I photographed many elephant seals over the past fifteen years or so, both the southern and northern species. This bull, a northern elephant seal, was one of the first I captured. It was a glorious morning in Año Nuevo State Park in California and being early in the season, this guy had the beach to himself. Of course, that meant no females around to impress yet either. In another few weeks the beach would be full of seals, fighting for territorial and mating rights. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 75mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.

A juvenile bull moose stands in front of a mountain landscape in Chugach State Park just outside of Anchorage, Alaska. During the fall rut, Chugach is a great place to see moose battling for mating rights. This youngster wasn’t quite old enough to mix it up with the big boys just yet and was staying clear of the action up on a hillside. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 116mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/3200th of a second.

While watering the lawn today, Karen spotted three tiny — I mean really tiny — little cottontail rabbits. They were about the size of a baseball and looked more like mice than rabbits. This one seemed to be enjoying the wet grass and cool breeze right in front of our house. Karen, of course, wouldn’t leave until she knew all three were safe from the ever-present red-tailed hawks. For now, mission accomplished as they eventually scrambled back into the bushes from whence they came. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.

In lieu of any significant action at my camera trap, I decided to use a little trickery and combine two exposures to pose with the fawn who has been one of my only customers thus far. I did get the left arm and butt cheek of a black bear two nights ago, but little else to speak of. But I am determined so stay tuned. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 28mm) ISO 640, f/8 at 1/60th of a second, Cognisys Cam-Box, Trail Monitor and flash units.

It’s been a few weeks but the excitement returned today as a mother black bear and her two cubs spent some time in our front yard. The cubs must have been lost and waiting for the mom to find them as they hid in a tree. I actually saw the mom first as she came through the woods in the backyard and eventually down the hill to reunite with the cubs (which I didn’t see until they went running to the mom). Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second (top shot) and 1/1000th of a second (bottom shot).

A couple of weeks ago, I tried camera trapping for the first time. It’s been a slow start while I learn the ins and outs of my new gear. I know there’s a lot of wildlife in the woods surrounding my home, but getting animals in the exact spot I want has been a challenge. Finally, yesterday afternoon, I had my first remote encounter as a white-tailed fawn came to visit. This was the first frame of nine that were fired off while the deer drank at a nearby creek. I’m hoping this is a spot that other, more exotic species might also use from time to time. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/80th of a second, Cognisys camera trap box, trigger and flashes.

A harbor seal does a dry run on the beach in La Jolla, California. Harbor seals are the most widespread of all the pinnipeds (which include the walruses, eared seals, and true seals). They come in many color varieties — brown, silver, white, black and can be more uniformly colored or spotted. Their range extends throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 260mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/2000th of a second

Been awhile since I went pure landscape (although there are some gulls way back there on the distant rocks). This one is from Pacific Grove just south of Monterey, California. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm), graduated neutral density filter, ISO 200, f/20 at 1/5th of a second.

Eastern bluebirds are a common sight in my backyard but they generally don’t allow me to get too close. Last month I posted a female. Here’s the male (with the much brighter plumage). Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.