Still walking around National Mall - Natural History Museum

As you can see we just did not get any sunshine at all. I thought that we would go see the Sculpture Garden but both of us were hungry and the Natural History Museum had the Fossil Cafe so we went in and were immediately captivated by the exhibits.

There was an exhibit of Photos 2011 Winners of natures Best Photograph - They were spectacular  Printed and set behind glass they are worth going to see.

Highly Honored: Animal Antics

Lion
Panthera leo

Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province, South Africa
By Gerry Van der Walt, Randburg, South Africa

Although lions drink regularly when water is available, they are capable of obtaining their moisture requirements from prey and even plants, and thus can survive in very dry environments. Medium- to large-sized antelopes, zebra, and wildebeest are the bulk of their prey, but lions will take almost any animal, from rodents to an elephant. They also scavenge, stealing kills from other predators.

"In the Madikwe Game Reserve we found three lions that had just killed an impala in a muddy waterhole. When we returned to the area later that afternoon, we found this lion sitting on a termite hill. With the light fading, I had a chance to fire off a few quick images before the youngster disappeared into a thicket."—GVdW

Highly Honored: Birds

Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa

Near Vaala, Finland
By Igor Shilokhvost, St. Petersburg, Russia

Great Gray Owls inhabit coniferous forests of the Northern Hemisphere; they tend not to migrate but will leave their territories if their food supply runs short. The reclusive owls hunt equally well both day and night, as they have both excellent hearing and vision. The feathers of their facial disks direct sound toward their ears; their soft feathers keep their flight silent; and they can turn their heads three quarters of a circle (270 degrees).

"June in Finland is called the ‘white nights time.’ Watching and photographing owls during the night, when it is as bright as daytime, is a very unique experience. This female owl was seen caring for her chicks— not only bringing food, but also shielding and warming them with her wings. For a brief moment, both the adult and one chick looked right in my direction."

Highly Honored: Birds

European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Hornøya, Norway
By Kjetil Schjølberg Stjørdal, Norway

European Shags are found along rocky, marine coastlines and islands. Their preferred foraging grounds are clear, protected waters, such as bays or coastal channels. Occasionally a phenomenon known as a 'wreck' occurs, when adverse weather conditions drift birds inland, where they become stranded in unusual habitats. This results in very high mortality for immature birds. European Shags hunt singly, generally diving to pursue their prey under water. They perform a distinctive "leap" before their dives.

"In late March, when the seabirds arrive at their breeding grounds in Arctic Norway, the weather can be extremely harsh. I wanted to show that shags were well-adapted to these conditions. The intense appearance of the shag has led to its presence in Norwegian coastal mythology. This bird posed long enough for me to get the image even though all the buttons on my camera gear had frozen—except the shutter."—KS

Roseate Spoonbills
Platalea ajaja

Smith Oaks Rookery, High Island, Texas, USA
By Michael Rosenbaum, Delray Beach, Florida, USA

A social bird, the spoonbill lives in large colonies with other wading birds. Its feathers get their rosy pink color from the crustaceans in their diet. While foraging for food in shallow water, the nearly three-foot-tall bird swings its head back and forth, using its long, flat bill to sift up small fish, shrimp, amphibians, mollusks, snails, and insects. Thousands of spoonbills roost and nest at the Smith Oaks sanctuary, off the northeast coast of Texas.

"When I visited the Smith Oaks Rookery for the first time, I spent several mornings photographing spoonbills in overcast and foggy conditions. In this photo the bird coming in to land was being warned off by a spoonbill already occupying the tree branch. The interaction may be two birds engaged in combat, but the soft color and graceful lines of the composition make the behavior appear almost like a kiss."—MR

Conservation Photographer of the Year

Polar Bears
Ursus maritimus

Manitoba, Canada
By Thomas D. Mangelsen, Jackson, Wyoming, USA

"In a bed of soft snow and frost-dusted spruce, a polar bear family takes an afternoon nap cuddled up together. After being woken up by its squirming, sleepy sibling, this polar bear cub is wide-awake and ready to play. Greeting the wintry world, he waves his soft paw from the warm haven of his mother's arms."—DB

Highly Honored: Animal Antics

Emperor Penguins
Aptenodytes forsteri

Snow Hill Island, Antarctica
By Thomas Kokta, Issaquah, Washington, USA

Emperor Penguins use a complex set of vocalizations that are critical in individual recognition between mates, parents, and offspring. Aside from the mate attraction and recognition calls, emperors use contact calls to maintain contact with other penguins during feeding or travel. As the species has no fixed nest sites that individuals can use to locate their own partner or chick, they must rely on vocal calls for identification. Chicks use a frequency-modulated whistle to beg for food and to contact a parent.

"Photographing the 'white' areas in polar regions where Emperor Penguins live on the ice and snow is my passion. An adult will only feed its own chick, and this group was ignoring a youngster who was 'singing' for food. The center adult seemed to be pointing for it to 'go that way!'"—TK

Winner: Wildlife

Polar Bear Cub
Ursus maritimus

Barents Sea, Norway
By Florian Schulz, Wilhelmsdorf, Germany

The average adult male polar bear measures eight to nine feet tall and weighs from 800 to 1500 pounds. These bears depend on sea ice in Arctic territories where they live and hunt for prey, mainly ringed and bearded seals. The effects of climate change hold the most serious threat to the species: reduced sea ice, delay in autumn ice formation, and earlier spring ice melt. Consequently, polar bears must cope with a shortened hunting season and deterioration of their habitat.

"During an expedition to document Arctic wildlife, I observed a polar bear family from a small, ice-going vessel. The mother and her cubs were living on pack ice far from land. Incredibly intelligent animals, young polar bears learn quickly through their inquisitive nature. This cub was intrigued by its reflection and was studying it with great interest."—FS

Winner: Animal Antics

Grizzly Bear Cub
Ursus arctos

Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA
By Andy Rouse, Cardiff, Wales, UK

The grizzly bear is a symbol of the vast, spectacular wilderness in Alaska. During summer, these large predators gather along pristine waterways to feast on salmon. Every other year, females produce one to four offspring that weigh only about one pound. The protective sow cares for her young for up to two years.

"It was quite a memorable experience when a female grizzly bear left her precious cubs on the riverbank near me as she went fishing for salmon. The cubs were great fun to observe and I managed to catch this one mid-scratch; he looks like he was either having a bad day or peeking at me."—AR

these are elephant teeth

and Elephant Leg (little boy as comparison)