Looking through 2021 – my personal favorites

River Vildoga and young elm forest along it, Gauja National Park (Gaujas Nacionālais parks), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

 

In Circles
Ziemīga Vildogas upīte un gobu mežs ap to vien zīmē lokus un apļus gaisos | River Vildoga and young elm forest along it.

 

Snow falling from spruce trees in forest along lake Valgums coast, Kemeri National Park (Ķemeru Nacionālais parks), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Falling Gold
Zeltīts sniegs krīt no debesīm pār ezeru | Snow falling from spruce trees in forest along lake Valgums coast.

Sun shines on frozen waterfall over sandstone outcrop "Ķiparu kaskāde" on snowy winter day, Gauja National Park (Gaujas Nacionālais parks), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Frozen Waterfall
Leduskritums saulainā ziemas dienā | Sun shines on frozen waterfall over sandstone outcrop “Ķiparu kaskāde” on snowy winter day.

Sun shines through birch tree (Betula sp.) covered in icy snow on sunny winter morning, Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Light and Ice
Sniegotā ainavā bērzs ar sasalušiem ledus pilieniem zaru galos | Sun shines through birch tree (Betula sp.) covered in icy snow on sunny winter morning.

 

Ural owl (Strix uralensis) standing on the snag of birch tree (Betula sp.) in forest clearing in mixed forest landscape, Northern Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Strix uralensis
Nakts krēslā urālpūce nosēdusies uz stumbeņa izcirtumā | Ural owl (Strix uralensis) standing on the snag of birch tree (Betula sp.) in forest clearing in mixed forest landscape

 

Rising sun shines over the forest edge along the old and abandoned beaver pond with lots of standing dead trees, Kemeri National Park (Ķemeru Nacionālais parks), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Standing Skeletons
Ilglaicīga un mežu ieskauta bebraine lēnām ķer saullēkta gaismu, kamēr es klausos vai dzeņi atsaucas | Rising sun shines over the forest edge along the old and abandoned beaver pond with lots of standing dead trees.

 

Sparsely growing scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) in cold and foggy morning in raised bog Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis, Kemeri National Park (Ķemeru Nacionālais parks), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Stages of Life
Rīta migla pārklājusi purvu, kur jaunas un senas priedes kopā zīmē ainavu | Sparsely growing scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) in cold and foggy morning in raised bog Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis.

 

Ramsons or wild garlic (Allium ursinum) gorgeously covers forest floor in broad leaved forest, Nature park "Kuja" (dabas parks "Kuja"), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Allium ursinum
Lakšu klājiens saaudzis pavasarīgā platlapju mežā | Ramsons or wild garlic (Allium ursinum) gorgeously covers forest floor in broad leaved forest.

 

Footprints of brown bear (Ursus arctos) on muddy forest road, Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Ursus arctos
Vidzemē staigājot sanāk arī citu staigātāju pēdas atrast – brūnais lācis | Footprints of brown bear (Ursus arctos) on muddy forest road.

 

Beautiful and glamorous blooming of Lady’s-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), Kurzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Cypripedium calceolus
Dzeltenā dzegužkurpīte | Beautiful and glamorous blooming of Lady’s-slipper orchid.

 

The small pasque flowers (Pulsatilla pratensis) with fruits and occasional flower buds growing on coastal dunes in sunset, nature reserve “Užava" (dabas liegums “Užava”), Kurzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Pulsatilla pratensis
Pļavas silpurene vakara krēslā | The small pasque flowers (Pulsatilla pratensis) with fruits and occasional flower buds growing on coastal dunes in sunset.

 

Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) before the rain, near Gramzda, Kurzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Anthoxanthum odoratum
Parastās smaržzāles vārpiņas | Sweet vernal grass before the rain.

 

Almost full moon (soon to be harvest moon) over forests and lone road near border of Estonia, somehow near Aloja, Northern Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Almost full
Gandrīz pilns mēness izlīda virs meža malas | Almost full moon (soon to be harvest moon) over forests and lone road near border of Estonia.

 

Spectacular sunrise with colorful rain clouds and rainbow over dunes and baltic sea, near Ventspils, Kurzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

With rainbow
Jūra, bojas un varavīksne pirms un pēc lietiem | Spectacular sunrise with colorful rain clouds and rainbow over dunes and baltic sea.

 

Fairy inkcaps (Coprinellus disseminatus) growing in a large group togerher on the trunk of old aspen tree, nature reserve “Virguļicas meži" (dabas liegums “Virguļicas meži”), Latgale, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Coprinellus disseminatus
Dižbara tintenes saaugušas blīvā pūlī | Fairy inkcaps growing in a large group togerher on the trunk of old aspen tree.

 

A fly agaric or fly amanita mushroom Amanita muscaria growing on forest floor, near Dikļi, Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Amanita muscaria
Sarkanā mušmire visā savā košumā | A fly agaric or fly amanita mushroom Amanita muscaria growing on forest floor.

 

In dark forest a warted puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) with dark eye-like spots stands in spotlight, near Milzkalne, Kurzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Lycoperdon perlatum
Kārpainais pūpēdis, šķiet viegli nīgrs ar melnajiem “acu” punktiem | In dark forest a warted puffball with dark eye-like spots stands in spotlight.

 

Red leaves of bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) in sunny late autumn day, near Rūjiena, Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Vaccinium uliginosum
Zileņu lapu īslaicīgais košums noķerts zirnekļtīklos | Red leaves of bog bilberry in sunny late autumn day.

 

Satellite and stars of Milky Way in night sky over boreal forest, near Alsunga, Kurzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Satellite crossing
Kāds mākslīgais pavadonis šķērso Piena ceļu naksnīgajās debesīs | Satellite and stars of Milky Way in night sky over boreal forest.

 

Broad leaved forest with tree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) growing on tree trunks, nature reserve “Zilaiskalns", Vidzeme, Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

Lobaria pulmonaria
Dabisks un plaušķērpjiem bagāts platlapju meža skats | Broad leaved forest with tree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) growing on tree trunks.

 

Snow keeps falling over white winter landscape of forest and small lake, Kemeri National Park (Ķemeru Nacionālais parks), Latvia Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com (Davis Ulands/Ⓒ Davis Ulands | davisulands.com)

White
Ziemīgais baltums un pelēkums pārklājis ezeru, mežu un debesis | Snow keeps falling over white winter landscape of forest and small lake.