This striated caracara (locally known as a Johnny Rook) was guarding a gentoo penguin egg it had snatched from a nearby colony. With that little curve at the end of its beak, the caracaras struggled with actually cracking the egg and would end up rolling them up and down the beach before finally breaking through. Photographed on Saunders Island in the Falklands. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
I’m just going to put this one out there and well… nature works in mysterious ways. That sac, shall we call it, under the chin is actually known as a cheek pouch and is used for storing food. You never know when you might need a snack. Function over style when it comes to the stump-tailed macaque. Photographed near Kaeng Krachan National Park on the Malay Peninsula of Thailand. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.
The Somali ostrich was considered a subspecies of the common ostrich as recently as 2014 but has since been designated as a distinct species. Their conservation status is listed as “Vulnerable” due to hunting for meat, medicinal products and eggs, as well as a general lack of conservation efforts in several of the countries in which they still live. Males like this one have a blue neck and legs that becomes even more blue during mating season. Photographed in Samburu in Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
Raccoon fact of the day — it isn’t a sense of sight or smell that makes a raccoon a stealthy nocturnal forager, but rather touch. In fact, the part of the brain that is responsible for sensory function is dedicated overwhelmingly to tactile impulses — a full two thirds, which is more than any other known animal. I know I post a lot of raccoons, but that’s who likes to come visit at night. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flash units.
Where there are buffalo, there are oxpeckers. They enjoy a symbiotic relationship. The cape buffalo has a dedicated bug zapper and the red-billed oxpecker has a lunch buffet. This one was taken in the Masai Mara of Kenya on my January 2020 trip. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
This is what late springtime can look like in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This image was taken while I was driving from one park to the next several years ago in late May. Happy New Year everyone. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.
I let the local robins know that it’s okay to start taking down the holiday ornaments. A flock of them happily obliged, dining on the holly berries in our side yard this afternoon. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.
It’s not always easy being a lemur. At least not by the look of this ring-tailed’s body language. These lemurs love the sun and come out to bask in it every morning in southern Madagascar. So in this case, looks are likely deceiving. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/4.5 at 1/640th of a second.
Wombats spend the majority of their waking hours eating. And all they eat is grass. They are so focused on the task of munching down as much as they possibly can that it can be a challenge to photograph them with their heads up. So for this image, I got below the grass. Photographed at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.
The best ornaments find their own trees. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone. This is the same saw-whet owl I posted a few weeks ago, spotted by Jackson Staley while shopping for a Christmas tree with his Dad. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/80th of a second.