Wild Encounters in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park isn't just a haven for awe-inspiring landscapes; it's also home to a diverse array of wildlife that adds a layer of wonder to your visit. Capturing the park's inhabitants through the lens is a rewarding experience that offers a glimpse into the natural world's intricacies. Among the creatures I encountered were mule deer, Steller's jays, ground squirrels, and ravens, each offering a unique opportunity for wildlife photography.

Remember that photographing wildlife always requires patience and respect for these creatures' natural behaviors. Keep a respectful distance, avoid feeding them, and observe from a distance. With a keen eye and a quiet camera, you can capture the essence of Yosemite's wildlife and bring home lasting memories of your wild encounters.

Creatures of the Forest

In Kings Canyon National Park, I had the privilege of photographing the chipmunks, American robins, Western Bluebirds, and White-headed woodpeckers that inhabit the park’s forests. The forests at this park offered some really incredible lighting for some of the images - particularly the contrasted side lighting in the chipmunk images I am sharing here. Join me through a little walk in the woods where we encounter a range of inhabitants of this beautiful valley…

Animals in the Woods

Of course, there is even more to the National Parks than just incredible landscapes - there are also its many inhabitants. On my visit to Sequoia National Park, I photographed quite a few animals we saw along the way: chipmunks, squirrels, mule deer, and even a white-headed woodpecker. The early morning light also makes for great wildlife photography, casting a soft glow on the subjects. See if you can tell which photos were taken earlier in the day and which were taken under harsher afternoon light.

An Oasis Full of Birds

Fortynine Palms Oasis in Joshua Tree National Park, which I featured in my last blog post, is a rare and special place where desert wildlife unexpectedly thrives. One of the highlights of the oasis is the diverse range of bird species that call it home. Some of the most common include the Cactus Wren, which is known for its distinctive cactus-like nest, and the Black-throated Sparrow, which is often heard before it is seen due to its melodious song. I was also incredibly lucky to spot a kestrel amongst the fronds of the Californian fan palms, but didn’t get a good enough shot!

A Walk Through the Mojave Desert

During my visit to Joshua Tree National Park in California and I was blown away by the unique landscapes of the Mojave Desert. The rugged terrain and unique flora and fauna are spectacular even in the harsh midday light. I especially enjoyed photographing the iconic Joshua trees up close. These tall, spiky trees are only found in this part of the world and are a true symbol of the desert. Their twisted branches and rough bark make for stunning photos against the blue sky. The stark beauty of the desert landscape is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. I hope these photos will inspire you to visit this stunning national park and experience its beauty for yourself!

Nature's Avian Architects

This week, I share photos of the weavers at San Diego Zoo, namely the Taveta Golden-Weaver and the Baglafecht Weaver. Both species are native to the grasslands of Africa and are known for their intricate nests and bright yellow feathers. In building their nests, males carefully assemble long blades of grass in an attempt to capture the attention of a mate. No two nests are exactly the same: the individual fibers and leaves chosen for in their construction affect the look and feel of the resulting nest.

Africa Rocks Aviary at San Diego Zoo

It’s time for another big life change - we’ve made the move from San Diego in California to Baltimore, for a new postdoctoral position I’ve taken up. As we take the time to settle into a new city and get accustomed to our new surroundings, I will take the next couple of weeks to share some photos from my archives. In particular, I am excited to share some animal photography from the world-famous San Diego Zoo, where I spent many sunny days chasing birds with my telephoto lens. This weekend, I am sharing images from the African Rocks Aviary, featuring an assortment of species that inhabit the African continent, from the elegant North Carmine bee-eater to the oddly-named red-cheeked cordonbleu.

Balboa Park's Urban Wildlife

In San Diego, you don’t need to go too far to encounter wildlife. In fact, Balboa Park - a popular tourist spot featuring an assortment of local museums, gardens, and eateries - is an excellent place to spot some urban dwellers such as black phoebes, squirrels, and Eastern bluebirds. Here are some of my favourite images from an afternoon spent walking around the park and appreciating the urban wildlife that lives in this beautiful corner of Southern California.

Memories of Sunnier Summer Days

Brrr! It sure has been cold outside these days! (For those of you who are not in the US, much of the country has been facing some serious ice storms this week). Although I do love the cold - and especially the snow -, I thought it might be a good idea to share some images of a warmer summer day at La Jolla Cove in San Diego. So, huddle up in your warmest layers and join me as I share some images of the incredible marine life of California, including sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, and even an osprey.

Florida's Silver Springs

The final state park we visited on our travels through Florida was the Silver Springs State Park, which is by far the largest of the three. This is a popular manatee rest stop in the winter months, but what brought us here in the summer was the chance of spotting its resident monkeys. The park is home to non-native rhesus macaques which were introduced in the 1930s with the goal of boosting the springs as a unique tourist attraction. The original plan was to limit them to one small island in the park, but the park owner at the time didn’t know they are very competent swimmers. Now, they have multiplied to far greater numbers and are spread throughout the whole park. We didn’t get to see the macaques in the end - they must have been hiding that day -, but hopefully the native wildlife I did photograph will make up for it!

