A female puma stands among mixed scrub brush and rocks in Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. She had three cubs who were hiding in the bushes waiting for her to awake from her nap before they all moved on. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
The Coscoroba swan ranges throughout southern South America. They are almost completely white, except for a bit of black on their wingtips. They are small for swans and have more of a goose-like head. I photographed this one in a lagoon in the town of Puerto Natales in southern Chile. The southern range of the Andes can be seen in the background. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 100, f/6.3 at 1/500th of a second.
(Some of you may have already gotten this post, and if so I apologize. Having issues with my website sending notifications, so trying again.) Pumas are well camouflaged in their Patagonian habitat. Of course, we had been tracking this cat for quite some time before she bedded down for a nap so we were well aware of her presence. Guanacos in the area aren’t likely to be so fortunate. Photographed in Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
This Patagonian fox was feasting on a guanaco carcass during a soft rain. After getting her fill, she gave a good shake of the fur and continued on her way. Photographed in Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonian Chile. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 280mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
Guanacos are very common in Chile’s Torres Del Paine National Park. So are mountains. Together they make a great combo. This herd was enjoying a late day snack, but always aware that a puma might be lurking nearby. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/250th of a second.
The grasslands of Patagonia can be a dangerous place, especially for a guanaco. Being able to spot a puma amongst the constantly flowing grasslands can be a difficult task. This particular female was on her way back to a kill that she had previously stashed in the bushes. She wasn’t hunting, but still blended almost seamlessly with the landscape. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.
This Patagonian gray fox was feasting on a scavenged guanaco carcass (good band name — Guanaco Carcass) and was taking a quick break to lick his chops. He was pretty much ignoring me as I laid in grass snapping away. Photographed in Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
This puma was a mother of three cubs. In this photo, she was taking a quick look back to make sure the cubs were following her as she set out from her daytime resting spot to hunt for dinner. I was on a ridge up above, watching and photographing the action. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
This was the closest I got to a puma on my trip to Patagonia back in May — a rather simple shot, but uncropped at 330mm. She was on her way back to a kill that she had hidden in the grass earlier in the day and wasn’t paying any attention to me and a few other photographers happily clicking away. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.
A pair of crested ducks take a moment to relax and preen themselves after a good swim. This was in the town harbor of Puerto Natales where we stopped for lunch on our way to Torres Del Paine in Chile. Of course, I didn’t really sit for lunch as there were many ducks and geese and other birds around which took precedent. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.