This is the fantastic leaf tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus), also known as the satanic leaf tailed gecko. I kind of think the latter name is a bit more apropos. Of course, fantastic or satanic, the “leaf tailed” part of the name is quite evident in this photo. We met in Madagascar’s Ranomafana National Park late one evening.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 200, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-800 flash units
This is a western grebe, the largest of the many species of grebe. I photographed this one in Moss Landing, California at a place called Elkhorn Slough. In addition to the occasional grebe, Elkhorn Slough is also a great place to see sea otters, harbor seals and sea lions.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second
Jackrabbits can be formidable beasts. This one seems to be doing its best to display its impressive physique, like a dog at Westminster. When running, they almost look like mini antelopes bounding through the desert.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second
Late spring in Wyoming can mean any kind of weather. A sudden blizzard moved through the area as I drove from Yellowstone down to Grand Teton National Park. These two female elk didn’t seem to mind one way or the other.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second
I caught this leatherback hatchling, enveloped in a wave, just as it was about to get swept out to sea. Here’s to hoping the rest of the journey is as successful as the initial dash from the nest to the ocean. As with all my photos over the last couple of weeks, click for a much larger view.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/500th of a second
I believe this to be a lizard in the Gonocephalus genus, commonly known as an angelhead lizard. This is another one from Sumatra in Indonesia and it was photographed just outside the front door of my bungalow.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/60th of a second
After a morning of carrying tourists through the jungle, this Asia elephant was enjoying a refreshing bath in the river water at Tangkahan in Sumatra, Indonesia. These elephants are apparently very well cared for and form deep bonds with their handlers. At least that’s what I was told, and I didn’t see any evidence to suggest otherwise.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 125mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second
I had a request for a moose today, so here she is. This one was taken back in July of 2008 at Sandy Stream Pond in Baxter State Park in Maine. The moose was feeding on the nutrient rich vegetation on the bottom of the pond.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second
After the last two posts, I thought it was time to celebrate the good that is happening in the world of wildlife conservation. In the middle part of the last century, river otters were extinct in Indiana due to overhunting. In 1995, a dozen or so otters were reintroduced to the state at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. Ten years later the river otter was removed from the state’s endangered species list and today otters are thriving in over 87 percent of Indiana’s counties, far surpassing the original goal. This guy was photographed several winters ago at Muscatatuck, sitting on the surface of a frozen lake after catching a fish.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens with Nikon TC-1.4 teleconverter (total of 550mm) ISO 800, f/7.1 at 1/320th of a second
Thanks for all the comments yesterday. It’s quite evident that people like the Minnesota dentist are an exception rather than the rule. I don’t want to belabor the point, but one of the things that disturbed me most about the story was a photo of the hunter with a rhino kill. Rhinos are critically endangered. They are in much more dire straits than lions and on the brink of extinction. Especially black rhinos. Karen and I had the pleasure of meeting quite a few white and black rhinos at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya a few years ago. This is a mother black rhinoceros with her calf. Here’s to places like Lewa that are doing their best to prolong the survival of these amazing animals.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 130mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/13th of a second