Another scene from the shores of the Pantanal in Brazil. This is a chestnut-eared aracari enjoying a bit of a floral snack. Aracaris have toucan-like beaks and are always a great sighting when visiting Central and South America. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second.

One of the least known herons, the capped heron is a water bird of the Amazon rainforest and surrounding area. I photographed this one in the Pantanal of Brazil. It was the only one that I saw in my time in Brazil. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/125th of a second.

When you’re the main food source for the top predators of a region, you tend to be a bit cautious. These capybaras we’re taking their time about entering the murky waters of the Yucama River in Bolivia. No telling if a caiman was just below the surface waiting for breakfast. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/5 at 1/125th of a second.

During the wet season, the crab-eating fox searches for crabs out on the muddy floodplains of central South America. Thus the name. This crab-eating fox, however, was looking for something a bit different — no doubt attracted to the smells coming from the lodge I was staying at in the Pantanal of Brazil. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 105mm) ISO 200, f/10 at 1/60th of a second. Two Nikon SB-800 flash units.

I photographed this turquoise-fronted Amazon parrot in northern Brazil in the wild. That said, they are a very common pet species and this one allowed me a very close approach. It varies from bird to bird, but some turquoise-fronted Amazons are excellent at talking. All of them like to sing. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.

I had some nice late-day light when this giant river otter swam past my boat in the Pantanal of Brazil. Unlike most other members of the mustelid family, these otters are highly social and live in large groups — sometimes as many as twenty individuals, although usually about eight or so. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens and 1.4 teleconverter (for 550mm) ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.

This giant river otter was swimming in a shadowy area along the banks of a tributary in the Pantanal of Brazil, with just hints of the bright sun sneaking through. I was able to close down the aperture a few stops of light to get the face properly exposed while the rest of the image went dark.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second

The giant river otter, or simply giant otter, is the largest member of the weasel family (also known as mustelids). They can grow to six feet in length and are very imposing creatures when seen out of the water like this, resting on a riverbank. This shot also shows off the characteristic white patch on the chest of the giant otter. Photo taken from a boat while searching for jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second

Lots going on in the background of this one but it all seems to work with that light coming across the trogon’s face. As I’ve mentioned before, I love photographing trogons and have captured images of quite a few species of them across the globe from South and Central America to Southeast Asia. This one, the collared trogon was spotted in the Hyacinth Valley of Brazil.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (with 1.4x teleconverter for 460mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/1000th of a second

The hepatic tanager can be a very, very red bird. This one was hanging around the fruiting trees near the lodge I was staying at in the Hyacinth Valley of Brazil.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens and 1.4 teleconverter (for 550mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1//250th of a second, Nikon SB-900 flash