Wind Cave National Park is known for what’s under ground, but it’s also a great spot for all that exists above ground. This male pronghorn granted me a few moments to grab a nice side portrait before he moved along to do pronghorn-y things. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.

My dog and I have had a few close encounters with our local skunks the past few nights, on our pre-bedtime walk. Not sure if this is the same one we came face to face with, but likely, and it eventually found its way to my camera trap in the back woods. Thankfully, the close encounter did not result in any sort of a stinky situation. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 20mm lens, ISO 500, f/14 at 1/200th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flash units.

Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are active during the day. They also are unique in that they live in burrows in the ground. They can be found in a variety of habitats including open grasslands, deserts, agricultural areas and any other wide open spaces. This little guy was photographed down on the west coast of Florida. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.

It’s that time of year when male bullfrogs are singing their nightly solos in the hopes of acquiring new admirers. I captured this image years ago in Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in southern Indiana. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 100, f/11 at 1/125th of a second.

Deer are fairly regular visitors to my backyard camera traps at night. Usually it’s a single deer tripping the shutter, so it was nice to capture this image of a fawn following Mom through the woods. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 20mm lens, ISO 500, f/14 at 1/200th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flash units.

My top target species to photograph this summer is the beaver. I saw one tonight while visiting some friends in Warren, Connecticut. The light was less than favorable and my goal is to get the beaver out of water so that the tail is visible. That said, it was fun to watch this guy feasting on lily pads for half an hour or so before disappearing back into the lodge. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.

It continues to be a slow year for bear sightings in my yard, so here’s one from 2020. This guy and his sibling were regular visitors along with their Mom. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/100th of a second.

I went for a short hike near my house on Sunday and didn’t see too much. But I did come across this eastern bluebird deep in the woods. It was pretty dark so had to up the ISO more than usual, but the files looked decent considering. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 6400, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.

A great gray owl glides through a clearing in the forest, searching for its next meal. This was taken earlier this year in northern Minnesota. The late-day light was bringing out the orange bark and shoots of the tamarak pines that are characteristic of Minnesota’s north woods. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.

A couple of young wild burros playing at Box Springs Mountain Park in Moreno Valley, California. This small population of wild burros are federally protected. They were first brought to the area by gold miners in the late 1800s and early 1900s but were left behind when the miners failed to discover gold. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm), ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/320th of a second.