I had one morning in Lake Clark National Park that produced a bit of color in the sky. Luckily it coincided with low tide when the bears were out in the shallow water fishing for silver salmon. I liked the pastel hues of this particular image as a mother bear snagged another snack.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/200th of a second
The Baird’s tapir is the largest land mammal in Central America. They can grow to over eight feet in length and weigh almost 900 pounds. This one was a big male that I photographed crossing a river in Corcovado National Park in south western Costa Rica.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 175mm) ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/60th of a second
The masked lapwing, a native of Australia, is very similar to the wattled lapwing, which I’ve seen several times in Africa. This guy was spotted in Lauceston, Tasmania at a place called Cataract Gorge. Cataract Gorge is a popular recreation area for locals and these birds are quite common at picnic sites and other open grassy areas.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/50th of a second
While mom was out fishing, these two young siblings were showing each other a bit of affection. Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/4000th of a second
Here’s another look at one of the bull moose that I saw in Chugach State Park in Anchorage. Of the three males that I watched going after the one female, this guy seemed to have the best chance of success.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second
Three gentoo penguins casting long shadows across the beach on Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 35mm) ISO 400, f/9 at 1/320th of a second
As I mentioned last week, when the brown bears weren’t fishing, they were in the open fields of sedge grass filling up on their vegetables. I was worried going to Alaska so late in the season and not having the nice green grass to frame the bears. That said, I really liked the bright yellow fields with patches of green mixed in. This cub doesn’t exactly look like a cub without the reference of mom being nearby, but the little guy was a yearling cub, getting ready for his second hibernation.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second
Here’s another keel-billed toucan from my Panama trip last year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — nothing says Central American tropics like the keel-billed toucan. Also known as the rainbow billed toucan, for obvious reasons.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/320th of a second
After three straight weeks of Alaska photos, figured it’s about time to start mixing in a few from around the world (although plenty more to come from Alaska). One thing that I noticed when photographing the brown bear cubs in all their autumnal fullness, is how much they reminded me of the wombats that I photographed in Tasmania. Big brown, furry balls, waddling across the ground eating as much grass as they possibly could. So here’s one of those wombats, doing its thing to keep the lawn mowed on Maria Island, just off the southeast coast of Tasmania.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 28mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/160th of a second
This red fox was quite a hunter. We saw it it stalk and catch about four voles in about ten minutes. Great for the fox, not so great for the voles. He/she was one of two foxes that we saw in and around the lodge at Silver Salmon Creek in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second