There are about thirty species of parrot in the genus Amazona, collectively known as the Amazon parrots. They are medium sized parrots with short tails and predominantly green feathers with areas of bright coloration. They range from South America up into Mexico and the Caribbean islands. This is the Festive Amazon, photographed in Guyana on my recent trip. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 2200, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
In less than a month now we’ll be back in Kenya hoping to have a few more encounters like this particular morning in Samburu National Reserve. I was able to use my inverted monopod/remote trigger technique to get the camera on the ground with a relatively wide lens. And of course stay safe from one of the most powerful creatures on earth. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 59mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.
The spotted puffbird ranges throughout a large swath of northern South America. There are about 34 species of puffbird. They get their name due to the habit of puffing their feathers out while perched. This one was photographed in the Rupununi region of Guyana. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
The city skyline can be seen in the distance on a moody afternoon as a zebra trots across the savanna in Nairobi National Park. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.
I saw three different species of owl while in Guyana. This is a subspecies of the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus pallidicaudus) which occurs in Venezuela, Guyana and Surinam. Photographed in the Rupununi region in the southern interior of the country. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.
This spectacled caiman was catching the last rays of the day, surfacing in front of a dark cliff in the Rupununi of Guyana. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 560, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
Here’s another look at the Victoria Amazonica lily pads in the Rupununi of Guyana, but this time with a bit of reference. You can see the pink flowers have already opened up before it got dark. The white flowers were just starting to open and would be fully open when it was fully dark. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-70 f/2.8 lens, ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.
Here’s another shot of a scarlet ibis from my Guyana trip. This location was just outside the capital city of Georgetown. Every night, scarlet ibis, snowy egrets and other shorebirds congregate along the mud flats, searching for a late dinner before roosting in the nearby trees. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 220, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.