This is an eastern newt, otherwise known as a red spotted newt. When young, like this one, it is a bright orange color and called a red eft. For most of its 12 to 15 year long life, it lives in the water, but when in the red eft stage it exists on land. I found this one last spring in New Jersey on a trail while hiking in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
I realize that cardinals are a fairly common bird around these parts (New York) but I had never seen more of them than I did down in southern Texas. Here are just a few of the shots that I took. The first and third were taken in Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, while the middle one was taken at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park. These are all males. Oddly enough, I didn’t see quite as many of the females around.
As we get into March and April, it’s time for red fox pups to be born. They can be called pups, kits or even sometimes cubs. I found this one a couple of years ago in late May down in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware.
The end of the day comes early on the Arctic tundra, and after a long day of play fighting, this bear lets out a big yawn before taking a nap. It was about 4 PM when I took this picture, but already the sun had dipped below the horizon. Of course, this location in northern Manitoba, Canada is at the southern end of the polar bear’s range. Further north, the days are even shorter.
To regulate their body temperature, elephant seals will toss sand onto their backs. I liked the way this mother was going with a behind the back technique, tossing with her right flipper and keeping a watch on things with her left eye. As with most of my elephant seal shots, this one was taken just north of San Simeon, California.
It was first thing in the morning on Sunday when I was out searching for ocelots, hoping I might catch one as it headed home after a night of hunting in Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. At the end of this long path, I spotted something moving and immediately got on the ground not wanting to scare away whatever it was. As it drew a little closer (in the above shot) I could finally make out the tell tale ears of a coyote. It came a little closer still before turning left into the woods. I stayed put and about ten minutes later it eventually reappeared much closer.
Just back from a three day weekend down in the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas. I was hoping to find ocelots and jaguarundis (two of the most elusive cats in the United States — and the world for that matter). I didn’t really expect to see them, but there’s always hope. As with the Florida panther last weekend, I didn’t get any shots. But I did see the jaguarundi. Twice, in fact. Once running across the road in front of my car and the other time while hiking in the woods. I very nearly had a great shot while in the woods but as soon as I saw it, it saw me and was gone. I guess there’s a reason, the jaguarundi is very rarely seen and almost never photographed in the wild. What I did see were birds. Lots of them. Including this green jay. Extreme southern Texas is the only place in the country to see the green jay — although it is quite common throughout its range, which extends south along the Gulf of Mexico and into South America. With its blue head, green back and yellow chest, it’s certainly a beautiful bird. Not quite an ocelot or jaguarundi, but as far as birds go, it’s hard to beat.
This river otter allowed me to get incredibly close. I was laying on the edge of the pond, about 10 to 15 feet away as it dove several times and crawled back out onto the ice to eat its lunch. The place was Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in southern Indiana.
Here’s another look at the bobcat I recently photographed in Irvine, California. It was stalking a few ducks in this photo and I thought I might get an action shot but the ducks eventually flew away. That short, stumpy tail is what gives the bobcat its name. In the sound file below you can hear what one sounds like growling:
This was an all or nothing weekend for me down in Florida. I was in search of the elusive Florida Panther, one of the rarest creatures on the planet, and I spent all my time trying to find one. As you can see from the above photo, I was not successful. Instead, you’ll have to settle for this Florida box turtle. Not quite as elusive. Not quite as spectacular. But a much more patient and accommodating subject. I took this photo in the Big Cypress National Preserve in the southwest corner of the state, where both the turtle and the panther live.