I’m A Disabled Veteran Who Turned Into A Wildlife And Nature Photographer (29 Pics)

Two Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) fighting over feeding territory. This photo was taken during a snowstorm hence the falling snowflakes in the picture.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) yawning after waking from a mid-afternoon nap.

American Mink (Neovison vison) posing on a downed tree trunk. This little guy decided to come pay me a visit while I was out at a local country park photographing birds.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched in front of a barn wood shelter. This eagle is captive at a wildlife hospital due to a permanent injury to its wing.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) in flight at a local country park in Michigan, USA.

Macro of a Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) feeding on flower nectar.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) perched on a fence at a local country park.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) storing food in the trunk of a dead tree.

This shot was taken just after I broke camp while on a photography tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Grand Marais beach is just outside of Munising, home of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) in flight. This photo was taken at a local country park in Michigan.

Blue Dasher Dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) perched on a flower awaiting its unsuspecting prey.

This is one of my night sky photos featuring the Milky Way galaxy - this one was taken from the beach at Union Bay, just outside the Porcupine Mountains State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

North American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) feeding on sunflower seeds.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) perched on a branch during a snowstorm.

Mackinaw Bridge at dawn, taken from the Lower Peninsula side of the Mackinaw Bridge. This shot was taken from just underneath the bridge.

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) roaming about at a bear ranch (where the bears are free to roam around and are protected from humans).

Aurora borealis over Northport, Michigan a small town not far from Mackinaw City in the northernmost part on Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Meet the European Woolcarder Bee (Anthidium manicatum).

Syrphid Fly perched on a leaf.

Mackinaw Bridge at dawn, taken from the Lower Peninsula side of the Mackinaw Bridge.

Not entirely sure of the species of this one but it is a Corpse Fly - these are so named because they lay their eggs in the carcasses of dead animals.

Meet the Fire Fly (Pyropyga minuta) - so called because of their ability to glow by causing a chemical reaction inside their abdomen which works in the same way that the chemicals in a light stick do when combined.

Meet the Blue Grass-Carrying Wasp (Isodontia philadelphica).

This is Bond Falls, just outside the town of Paulding in Ontonagon County, Michigan - about 30 miles southeast of the Porcupine Mountains State Park.

This is Bond Falls, just outside the town of Paulding in Ontonagon County, Michigan - about 30 miles southeast of the Porcupine Mountains State Park.

The Green Bottle Fly (Lucilia sericata).

The European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula) - best not to annoy these as they can be quite aggressive and their stingers pack a punch.

Metallic Green Fly (Condylostylus) perched on a leaf.