William Nicholas EdwardsWILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS / WILLIAM EDWARDS

Life, a little closer.

A fox tending its young. An osprey breaking the surface. Portraits and behavior that bring us closer to the lives around us.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) — Grooming between an adult fox and a kit reveals a quiet moment of care. — Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Grooming between an adult fox and a kit reveals a quiet moment of care.
Did you know? Foxes store spare food in caches and can return later to retrieve it.
Species notes ↗

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — An osprey breaks through the surface in a burst of water and open wings. — Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
An osprey breaks through the surface in a burst of water and open wings.
Did you know? A reversible outer toe helps it hold slippery fish with two toes facing each way.
Species notes ↗

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) — A fox steps through warm grass with its attention fixed ahead. — Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
A fox steps through warm grass with its attention fixed ahead.
Did you know? It communicates through calls, facial expressions, and scent marks.
Species notes ↗

Barred Owl — A Barred Owl rests in a tree hollow, its softly patterned face framed by textured bark. — Barred Owl
Strix varia
A Barred Owl rests in a tree hollow, its softly patterned face framed by textured bark.
Did you know? Its familiar hooting call is often remembered as “Who cooks for you?”
Species notes ↗

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) — A raised wing and barbed-wire perch reveal this small predator at work. — Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
A raised wing and barbed-wire perch reveal this small predator at work.
Did you know? This songbird uses thorns and barbed wire to secure prey while feeding.
Species notes ↗

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) — A rabbit rests low in the grass, almost disappearing into the light. — Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
A rabbit rests low in the grass, almost disappearing into the light.
Did you know? This plant-eater is especially active around dawn and dusk.
Species notes ↗

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) — A fox looks back over its shoulder from the edge of the grass. — Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
A fox looks back over its shoulder from the edge of the grass.
Did you know? When hunting rodents, it may leap into the air and pin its prey beneath its front paws.
Species notes ↗

Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) — Four marked wings spread above a slender perch in a precise study of balance. — Four-spotted Pennant
Brachymesia gravida
Four marked wings spread above a slender perch in a precise study of balance.
Did you know? A dark patch on each wing and bright white wing marks help identify this dragonfly.
Species notes ↗

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) — A hummingbird hangs between red flowers, with room around it to feel the flight. — Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
A hummingbird hangs between red flowers, with room around it to feel the flight.
Did you know? It can see ultraviolet light, beyond the range of human vision.
Species notes ↗

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) — A head-on flight turns a woodland raptor into a study of symmetry. — Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
A head-on flight turns a woodland raptor into a study of symmetry.
Did you know? Pairs may return to the same nesting territory year after year.
Species notes ↗

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) — A small falcon watches from a winter perch as snow fills the background. — American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
A small falcon watches from a winter perch as snow fills the background.
Did you know? North America’s smallest falcon can hover into the wind while scanning for prey.
Species notes ↗

Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) — A reddish owl peers from a tree cavity, its face framed by pale bark. — Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
A reddish owl peers from a tree cavity, its face framed by pale bark.
Did you know? Noisy groups of small birds sometimes reveal a hidden owl by mobbing its daytime roost.
Species notes ↗

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) — The hawk’s eye and hooked bill carry a close, attentive portrait. — Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
The hawk’s eye and hooked bill carry a close, attentive portrait.
Did you know? It may join American Crows in mobbing a Great Horned Owl.
Species notes ↗

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — An osprey watches from an exposed perch beneath a clear blue sky. — Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
An osprey watches from an exposed perch beneath a clear blue sky.
Did you know? It usually carries a fish headfirst in flight, reducing wind resistance.
Species notes ↗

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) — A young eagle spreads its wings in the moment before landing. — Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
A young eagle spreads its wings in the moment before landing.
Did you know? It sometimes steals fish from Ospreys instead of catching its own.
Species notes ↗

American Beaver (Castor canadensis) — A beaver feeds at the grassy edge of the water. — American Beaver
Castor canadensis
A beaver feeds at the grassy edge of the water.
Did you know? Its incisors grow continuously, and gnawing helps keep them worn down.
Species notes ↗

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) — Autumn foliage surrounds a deer paused between trees. — White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Autumn foliage surrounds a deer paused between trees.
Did you know? Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year.
Species notes ↗

Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) — Silver-spotted wings and vivid pink petals stand clear against soft green. — Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele
Silver-spotted wings and vivid pink petals stand clear against soft green.
Did you know? Its caterpillars feed on violets, while adults visit flowers for nectar.
Species notes ↗

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) — An eagle stands over a fish, its intense gaze meeting the camera. — Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
An eagle stands over a fish, its intense gaze meeting the camera.
Did you know? Young Bald Eagles may roam widely during their first four years.
Species notes ↗

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) — An eagle drops toward still water with snow and woodland behind it. — Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
An eagle drops toward still water with snow and woodland behind it.
Did you know? Bald Eagles have been observed playing with objects and passing sticks in midair.
Species notes ↗

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) — A direct gaze, pale head, and yellow bill fill a portrait of unmistakable character. — Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
A direct gaze, pale head, and yellow bill fill a portrait of unmistakable character.
Did you know? Bald Eagles sometimes hunt cooperatively, with one bird flushing prey toward another.
Species notes ↗

American Beaver (Castor canadensis) — Eyes and nose skim just above the surface in a low view across the water. — American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Eyes and nose skim just above the surface in a low view across the water.
Did you know? A transparent inner eyelid protects its eyes while it swims underwater.
Species notes ↗

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) — An alert young fox pauses close to the ground, ears forward and eyes bright. — Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
An alert young fox pauses close to the ground, ears forward and eyes bright.
Did you know? A suitable den may be used by successive generations of foxes.
Species notes ↗

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — A fish held firmly in its talons gives this close flight portrait its dramatic focus. — Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
A fish held firmly in its talons gives this close flight portrait its dramatic focus.
Did you know? It readily nests on human-built platforms, channel markers, and utility poles.
Species notes ↗

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) — Two Black Vultures lean together in an intimate portrait of textured feathers and bare skin. — Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Two Black Vultures lean together in an intimate portrait of textured feathers and bare skin.
Did you know? It often follows Turkey Vultures to food, relying more on sight than on smell.
Species notes ↗

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) — A midair handoff: one American Kestrel passes a lizard to another perched on a wire. — American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
A midair handoff: one American Kestrel passes a lizard to another perched on a wire.
Did you know? It hides surplus prey in places such as grass clumps and tree cavities for later meals.
Species notes ↗

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