Bornean Bearded Piglet
These Bornean bearded piglets had yet to grow their namesake beards. I was on the ground snapping away with my long lens when they came closer and closer. I quickly swapped out lenses to my wide angle and got a few shots before they continued on their way. Bearded pigs like to follow orangutans through the forest, hoping to clean up the scraps left on the forest floor after meals. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/500th of a second.
Coquerel’s Sifaka
A Coquerel’s sifaka lemur eyes the next branch to leap to. Like most lemurs, they are quite acrobatic as they move through the forest. Coquerel’s sifakas live in the dry forests of Western Madagascar where I photographed this one in Ankarafantsika National Park. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-600 flash.
Long-Billed Curlew
The long-billed curlew is a large wading bird, so it was odd to see one so far from a coastline (this photo was taken in the Badlands of South Dakota). But as it turns out, these birds range far into the interior of the country during breeding season. That impressively long bill comes in handy when foraging for earthworms, mollusks, and crabs. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 400, f/9 at 1/400th of a second.
Platypus
The platypus is a prized sighting in Australia. I was lucky to see this one on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. There were a series of small water holes in a heavily wooded area, thus the dark reflections on the surface of the water. Certainly one of the more interesting animals I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. The platypus is the only species in its own unique genus. They are one of two types of monotremes — along with the echidnas — distinguished by being mammals that lay eggs. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/100th of a second.