Monarch Butterflies take part in one of the longest migrations in the world. They travel up to 2,500 miles. Those east of the Rocky Mountains will winter in Mexico, while those west of the Rockies winter along the central California coast. They return to the same exact trees each year — in fir trees in Mexico and in eucalyptus trees in California — even though different butterflies are doing the migrating each year. These particular monarchs are part of the western migration. I photographed them in Pismo Beach, California a few years back, early in the morning when they were still clustered together on tree branches. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second
As mentioned before on this blog, there are a staggering variety of lemurs in Madagascar. Some are strictly nocturnal while others are only active during the day. Then there’s the red-bellied lemur. It is what is known as cathemeral — which means equally active in the day and night. This little guy is a young one that I encountered in the town of Tamatave on the east coast of Madagascar. Nikon D40x with Nikkor 18-55mm lens (at 48mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-600 flash
This is the time of year that chipmunks seem to come out of nowhere. That nowhere is actually hibernation. Much like bears, they spend the cold winter months bedded down in their burrows. This chipmunk was enjoying the warmer weather in Washington’s Olympic National Park. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second
It’s been brought to my attention that today (well, by the time of this posting, yesterday) is World Penguin Day. Couldn’t miss the opportunity to post another of the friendly locals from the Falkland Islands. This is a gentoo penguin, up and at it very early in the morning at Volunteer Point. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/1000th of a second
As I pack my bags for a work trip out to California to shoot a few peanut butter commercials, I was reminded of a similar shot a couple of years back when I had a day off and decided, of course, to go look for wildlife. I was in San Bernardino and I simply looked at the map for green space. This brought me to Box Springs Canyon State Park in Moreno Valley. I didn’t know what I’d find, but was happy to stumble upon the only place in the US where wild burros roam free on anything other than federal land. They were all over the hillsides, as were yellow springtime flowers. For this particular shot, I was hiding (kind of) behind a flowering bush as one of the burros stared back at me. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 280mm) ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/500th of a second
This Asian elephant was enjoying a mid-day dip in a river near Tangkahan National Park in Sumatra. These elephants are the largest land mammals in southeast Asia, although still not quite as big as the African bush elephants. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second
I think this guy is a Parson’s chameleon but not sure. There are quite a few different species of chameleons in Madagascar. In fact, half the world’s 150 different species can be found there. Parson’s chameleons, of which there are two subspecies, are among the largest. They can grow to more than two feet in length. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 80mm), Canon 500D close up filter, ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-600 flash
This lovely beast isn’t actually called a hairy-eared hippo, but he/she is quite obviously a hippo with rather hairy ears. I photographed him/her in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Hippos, of course, are herbivores but still have the reputation of being among the most deadly animals in Africa due to their territorial aggression. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second
This tiny little lion cub kept leaving his mother to get a better look at us. He’d make a bit of a half-hearted charge and then return back to her. We were in the Olare Orok Conservancy which is a private concession on the northern border of the Masai Mara in Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second
Here’s another shot from my recent trip down to Florida, and the town of Cape Coral, which has become well known for its rather conspicuous burrowing owl population. That’s mom in the background to the right. There were actually three almost-full-grown chicks but the third was hidden behind these two siblings. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Monarch Butterflies take part in one of the longest migrations in the world. They travel up to 2,500 miles. Those east of the Rocky Mountains will winter in Mexico, while those west of the Rockies winter along the central California coast. They return to the same exact trees each year — in fir trees in Mexico and in eucalyptus trees in California — even though different butterflies are doing the migrating each year. These particular monarchs are part of the western migration. I photographed them in Pismo Beach, California a few years back, early in the morning when they were still clustered together on tree branches. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second
