We came across this leopard on our first game drive last week. She had been resting in a fallen tree all afternoon before getting up to go on a night hunt. More on this leopard, her one-year old cub, and her cub’s pet pangolin coming up.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 75mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second
Got back from my honeymoon tonight and just started to download all the pictures. It’ll be a while before I have everything organized and processed but here’s one that I liked from the Botswana portion of the trip. It was early in the morning so I wasn’t working with much light. Eight spotted hyenas were romping through a wetland area of the Linyanti Concession in the northern part of the country. The night before, they had stolen an impala kill from a leopard and the hyena on the right was playing keep away with the horns. Many more pics from Botswana to come, including a first for me — a pangolin. Also, many pics from Greece on the way.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/100th of a second
As of today, there are more than 700 subscribers that tune in each morning to view my daily posts. Of those, there are bird fans, orangutan fans, landscape fans. But today, it’s not about feathers vs. fur because today, after 48 years, I’m getting married. Today, it’s all about Karen. So please allow me this one indulgence to post a photo of the woman who will be by my side for all that comes next. We’re off to Greece Monday morning, followed by a safari in Botswana. Stay tuned for new photos upon our return in three weeks.
This sea otter appears to be having a rough morning out on the open water of Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, California. Either that, or it’s just giving its head a good cleaning after munching on a feast of clams and mussels.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second
It was just after sunset when we spotted these two little bat eared fox pups. Their mother had just left the den, presumably to go catch some dinner. The pups were staying pretty close to the den but were playing around, having a good old time while mom was away.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/125th of a second
This one goes out to all my fellow Cheshire High Rams that I had such a good time with last Saturday night at our 30 year reunion. Cheshire, being in Connecticut, doesn’t have any real bighorn sheep among its residents — Wyoming, on the other hand, where this photo was taken, has plenty to go around. Enjoy, and see you all at the next reunion.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second
Some of you might remember a horizontal photo of horseshoe crabs spawning on the beach that I posted a while back. Here’s another shot from that night I was in Cape May, New Jersey. The horseshoe crabs spawn during the month of May at high tide. Full and new moons bring the greatest number of crabs ashore.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/20 at 13 seconds, graduated neutral density filter
Since my trip to Minnesota in late June it seems like I’ve been posting a black bear pic each week. No reason not to keep the streak going. I love the way these two cinnamon colored black bears look almost bald on their faces as their cinnamon coat gives way to the more traditional black fur around their eyes, forehead and cheeks.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second
Nice form and hang time for this male impala as he leaped out of a forested area and onto the plains of Laikipia in Kenya.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second
Just a simple portrait of a red-capped cardinal for today. These guys are fairly common in the Pantanal of Brazil where I took this shot. Apologies to the non-bird fans. Back tomorrow with fur.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second