The Lilac-breasted Roller is common in Southern and Eastern Africa and is also considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world. No matter how many times I see it I always want to stop to photograph it. These birds live in open woodlands and savannas. Basically, you won't find them where there are not trees or trees that are too close together. They hunt for insects, and small vertebrates from perches on trees, so they need open ground too. Frankly, I think they are just as beautiful perching on a branch, but I always enjoy trying to catch them in flight. We were on a roll on this particular day and had several successful attempts. #iLoveWildlife #iLoveNature #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #LilacBreastedRoller #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

An old bull Elephant stretches to reach a high branch where the leaves of his favorite acacia await. The elephant's trunk is formed by a fetal fusion of the upper lip an nose. It is made up of thousands of opposing muscle fascicles that give it unique abilities. Elephants not only use their trunks for breathing and smell, but also for touching, grasping, drinking, eating, producing sounds, and interacting. It is the animal's most important and most versatile organ. The African Elephant's trunk ends with two opposing lips that endow it with the ability to grasp objects more easily, while Asian Elephants only have one. Once might say that the elephant is led by its nose. It's a nose that knows no bounds! #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Elephants #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

On a landscape striped with meadow growth and blackened scars, caused by controlled burns, a Zebra's stripes seem to make more sense. In reality, however, they are unrelated. Controlled burns are part of the ecology of the Serengeti. These burns are used to generate growth of new grasses and suppress the growth of larger plants that might convert grasslands to savannas or woodlands. Within one week of a fire, tender, new grass growth covers extensive meadows, home to numerous herbivores (notice where the zebras are grazing). Humans have been using controlled burns for hundreds and perhaps even thousands of years, but nature has used fire to sculpt the landscape for eternity. Controlled burns also help to mediate the greater problems caused by natural fires, that can burn hotter and more extensive areas. Controversy surrounding controlled burns use will likely continue, blurring the lines between mankind and nature, of which we are an integral part. #iLoveWildlife #iLoveNature #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Zebras #ControlledBurns #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

Mama takes an afternoon snooze as her young cub prepares to join her. It's an average midday during the dry season here in the Serengeti but the weather has been anything but average. The sky is grey and storms have been coming early this year. It means that food is plentiful and days are cooler than normal. Despite this, life for a lion cub is not as easy as it seems. Lions usually have several cubs to a litter but this is the only cub this mother has. It means that she has likely lost at least one, if not more of her cubs. Despite their cuteness factor and powerful females to protect them, less than half of all lion cubs will survive their first year. For now junior is safely surrounded by at least 4 females that will protect him and so it's a good time to join in what seems to be the family inactivity for the afternoon. Maybe I'll do the same!

#iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Lions #Lioncubs #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

Exalted and distained, adored and hated, cherished and persecuted, the Timber Wolf has experienced all that mankind can dish out. The largest canid in the world has flourished for thousands of years but like so many creatures, the pressures of human advancement and our intemperate need for complete control has left many locally extinct. The realization that wolves play an intricate part in the natural balance of many local ecosystems has lead to their gradual reintroduction into territories that they once called home. The insatiable bloodlust of hunters, the desire of ranchers to protect their herds, and general public ignorance remain the most perilous factors effecting the survival of these beautiful animals. Man's best friend was born of the members of this species and yet we continue to deal them an oppressive blow. A morning spent photographing these amazing creatures at Lakota Wolf Preserve has given me greater respect and an amorous appreciation for our largest earthly canine companions. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewJersey #Nature in #NorthAmerica #Wolves #TimberWolves #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

Topiary

DrDADBooks definition: Any photograph containing two essential elements:

any one of over 100 varieties of nature's finely shaped Acacia trees

at least one member of one of the fastest African antelope species, the Topi.

#iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Topi

#Landscape #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

From the shade of a nearby palm tree a male Eastern Screech Owl peers toward the nest of his lifetime mate. Standing only about 8 to 10 inches in height, he is smaller than his female counterpart. She does not leave the nest and depends upon his hunting skills for survival and the survival of her young. Although these raptors are fairly common wherever there are trees, they are more frequently heard than seen. Their trill-like call has a mysterious haunting quality that echoes through the forest. This was my first encounter with a Screech Owl in the wild and what a thrill to find this male and his mate on a nest at a close encounter. #EasternScreechOwl

The Sacred Ibis, as its name implies, was a bird once held in high esteem. In Egyptian culture it was representative of the god Thoth, god of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. These birds were interred by the millions in the company of human remains. Over millennia, they became locally extinct in Egypt, due predominantly to the gradual aridification of the regions swamps and marshes. Introduced into areas of Europe, Asia, and the United States, some of these birds are now seen as a curse rather than a blessing. Extremely adaptable, they are now seen as responsible for decimating populations of breeding birds, such as terns. These strangely beautiful feathered fauna are still fairly common throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, where a world's population can hopefully learn to revere less, and respect more before all of nature's gifts disappear forever. At the rate that some species are declining we had best learn the meaning of respect in double-time. #SacredIbis #WildlifeConservation #DrDADBooks

The Sacred Ibis once lived in Egypt, and was deeply rooted in Egyptian culture and religion. This ibis was believed to be representative of the god Thoth, the god of wisdom and knowledge. It now resides in sub-Saharan Africa and has been introduced throughout the world. Land reclamation projects throughout Egypt, which included drainage of swamps, lead to their local extinction. Thousands of these birds were included, mummified, in Egyptian burial chambers. In some areas of the world they are now invasive species that affect tern and egret populations. It certainly sounds like centuries of manipulation by man has changed the live of the Sacred Ibis. #iLoveNature #iloveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #SacredIbis #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

Travel restrictions secondary to the pandemic still make it difficult to travel. The logistics of returning home with tests and mandatory deadlines have prevented me from taking the leap. As a working physician, there are patients who depend on me. If I’m stuck a few days or weeks behind a border it leaves too many people inconvenienced. So, I sift through my archives for photos that as of yet have not been published and hope for a day when things will return toward normal.

I find myself longing for cooler weather and a sense of peace in a world that is coming unraveled. There is nothing on this earth more peaceful than a bear hug and I couldn't have more respect for any other animal in the world than I do for a mother polar bear.

Clutching her catch with her jaws and paw, she prepares to return to the beach and share her bounty with her cubs. Glaucous winged gulls are already well aware. They will share in whatever scraps are sure to float by in tidal waters. It’s another moment in a summer morning along the Alaskan shoreline.

She is a great fisher bear and equally a great mother. After hauling out a large silver salmon from the icy creek, this sow will take a large bite or two but then leave the rest for her cubs to manage. The practice not only teaches her cubs how and what to consume but also keeps them busy and out of trouble while she tries to capture another salmon along the creek. Bored cubs are cubs that stray, and other bears, of which there are many, are a very substantial danger. #BrownBears

This week, the weeping cherry in our front yard became the go-to destination for a quick meal for so many birds. This evening was especially interesting when a small flock of Cedar Waxwings showed up to feed on tree’s small cherries. It was wonderfully convenient and extremely pleasant to be able to sit on the front porch and enjoy the show. I must say that it made my day!

I remain enchanted by the encounter and have processed several photos from this shoot. This female repeatedly picked up stones from the bottom of the river, examined each as if looking for a gem, and then launched them into the air. She would observe as they splashed to the water’s surface and continued to gaze, following their path back to the river bed. I am as captivated by the activity, as by the prospect of the thoughts going through her head.

It's the dry season in Northern Tanzania, and the Mara River looks much less intimidating with water levels so low. But look closely, as first impressions can be misleading. Many of those dark rocks in the river are actually hippos. The river is deeper and swifter than it might otherwise seem. Wildebeest are not the only creatures to cross this dangerous fence, of sorts, in search of green pastures. In fact, not only do many different creatures make the crossing, like these bewildered giraffes, but so many traverse the river, back and forth, like a pendulum swinging, even on a single day. It seems to defy logic but then the primary goal of most creatures on the Serengeti is survival. At the basis of survival is finding the best nutrition at any given time. And although the old adage might suggest that one should be satisfied with that which we have rather than going off in search of a something uncertain, many animals, not the least of which is mankind, would not advance to greater goals without the search for greener pastures. It is as much a part of living life as drawing breath. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Giraffes #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation

There are cold, miserable days when I find myself questioning my motives for braving the elements. The answers don’t always manifest themselves immediately. Then, I wonder… what else might I be doing? Sleeping in a warm, cozy bed? Alas, there will be much too much time to sleep in the future. Living isn’t everlasting, even if life goes on.

Not drinks! Bugs!

