Posts in Category: mammal
Groundhog in a tree
Groundhog (Woodchuck): Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2025 — Not something you see every day, but I have now seen this twice this spring…once in Ohio at Magee Marsh, and now here along the Bridle Path near Route 9. I actually probably walked right by this Woodchuck in the tree, just above eye-level, right beside the path, because I was too busy looking for possible hawks higher in the trees, At any rate I would have missed it if the couple behind me had not chased me down in the parking lot as I was readying my trike to ride home, to ask it was possible they had actually seen a “beaver” in a tree. They had a phone photo and I did not have the heart to tell them it did not look exactly like a beaver to me, but I was truly thankful for the alert, and took my camera back to see if it would still be there. Google AI provided the information that tree climbing is at least a well known habit of Groundhogs, along with some speculation as to why they might do it. Predator avoidance, tender spring leaves and fruit later in the season, but the one I like best is “just for fun”…or to get a better look at their territory. This Woodchuck was not at all disturbed by my attention, and was still comfortable there in the little fork in the branches when I decided I already had way too many exposures and went back to my tike and home. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at various focal lengths for framing. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Otter!
Otter: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, January 2025 — One of my Easy Birds and Wildlife folks spotted this otter crossing the berm and the road ahead of us. We were busy with a Sandhill crane eating bugs around our feet, but we abandoned the Crane to see if we could track down the otter. And, indeed, we saw it crossing the berm 50 yards ahead of us again and got closer just as it ventured back up on the grassy bank. What a treat! They are apparently pretty common at Orlando Wetlands, but I rarely get to see one in the wild. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
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.