A male Anna's Hummingbird defending his territory. Despite being out of season, this male was chasing off any intruders to his patch with gusto. Taken at Reifel Bird Sanctuary, BC, Canada.

The poor pigeon didn't stand a chance, put to the talon by nature's executioner, the peregrine falcon. Taken near Murcia, Spain.

The near perfect flukes of a tail-slapping Biggs (or Transient) Orca. This individual was part of a huge family gathering of 3 different pods. Hunting together, they managed to take out a porpoise in the distance, which caused much jubilation within the group. Taken in the waters off Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada.

A bird that just exudes majesty, Scotland's unofficial national bird (in Spain!), the golden eagle. Taken on Sierra Espuna, near Murcia, Spain.

A beautiful Grizzly bear takes a leap at a passing salmon. Much like here at home, Canada's native salmon stocks are struggling, which isn't good news for the bears. They need this vital food source to put on weight for hibernation. Taken in Knight's Inlet, BC, Canada.

A wall lizard investigates a small plant growing out of the patio cracks, looking for ants. Taken in La Zenia, Spain.

A very confiding bald eagle, perching on a fallen log just on the bank of Glendale Cove, an area of British Columbia known as the Great Bear Rainforest. Like the bears, these resident eagles are here to fish for the migrating salmonid species.

A female Sardinian warbler, looking for insects amongst the garden foliage. Taken in La Zenia, Spain.

A large female humpback lunges out of the water through a swiftly scattering bait ball. You may just be able to make out the little fish escaping her maw. This is the first time I've been lucky enough to see this feeding behaviour. Taken in the waters north of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Despite not being much bigger than the pigeon he's stripping, it's hard to not feel somewhat threatened by such a look. Taken near Murcia, Spain.

A greater flamingo surveying the water for brine shrimp and other food to scoop up with its unusual beak. Taken at El Hondo Nature Reserve, Spain.

Spot the Merlin! These tiny little raptors are present home in Scotland too, but this sighting was a first for me. It spent a long time chasing small birds and insects around the forest, until something larger gave it a taste of its own medicine - a sharp-shinned hawk! Taken in Knight's Inlet, BC, Canada.

A yearling humpback whale calf greets us with a pectoral wave. Not to be sniffed at mind you, as even as an unweaned toddler, this calf was as long as our RIB! Taken in the waters north of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

A golden eagle descends onto a rocky outcrop, looking for safe haven away from the raging corvids that nest nearby. Taken on Sierra Espuna, near Murcia, Spain.

A stunning example of a black bear, prowling up the river on the lookout for salmon. This particular bear had little mind for us humans, standing just above it on a stand overlooking the river in Ucluelet.

An invasive species in Spain, the monk parakeet. Thought to have arrived in 1975, there are now over 20,000 of them living wild in the country. Taken in La Zenia, Spain.

A lovely bull transient orca surfaces a little in the distance in the waters off Victoria, Vancouver Island.

A female red-breasted nuthatch on the lookout for a tasty snack! These curious little critters were literally bouncing off our heads and feeding out of our hands as we wandered around the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Tsawwassen. I've never seen nuthatches so placid!

A particularly brightly coloured Spanish wall lizard sunning on a rock. Taken in La Zenia, Spain.

A surprise sighting of over 100 Pacific white-sided dolphins in Glendale Cove was one of the highlights of our trip. These little beauties are FAST! We were easily surrounded by them, playing in our wake and racing the boat.

A male Grizzly, identified as "Caramel", reflects in a river as he drinks and patiently waits for migrating fish. Taken at Knight's Inlet, BC, Canada.

A bedraggled Sardinian warbler, perching after a quick dip and preen. Taken in La Zenia, Spain.