Posts in Category: mammal

Costa Rica! Olingo

Olingo (or bushy-tailed Olingo, or Northern Olingo, three names for the same animal): Mirador ye Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — I know it sounds like a language learning program, but the Olingo is a arboreal member of the raccoon family, along with the Coatimundi and the Kinkajou. It looks very like a Kinkajou, but Kinkajous have a prehensile tail that tapers, and are primarily nocturnal. The Olingo prefers the night but is also more active in the daylight hours, especially when folks will put nice bananas out for the birds. Still, this was a rare enough sighting so that the young lady who keeps the fruit feeder stocked at the Soda for passing photographers had to be convinced that this critter was stealing her bananas. There were at least two of them. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 217 and 178mm equivalents. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Pumpkin Squirrel

Grey Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Carol brought home one of the decorative pumpkins from the church Thanksgiving display and I broke it open for the squirrels and what ever else might like it. I was doubtful that the squirrels would like it, but I was certain something would. Turns out squirrels do like pumpkins. Going out to the car with my camera in my hand, this one was having a grand old time. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 493mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Gotta love smashing pumpkins anyway. 🙂

Yellowstone! Mom and calf Moose

Moose: Floating Island Lake, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — breakfast time is over and the cow and calf are making tracks for the ridge and wherever they spend the day. The early autumn sun and their wet hides make them look like polished brass. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! #24

Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — On our first day in the park, we stopped in Mammoth Hot Springs early in the morning, long before the sun was high enough to light the Hot Springs terraces, to photograph the herd of Elk that make downtown Mammoth their home. They generally spend the night on the green and the surrounding lawns, and only disperse into the hills and up the terraces as the day gets warmer. This is #24, the dominant bull of the herd, though he is so secure that he tolerates at least 2 other, younger, bulls. There is, however, no doubt about who’s herd, whose harem, it is. Here he is bugling his dominance as he returns from putting one of the younger bulls in his place. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 463mm equivalent, and just about full frame. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Moose encounter

Moose: Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Early in the morning before the sun reached the valley floor. This big bull, at least two females and a young bull. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Yellowstone! Bugler

Elk: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, USA — a large herd of Elk have taken up residence right in downtown Mammoth Hot Springs, on the lawns and the central green and around the thermal terraces. This is the patriarch of the herd, bugling his dominance in the early morning light while the sun is still only on the tops of the mountains. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm. Close to full frame though we kept a respectful distance. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Little Red Vacuum Cleaner

Red Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2024 — A little Red Squirrel has been visiting our back deck, cleaning up the seed the birds spill under the feeders, for the past few days. It is not the same Red Squirrel we have seen in the past. This one does not have the notched and worn ears of our previous visitor. It might be a young squirrel, one from this year’s litter. It has that factory fresh look about it. They are so cute, and so troublesome…though the worst they have done to us so far is attempt to get more seed than the birds spill. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 334 and 600mm equivalents. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Animal/Bird subject recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.

Costa Rica! Cuteness

White-faced Capuchin Monkey: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Cuteness overload. This youngster must be reaching its last days of backpacking on mom. In fact it hopped off as she went up a tree trunk in search of food. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 200, 300, and 372mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.

Costa Rica! Coati

Coati: Selva Verde Lodge and Reserve, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The resident Coati (also known as a Coatimundis) at Selva Verde Lodge. It hangs out in the trees above the feeding station all day, occasionally coming down to raid the stock of plantains and mangos on the feeding tables. It is a member of the same family as raccoons. Perhaps you can see the resemblance. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm, 648, and 246mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Thursday special. Chipper

Wildlife photography in southern Maine is much more difficult than bird photography. The birds are pretty much everywhere, but you have to look much harder to find wildlife of any kind…unless, of course, you are talking about Chipmunks. I know, many photographers would scoff at the idea that chipmunks count as wildlife…but we take what we can get, and every once in a while, a chipper just sits up so cute that you have to take notice. And if it out in the wild (or at least away from our yard) that is even better. This one was out on the Kennebunk Plains when I was there checking the Blazing Star bloom and photographing insects. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/800th.