A Little Magic to Start the Year

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is not my typical photography location, but I will admit they do an absolutely exceptional job with their animal exhibits. One of the biggest issues for photographers, when it comes to shooting in zoos, is that we often have to be very careful about the backgrounds of our images: no one wants to see a cheetah sitting in front of an ugly concrete wall or a monkey clambering on a chain link fence. The exhibits at Animal Kingdom were clearly designed with a photographer in mind, with plenty of vegetation and even artificial waterfalls in their enclosures. It was amazing to take some incredible images of rare species such as the okapi, western lowland gorilla, and blue-throated macaw in natural-looking scenery. In the spirit of Disney World, here are a few of my favourite “magical” images from my visit…

A Walk in Nature

The Sweetwater River Trail is one of my favourite easy walks in San Diego. A great place for a quiet early morning walk, with beautiful vegetation and bird life all year round. Scientific studies suggest that walks in nature reduce stress and improve mood, and I can certainly vouch for that. As the year comes to an end, take a moment to go on a virtual walk through nature with me on a crisp still morning. Enjoy the golden light of the sun on the trees, bushes, and flowers, spot the birds hiding in the bushes, and perhaps make your resolutions for the new year along the way. Here’s to a peaceful, happy, healthy, and successful 2023!

Memories of Home

Happy holidays! To me, the winter season has strong associations with time spent in Brazil with family, enjoying a christmas feast in the summer heat. It’s quite different from the stereotypical snowy winters of the northern hemisphere. So, this year I am bringing my holiday blog post closer to “home” and taking the opportunity to share some of the wonderful birds of South America. Of course, there’s a catch - these were photographed in San Diego Zoo’s tropical aviary, rather than their natural jungle environments. I hope you enjoy this somewhat unusual winter blog post, full of vibrant colours and charismatic wildlife!

A Morning with the Cypress Trees

I have shared quite a few images of this place throughout my last few blog posts. For those of you who are just itching to see something other than Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge: I promise this is the last one, and there will be a new location featured next week! But if you are enjoying seeing this stunning swamp through my lens, in all sorts of different lights, then you may enjoy this final post. Following a spectacular golden sunrise over the lake, we watched the sun climb a little higher in the horizon and peep through the cypress trees. I hope that these images of clear blue skies and early morning light will brighten up your day!

The Swamp Awakens

It was an early start to get to Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge in time for sunrise. I loved this place so much the night before that we just had to come back for more. I certainly did not expect it to get even better than it was in the previous visit - and for several reptilian visitors to adorn the landscape. This was one of those incredible golden mornings that you don’t see very often. Sometimes nature puts on a real show.

Afternoon on a Boat

Stephen C. Foster State Park is a hidden gem in Southern Georgia. It is just over an hour’s drive from Valdosta, “the capital of South Georgia” and the gateway into the Okefenokee Swamp. We enjoyed a calm afternoon on a rented motor boat exploring the water trails (note: there are no walking trails!) of the park, which are a collection of waterways through the swamp environment brimming with giant tupelo and bald cypress trees. It is the home to many bird species, amphibians, fish, and alligators!

Sea Lions and Friends

Another highlight of La Jolla is the local colony of California sea lions, which bask among the crowds of (almost perfectly evenly spaced) cormorants. The easiest way to tell them apart from the Pacific harbor seals which also inhabit these shores is to look at their ears: sea lions have ear flaps, whereas seals have only holes with no pinnae. Additionally, while sea lions live in La Jolla’s beaches year-round, seals are only seen there in large numbers in the winter.

In this blog post, I share a few photos of these amazing pinnipeds, as well as some of the feathered friends they share their habitats with. Enjoy!

Pelicans at La Jolla

There’s something so captivating about the highly contrasted golden light that follows a dramatic sunrise. Following on from my previous post, where I shared some images of the cormorant colonies at La Jolla Cove, this week I want to showcase this stunning light on the local California brown pelicans.

The birding enthusiasts among you will quickly note that these birds are not in breeding plumage. This visit was late in the summer, after the chicks were fully fledged and looking almost indistinguishable from the adults. However, I have plans to return in January next year to see them in all their breeding plumage splendour. Here’s to hoping that the stunning light makes up for their drab feathers this time!

Golden Light at La Jolla Cove

It has been a little while! Earlier this year, my husband and I (see our shared travel photography website here) moved from New Zealand to the United States, reducing all our belongings back down to two suitcases. In doing so, we sold off nearly all of our camera gear and took a bit of a gamble in switching to a mirrorless system. I’m happy to say it was a big upgrade - the Canon R3 is a huge step up from the 5DIII, and I have been having an absolutely fantastic time with this camera.

My time in San Diego, California, has allowed me to explore some incredible new places, brimming with new photo opportunities. Now I am back and ready to share many exciting new images here on the blog!

I will begin by sharing some sunrise images of La Jolla Cove, which has proven a fantastic place to spot seabirds, seals, and sea lions. Let’s start with some beautiful golden light over the cormorants and pelicans this week. As always, I will let the photos to speak for themselves…

Last Stop in Aotearoa

The Nelson Lakes National Park was the final destination on our travels through the South Island of New Zealand. The region is known for its large lakes with crystalline waters. In the winter, it also serves as a ski destination, nestled perfectly between the lakes and the surrounding alps. An excellent way to end our time in Aotearoa, and one of the very final places we had left to see here.

Keep an eye out for my blog posts over the next few weeks to see what I’ve been up to since moving all the way from New Zealand to the United States!