he Magellanic oystercatcher is a shorebird of southern South America, instantly recognizable by its jet-black plumage, bright red bill, and deep red eyes. Despite its name, it feeds on a variety of marine invertebrates, using its strong bill to pry open mussels and probe for prey along rocky coastlines. Pairs often remain together year-round, patrolling beaches and tidal flats with loud, piercing calls that carry over the wind and surf. I caught this on in flight above the beach at Volunteer Point in the Falkland Islands. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second.
During the breeding season, male pronghorn establish and defend territories, while females carefully select mates and later raise their fawns in the open grasslands. A paired male and female offer a glimpse into the social dynamics of a species whose speed and endurance evolved to outrun predators long vanished from the American West. I took this photograph back in June of 2014 in Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.
Red foxes are among the most adaptable mammals on Earth, living everywhere from Arctic tundra to forests, farms, and even major cities. I met this one while photographing coastal brown bears in Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm (at 210mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
Moose cows in places like Baxter State Park in Maine often wade deep into ponds to feed on nutrient-rich aquatic vegetation growing along the bottom. These underwater plants are packed with sodium and minerals that are difficult to find in the forest. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.
The Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine is a slow-moving, nocturnal rodent that spends most of its life high in the rainforest canopy. In Corcovado National Park, sightings are rare, as these elusive climbers move quietly through the trees under cover of darkness. I obviously caught this one up past his bedtime for a rare daylight photo op. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/60th of a second.
The green bee-eater is an elegant little guy native to India’s grasslands and forests, often seen perched before launching into the air to snatch insects in flight. Despite their name, they feed on far more than bees, also catching dragonflies, butterflies, and other flying insects. I photographed this one in Bandhavgarh National Park back in 2012. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
Black-backed jackals are among the most adaptable predators in Botswana’s Central Kalahari desert, thriving in one of Africa’s harshest environments through intelligence, speed, and opportunism. They patrol the grasslands for everything from insects and rodents to carrion left behind by larger predators. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
The aardwolf may look like a small hyena, but unlike its larger relatives, it feeds almost entirely on termites, at night. In the African grasslands, encounters with birds like the buff-crested bustard create a perfect contrast — one a secretive nocturnal insect-eater, the other a daytime hunter striding through the same savanna. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 280, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.
As we start to prepare for our tour season in East Africa, I’m looking forward to seeing more Mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Uganda. This little guy put on quite a show for us back in 2023. Babies can be very curious and expressive — tumbling, wrestling, and climbing around the troop while developing the social bonds and skills they’ll rely on throughout their lives. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 190mm) ISO 2200, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second.
The violaceous euphonia is a small, brightly colored songbird found in tropical forests from Central America into northern South America. Males are especially colorful, with deep violet-blue upperparts contrasted by a bright yellow belly and forehead. Unlike many finches, euphonias specialize in eating fruit, particularly mistletoe berries, which they swallow whole and help disperse throughout the forest. I photographed this one in Soberania National Park in Panama.Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
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