Dave Taylor Wildlife

Dave Taylor Wildlife Dave Taylor Wildlife is a source of information on wildlife and nature for educators and the general

09/05/2026

Available now for purchase. Suspended against a deep, velvety black background, this European eagle owl emerges like a vision from the night. Its powerful wings are caught mid-beat, feathers fanned in a magnificent display of rich earth tones—burnt umber, tawny gold, and soft chestnut—each detai...

08/10/2026

Available now for purchase. This striking portrait captures the piercing gaze of a Long-Eared Owl framed by fully spread wings. Photographed in natural light, the intricate feather patterns and warm golden eyes stand out against a cool blue background, creating a dramatic contrast of color and textu...

08/08/2026

Available now for purchase. This black-and-white fine art photograph presents a classic portrait of the American Bald Eagle in a moment of calm authority. Perched on a weathered branch and turned slightly away from the viewer, the eagle exudes quiet confidence and timeless strength. The monochrome t...

08/07/2026

Available now for purchase. This dramatic black-and-white fine art photograph captures a powerful European Eagle Owl in mid-flight, frozen in a moment of intense focus and silent motion. The owl emerges from deep blackness, its textured wings spread wide and sculpted by light, creating a striking co...

08/07/2026

Wildlife Returns to Sanibel

Since the devastating hurricanes that ravaged Sanibel Island in recent years, the island’s wildlife has begun to make a welcome comeback.

We returned for a visit this past June, although sadly our stay was cut short by my wife’s illness. Even so, I was encouraged to see life returning to areas that had been devastated. In one particular marsh, I was delighted to find black-necked stilts and black-bellied whistling-ducks with their young — wonderful signs of recovery.

You can also view another version of this video on my page, filmed in a horizontal format. The contrast between the portrait and horizontal versions is striking. Each format offers its own perspective and reveals something a little different about the wildlife and its surroundings.

For me, the most important thing was simply seeing wildlife returning to a place that has meant so much to our family for so many years.

08/07/2026

Osprey Gold

People have a habit of releasing unwanted pets into the wild. This is never a good idea.

In this particular area, goldfish have become established. They’re easy to spot in the shallow water, and some have grown surprisingly large—certainly large enough to tempt a young osprey learning how to fish.

By fall, young ospreys are increasingly on their own as the adults begin migrating south. A shallow pool here provides an ideal place for the youngsters to practise their fishing skills. Goldfish and catfish seem fairly numerous, while carp are also found in the nearby river. Goldfish and carp are close relatives, both belonging to the carp family.

For me, this creates an excellent opportunity to photograph nature in action, even though one of the species really doesn’t belong here.

The good news is that the other species—the osprey—certainly does. Osprey populations were devastated by DDT during the 1950s and 1960s, but since restrictions on DDT were introduced, they have made a remarkable recovery.



Today, watching a young osprey learning to fish is a wonderful reminder of just how successful that comeback has been.

08/06/2026

Available now for purchase. From the depths of shadow, a mountain lion meets the viewer’s gaze with calm, unwavering intensity. This dramatic black-and-white portrait captures the raw presence of one of North America’s most elusive predators. Framed by textured rock and enveloped in darkness, th...

08/03/2026

House hunting common loons

In early June, I came across this pair of Common Loons exploring a marsh in southern Ontario. They were clearly house hunting.

Loons prefer to nest in quiet, sheltered waters where waves are small and there is plenty of seclusion. Marshes like this are often ideal because they provide protection from wind and rough water. They also avoid lakes with heavy boat traffic, where large wakes can easily swamp a nest built at the water’s edge.

At one point, the pair inspected an old muskrat lodge as a possible nesting site. One bird seemed quite interested, while the other was clearly less impressed. After a brief inspection, the more enthusiastic partner gave up the argument and followed the other loon in search of a better location.

Watching wildlife make decisions like these reminds us that finding the right home is just as important for loons as it is for us.

*
*
*
*
*

Address

California
California City, CA
92630

Telephone

9052792197

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dave Taylor Wildlife posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share