The three-horned chameleons of Uganda’s Virunga Mountains use their distinctive facial horns primarily in territorial disputes and courtship displays. Like other chameleons, their eyes can move independently of one another, allowing them to scan for predators and prey in different directions at the same time. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 180mm) ISO 500, f/5 at 1/640th of a second.
Pantropical spotted dolphins are known for the spots that gradually appear as they age. Calves are born unspotted and become increasingly marked throughout their lives. They are highly social animals, often traveling in large groups that can number in the hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Despite the numbers, photographing them can be like playing whack-a-mole as you try to get a quick shot when they suddenly jump. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 64, f/4 at 1/1250th 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.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there. Hope you all had a great day. Here are a few of my favorite mom’s from my travels around the globe.
Lions, Kenya
Galápagos Sea Lions
Mountain Gorillas, Uganda
Mountain Goats, Colorado
King Penguins, Falkland Islands
Reticulated Giraffes, Kenya
Pumas, Chile
Bison, Wyoming
Capybaras, Brazil
Topi, Kenya
Cheetahs, Kenya
Bighorn, South Dakota
Something a bit different today. I was just featured on the Connecticut Unfiltered podcast talking all things wildlife and Crane Wildlife Tours, among a few other topics. Thanks to host Ellie Doyle of Reheated Coffee Club. The full podcast is about an hour long. Enjoy.
Canada goose chicks are covered in soft down from the moment they hatch, but they’re already on the move within a day—following their parents and learning to forage almost immediately. I photographed this one a few years back while in Toronto for work. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 550 with a 1.4x TC) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/1600th of a second.
This big guy might look menacing, but he was just relaxing on the ground and letting out a bit of a yawn. He was the alpha silverback male of a family living in the Virunga Mountains of Uganda. Those teeth have seen better days, but this is normal for older mountain gorillas due to high levels of tannins from their plant-rich diet, which contains bamboo, roots, bark, and celery. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 110mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.
On our trips to Uganda and Rwanda to see mountain gorillas, we always like to build in an extra day to trek to see another endangered primate — the golden monkey. The live in high-altitude bamboo forests where they specialize in feeding on bamboo shoots, making them one of the few primates adapted to this unique mountain habitat.Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 53mm) ISO 1800, f/2.8 at 1/1250th of a second.
Leopards are almost always solitary unless it’s a mother with her offspring, or two adults come together to mate. I’ve seen lots of leopards over the years, but only once have I seen more than one at a time and that was a mother with her almost-full-size cub. But as with most species, they do have a fun name for a group of them. Leopards are incredibly powerful jumpers, capable of launching themselves into trees or onto prey with sudden force, so “leap” fits the bill. I photographed this solitary adult male this past June in Kenya. To get your Leap of Leopards merchandise, visit Species Limited. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
A group of zebras is called a dazzle because of the visual effect their black-and-white stripes create when they stand or move together. When clustered in a herd, the overlapping stripes can blur into a confusing pattern, making it difficult for predators to single out one individual, especially when the zebras are running. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/2.8 at 1/1000th of a second.