National Wildlife Day, held on September 4th, encourages us to improve our awareness of the natural world around us. This article shares some images of wildlife captured over a number of years ago. I certainly don’t profess to be a wildlife photographer… but I do enjoy observing and photographing wildlife.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge. To view this article in a range of other languages click on the Canadian flag in the upper right corner.

This heron was photographed in a marshy area, while we were on holidays in Cuba many years ago.

The results of aggression observed while on a cruise in New Zealand. Note the wounds on the head and neck of the sea lion in the background.

My guess this is a Smooth-billed Ani, photographed while on holidays in Cuba.

A small lizard found adjacent to a walkway at a resort in Cuba.

A vulture spotted behind one of the restaurants at a resort in Cuba.

Cormorant photographed near Eastport Drive in Hamilton Ontario.

Pelican in flight photographed in South Carolina.

My guess is a Carolina Wren. This bird was photographed in South Carolina.

Gull hunting on Lake Ontario.

Osprey at Mountsberg Conservation Area in Southern Ontario.

Hummingbird at Ruthven Park in Cayuga Ontario.

Perched vultures by Niagara Gorge in Southern Ontario.

Fly on a brick wall in Grimsby Ontario.

Raptor visiting my backyard.

Perched Green Heron striking at a fish in a lagoon in Cuba.

Great Blue Heron taking flight in Cuba.

My guess is a Kinglet. Photographed in South Carolina.

Tern diving for a fish at Hendrie Valley.

Cormorant taking flight with nesting material near Eastport Drive in Hamilton Ontario.

Hungry chipmunk at LaSalle Park in Burlington Ontario.

Clearwing Hummingbird Moth visiting my backyard.

Hummingbird photographed in Utah.

Oyster Catcher in flight, photographed in New Zealand.

Bufflehead duck coming in to land at LaSalle Park in Burlington Ontario.

Orca breaching near Vancouver Island, Canada.

Osprey with small fish. Photographed at Grindstone Creek.

Wood duck threat display. Photographed at LaSalle Park in Burlington Ontario.

Juvenile swan landing on Lake Ontario ice.

Hector’s Dolphin photographed from pier at Greymouth New Zealand.

Hooker’s Sea Lion group, photographed in New Zealand.

Water snake eating a fish. Photographed at Hendrie Valley.

Tui, photographed in New Zealand.

Snapping turtle photographed at Hendrie Valley.

Black Swan in-flight, photographed in New Zealand.

Swallow feeding chick at Hendrie Valley.

Great Blue Heron catching two fish concurrently. Photographed at Hendrie Valley.

Tern doing mid-air shake at Hendrie Valley.

Creekside racoon, photographed at Hendrie Valley.

Green Heron catching a fish at Hendrie Valley.

Egret coming in to land at Hendrie Valley.

Great Blue Heron catching large fish at Hendrie Valley.

My guess is that this is a Bananaquit. Photographed in St. Lucia.

New Zealand Fantail, photographed on the North Island.

Australian Coot with chick. Photographed at Hobbiton in New Zealand.

Regardless of the camera gear we may own. Where we may live. Or where we may travel… wildlife is all around us. Sometimes in remote areas… and sometimes surprisingly urban. Everything in nature that we observe… is a gift to be cherished.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post, at the time of image capture. This is the 1,481 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

How you can keep this website advertising free

My intent is to keep this photography blog advertising free. If you enjoyed this article and/or my website and would like to support my work, you can purchase an eBook, or make a donation through PayPal (see Donate box below). Both are most appreciated. Sometimes all we need as photographers is a bit of inspiration. We hope you can find some of that inside Finding Visual Expression II.

Buy

Finding Visual Expression II is available for download for an investment of $11.99 CDN. The best viewing experience of this eBook will be at 100% using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

You may be interested in all of the 30 concepts covered in both of these related eBooks. If so, you may want to also consider Finding Visual Expression.

Buy

Finding Visual Expression is available for download for an investment of $11.99 Cdn. The best viewing experience of this eBook will be at 100% using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Our other eBooks include Images of Ireland, New Zealand Tip-to-Tip, Nikon 1: The Little Camera That Could, Desert & Mountain Memories, Images of Greece, Nova Scotia Photography Tour, and a business leadership parable… Balancing Eggs.

If you click on the Donate button below you will find that there are three donation options: $7.50, $10.00 and $20.00. All are in Canadian funds. Plus, you can choose a different amount if you want. You can also increase your donation amount to help offset our costs associated with accepting your donation through PayPal. An ongoing, monthly contribution to support our work can also be done through the PayPal Donate button below.

You can make your donation through your PayPal account, or by using a number of credit card options.

Word of mouth is the best form of endorsement. If you like our website please let your friends and associates know about our work. Linking to this site or to specific articles is allowed with proper acknowledgement. Reproducing articles, or any of the images contained in them, on another website or in any social media posting is a Copyright infringement.

Article is Copyright 2025 Thomas Stirr. Images are Copyright Thomas Stirr 2014-2019. All rights reserved. No use, duplication or adaptation of any kind is allowed without written consent. If you see this article reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use. Posting comments on offending websites and calling out individuals who steal intellectual property is always appreciated!