A sow tries to take a nap on a warm summer afternoon only to find herself disturbed by a large number of gnats and mosquitoes. Most times their thick fur seems to protect them, but when the insects get into her eyes she does her best to brush them off.

The trek to the beach was cold and damp on this heavily overcast morning. The tide was low, however, and with it comes the chance of incoming salmon. Bears seem to know this instinctively, though I suspect it may be the pungent odors of the ocean floor, uncovered by a receding sea, that call them in. As the sun made its morning debut, the curtain of clouds opened just slightly above the western shores of Cook Inlet. Golden rays flooded across open waters briefly bathing the shoreline. I followed this bear as she coursed along the shore trying to keep her silhouette between me and the sun. She stopped several times to gaze across the water, facing away. Finally, she turned, facing me, her back to the sun, casting long shadows and enhanced with a rim of golden light. So on a cold, damp morning I created what is undoubtedly my personal favorite bear image of more than a decade.

When you’re exhausted and your tireless toddler won’t give you a moment’s rest what do you do? Time-out has a different connotation when it’s coming from a mother polar bear. This cub spent over an hour climbing and chewing on its mother. Did the punishment help? Not at all. There’s something to be said for having twins that can keep each other busy. #PolarBears

Bearing down on a distant splash in the water, a sow with a wish for fish runs across the shallows in anticipation of a catch. The photo, taken at ground level, makes it appear as if she looking for something larger and perhaps a bit more challenging than just a fish. If I were not accustomed to seeing this view through the lens, I might think that it’s time to pick up and move out. I never tire of watching these lumbering giants move with ease through the chilly waters. I’m always astounded by their beauty and grace. #BrownBears

Classically, people have tried to ascribe complex emotions as purely human. Let’s face it. For many, it would be too difficult to capture or kill an animal if they realized that their prey was subject to the same level of happiness, sadness, or love as they were. In fact, in scientific circles it has long been considered unprofessional to ascribe human traits to wildlife. Frankly, I couldn’t disagree more. Although it may not be as easy for us to comprehend these emotions in non-human species, they most certainly do exist. Don’t misunderstand me. Nature isn’t kind. The natural world is purely unemotional. It is beautiful beyond imagination but also savage and brutal. The beasts that inhabit the natural world are as emotionally multifaceted and complex as they are diverse.

Mom has had a wonderful morning. The weather was perfect. The fish were plentiful. There are full bellies all around and she has her cubs safely at her side. Even the presence of an ugly, potentially unemotional human nearby doesn’t seem to ruin her day.

After several months of political dissonance culminating in a week of unbelievably reckless rhetoric and unfathomable lawlessness I present you with a peaceful and contemplative bear. What I would do to be able to kneel with them on the beach, share a breath of ocean air, and revel in the restorative reconciliation that nature provides.

After spending the afternoon painting the front porch I sat down to enjoy the evening. A faint rumble of thunder in the distance hinted at an evening storm. A faun meandered into the yard, nibbling on our flowers. I watched as it found a suitable spot to rest and wait for mom. My camera is always near. I grabbed it and found a spot to sit in the grass not far away. It was the best hour of the entire weekend.

While waiting for the tide to recede and the salmon to run the shallows, mom seems quite content to watch her two cubs play happily together. She gets to conserve a little energy as the tucker themselves out. Sounds like a mother’s paradise!

The warm sun lights up the fur of her back and the tips of her ears with an auburn glow. She has just captured a Coho salmon and turns, with a glimmer in her eye, to make certain she is not being pursued for her prize. Her long claws glimmer too, like those of a high fashion model after a manicure. Nature’s beauty is here for those who take the time to appreciate and safeguard it. #BrownBears

Carrying the remains of her grizzly trophy, bestowed upon her by mom, this spring brown bear cub heads for drier land where she will do her best to consume her prize. She’ll have to deal with her anxious sibling who will snarl and growl while trying to steal at least a portion of her trophy. So many of the complex interactions of humans are well rooted in nature, for we all have our trophies. How we interact with others along the way defines us and distinguished us from other species on this little blue marble we call home.

