2009 Photos: Birds, Butterflies, Beautyberries, Bullfrogs, Bears and More

It's been a busy year -- little time for pictures -- but I have managed to snap a few. As always, I'm blessed to spend much of my time in places where we get to see a bit of wildlife, and I love sharing it.

(in roughly chronological order)

Male Eastern Pondhawk
Male Eastern Pondhawk
Most of the Pondhawks you see are green, as that's the color of the juveniles and females. But the adult males turn a dusty blue, as you see in this one caught resting on a water plant in Nag's Head.
photo by Mark Minasi