It’s great when you can get really close to the wildlife, i.e., right in their “faces”, to grab a “mug shot”. I didn’t get many this year, but there were a few opportunities, assisted either by my extremely long (600 mm) telephoto lens or my trusty macro, to get up close and personal with the local wildlife on our travels and in my backyard.
Hoverfly gleaning pollen and/or nectar from New England Asters.
American-painted-lady-on fall-blooming Sedum; they came through by the dozens to congregate on late-blooming flowers
Honeybees foraged on New England Aster; I saw more of them this year than in the last 5 years combined.
A tiny carpenter bee feasting on pollen from newly opened anthers on a coneflower.
We found a Bullfrog calling in a desert oasis in Arizona. Kind of ugly, but beautiful eyes…that might be a mosquito on his upper lip trying to get a meal.
A Chuckwalla was sunning itself at the Sonora desert museum in Tucson. Dark pigmented scales on its underside help it soak up heat from rocks. Chuckwallas love to hide in rock crevices and resist being pulled out from their hiding place by puffing up their body with air, expanding into any empty space in the crevice.
Snapping Turtles have large jaws and long necks, but this one was protecting itself by withdrawing into its carapace. My what beady little eyes you have, Mr. Turtle.
Eye to eye with a Great Blue Heron
Male Mallard Duck before molting a new set of showy feathers
Chickadee with an attitude…
Back Yard Biology 
My, he does have an attitude. So does that heron. They are scary birds. The heron that lives near the irrigation pond does not like when I get too close. He puts his wings out and faces me. I don’t mess with him. I go around.
Good idea, I think that bill could do some damage.
Fabulous close-up details – each portrait shows up the subject so beautifully and the accompanying text gives context to the back story.
Thanks for that very nice comment. Please do check out the mug shots on tomorrow’s blog post.