When wildlife isn’t cooperative for the photographer, which is actually rather often, one searches for compromise. But when dabbling in the art of photography in a place like Yellowstone National Park it isn’t difficult to become inspired. The park’s mountains, valleys, flora and fauna have been photographed by thousands of professional and millions of amateurs since cameras were invented. The reason? Its sheer beauty. It is easy to find oneself overcome by its awe-inspiring immensity. Best advice I can give… don’t plan for what you want to photograph. Let nature provide you with the building blocks and palette. Create from what you experience.

Many people complain about animals using our roads. After all, we created the roads so that we can get from place to place more easily. We don’t need animals getting in our way. But humans are not the only animals that create paths to facilitate their travels. In fact, many animals do. Bison frequently travel along the same trampled paths in snow. Deer create footpaths through brambles. More noteworthy is the fact that many animals appreciate our roads for exactly what they are… paths that facilitate their travels, and so they use them. This coyote practically flies down this open, plowed road rather than sinking chest deep and expending unnecessary energy trudging through the snow. You may complain, but like the coyote in this photo, you haven’t got a leg to stand on!

A little sunrise foray into leading lines, silhouettes, and reflections. Created several versions of the same photo. I like them all for different reasons.

There’s something to be said for a warm sunshine caressing your shoulders and back but sometimes you just want the sun on your belly. There is nothing like a cozy warm glow to dry off a wet belly!

Some animals are easier to reach than others. The excursions to reach them can take years to arrange. Polar bears, as one might expect, are some of nature’s creatures that inhabit vast swaths of land in low numbers and extreme conditions. In particular, young polar bear cubs can only be found on winter visits to the Subarctic and Arctic, making these expeditions some of the most inhospitable on earth. I could have imagined many reasons that my planned trip later this season might not come to fruition, none of which entailed a subcellular particle that would unleash its peril upon humanity and the world. Like a frozen kiss, it has delivered immobilization that we can only hope is transient and short-lived. For I will miss the warmth that seeing these beautiful creatures on their frigid landscapes brings to my heart. #Polarbears

Like many animals in Yellowstone, this coyote uses the road for easier passage. She steps off the road briefly to hunt, only to return. The roads were created for ease of passage. We are not the only animals to benefit. We should be willing to share.

It is dusk and the tide has started to rise. The water is getting to deep for bears to fish successfully. A young bear cub digs out a salmon carcass that mom has hidden and takes off with it as her mother emerges behind her on the beach. The gulls are looking for any fallen scraps that they can make use of and a photographer makes use of any remaining light to capture the escapade unfolding before him.

When watching or photographing bears, one must always keep in mind that no matter how peaceful or tolerant these animals seem to be, they are still wild. Although much of their behavior is predictable, including how they interact with humans, there are things that occur that can change that interaction without a moment’s notice. Our peaceful sleepy bear shows us five good reasons to take precautions and stay safe.

As cubs, brown bears “play fight.” The activities are, at the very least, entertaining and are usually heartwarming and hysterical. They do so to keep themselves busy but these role plays are also preluding to the need for defense as an adult. In mature bears the activities are anything but cute and at times they can be downright terrifying. You might imagine that when a number of bears gather at an estuary of finite size to fish and feed with cubs in tow things can get a bit tense. Cubs are off limits to any other adult bear except their mother. And boars, given the opportunity, are noted to attack and kill young cubs. So, when this young boar, on the left, got just a bit too close to this sow’s cubs there was just a little price to be paid. Despite his greater size, she attacked him and chased him off. #BrownBears

Having the opportunity to photograph Pine Martens (more correctly known as American Martens to differentiate them from their Eurasian counterparts of the same name) was an absolute pleasure. These adorable and agile members of the weasel family might otherwise go unnoticed or briefly mistaken for a large squirrel. They certainly maneuver in trees with the facility of a squirrel but can pounce, flip, and run with the proficiency of a cat. This new encounter was special and made my day. Their interest in observing us was surpassed only by ours in watching them.

It’s a special time of year, when the air is filled with excitement and chatter. When nature’s miracles are in open view. It’s a time when there is little need to search for symbols of hope and prosperity, as they seem to abound. During this special time, I frequently enjoy simply sitting back and watching the exceptional things that hide in plain view. If you don’t take the time, you’ll miss them, and that, I’m afraid, would be a terrible mistake. When papa bluebird showed up with two young fledglings, I was sitting on my back porch feeding peanuts to the squirrels and enjoying a cup of coffee. It was the perfect end to a great day.

