Impala are without a doubt the most common mammal that we see on our East African safaris. Because of that, guests tend to overlook them after awhile. But they sure are elegant looking antelope. This male was posing for us in the golden light of early morning. If you want to see just how common they are, join us in June when we go back to Kenya and Uganda (www.cranewildlifetours.com). Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1000, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.

The leopard is the most elusive of the big cats, silent, solitary, and supremely adaptable. It blends effortlessly into everything from dense forests to rocky hills and open savannas. I caught this female, mid-morning, scanning the savanna from up in a tree. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1250, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

The secretary bird is known for its distinctive strut across the African savanna. Unlike most birds of prey, it hunts almost entirely on foot, covering vast distances with a deliberate, high-stepping gait. Its powerful legs and sharp talons are built for speed and precision, perfect for stomping and striking snakes, lizards, and small mammals. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 2800, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.

The mangrove tree crab lives high in the branches of mangrove trees along tropical coastlines. Unlike most crabs, it spends much of its life out of water, using its hooked legs to climb and cling to bark and leaves. It feeds primarily on mangrove leaves but also snacks on algae, insects, and detritus, making it both a herbivore and a scavenger. When threatened, it can drop from the canopy into the water below, quickly scurrying to safety. Small but ecologically important, this crab helps recycle nutrients and maintain the delicate balance of the mangrove ecosystem. I photographed this on in Piedras Blancas National Park in southern Costa Rica. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1000, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second, Godox 860iii flash.

The long-tailed duck is an Arctic sea duck known for its elaborate plumage and, as the name suggests, the males’ distinctive long tail feathers. Unlike most ducks, it spends most of its life on the open ocean, diving to depths of over 200 feet to feed on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. In winter, it can be seen along northern coastlines, often in choppy, cold waters where few other birds venture. This captive individual was photographed at the Ripley’s Waterfowl Conservancy in Connecticut. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 250, f/7.1 at 1/2000th of a second.

The Guianan squirrel monkey is a small, highly social primate found in the tropical forests of northern South America, especially in the Guianas and parts of the Amazon Basin. With bright yellow limbs, a white face, and a black cap on its head, it’s one of the most colorful members of the squirrel monkey group. These agile monkeys travel in large troops, sometimes over 50 individuals, leaping through the canopy in search of fruit, insects, and small vertebrates. Their constant chatter and quick movements make them both entertaining and challenging to observe in the wild. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1250, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.

Here’s an old one from way back in 2008 on Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine. Atlantic puffins nest in burrows dug into the grassy soil or between rocky crevices. They return each spring to the same site, where pairs reunite and raise a single chick. Puffins here primarily feed on small fish like herring, sand lance, and hake, which they catch during short dives close to shore. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/4 at 1/2000ht of a second.

After almost three decades photographing wildlife in all corners of the world, I’ve launched something new. It’s called Species Limited, a collection of T-shirts based on the animals I’ve spent my life documenting. Each design begins with one of my photographs. Some are stylized and reimagined, like the screengrab of the camouflaged rhino above. Others take a more graphic, documentary approach. All of them aim to raise awareness, and, in some cases, directly support conservation. This is just the start and still very much a work in progress. The first wave includes forty-six designs in four collections. Over time I plan to expand the line to include hats, stickers, prints, and more. And eventually, I want to tie each product to a specific conservation effort around the globe. Today, just three of the designs support a cause — such as the Camo Elephant Tee which donates 10% of profits to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya, a place we visit on Crane Wildlife Tours. If you’d like to take a look or show support, the site is now live at: specieslimited.com
Thanks as always for following along, and for caring about the wild world out there.

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.