Bowerbirds are pretty interesting when it comes to mating behavior. The male creates an elaborate structure (or bower) on the ground — made up of twigs and other brightly colored objects. Apparently the ladies find the construction of such a structure to be irresistible. The male satin bowerbird is a uniformly purplish black color. The female is more of a speckled brown. They both have that striking purple/blue eye. Photographed in Lamington National Park near Brisbane, Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.
(Some of you may have already gotten this post, and if so I apologize. Having issues with my website sending notifications, so trying again.) Pumas are well camouflaged in their Patagonian habitat. Of course, we had been tracking this cat for quite some time before she bedded down for a nap so we were well aware of her presence. Guanacos in the area aren’t likely to be so fortunate. Photographed in Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
The eastern lubber grasshopper makes quite an impression in both size and color. They are usually a bright orange and typically about three inches long. They can be found throughout the southeastern United States. I photographed this one in Everglades National Park in Florida. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.
A coastal brown bear takes a quick corner to the right, chasing down the silver salmon at Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.
I’ll be leading a tour to Kenya and Uganda in early January and am really looking forward to getting back to the Masai Mara and showing all the richness of life to my clients. The variety of large mammals is unrivaled (at least by anyplace that I’ve been). Topi are one of those creatures that sort of get lost in the excitement of all the big cats, hippos, giraffes, and on and on. This mother and her two calves were running from a hungry hyena. They were in no real danger as they can easily outpace the more scavenger-minded predator. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
A nine-banded armadillo stops for a quick drink before carrying on with his other armadillo-y tasks. Photographed on Merritt Island on the east coast of Florida. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everyone. Be back on Monday. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
The female is the big one. She also is obviously the gender that gives this frog its name. I came across this pair of lovers while walking around the lodge that I was staying at in the town of Maroantsetra in Madagascar. When threatened, the female puffs up her body to really resemble a tomato. If picked up by a predator, she then secretes a toxin that numbs the predator’s eyes and mouth and usually results in a quick release and getaway. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 25mm) ISO 100, f/22 at .8 seconds.
My trip to the Falkland Islands coincided with the breeding season for the rockhopper penguins. Both parents tend to the eggs (usually two) for the first week or so, after which the males go out to sea to fish, returning two to four weeks later. In this photo, a breeding pair is still in the shared duty phase, which happens in November. Nikon D810 with Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, ISO 400, f/8 at 1/1250th of a second.
I’ve posted both of these photos in the past, but happy to announce that they were both included in Nature’s Witness, a photo exhibit at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences in Washington DC, put on by the National Wildlife Federation. The exhibit features fifty images chosen by the NWF from their past photo competitions that have the “power to inspire, teach and ignite action.” The exhibit will run for the next four months and is open to the public if you happen to be in DC. All images will eventually be auctioned off with proceeds going towards NWF’s wildlife conservation efforts. A few snapshots from the event below.
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.
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