A few years back, I was down on the Delaware Bay photographing the curious, yet not entirely surprising mating ritual of the least tern. Male least terns catch a fish and then use that fish as payment for services rendered by the female. I watched while lying face down on the sand and took many low perspective photos of this pair as he returned from the sea and showed her the fish. Satisfied with what she saw, she allowed him to mount her and do his thing — about a 3 minute performance. The whole time, he kept the fish in his mouth, shaking his head back and forth until finished. Then she turned around and he dropped the fish, not in her mouth, but rather unchivalrously to the side, as if not completely satisfied. Both, however, seemed to get what they wanted and flew off in opposite directions. I had been watching several other terns doing the same thing and noticed that sometimes the female was not satisfied with the fish and refused the male, while other times the male checked out the female, fish in his mouth, and decided that she wasn’t worthy and flew off in search of another female. These two were the only ones that allowed me a close enough approach to capture the action.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second

This bear was pretty fun to watch as it stood up on that fallen trunk and surveyed its territory. It was as if the bear was playing a game of king of the hill, several times warding off other bears.
Top photo — Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 116mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/500th of a second
Bottom photo — Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 110mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second

These two grey squirrels were jockeying for position inside the hollow of a tree in the front yard of my old house in Michigan.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second

A couple more black bear cubs from my Minnesota trip. These guys had two other siblings who were further up the tree. Black bears learn to climb almost as soon as they are born so that they can stay out of danger while Mom is out foraging in the forest.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second

Actually, this moose cow was in the middle of the lake to feed on the nutrient rich vegetation that grows on the bottom. I took this one several years back at Sandy Stream Pond in Baxter State Park, Maine.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/8 at 1/350th of a second

There are wolves in there somewhere, I just didn’t see any. This was taken in northern Minnesota on my recent bear adventure. Of the 5,000 or so wolves in the lower 48, almost half of them are in Minnesota. That being said, it is very difficult to spot a wolf in the wild as they will go to great lengths to avoid contact with humans. I’ve only seen them in the wild in Yellowstone, usually because a kill had been made somewhere within sight of a road. Until I find a Minnesota timber wolf to photograph, please enjoy these lovely trees that they live amongst.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 175) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/800th of a second

As long time subscribers to my blog know, one of my favorite spots to photograph is Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in southern Indiana. Especially in the winter when the river otters can be found eating fish on the ice. I haven’t been there in a while, but this is one from my last trip.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 550, with 1.4 teleconverter) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second

Here’s another one from last weekend in Florida. These guys are very common in southern Florida. So common, in fact, that I had to remind myself to take the time to get a decent shot. It’s an anole lizard, and this one was licking its chops just as I tripped the shutter.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/250th of a second

This black bear was just hanging out, relaxing and watching his world go round. This is another one from two weekends ago up in northern Minnesota.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 125mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second