There are four different species of echidna in the world. This is the short-beaked echidna. They are interesting little mammals in the monotreme order. Monotremes are the only mammals that lay eggs. Their namesake “beak” allows short-beaked echidnas to suck up ants and other insects from the ground at an impressive speed. I spotted this one along the side of a road in Cradle Mountain National Park in Tasmania, Australia. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.
Now that Game of Thrones is back and in full swing, thought I’d post a dragon. Not exactly as fierce as the beasts flying above Westeros, but a rather impressive specimen nonetheless. Meet the Boyd’s water dragon. Also known as Boyd’s forest dragon. They grow to be about two feet in length. This one was spotted in Daintree National Park in Queensland, Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/5 at .8 of a second.
Cape barren geese only exist in the extreme south of Australia (with a small, introduced population also in New Zealand). I photographed this one on Maria Island in Tasmania. They were quite common on Maria Island and, as with most geese, allowed a close approach. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.
Wombats eat grass. It’s what they do. This wombat was so focused on the task that he/she hardly noticed that I was there. Perfect situation for my wide angle zoom. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
Just a juvenile koala to get the week going. Photographed at Hansen Bay on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 155mm) ISO 200, f/2.8 at 1/80th of a second.
One of the eastern quolls that I had the pleasure of meeting at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania. These little spotted carnivorous marsupials really do rate right up there in the cutest animal category. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 105mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/3 at 1/320th of a second.
This photo was taken on perhaps my favorite day of a very enjoyable two week trip to Tasmania. I only had a few hours in Narawntapu National Park and thankfully the light cooperated. So did the eastern grey kangaroos, locally known as foresters. I had the place to myself as a large troop of them ate, played and boxed, giving me the opportunity to get a large variety of shots, including some nice rim lit silhouettes like this one. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/16 at 1/1600th of a second.
I took this photo in the early days of experimenting with macro when I still used a close up filter screwed to the front of my 80-200mm lens. Definitely a lightweight way to always have macro capability when in the field. The butterfly is a Cairns Birdwing and it was photographed at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda, Queensland, Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 155mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.
Kangaroo Island isn’t just for kangaroos. In fact, it’s one of the best places in all of Australia for easily seen mammals of all types — koalas, echidnas, fur seals, sea lions, possums, even the always elusive platypus. This young koala was hanging out at Hanson Bay on the southern coast of the island, doing what koalas do — sleeping and occasionally waking up to eat a bit of eucalyptus. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 80mm) ISO 200, f/4.5 at 1/20th of a second.
I took this photograph years ago in Australia. There’s an island just south of Adelaide called Kangaroo Island and if you’re a wildlife lover, it’s a must see on any itinerary. It’s also great for landscape shots, especially at the tip of the island at a place appropriately called the Remarkable Rocks. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 17-35 mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 200, f/22 at 1/13th of a second/
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