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“Pic of the Week”, May 8, 2015. Nene on Kauai
I’ve previously described an encounter with two rare Hawaiian geese on Maui a few years ago at this link. This past fall when I visited Kauai with my brother and father, we found at least two dozen nene — most on the rocky and wet north shore of the island, but a number of free-loaders hanging out at the koi pond of the Marriott resort hotel (lots of fresh water, shelter, and free food).
While they remind me of Canada geese, they’re much smaller and the webbing between their feet is incomplete. And they are fearless — they’ll walk in front of you whether you’re walking or driving, not sensing any danger. It’s this complete fearlessness that nearly killed them …
May 7, 2015
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“Pic of the Week”, March 27, 2015: Black Rhino, Ngorongoro Crater
Rhinos are rare and endangered animals, as most people know. Hunted to near extinction for their horns — used in traditional Asian medicine and for making dagger handles — they now mostly survive in protected areas and zoos. They’ve made a modest comeback, and hopefully the trend will continue.
I’ve only ever seen 4 rhinos in the wild, all in the Ngorongoro Crater. They’re magnificent animals — imposing, unforgettable. In the above photo, the massive lumbering rhino is contrasted with dozens of small, graceful Thompson gazelles (Tommies) leaping across the floor of the crater. I wish I’d captured the scene on video. It sort of crystallized the African game-watching experience for me — the great admixture and fluid interactions of all …
Mar 26, 2015
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“Pic of the Week”, November 21, 2014. Scarlet-Breasted Bee-Eater, Chobe National Park, Botswana
One of the most beautiful birds I’ve seen in years is the scarlet-breasted bee-eater. These birds were quite common in Botswana, especially in Chobe National Park, and they’d often flash by us pursuing insects (they really are bee eaters).
This particular bird was a poser. He sat in a branch near our vehicle while on a game-drive and let us take as many pictures of him as we wanted. Then, in a flash of color, he was gone, although I got a decent photo of him on his way out.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
Nov 20, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”, October 17, 2014: Black Bear, Banff National Park
This is one of my favorite wildlife photos from this past year. The bear was wandering in the ditch along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, foraging as he went. He didn’t seem to mind my stopping beside the road, rolling down the passenger window and snapping his picture. Seems almost posed, but he was actually moving at a pretty brisk pace. When he came across a berry bush, he’d stop and suck all the fruit off — almost like a living vacuum cleaner — then move on!
(Click on thumbnail to enlarge)
“Pic of the Week”, October 10, 2014: Pronghorn Antelope, Montana
Pronghorns live on the open plains of western North America, like Montana (where these photos were taken). They’re the fastest animals in America and, on a global basis, only the cheetah is faster. Pronghorns can sprint at speeds of more than 50 mph (86 kmph), and can travel for long distances at half that speed. No predators can catch them when they hit their stride.
Pronghorns are quite small, only about three feet (one meter) tall at the shoulder. They are reddish brown, with white stomachs and stripes on their throats. They have backward-curving split horns that in mature animals form prongs (hence their name). They can survive about a decade in the wild.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
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Oct 9, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”, August 8, 2014: African Buffalo, Sandibe concession, Botswana
One of the most memorable half hours I’ve ever spent on safari was watching this herd of buffalo cross the Okavango Delta. It was just before sunset and the light was soft and magical, what John Steinbeck liked to call, “the hour of the pearl”. We approached the buffalo herd downwind so they couldn’t pick up our scent, but they were aware of our presence. The larger, stronger animals came to the front of the herd and made a living wall between us and the smaller and weaker buffalo. There they stood, trying to see us (they have bad vision) and smell us, and we sat back taking it all in, enjoying this magnificent spectacle of nature!
(Click on thumbnails to …
Aug 7, 2014
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.All Trips / Florida / North America / Southeastern USA
A gallery of gators — Florida’s Everglades National Park
There’s sometime viscerally disconcerting about looking into the eyes of an alligator. Dark, non-blinking, but clearly focused on you, it sends a shiver up my spine. Something being tickled in the primitive parts of my brain — prey intuitively recognizing a successful killing and eating machine that has survived for millions of years. They sure look menacing with those armored bodies, powerful tails and dozens of sharp teeth, like the apex predators they are.
My instincts make me back off and keep a good distance, and that’s good advice for everyone — stay at least 4 m (13 ft) from alligators (and crocodiles) because over a 2 meter distance there’s no faster attack animal on the planet. You won’t have a …
“Pic of the Week”. March 7, 2014: Impala, Okavango Delta, Botswana
One of the pleasures of going on safari is being out in the field when the sun rises. The soft light is magical and, of course, at this time of day there’s lots of game about.
That’s when this photo was taken. A beautiful young impala buck in the soft light of dawn! A perfect African moment.
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Mar 6, 2014
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