I had always heard about the diminutive key deer that live in the southern part of the Florida Keys, but on previous trips to the area I had never gotten around to searching them out. This weekend I finally decided to see what they were all about. They are a subspecies of the white-tailed deer and true to the billing, they are small — the smallest deer in North America — but they didn’t really seem all that much smaller than the regular-sized white-tailed deer that we get in the rest of the country. Still, it was fun to hang out with these two for about twenty minutes or so as they curiously observed me before going back to eating grass. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 35mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/800th of a second
Just back from a work trip to Miami. I was able to fit in a very quick visit to a friend in the Keys and then my mother on the Gulf coast. Just north of where she lives is the town of Cape Coral. Cape Coral is known for it’s proximity to great beaches. And for its owls. The town is home to Florida’s largest population of burrowing owls. These pint-sized locals can be found throughout the town, burrowing in the side yards of suburban homes. This chick was one of three siblings. He/she was calling to the others while keeping an eye on my camera. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second
Here’s another look at the masked palm civet that I met near my campsite in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand. He was creeping around behind a hill, no doubt wondering what all those smells were coming from the camp kitchen. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/18 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units
Quolls were my favorite animals from my Tasmania trip last year. I saw two species, the spotted quoll, and this guy, the eastern quoll (although, as you can see, he is also nicely spotted). Quolls are carnivorous marsupials, like Tasmanian devils, and are almost strictly nocturnal. The eastern quoll comes in two colors — a dark brown, almost black like this guy and more of a lighter beige color. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 500, f/6.3 at 1/200th of a second, Nikon SB-900 flash off camera and on a tripod to my right
There are quite a few species of bulbuls — 130 or so — spread across Africa, the Middle East and tropical Asia. I photographed this guy, the flavescent bulbul, in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand. Flavescent means yellowish, an accurate description for this yellow and grey bird. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second
Just a simple shot of a black bear resting in a tree. This was taken at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Orr, Minnesota. These bears are wild, but food is put out in the forest to attract them to the research center. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 130mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/160th of a second
This is the only mongoose lemur that I saw while in Madagascar. They are listed as critically endangered due to continued habitat loss and the fragmentation of that which remains. 80% of their population has disappeared in the last 25 years. Unfortunately, if this trend continues they don’t stand much of a chance for survival in the wild. Thus is the plight, however, of most lemur species in Madagascar. Still, it is the country I most want to go back to. Partly because I want to see all that I can before it’s gone. But also because it’s one of the most beguiling and unique places on earth — it truly feels like nowhere else. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units
Also known as the lined shore crab, this handsome purple and green crab ranges from Vancouver Island down to Baja California in Mexico. They can also be found in the Western Pacific in both Korea and Japan. I photographed this one in the town of Moss Landing in California at Elkhorn Slough. Elkhorn Slough is also a great place for sea otters, sea lions and harbor seals. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/15th of a second
I’ve posted a few shots of this guy before, sometimes referred to as the Sulawesi dwarf cuscus and sometimes the small Sulawesi cuscus. The point is, it’s small, it’s a cuscus and it’s from Sulawesi. This photo shows the opposable claws — the three on the left that oppose the two on the right and enable the cuscus a firm grip while climbing trees. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/50th of a second
This is one of those creatures — like many reptiles — that gets a lot of names, creating some confusion for a guy like me who attempts to be as accurate as possible with these daily posts. I believe, although I could be wrong, that this is the lizard classified as Calotes Emma. If so, it goes by the common names of Emma Gray’s forest lizard, crested forest lizard, Emma Gray’s crested forest lizard, or spiny-headed forest lizard. The Emma Gray part of the name, is in honor of English conchologist Maria Emma Gray, who’s husband named said lizard. And if you’re wondering what a conchologist is, well, one who studies conchs, of course. But back to the lizard — this one was photographed on a hike in the Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/80th of a second
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I had always heard about the diminutive key deer that live in the southern part of the Florida Keys, but on previous trips to the area I had never gotten around to searching them out. This weekend I finally decided to see what they were all about. They are a subspecies of the white-tailed deer and true to the billing, they are small — the smallest deer in North America — but they didn’t really seem all that much smaller than the regular-sized white-tailed deer that we get in the rest of the country. Still, it was fun to hang out with these two for about twenty minutes or so as they curiously observed me before going back to eating grass.
