The five acres that our home sits on have provided many photo ops this past year. Here’s to even more in 2021. Happy Holidays to all.

I took this shot the old fashioned way earlier in October. This is one of two cubs that were regulars in our yard (with their mother) for most of the summer and up until a few weeks ago. The cubs would quite often climb up and down trees as they passed through while Mom patiently waited for them to have their fun. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.

Although not quite as common as some of the other birds that visit my backyard, these Carolina wrens were quite active back in October when my camera trap captured this image. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/11 at 1/160th of a second.

White-tailed deer have taken over the back woods now that the bears have (for the most part) cleared out for the season. This young female has become a regular. I wanted to create a different perspective so I put my camera on the ground in one of her favorite spots. She walked past in the perfect position with her eye visible and in focus. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/160th of a second, Cognisys camera box, remote trigger and flashes.

Always nice to capture images of a new species. I’ve seen flying squirrels on a few occasions but never photographed one. Although common, they are rarely seen as they are strictly nocturnal and shy. Last night I was walking around the woods behind my house with a headlamp when I saw this little guy running up and down a tree trunk, and then gliding from one tree to another. Quite a sight to see at close range. They are so silent as they move through the forest. Now I just need to figure out how to capture a shot of one gliding through the air. There are two types of flying squirrel in Connecticut, the southern and the northern. The southern are much more widespread in the state. I’m pretty sure that’s what this guy is, although it’s tough to distinguish one from the other. They’re about the size of a chipmunk but appear larger when their loose skin is expanded for flight. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/8 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-900 flash.

My camera trap captured this image back in early October. I still see the opossums rummaging around the yard, although not as active as a few months ago. The lack of hair on their tails, feet and ears makes them susceptible to frostbite so they spend the colder days hunkered down in their dens. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 20mm) ISO 400, f/11 at 3 seconds, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flashes.

A river otter emerges through a hole in the ice with an afternoon snack. Photographed at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/6.3 at 1/500th of a second.

Here’s one from my trip to Alaska a few years back. The brown bears were hunting salmon at low tide where the water from a river emptied into the ocean. Salmon are known as anadromous, meaning they can exist in both fresh and salt water. They spend their first few years in fresh before moving out to sea. Then they head back when it’s time to spawn. The bears were putting on quite a show as they charged after their breakfast. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second.

Here’s another one from the backyard trap. Unfortunately, my hidden backlight wasn’t working for this exposure, but the raccoon was looking toward the single flash coming from the side so it worked out nicely. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/14 at 1/250th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flash.