The scarlet-rumped tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) is found in the lowland forests of Central America, especially in Costa Rica and Panama. The males are particularly eye-catching, with deep black plumage set off by a brilliant scarlet patch on the lower back that seems to glow when they fly. These tanagers are often seen in pairs or small groups, in search of fruit and insects. Despite their bold colors, they’re surprisingly quiet, communicating with soft chips as they forage. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1800, f/5.6 at 1/50th of a second.
A lion’s eyes are intense and forward-facing, built for sharp focus and excellent night vision. I captured this close up, of a lioness peering through the savanna grasslands, in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
Prairie dogs are highly social and live in large underground colonies (or “towns”) with intricate tunnel systems and designated rooms for sleeping, nursing, and even waste (how about that fact — these guys actually have bathrooms). They also have one of the most sophisticated vocal communication systems in the animal kingdom, using different barks and chirps to warn each other of specific predators, including details like type, size, and direction. Who knows what description this guy was giving the rest of the town about the large man crawling in the bushes, interrupting lunch. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
So far, we haven’t had any black bear sightings in the yard this spring. This one is from 2020 when we were seeing them every four days or so. Here’s hoping they find their way back. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/6.3 at 1/400th of a second.
I get so many chipmunks and squirrels at my camera traps but rarely post any. I thought this one had a nice mood with the foggy morning and backlight. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 20mm lens, ISO 500, f/14 at 1/200th of a second, Camtraptions camera housing and triggers, Nikon SB-900 flash units.
I heard mantled howler monkeys loud and clear every morning in Costa Rica, but it wasn’t until our last day that I finally saw them. They were quite high in the canopy, against a bright white sky, but I was able to manage a fair number of shots, including this mother with her kid. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 500, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.
Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), a.k.a. snow monkeys, are the northernmost-living nonhuman primates and are known for soaking in hot springs during the winter to stay warm. They live in complex social groups with strict hierarchies, and use vocalizations, facial expressions, and grooming to communicate and maintain social bonds. Although, I’m not entirely sure what this look means. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 112mm) ISO 200, f/4.5 at 1/160th of a second.
The brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) is one of the smallest primates in the world, able to fit in the palm of your hand. They rely heavily on a keen sense of smell and large eyes to navigate in the dark. In colder months, they can enter a state of torpor, slowing their metabolism and sleeping for days at a time to conserve energy — rare among primates. I photographed this one on the island of Nosy Mangabe in Madagascar. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 185mm) ISO 200, f/10 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-600 flash.
Collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) have an exceptional sense of smell, far more developed than their eyesight or hearing. They use their powerful noses to sniff out roots, fruits, insects, and even small vertebrates hidden beneath the forest floor. Their sense of smell also helps them recognize other members of their group, thanks to scent glands located just above their tails that produce a musky odor. In fact, they often greet one another by rubbing snouts or flanks, reinforcing social bonds through scent. Of course, in this photo, it was the scent of a human with a large camera that they were taking in. Photographed last month in Piedras Blancas National Park in Costa Rica. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 10,000, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.
Here’s one from the archives. I visited Olympic National Park back in 2009 and spent a bit of time photographing ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus). They are found up and down the Pacific coast, easily recognized by their orange, purple, or reddish hues. They play a crucial role as a “keystone species,” especially in rocky intertidal zones, by preying on mussels and helping maintain biodiversity. They can regenerate lost arms, and they feed by turning their stomachs outside their bodies to digest prey. They are also surprisingly strong for their size, and cling tightly to rocks with hundreds of tiny tube feet as waves crash over them. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/20 at 6 seconds.
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The scarlet-rumped tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) is found in the lowland forests of Central America, especially in Costa Rica and Panama. The males are particularly eye-catching, with deep black plumage set off by a brilliant scarlet patch on the lower back that seems to glow when they fly. These tanagers are often seen in pairs or small groups, in search of fruit and insects. Despite their bold colors, they’re surprisingly quiet, communicating with soft chips as they forage. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1800, f/5.6 at 1/50th of a second.
