African Savanna Hare
We were heading to dinner while in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Kenya when we spotted this African savanna hare behind our tent. It was well past sunset, but the lights from the nearby pathway and dining area were enough to illuminate the scene. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 12800, f/5.6 at 1/30th of a second.
Young Elephant
Always fun when an elephant suddenly appears out of the bushes. This was a relatively young elephant, intent on crossing the road just as we were driving past, but allowing me to use a wide angle lens to grab a few photos. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 30.5mm) ISO 360, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
Black-Backed Jackals
Black-backed jackals are the most common canid we see on our Africa trips. That said, it’s not as if they’re all over the place — always nice to get a few sightings. They are often encountered in pairs. These two were getting a good look at us before getting back to their search for food. They are hunters as well as scavengers and will often try to boldly annoy a lion off a kill. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
Baby Snapping Turtle
This little snapping turtle couldn’t have been more than a couple of inches in length. It was crossing the trail I was hiking on this past week in Westerly, Rhode Island. I dropped down to the ground for a few shots before it disappeared into the bushes, presumably on its way to a water source. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.
American Goldfinches
Just back from a week in Rhode Island that was more about visiting family and friends (and attending my niece’s wedding) than anything else, but I did manage to squeeze in some wildlife time too. Goldfinches seemed to be everywhere on a few short hikes I took in the Avondale section of Westerly. The wildflowers were in full bloom providing a nice setting for all the activity. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.
Topi And Tree at Sunrise
This will be the only post this week as Karen and I will be off to my niece’s wedding for a few days. Always nice when the animals move to the ridge line, especially with dramatic sunrise clouds. Topi are a common antelope on the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 90mm) ISO 110, f/2.8 at 1/500th of a second.
Grant’s Gazelle
We see two types of gazelle on our Africa trips — the Thomson’s and the Grant’s. The Grant’s are much larger and have a few more physical characteristics that distinguish them, such as a white patch on their rump that extends above the tail (just in case you were wondering). This Grant’s was photographed in the early morning in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Laikipia, Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 250, f/2.8 at 1/1600th of a second.