Tag: wildlife

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Travel Theme: Mellow

I did a quick scan through my last batch of travel photos to find a few mellow shots to share.

I hope you enjoy!

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A leopard rests peacefully in a tree top near Baines Camp in the Okavango Delta. 1/800sec, f9.0 ISO 640
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A lion cub chills out as dusk descends on Phinda Private Game Reserve. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1600
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A group of cheetah cubs take a rest on the road after a hard days play. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 1100
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Sunrise over the Sabi Sands. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO320
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Sunset on the Timbavati, and the first star of the evening. 1/60sec, f4.5, ISO 500

Travel Theme: Mellow

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Photo Challenge: Creepy

I guess truth be told, I don’t find the maribou stork creepy per se.  It’s more thinking back to kids stories about storks bringing home new babies.  I can only imagine a small child seeing one of these birds after hearing one of those tales, and then spending time being terrified about what might actually show up at home.

Whether they are really creepy or not, here are a few photos of maribou storks, creeping through the Okavango Delta in search of dinner.

Certainly not the most attractive bird I've ever seen (but I don't think the ugliest either).
Certainly not the most attractive bird I’ve ever seen (but I don’t think the ugliest either).
A group of caribou storks patrol the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta.
A group of caribou storks patrol the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta.
Creeping around in unison.
Creeping around in unison.

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One of the storks was successful on the hunt.
One of the storks was successful on the hunt.

The Daily Post – Creepy

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Red-breasted Sapsucker

A new visitor stopped by the yard this morning!  I fired off quite a few shots from the porch, mostly so I could ID the bird, and then wandered closer.  He or she didn’t mind my presence, and continued working up and down a couple of birch trees, picking off tiny insects.  The red-breasted sapsuckers are a summertime visitor to my area, according to my bird app, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to view and photograph today.

I was glad I was able to move around the get the light in the right direction, and work towards an uncluttered background.
I was glad I was able to move around the get the light in the right direction, and work towards an uncluttered background.
I love the out of focus soft green background, it really shows off the red feathers,
I love the out of focus soft green background, it really shows off the red feathers,
A chance to see the wings spread out, and the hint of yellow tones on the belly. 1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 640
A chance to see the wings spread out, and the hint of yellow tones on the belly.
1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 640
Captured mid-blink.
Captured mid-blink.
Looking skywards. I love the detail that I was able to capture.
Looking skywards. I love the detail that I was able to capture.
Reaching to grab at a tiny insect.
Reaching to grab at a tiny insect.
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Travel Theme: Grey

Here are my photo’s for the travel theme- grey.

A pair of grey go away birds perched at the top of a tree, in lovely early morning light. 1/400sec, f7.1, ISO 100
A pair of grey go away birds perched at the top of a tree, in lovely early morning light.
1/400sec, f7.1, ISO 100
A walk along the dikes on a typical January morning in Pitt Meadows. 1/50sec, f4.0, ISO 720
A walk along the dikes on a typical January morning in Pitt Meadows.
1/50sec, f4.0, ISO 720
My very favourite type of grey! A group of elephants approach along the road at Phinda Game Reserve (we kept reversing to give them the room they needed). 1/640sec, f8.0, ISO 2800
My very favourite type of grey! A group of elephants approach along the road at Phinda Game Reserve (we kept reversing to give them the room they needed).
1/640sec, f8.0, ISO 2800

Where’s my backpack?

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Lions at Night

During my last trip to South Africa, I was lucky enough to watch lions at night not just once, but on four separate occasions.  I have wanted to post these photos for a while; originally I held off as I printed two of them as a gift, and didn’t want to run risk that they would be seen on screen before the prints showed up in person (they looked AMAZING, if I do say so myself).  I’ve finally had the chance to work through all the photos I had hoped to edit. A few of them are also on my Smugmug site, links are provided for anyone interested.

I hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful evening.

A lioness passes incredibly close to the front of the landrover. Londolozi Game Reserve, May 2015
A lioness passes incredibly close to the front of the landrover.
Londolozi Game Reserve, May 2015
Giving us a glimpse of her powerful teeth and jaws. Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015
Giving us a glimpse of her powerful teeth and jaws.
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015
What big teeth he has! Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015
What big teeth he has!
Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015
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Such a beautiful cat. Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015
This lioness was obviously bored of all the attention she was getting. Phoned Game Reserve, April, 2015
This lioness was obviously bored of all the attention she was getting.
Phinda Game Reserve, April, 2015
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Keeping a watchful eye out. Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015.

