There are so many bat species out in the world that they can be hard to identify. I think this is a species of leaf-nosed bat. Photographed in a cave in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO
When I was first getting into camera trapping, I kept reading articles about how to avoid capturing so many shots of mice. Along with birds, however, they’ve been one of my favorite surprises and I look forward to their consistent appearances on my camera cards. Fallen ash trees in my back woods create quite a world for them to scurry around on, over, and under. Even though this shot only illuminates the bottom of a fallen tree, I get a sense of it being an environmental image of the deer mouse’s world. 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 flashes.
The Pantanal of Brazil — the world’s largest flooded grassland and tropical wetland — has seen devastating fires over the last few years, almost all of which can be attributed to slash and burn farming and the weakening of environmental protections under the Bolsonaro administration. The Pantanal is one of the most wildlife-rich places on earth, compounding the disaster caused by the fires. I was there in better days back in 2010 when the jaguars, capybaras, caiman, monkeys and river otters had 30% more unburned land to roam around in. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
As I mentioned recently, squirrels are by far the most common visitors to my camera traps. Here are a few action shots, one from back in April and one from a few weeks ago.
Top Shot: Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second.
Bottom Shot: Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 20mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/200th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor, and remote flashes.
Usually when an elk wanders into frame it’s a good thing. In this case, not so much. I was in Zion National Park and caught this gray fox early in the morning, posing on several fallen trees before heading out to hunt for voles. As for the elk, she stuck around for a few shots where she was the center of attention. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 3200, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.
The nose-horned chameleon is very small (they average 1 to 2.5 inches in length). Not a lot is known about this species. I came across this one on a night hike in Ranomafana National Park in central Madagascar. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 105mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 400, f/20 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.
A northern cardinal dropped in for a visit today. The birds are always a nice surprise when they show up at the camera trap. 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 flashes.
I see a family of raccoons just about every night in my backyard, giving me time to try different lighting at my camera trap. The strongest light in this image is coming from behind the log, but I also have two other reduced-power flashes hanging from tree branches to the right and in front of the raccoon. Now I just need to get her posing with her two young. 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 flash units.
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating — you have to see an albatross to appreciate an albatross. They’re that big. This black-browed albatross was doing her best to see herself in the front element of my wide-angle lens. Photographed on Saunders Island in the Falklands.Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/250th of a second.
Can never have too many dancing bear posts. This time polar bears wasting time while they wait for the Hudson Bay to freeze over so they can go hunt seals. Photographed at Seal River in Manitoba, Canada. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.