What an awful picture, you might be thinking, trying to squint and make out the beasts that are out of focus. You’re almost right – check out the white lump with a little black section that is in the foreground.
Yes, it turns out the point of this photo isn’t the large animals in the background but the bird that is using its natural camouflage to escape notice for everybody but the most sharp-eyed wildlife photographer. All that we can see to let us know there’s more than just snow there is a beady little eye and a black beak.
I'm Not Ready Yet
You've probably had to face something tough at the beginning of the day before you're fully awake. A trip to the dentist's, a screaming kid, a frustrating work email. We all know how this owl feels. He or she has just come out of slumber, preparing to take to the skies to find bugs or nuts or other smaller birds or Snickers bars or whatever they eat, and now it has to deal with a camera in its face.
This owl even managed to grab a snack before the paparazzi could catch up to it, but that isn't going to stop this bird from chowing down.
Yo, You Got Any Worms?
Fishing isn't the hardest thing in the world, but it's usually harder than this. This fish just seems to be begging for a ride in your cool boat. You don't even have to use a hook or line – just reach down and scoop it up. You might have to dangle a bit of bait over that immense mouth to keep the fish from swimming away, but you should be able to handle that.
We wish we could tell you what kind of fish this is, but we haven't the slightest. Big Mouth bass, perhaps? Certainly seems like it would fall into that category.
It's a Dirty Job, but Somebody's Gotta do It
Oh, pardon us, we didn't realize we were going to be intruding. A pair of gibbons are...well, we think that one is checking the other for ticks and other little parasites, but, you know what, we aren't really all that sure. They could be doing any number of things, and maybe it's just best to let them be.
In reality, grooming each other is a big part of daily life for many monkeys, including gibbons. It improves social bonds, increases hygiene, and gives the monkeys a quick snack, all thanks to one single act.
Hey! He's Not a Turtle!
It looks like that egret is in the wrong neighborhood. We think he might be okay, though, since turtles aren't really known for their aggressive nature. Well, most turtles, anyway. There are some that will gladly take a chunk out if you get too close. However, egrets can fly (being birds), so we don't think this one is in much danger.
The turtles all seem a little more preoccupied with sunning themselves or getting something to eat. A lot of them are giving the bird a critical eye, but here we are doing the same thing, so we don't care.