There are quite a few different species of motmot. Most live in neotropical regions of middle America (southern Central and northern South America). And most have a distinctive “racket” like tail. This is the blue-crowned motmot. He/she showed up for a few seconds near our lodge in Soberania National Park in Panama. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
The saddle-billed stork is a very large wading bird found throughout sub-Sahara Africa. The can grow to almost five feet tall with a wingspan that approaches 9 feet. I photographed this one wading along a road in Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.
This is one of the many dusky langurs I met while in Thailand. This one photographed in Khlong Saeng, a mostly flooded national park where islands of mountainous land rise out of all the water. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
Sea otters spend the vast majority of their time at sea. That said, they often sleep on land. I arrived at this location well before the sun came up and caught this guy just as he was waking up. I used a slow shutter and high ISO to capture what little available light there was. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/20th of a second.
This Patagonian fox was feasting on a guanaco carcass during a soft rain. After getting her fill, she gave a good shake of the fur and continued on her way. Photographed in Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonian Chile. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 280mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
This crimson-crested woodpecker was hanging around our camp in northeast Brazil. I was in the area looking for maned wolves. Nice to capture a few other creatures as well. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (with 1.4 teleconverter for 550mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/400th of a second.
Few things in the wild are as cute as a koala joey. This guy was old enough to be out of the pouch on his own (although not too far from mom). Photographed at Hanson Bay on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/2.8 at 1/125th of a second.
I met this young red fox years ago in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. There were was a sibling as well and they were both waiting for mom to return with breakfast — which she eventually did — free-range grackle. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/320th of a second.
Not the prettiest agouti I’ve ever seen but who am I to comment on the relative attractiveness of Central America rodents. I photographed this one enjoying breakfast in Soberania National Park in Panama. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/125th of a second.
Francolin, or spurfowl, are a common sight while on safari in Africa. There are several different species and they are often referred to as African chickens or safari chickens for their tendency to scurry out of the way of vehicles. This red-necked francolin was photographed in Uganda, sitting atop a termite mound. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.