My photo of the day blog is usually reserved for the animals I encounter in the wild. But today is an exception—because today we lost our beloved Lily. Aka Lils the Pirate. Liliken. Lilypad. Her life wasn’t always easy. She was found as an abandoned kitten on the streets of Brooklyn, with only one eye. Rescued by a friend at the office. Adopted by another friend. And then, when that second friend asked us to look after her while he searched for a new apartment in LA, well, we never gave her back. Until today. A seemingly sudden, “catastrophic event” we still don’t fully understand took away her ability to move, eat, and drink, and subsequently, her life. All told, Lily was part of our family for almost ten years. It took her awhile to settle into our 280-year-old home, but eventually she found her favorite spots (the ones not already claimed by her two brothers), where she could rest easy and watch the years pass. She kept mostly to herself, content at last with a little permanence and peace. Rest easy, Lilikens. You were a good girl, and much loved.

Always fun to photograph these guys scurrying around outside our tents in Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve. Male agama lizards are most colorful during breeding season, with a bright red or orange head, dark blue body, and tail. They are agile climbers and can often be seen basking on rocks or walls before darting away at the slightest movement. These lizards feed mainly on insects, using quick bursts of speed and their excellent vision to catch prey. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 220, f/6.3 at 1/320th of a second.

The vulturine guineafowl is the largest of the guineafowl species, easily recognized by its electric-blue feathers, long neck, and bare, vulture-like head. Native to East Africa’s dry savannas and scrublands, it travels in tight, coordinated flocks. Though it does fly, it prefers to run, darting through the brush when alarmed. Other than elephants, this was the only other chance I had on our recent trip to lower the camera to the ground and use my inverted monopod technique. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

A lion’s yawn might look sleepy, but it’s often a social signal rather than just a sign of tiredness. Lions yawn to help wake up the body and brain, especially before a burst of activity like a hunt or going on patrol. Among pride members, frequent yawning can also help synchronize group behavior, like getting everyone up and moving around the same time. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 560, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

Lots of changes to my site, so not sure if this will go through or not to subscribers. I’ll give it a try. This was a spotted hyena cub we saw last month in Kenya. He/she kept popping up from the den and then scurrying back in side. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 9000, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

Black-backed jackals are rather small canines and can easily hide in the tall grasses of the Masai Mara savannas. Occasionally, however, I’d find a decent window through to the eyes. These guys are highly opportunistic, hunting small animals, as well as scavenging from larger predators. Photographed last month in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 900, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

The Maasai people have lived alongside wildlife in the Masai Mara for generations, practicing traditional semi-nomadic cattle herding that’s deeply woven into their culture and identity. Their cattle are more than just livestock — they’re symbols of wealth, status, and spiritual connection. In recent years, some Maasai communities have begun collaborating with conservation efforts, grazing cattle in ways that support grassland regeneration and coexist with native wildlife like wildebeest and lions. And yes, when referring to the people, the spelling is Maasai, but when talking about the national reserve, it’s Masai. Maasai is considered correct, even though the park still uses the colonial-era transcription.Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm), ISO 64, f/2.8 at 1/250th of a second.