A week doesn't seem like much time but it's amazing how much a young deer grows and accomplishes in such a short time. Still, a little fawn spends much of the day alone and in hiding until it has grown enough to keep up with the other deer. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see them grow and I am humbled that their mothers feel that our yards are safe havens for their precious offspring.

A brown bear enjoys her beach pea as the physics of light dances through the sky. Clouds often enhance an image. More so when the sun is low on the horizon. Shorter wavelengths of light (blues, etc.) are scattered more by the atmosphere, while longer wavelengths (reds) are scattered less and reach the eye. The red reflections in the clouds have traveled from just above the horizon. The blues and shorter wavelengths have scattered away from the eye while the reds and oranges have managed to pass through the atmosphere and reflect off the bottom of the clouds. The blue clouds appear thusly as rays of light travel directly through them, coursing more directly and over less distance through the atmosphere and experiencing less scatter. Although interesting… none of this is nearly as interesting or delicious as this favorite meal along the shoreline.

I have traveled the world in search of creatures large and small. I still, however, long to spend extended time with some of the nature’s living treasures rather than the few scattered days, here and there, that I have managed to sift from the sands of time. On the other hand, it is the greatest pleasure to be able to enjoy one of nature’s most marvelous and heartwarming creations without leaving home. For few animals are quite as stunningly beautiful as a fawn. For me, these astounding creatures never seem to lose their allure, even as they grow.

Too often we don’t take the time to enjoy our local flora and fauna. It’s easy to get lost in dreams of finding more “extravagant” animals. In truth, the only thing that sometimes makes local fauna less sought after is familiarity and, at times, approachability. I’m enjoying local white-tailed deer this year and many areas in Southern New Jersey are reporting record numbers of cottontails. They are most easily found in the early morning or evening hours. Calling them adorable is quite the understatement.

As the sun goes down on the Maasai Mara an Oxpecker prepares to land on the nose of one of Africa’s larger gazelles, the Eland. The birds are friend and foe, alike; at times removing pests and parasites but other times pecking at wounds and pulling out fur. Most of the time the birds are tolerated and barely noticed. Sometimes, however, they swat at them with their tails and shake them loose, while ducking and dodging their return. The birds get to travel in style and frequently enjoy a healthy buffet along the way. #Eland #Oxpeckers

I am not a big fan of overly manipulated images. Commonly used programs allow us to select out vast portions of an image and change them dramatically. The results can be beautiful but too often the manipulations are overt and obvious. A photo is changed into a digital rendition of what the photographer hoped to see, but didn’t. I much prefer the images that require little processing. These images require significant efforts to visit interesting places, acquisition of photographic skills, and patiently waiting for a moment to reveal itself.

I love the summer season for all the new life that it brings. Over the years I have spent much of it traveling in search of subjects to photograph. I can't help but photograph some of our local wildlife but much of my free time is taken up with my second passion, which is pottery. If you're interested, you can follow my on Instagram at drdadplayinclay. This is one of 4 or 5 fauns that has grown up on our property.

Making the best use of light is always the photographer’s plight.

Taking an animal’s photograph at an appropriate altitude should be the photographer’s quest for proper height.

Finding one distinguishing characteristic or pose that creates anticipation or tension is known as gesture. It’s the most difficult part of getting the photograph right.

Doing over and over again is the passion in the art of photography.

While watching the Wapiti pack of wolves on distant slopes miles away, I heard a sudden noise behind me. I turned to see this beautiful coyote running by. I was delighted that my camera was at my side and on, otherwise I would have missed it. Sometimes the best things are right behind you. If you never look you'll miss them!

A dismal silver salmon run this year didn’t produce the fishing bear experiences that most visitors hoped for. That being said, the bears were clearing finding fish and other things to eat. Like this one, they looked quite healthy. We all wondered what they might be eating? When I think back, there were definitely fewer photographers at the end of the trip than there were at the beginning!

I have been remiss in posting wildlife photos of late. I have been dedicating more time to my pottery passion and less availability to travel has also been a hindrance. I have also been going through my archives and noticing shots that I hadn't taken note of in the past. This group of lion cubs presented wonderful opportunities that I will always remember.

No matter how many times I have seen it, there’s nothing like the sight of a bear charging in your direction. It certainly helps knowing that they are chasing fish and not photographers. The tunnel vision that the lens provides makes the scene even more dramatic. It is one of my favorite and most anticipated moments of every visit to these shores.