I’ve posted a few shots of leatherback hatchlings making their mad dash to the sea. Those previous posts have been from a ground level perspective. This one was from a bit higher, allowing me to capture that first taste of freedom. With vultures and other predators on the beach (and more obstacles in the water) survival is a numbers game for all sea turtles. Here’s hoping this little guy will survive the gauntlet and make it another 50 years or so. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second
More Tasmania. I can’t help it. It really was a great trip. In this photo, it appears as if these two forester kangaroos have come to some sort of a mutual agreement and have just closed a deal. I love photographing kangaroos because they have so much personality and you never know what they might do next. This is another one from Narawntapu National Park on the northern coast. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second
Much like the magnificent frigatebird and the resplendent quetzal, the superb fairy wren is a rather immodestly named bird. You can see why, however, with its bright blue feathers and upright tail. It is actually a fairly common bird in many parts of Australia but still a treat to see and photograph. I encountered this one in Narawntapu National Park on the northern coast of Tasmania. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/4000th of a second
I took many pictures of wombats on my trip to Tasmania. Many of those shots were taken with my fisheye and wide angle lenses, showing the wombat in its environment. Others were taken with the sun’s rays spilling over the horizon with beautifully colored clouds in the background. But with an animal as endearing as a wombat, sometimes a simple, straightforward portrait is all it takes. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second
I thought I’d start 2016 with a look back at my favorite ten images from 2015. My daily posts aren’t always from the current year, but these ten were all captured in 2015. Overall it was a good year, highlighted by the big trip to Tasmania in October. 2015 also took me to the Florida panhandle, the Caribbean islands of Barbados and Trinidad, the front range of Colorado, and the two spectacular national parks in Wyoming.
12. Well, let’s make it a top twelve so I can include a few from earlier in the year and not make it all about the Tasmanian shots I’ve posted lately. This deer was photographed from about six inches away with my fisheye lens back in January.
11. Karen and I took a weekend trip to Barbados back in April. It was great to get underwater to photograph sea turtles. But I also had a lot of fun with the ghost crabs that kept tossing dirt before scurrying back into their holes.
10. Okay, now the top ten, starting with a recent post from Tasmania, boxing forester kangaroos at sunset.
9. Also from Tasmania, a green rosella munching on a purple thistle weed.
8. At number 8, a similar shot to the one I posted on Christmas. A flock of scarlet ibis in flight over a swamp in Trinidad.
7. Another one here from Tasmania — the white wallaby with brown joey.
6. At 6 is my new favorite animal, the eastern quoll.
5. The 5th favorite shot of the year is a tufted coquette hummingbird from Trinidad.
4. This little wombat was photographed in Coles Bay, Tasmania.
3. The 3rd best shot comes from my summer trip to Mount Evans in Colorado.
2. At number 2 is a leatherback hatchling racing toward the ocean at Grande Riviere Beach in Trinidad.
1. And my favorite shot of the year is this young Tasmanian devil emerging from the darkness. Happy New Year everyone.
This mountain goat looks a bit spent after climbing to the top of the mountain. All I had to do was drive. Mount Evans in Colorado is the highest paved road in North America, and also happens to be one of the best places in the country to reliably see mountain goats. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second
A Bennett’s wallaby joey taking a peak at the world from the comfort of mama’s pouch. You might remember the white wallaby I posted recently. This is the same species in the more common brown color. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/125th of a second
Here’s another kind-of-Christmass-y shot. When you enter the town of Olney, Illinois, you’re greeted by a sign that says welcome to the home of the white squirrels. The little guy above is one of those famous locals. I actually saw quite a few of them running around Olney’s suburban streets. This guy was munching on some twigs and berries in a park in the town center. You can see that he has blue eyes and isn’t a true albino, but rather a color variant of the grey squirrel. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Still feeling a big Christmas-y and this little saw whet owl seemed appropriate. Hope everyone had a great holiday. I photographed this guy a few years ago just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Northern saw whet owls are very small and full grown adults average only about 7 to 8 inches long. I also appreciated how much this particular saw whet owl looks like Saul Berenson from Showtime’s Homeland. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/100th of a second
A couple of shots from the Caroni Swamp in Trinidad to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Doesn’t get much more red and green than this. I visited Trinidad earlier this year and spent an afternoon watching these amazingly bright red ibis return from their day of feeding along the northern coast of Venezuela to their nighttime roosting spot in Trinidad. Still haven’t figured out WordPress issue with my photos, so please click image for full size, sharper view. Thanks. Happy Holidays. Top Shot: Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1000, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Bottom Shot: Nikon D800 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 105) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
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I’ve posted a few shots of leatherback hatchlings making their mad dash to the sea. Those previous posts have been from a ground level perspective. This one was from a bit higher, allowing me to capture that first taste of freedom. With vultures and other predators on the beach (and more obstacles in the water) survival is a numbers game for all sea turtles. Here’s hoping this little guy will survive the gauntlet and make it another 50 years or so.
