One thing I've learned about the birds (and other wildlife for that matter) is that sometimes, if they're not too busy and you ask them nicely, they'll pose for you. I took this photo of this sweet little bird who was fluttering around catching insects for breakfast. When I first saw him, I stopped and asked him kindly if he’d mind posing for a few photos. He obliged and was kind enough to sit for me as I did my best to get a good shot. I don't have a proper lens for bird photography, so thankfully he was patient. When he decided to move on, I continued on my walk. As I hiked through the California natives at the top of the hill, I heard some deer passing by on the opposite side of the wire fence. I stopped, stood still and watched them walk. One of them, a doe, spotted me. She looked straight at me, tilted her head and sniffed the air. We watched each other for quite a while, both of us curious about the other. I sent her a message in my mind to tell her how pretty she was and her ears perked up. It was a lovely moment. Making these types of intimate connections with nature is an honor and a privilege.