This was the closest I got to a puma on my trip to Patagonia back in May — a rather simple shot, but uncropped at 330mm. She was on her way back to a kill that she had hidden in the grass earlier in the day and wasn’t paying any attention to me and a few other photographers happily clicking away. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
Here’s another of our backyard visitors. Not from this week, of course, but from back in July. Hawks can be difficult to distinguish one species from another, but the banding on the tail and spotted chest gives this one away as a juvenile red-tailed hawk. I also like that fancy pant on the left leg. It seemed quite intrigued by whatever it was staring at through the back windows of our house. Perhaps our cat, who likes to sit back there. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
While visiting Tulum with my wife, I took an afternoon to go check out the Punta Laguna Nature Preserve, hoping to find a few Geoffroy’s spider monkeys. Obviously, that mission was a success. I ended up seeing quite a few, in fact — on the ground, in the trees, flying through the air, etc. They are quite fun to watch with their lanky bodies and acrobatic maneuvers through the forest. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
Black-capped night herons (also known as black-crowned night herons, or simply night herons) are widely distributed throughout the world wherever there is salt or fresh water wetlands. This guy allowed me a very close approach in ideal lighting conditions for a headshot — direct, low sun, with a dark shadowed background. Taken during a work trip last year to Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 200, f/8 at 1/1250th of a second.
Of the five species of penguins that I photographed in the Falkland Islands, the Magellanic penguins were the only ones that don’t live in colonies, but rather, in burrows. They can typically be seen popping out of these holes in the ground, surveying the area for any danger before either going back down, or waddling away to do whatever it is that needs doing. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/125th of a second.
Armadillos can be difficult to photograph because they keep their noses to the ground 90% of the time. They’re also quite skittish. They have a great sense of smell, but terrible eyesight so the trick is to position yourself upwind so that they don’t know you’re there and wait for them to lift their heads. I photographed this nine-banded armadillo on Merritt Island in Florida. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/1000th of a second.
The red-footed tortoise is listed as a vulnerable species due to continued loss of habitat. They are also hunted for food and captured for the pet trade. They range throughout the northern half of South America and can also be found on many of the Caribbean islands. I met this guy one morning on St Barts. He was making a not-so-quick left turn so as not to collide with the front of my wide angle lens. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/100th of a second.
Kangaroo Island isn’t just for kangaroos. In fact, it’s one of the best places in all of Australia for easily seen mammals of all types — koalas, echidnas, fur seals, sea lions, possums, even the always elusive platypus. This young koala was hanging out at Hanson Bay on the southern coast of the island, doing what koalas do — sleeping and occasionally waking up to eat a bit of eucalyptus. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 80mm) ISO 200, f/4.5 at 1/20th of a second.
Coyotes are a fairly regular sighting in Yellowstone. Especially in winter when they seem to be all over the place. This guy had a face full of snow after hunting for whatever it was lurking beneath all that powder. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 155mm) ISO 800, f/3.5 at 1/320th of a second.
Leopards seem to be most safari aficionados’ favorite big cat. And for good reason. They really are fine looking specimens. This one stopped for just a moment to look toward camera. They can be notoriously aloof toward safari vehicles (which is a good thing) but will occasionally acknowledge your presence, if just for a quick, disinterested glance. This lovely lady was photographed in a private concession just outside the Masai Mara in Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.