Earlier in the day we spotted a hippo roaming the savanna, covered in water lilies. That afternoon we found the pond he/she likely wondered out of. If was fun watching several hippos suddenly rise up through all that green while blowing water through their nostrils (video to come). Our guide told us the water lily species was Nymphaea capensis, common name Cape blue waterlily. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
At the locations we visit on Crane Wildlife Tours, the safari never stops. Dwarf mongooses are just one of the species that can be found back at camp during down time. We usually see quite a few of them. Pups are raised in a shared den with help from the whole group. These mongooses live in tight-knit family units where older siblings and other adults act as babysitters, bringing food and guarding the pup while the mother forages. Pups quickly learn the rules of the group by mimicking adults and joining in on playful wrestling matches that build coordination and social skills (behavior we often observe while eating lunch). Though small, dwarf mongooses are bold and cooperative, traits passed from mother to pup in one of Africa’s most charming and efficient social systems. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, IOS 2000, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
We always see a lot of elephants on our trips. But this time, we saw more baby elephants — and at extremely close range — than ever before. I used my camera-at-the-end-of-a-monopod technique to get this look under the hood of a Mom shielding her calf as they walked by our vehicle. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 24mm) ISO 640, f/5 at 1/500th of a second.
Karen and I are just back from leading another great trip to Kenya and Uganda. We saw a lot — including a particularly productive couple of days with leopards. This male kept us entertained one afternoon by posing in a variety of settings while surveying the landscape and contemplating his next move. Lots of files to go through and process which I’ll dive into tomorrow. Until then, enjoy this portrait of the most sought after of all species on our Kenyan tours. And as always, please enquire if you’d like to join us on an upcoming trip. We’re hoping to pull something together for November/December of this year and will be looking to fill 8 to 10 slots. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
This will be the last post for a few weeks as we head off to lead another tour to Kenya and Uganda on Monday. Here’s hoping we have some luck with one of the more elusive cats — the serval. I captured this one way back in 2012 on the final night of our final day of a two week trip. We’re currently planning tours for later this year, next year and into 2027. Contact if you’re interested in traveling with us and seeing more of Africa’s amazing wildlife. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/80th of a second.
Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla is one of the best places in California to observe harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) up close in the wild. Originally built as a protected swimming area for children, the beach has become a favorite haul-out and pupping site. Visitors can often see seals lounging on the sand or bobbing just offshore, especially during pupping season from mid-December through May. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/2500th of a second.
The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is known for its long snout, bushy tail, and incredibly sticky tongue to slurp up those ants and termites. They are mostly solitary and rely heavily on a keen sense of smell, 40 times stronger than ours, to locate their prey. I photographed this solo anteater in Guyana last year. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 102mm) ISO 720, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second.
Looking forward to getting back to the Ugandan jungle to visit a mountain gorilla family. The last two times we’ve been there, we visited the Nyakagezi family in Mgahinga National Park. This time we’ll be in the much larger Bwindi National Park where they have more than just one family. There’s no telling which family we’ll be trekking, or how many individuals, silverbacks or babies we’ll see. Here’s hoping for a large, diverse group. And cooperative weather, as we only get one hour once we catch up with the family. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 2000, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second.
This coastal brown bear was grazing in the salt marshes of Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. Eventually she would get her fill of salad and head out to the beach with her cubs in search of salmon. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.
The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is especially bright and colorful in summer when males are wearing their breeding plumage. Unlike many birds, goldfinches breed later in the season, often waiting until mid to late summer so they can take advantage of the abundance of seeds from thistles and other wild plants. They’re strict vegetarians, feeding almost entirely on seeds, and even their chicks are raised on a plant-based diet. I photographed this goldfinch last summer in Rhode Island, going flower to flower eating, and in this case, spreading those seeds. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.