This will be the last post for a week, as I head to Costa Rica on Saturday in search of new photos of the day. In the meantime, here’s a black bear who stopped for a few pictures before moving on his way. See you all in a week.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 140mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second
This Galápagos sea lion didn’t seem to want to have his picture taken. The location is a great little spot on Santiago Island where the sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas (many of which you can see in the background) all hang out together on the black volcanic rock.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/2500th of a second
A friend asked me about yesterday’s post of the tallgrass prairie, wanting to know if he should be looking for a rattler or a spotted hare somewhere in the photo. I didn’t see any rattlers or spotted hares that morning, but I did see this nice little cottontail that was hiding in the grass.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 340mm with Nikon 1.4 teleconverter) ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second
I was looking through my files tonight and found this old one from South Dakota that I never posted to the blog. Spring and summer are a great time to be on the tallgrass prairie of Badlands National Park in South Dakota. On this particular morning, I was on my way to photograph prairie dogs when I was compelled to stop and take a few shots of the early morning landscape.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 200, f/18 at five shutter speeds
I figured it was about time for a new puffin post. I took this one on my first trip to Machias Seal Island in Maine (or New Brunswick, Canada depending upon who you’re talking to — both the US and Canada claiming ownership of the small island). During the summer months, puffins and razorbills nest on the rocky shoreline. This puffin had a mouth full of krill that she was bringing back to her nesting chicks.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second
This mother and baby zebra were grazing out on the plains of Kenya despite the pouring rain. We were in a place called Laikipia, which used to be a series of cattle ranches, but has since been reclaimed by the native wildlife. It goes out to my five-year-old friend Sophie who told me today that zebras are her favorite animal, narrowly beating out owls.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second
A while back I posted a common brushtail possum from Australia. Here is another species, the coppery brushtail. These guys are common in their home range, but that range is very small — restricted to the Atherton Tablelands area of Queensland in the northeastern part of the country. As you can see, it gets its name from the copper color of its fur — the common brushtail being much more grey.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/11 at 1 second, Nikon SB-800 flash
There are several different species of caiman that live throughout Central and South America. One of the most common is the spectacled caiman, otherwise known as the white caiman or the common caiman. It gets its name from the bony ridge between the eyes that resembles a pair of glasses. This particular spectacled caiman was enjoying the early morning light along the Yucama River in the Pampas region of Bolivia.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second
I took this one a few winters ago in southern Indiana. I was at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge to photograph river otters, but it’s also a great place for birds. There were quite a few cardinals around, including this male (top) and female.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 460 with Nikon 1.4 teleconverter) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second
Valentines come in many forms — for some a box of chocolates, for others a salty fish. This male least tern is presenting a gift to the female. Acceptance of the gift means acceptance of the mate. In this case, she accepted, and, well… let’s just say that a lot happens on a least tern’s first date.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second