This pronghorn was quite relaxed as the sun was setting behind him. He allowed me a fairly close approach and I was able to get down on the ground for this photo. Always nice to capture the rim light on larger, iconic mammals.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/8000th of a second

There are three scrub jays in the United States, the Western scrub jay, the Florida scrub jay and the island scrub jay. Both the Florida and the Island inhabit a very small region of the country (especially the island scrub jay which exists only on the island of Santa Cruz in the Channel Islands — the smallest range of any bird in the US). I’ve yet to be to Santa Cruz Island so that scrub jay will have to wait for another day. The Western scrub jay above was photographed in the Santa Monica Mountains last year, while the Florida scrub jay (which also has a very small range limited to central Florida) was photographed on Merritt Island. The Florida scrub jay is a threatened species due to loss of its scrub habitat and they are closely monitored, as evidenced by the band on the bird’s lower leg.
Top Photo — Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second
Bottom Photo — Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second

I took this one a few years back at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Orr, Minnesota. A cinnamon colored black bear cub calling to mom while climbing down from a tree. As always, click for a larger view.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 500, f/4 at 1/500th of a second

Just a simple shot of a simple bird. This is a willet, a large-ish shorebird in the sandpiper family. This particular willet was patrolling the incoming surf at Saint Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida — foraging for crustaceans, insects and marine worms. I was on my stomach with my 200-400mm lens, trying to avoid that incoming surf.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/3200th of a second

Here’s another one from Yellowstone — a mother bighorn with her lamb. For most of the year, the males live in bachelor herds at higher elevations while the females can be found down below with the young. It’s only during breeding season that the rams and ewes get together. We came across several large herds of females and young on this recent trip, very habituated to our presence and going about their business as if we weren’t there.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 2000, f/4 at 1/320th of a second

One of the nice things about going to Yellowstone with people that hadn’t been there before was revisiting all the great landscape features of the park. Usually, I just head straight for the wildlife and drive right past the geothermal highlights. Both of these shots were taken at Mammoth Hot Springs, where travertine terraces of calcium carbonate dominate a large hill at the northwest entrance to the park. It almost looks like winter, although there was not yet any snow on the ground. The top shot was taken below the terraces while the second shot was taken from above.
Top photo — Nikon D800 with Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, ISO 400, f/22 at 1/100th of a second
Bottom photo — Nikon D800 with Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, ISO 400, f/8 at 1/500th of a second

Here’s another one from Yellowstone. This was the only night (or morning) that we had clouds in the sky and therefore any substantial color. These three pronghorn cooperated by running through the scene. I said this in previous posts about pronghorn, but it bears repeating — they are the fastest land animal over long distances (and only slightly slower than a cheetah in a sprint, at 60 miles per hour versus 61 miles per hour).
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 130mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second

It’s my Aunt Sue-on-my-wife’s-side’s birthday today. So this mountain bluebird goes out to her. There are three species of bluebird — the mountain, the western and eastern (the eastern are the ones you see in Florida with the rust colored breast). The mountain lacks the rust, but is just as striking with it’s bright blue feathers. I photographed this one in the Mammoth Terrace area of Yellowstone last week.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/8000th of a second

Figured I’d post another double shot from the Yellowstone trip last week. Today, it’s a bull elk doing his bull elky thing. The first shot displays his impressive rack and rutting posture as he chases members of his harem around. In the second shot, the same elk is bugling — the term used for the bull’s call as he tries to attract a willing cow. Elk, like all deer, have antlers that they shed every year. With each growing season, the rack gets increasingly larger before being shed. In Yellowstone, elk usually “drop” in fall or early winter. The size of this guy’s rack indicates that he’s been around for awhile.
Top photo — Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Bottom photo — Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second

Here are two shots of one of the black bears we met last week in Yellowstone. Based on body size, as well as the length and shape of the ears, I think this is a female. She was causing quite a “bear jam” as a crowd of people were watching her go about her business of eating berries along the side of the road. We also saw a few grizzly bears, but none close enough for photos.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 2000, f/4 at 1/500th of a second (bottom photo 1/400th of a second)