This is an eastern mud turtle that I photographed on a trip to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware a few years back. For small creatures like this, I always like to get the camera on the ground if I can to really blur out the foreground and background and isolate the subject.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second

This little guy was full of determination as he watched and tried to emulate mom fishing for silver salmon. Photographed at Lake Clark National Park in Alaska.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/500th of a second

This one goes out to my frog-loving sister Mo who had a big birthday today. A green tree frog, photographed down in Florida at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples. Happy Birthday Mo.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/80th of a second

This sea otter appeared to be clapping — as they often do while cleaning themselves after a meal. This is one of the otters I photographed earlier in the year in Morro Bay, California.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/500th of a second

I have lots of shots of anhingas doing all sorts of things action-oriented. But there was something about this shot of the anhinga just resting in the forest that I liked better. Taken early one morning in Corkscrew Swamp in Naples Florida while visiting my mother a few years ago.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/100th of a second

I spent the last two days out on Cape Cod visiting my Dad. He likes the seals — and I don’t take much convincing — so we headed out to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge to take a look. This is just one of the many seals we encountered. The latin name for the gray seal is Halichoerus grypus, which means hooked nosed sea pig. I can kind of see that.
Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second

Mountain goat kids always look like they have a bit of a smile on their faces. These two were taking a quick break from their mountaintop frolicking, allowing me a quick photo or two.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/6400th of a second

This Florida box turtle was eyeing me cautiously as I got down on the ground for a quick portrait. I was in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, on my never ending — and most likely never-to-be-realized — search for a Florida panther. We all have our dreams. In the meantime, enjoy the turtle.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in Florida is one of the top birding spots in the country. You’re never quite sure what might show up. On this particular evening, it was white pelicans. They were picturesquely resting on a sandbar as the sun set. I took a lot of close ups, but liked this image at a bit of a wider focal length, allowing the birds to be just part of the composition.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/160th of a second