthouse there was first built in the mid-nineteenth century.  It's a very picturesque spot, don't you think?

Taiaroa Head is a nature preserve.  A large number of seabirds nest in the area.  Notably, it is home to a breeding colony of Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi), the world's largest seabird species. In fact, the Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head is said to be the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere.

The waters around Taiaroa Head are home to several species of marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migratory whales.  A few years ago I wrote a piece on my ocean blog, The Right Blue, about an encounter with New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) at Taiaroa Head (with photos). Here's the link to that post about male fur seals at Taiaroa Head.

Jojoba flowers

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)

Location: Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA

These are flowers on a Jojoba bush.  Eventually these flowers will morph into a nut-like fruit.  The Jojoba is native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.  I photographed this example in the Sonoran Desert, south of Tucson, Arizona.

These flowers were on a wild Jojoba bush, but the plant is cultivated commercially as well.  The nuts produce an oil that is used in cosmetic products.