May can be a great time to visit Yellowstone National Park because you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get and it can change drastically from one moment to the next. Back in 2011, I visited later in the month and at times it felt like summer, at times winter, and on this morning, somewhere in-between. Frost and light snow was covering the landscape as the day began but by mid-day the sun was bright and the hills were green with new growth. And, of course, the great thing about Yellowstone is, when the conditions are right, there are always a few bison around willing and able to walk into the middle of the scene. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
This one goes out to Chappy, the gray seal pup found mysteriously wandering around the city streets of New Haven a few weeks ago. He was exhausted and dehydrated when Mystic Aquarium took him in and did their best to nurse him back to health. He was showing signs of improvement but sadly took a turn for the worse and it was announced today that he didn’t make it. Gray seals are natives of the New England coastline. I photographed this one off the shores of Cape Cod. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second.
Another one from back in the day. I captured this image of Atlantic puffins on my first visit to Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine. It’s an interesting place, and a disputed territory between the United States and Canada. We say it’s part of Maine. They say it’s part of New Brunswick. Canada owns the lighthouse on the island. Maine runs birdwatching tours and maintains a series of hides that allow for close encounters with nesting puffins, razorbills and other sea birds. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 160mm) ISO 100, f/4 at 1/2000th of a second.
I haven’t been up to check on the camera trap in a while because of all the ice. But the bobcat has been up checking on it, or at least walking around in front of it. And leaving no prints on that hard, crusty surface of the snow. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 20mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/250th of a second, Cognisys camera box, remote trigger and flash units.
I photographed this distracted hoary marmot years ago while I was hiking in the alpine tundra of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/1250th of a second.
I went up to check on my camera trap Tuesday night on my birthday and discovered a rare northeastern ring-tailed lemur doing its thing. Thanks for the surprise Karen Crane. Back to our regularly scheduled wild sightings tomorrow.
Here’s one for the insect fans. Eastern lubbers are common throughout the southeastern United States. They are very large and colorful grasshoppers and if you’ve spent any amount of time in the south, you’ve probably come across one or two. I found these two in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Florida. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens, ISO 1600, f/3.2 at 1/500th of a second.
I’ve seen less opossums up at my camera trap this year. This one was from 2021 when they were regularly crossing the fallen ash tree most nights. 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 flash units.
It seemed like a good day for a frog. I took this one quite a few years ago in southern Indiana at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus 5.6 lens, ISO 200, f/11 at .8 seconds.
It was a hot day in Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge, California when I spotted this side-blotched lizard basking in the sun. These guys can be quite colorful depending on the morph and stage of development. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
May can be a great time to visit Yellowstone National Park because you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get and it can change drastically from one moment to the next. Back in 2011, I visited later in the month and at times it felt like summer, at times winter, and on this morning, somewhere in-between. Frost and light snow was covering the landscape as the day began but by mid-day the sun was bright and the hills were green with new growth. And, of course, the great thing about Yellowstone is, when the conditions are right, there are always a few bison around willing and able to walk into the middle of the scene. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
