Common snapping turtles are a prehistoric-looking reptiles known for powerful jaws, a spiked tail, and a tough, ridged shell. They live in freshwater habitats across most of North America, and spend most of their time buried in mud or lurking just beneath the surface with only eyes and nostrils exposed. They can live for decades and they play an important role in their ecosystem by scavenging and keeping aquatic environments clean. I photographed this one in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/500th of a second.
One of my favorite primate species of all time. It was called the black-crested macaque when I photographed it back in 2009. It’s now called the Celebes crested macaque. What hasn’t changed is its status of Critically Endangered. These rare primates live only in a small area of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. This one had no issues with me getting a few wide angle portraits while taking a break in the forest of Tangkoko National Park. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 26mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/40th of a second.
Karen and I are currently booking for open spots on a June safari this year to Kenya and then Uganda for gorillas. This is our classic, signature trip. For more info, you can visit cranewildlifetours.com and please reach out if interested. Lions are very common on our trips, especially in the Masai Mara where we always spend three nights. We spotted this one early morning on a game drive in June of ’23. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.
This is an old one that goes out to a longtime subscriber to my daily photo blog. I learned just before Christmas that Rachel Bellenoit (rachelbellenoit.com) had passed away. She was a big fan of owls and birds in general, spending a lot of time chasing the elusive snowy owls when they made irregular visits to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newbury, Massachusetts. Here’s hoping there are plenty of them up there in the sky. This particular snowy owl was captured on the other coast, about halfway between Seattle and Vancouver back in January of 2013. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
Last week I posted a coyote walking perpendicular to my camera trap. That’s what they usually do and I get the same side profile. But the other night I had one coming toward camera for a better angle. The coyotes found in Connecticut belong to the Eastern coyote subspecies. They are larger than their western cousins. Genetic studies show they’re a hybrid mix of western coyote, eastern wolf, and domestic dog, which explains their larger size, broader skulls, and more varied behavior. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 24mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/200th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and two remote flash units.
Happy first day of winter. Always my favorite day because starting on the 22nd, the day start getting longer again. This polar bear was photographed back in November of 2010, standing on a sea ice in the Hudson Bay up in northern Manitoba, Canada. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/640th of a second.
This granular poison frog, also known as the green jeans frog, seemed like an appropriate pick for the holiday season. Taken many years ago in southern Costa Rica using a close up filter on the end of my mid-range zoom lens.Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 300mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 100, f/6.3 at 3 seconds.
The plumage of a male wood duck is among the finest in North America. Iridescent greens, purples, and blues across the head and crest, with bold white stripes and red eyes. During breeding season, this helps attract a mate, although the coloring remains the same throughout the year. This guy was photographed just outside of Vancouver. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 640, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.
Short-eared owls are nomadic hunters, often seen gliding low over open fields and marshes like this guy in Boundary Bay, Canada. They hunt during daylight hours, making them one of the few truly diurnal owls. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1250, f/5 at 1/1000th of a second.
One forester kangaroo reaches out to another on Maria Island in Tasmania, Australia. The proper common name for these guys (if that’s a thing) is eastern grey kangaroo — but locally they are known as foresters. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 800 f/5 at 1/1000th of a second.
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