Lying in wait

A lioness tries to catch 40 winks, but the male lion nearby definitely had other things on his mind! (More on that in another post!) Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015
A lioness tries to catch 40 winks, but the male lion nearby definitely had other things on his mind! (More on that in another post!)
Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015
Keeping his eyes on his prize... the lovely female featured in other photos. Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015.
Keeping his eyes on his prize… the lovely female featured in other photos.
Chitwa Chitwa, May 2015.

The king at night 2

What big teeth she has! Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015
What big teeth she has!
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015

Lying in the dark 2

We were watching her, but she was focused elsewhere. Phoned Game Reserve, April 2015
We were watching her, but she was focused elsewhere.
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015

Lying in the dark

A regal pose, and such gorgeous eyes. Phnda Game Reserve, April 2015.
A regal pose, and such gorgeous eyes.
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015.

The king at night

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Martial Eagle

On our second day in Damaraland in Namibia, our guide Chris was doing his best to locate the desert adapted elephants for us to view.  We were driving through a dry riverbed, going in a direction that seemed to be completely opposite to where the elephants tracks were headed.  Since I couldn’t make heads or tails of the ellie tracks that crossed back and forth, this way and that, I kept my eyes out for birds and other animals.

A short distance from the vehicle, I spotted a martial eagle perched in low branch above the sandy riverbed.  Chris quickly stopped the vehicle so I could get a quick shot, assuming as I did that the bird would be gone in a moment.  Lucky for me, the eagle was very interested in posing for photos that morning, and sat still while the vehicle moved ahead, and then moved past it, so I could get photos from all angles.  I do really seem to have great luck with bird photos when I least expect it (and we did carry on to locate the ellies too).

An incredibly regal looking bird. All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640
An incredibly beautiful bird.
All photos 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO640.  April, 2015, Wilderness Safari’s Damaraland Camp, Namibia
A piercing stare.
A piercing stare.
Checking out what's happening in the riverbed, besides us.
Checking out what’s happening in the riverbed, besides us.
Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you'll notice the eyes are half closed.
Head rotated backwards, and if you look closely, you’ll notice the eyes are half closed.
Searching the ground for prey? Or getting bored of all the attention?
Searching the ground for prey? Or getting bored of all the attention?

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I thought he was getting ready to take off at this point, but he settled back into his branch.
I thought he was getting ready to take off at this point, but he settled back into his branch.

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Colour – Bright Green

Here is my photo for Cee’s new Colourful World challenge.  The colour of the week is lime or bright green.  This little bee eater, perched amongst the bright green leaves of several different types of plants, seems a good fit.

A little bee eater perched in the shade, away from the mid day heat. Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. April 2015.
A little bee eater perched in the shade, away from the mid day heat.
Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. April 2015.
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African Harrier Hawk

Partway through our game drive on our last morning at Chitwa Chitwa, I spotted a fairly large bird in some trees a short distance from the vehicle, and our guide Surprise quickly realized that it was a hawk that had been successful hunting.  We headed closer but the hawk was definitely not too comfortable with our presence and headed for a new tree as soon as we got too close.  After that happened twice, we moved on to allow him (or her) to enjoy breakfast in peace.

It was such a cool sighting and I am very grateful I was able to capture it.

Have a great evening!

An African harrier hawk flies with a green spotted wood snake in its mouth. 1/1000 sec, f8.0, ISO 320
An African harrier hawk flies with a green spotted wood snake in its mouth.
1/1000 sec, f8.0, ISO 320
Coming in to land
Coming in to land
He seemed to be settling in to have breakfast, but soon changed his mind and was off again. 1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 280
He seemed to be settling in to have breakfast, but soon changed his mind and was off again.
1/1000sec, f8.0, ISO 280
We moved the vehicle and for a few moments, had a closer vantage point.
We moved the vehicle and for a few moments, had a closer vantage point.
Off again 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 140
Off again
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 140
The poor snake had tied itself into a knot while clutched by the hawk.
The poor snake had tied itself into a knot while being clutched by the hawk.
One last view before he was off.
One last view before he was off.
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Vulture Silhouette

If you been following my blog for any length of time, I think you’ve probably noticed that I enjoy silhouette photos.  Especially of birds.  While staying at Chitwa Chitwa, we stopped for a sundowner and just as I picked up my glass of wine, I noticed the vulture in this tree.  Actually, there were two, but the photo of both of them didn’t work out so well (perhaps if I had the 150mm-600mm then…)

I’ve included here both the cropped image as shot, with only a pass of Nik’s output sharpener as my editing, and one that has been further enhanced with both Silver Efex and Colour Efex.  I’d be interested to know if there are any preferences.  I like both (or I wouldn’t post them!).

Have a great evening.

This is the un-enhanced photo.
This is the un-enhanced photo.
And this is the one that's had just a little work done.
And this is the one that’s had just a little work done.
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