RKH Photography

While traveling on the Pan-America Highway near the Darien Gap in Panama, our eagle-eyed guide suddenly slowed down and allowed us to get a glimpse of this amazing, slow moving denizen of the forest.

Sloths have very slow metabolisms, often eating only 1 leaf and sleeping up to 18 hours per day.

Surprisingly, they are excellent swimmers!

As with many wild animals, sloths have experienced serious declines in their habitat due to forest clearing for agriculture.

Found throughout tropical forests from Mexico to Argentina, Spectacled Owls are usually the largest owls in their territories. They have been known to take animals quite a bit larger than themselves, including sloths and commonly feed on most small nocturnal mammals and birds.

Antshrikes are forest dwelling birds that often follow army ant swarms, feeding on invertebrates that are flushed by the ants. They are part of large group of ‘Antbirds’ that more or less specialize on this unusual feeding behavior.

Geoffrey’s Tamarins are the smallest Central American Monkeys and are found in Panama and Columbia. They communicate through vocalizations and visual gestures. Their diet is similar to that of some Tyrant Flycatcher birds and their vocalizations are surprisingly similar. This may help them locate favorable sources of food.

Only found in North America and China, where they are very endangered, alligators are large, averaging 13 feet and 800 pounds, but can get much bigger. No one knows how long they can live, but an individual in a zoo in Europe is over 75 years old. They are important for controlling Nutria, a large, destructive rodent in the south.

Their practice of making holes for nesting provides habitat for many plants and smaller animals. For this, they are considered important in maintaining biodiversity in the swamps and rivers.

I always enjoy being outdoors, but sometimes you just get lucky. I recently saw an occasional visitor to coastal Southern California, a Northern Harrier hawk. It was coursing over the dry fields on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Suddenly, a Peregrine Falcon, one of the fastest animals in the world, attacked it from above. I was treated to a territory dispute for a few minutes. (Nobody got hurt). Really great!

This large eagle with a 7 to 8 foot wingspan, is the National bird and iconic symbol of the United States.

This large male "barren-ground" Caribou shows a rough, patchy coat, due to his summer molt. These animals form huge herds and migrate from breeding grounds to feeding grounds in the tundra, where they mainly feed on Lichens. Once almost innumerable, all sub-species of Caribou are facing large declines due to loss of habitat and climate change, and other human-caused effects.

Reindeer are domesticated Caribou.

True seals, as opposed to Sea Lions, Harbor Seals are the most widely distributed pinnipeds (Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses) in the world, They are found in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Baltic and the North Sea.

Probably one of the most intriguing animals for a SCUBA diver, they are gentle and very curious underwater and I've had them slowly approach and hold on to my leg while diving off the Channel Islands.

This large male had been following this sow, with her cub, for many minutes, until she had had enough. She turned and charged the male and let him know that his advances were not welcomed. He backed down and reluctantly lumbered away.

This big male was stalking a sow with a cub while they were clamming on a desolate beach on an island in the Katmai National Park. It's easy to see why this impressive animal is a top predator in North America.

This cub is almost as large as its mother and is still nursing. They were seen 'clamming' along a glacier-melt river on a beautiful, sunny day.

This hardy alpine grouse displays the breeding plumage of a male. He retains the white feathers in the summer on his feet. In winter, these birds will be all white to camouflage them in the snow. This is the state bird of Alaska.

This tiny relative of rabbits and hares, lives in rocky areas of Alaska and Canada. It spends most of its daytime "haying", that is, collecting and storing vegetation to supply it through the winter. Pikas do not hibernate. Instead they rely on the rocky shelters and snow for insulation. 

Native Americans collect young shoots of Fireweed in the spring and use them, with other greens for food. In Alaska, candies, syrups, jellies and ice cream are made from this hardy, pioneer plant. As we drove along Alaskan highways, we were treated to beautiful displays of these purplish-pink flowers.

One of the many brightly colored hummers found in Costa Rica, these tiny birds are one of the most common. They can be very aggressive and are often seen chasing other hummingbirds from their territory. This one was seen at the La Selva Biological Station on the tropical Caribbean slope of Costa Rica.

Quetzels are perhaps one of the most beautiful, unusual looking birds in the Northern Hemisphere. Males, like this one, have four extended "upper-tail coverts", which are not true feathers. They can reach a length of up to 30 inches. 

These new-world monkeys are also called White-headed Capuchins. They live in large troops in the tropical American forests and are known for using tools; they rub plants on their bodies, apparently as a form of herbal medicine and use plants and sticks to obtain food. They are known to live for as long as 54 years.

Like many squirrels, this hungry ball of fur was more curious about us than afraid.

This slim Toucan is most commonly found  in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. Like other Toucans, they are mostly fruit eaters; occasionally they take insects, lizards and other small prey.

We saw this Trogon, sitting on a branch that was overhanging a slow-moving river in the Cano Negro Refuge. Often the best places to observe wildlife are difficult to get to and this is definitely true of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. It is one of Costa Rica's most biologically diverse areas, best visited by boating along its waterways.

Motmots are forest-dweling birds that usually perch for long periods of time , looking for small invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. They are prized by birders for their beautiful plumage.

The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is  part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area, in the northern part of Costa Rica.

Anhingas are very similar to Cormorants, but with longer necks and sharp, pointed bills. Caiman are smaller cousins of alligators.

Photographed in Savegre, Costa Rica, the Acorn Woodpecker can be seen  year round also along the Pacific coast of North America and into Mexico. 

Also known as the "Jesus" lizard because it can literally run on the surface of the water, Basilisks are usually found near water in Central and South America.

We saw this pretty Motmot at the Las Selva Biological Station in the lowland tropical rainforest of Northeastern Costa Rica.

Quetzels are beautiful, unusual-looking trogons found in Central American mountainous forests. Favorites of birders for their emerald feathers and elusiveness, they primarily feed on fruits of  avocado trees as seen here.

This beautiful songbird was seen near the Savegre River in the Talamanca Mountain Range.

The Savegre Valley is home to hundreds of birds and animals. Few sing as loudly or prettily as wrens. This little bird gave us a concert along our hiking trail that was breathtaking.

Also known as the red-lored Amazon, these Parrots are native to the tropical Americas, but have formed several feral populations in California cities. This one was in the La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.

Most male birds are brightly colored, apparently to better attract the female of the species. Female birds are often quite drab in color; they need to hide when building and sitting on a nest and their dull appearance helps them avoid predators. This gaudy male Tanager demonstrates the male version of this trait, known as ‘sexual di-morphism’.

We saw this American Bison  crossing the Madison River just before the sun dropped below the mountain tops. It's times like this that I feel so fortunate to be able to witness these rare moments that once were a common occurrence.

Called "Whiskey Jack" by woodsmen, this jay can become tame around campgrounds and picnic areas. This bird was scouting a picnic area near the Yellowstone River.

This agile ewe demonstrates the sure-footedness that these mountainside dwellers are famous for, as it effortlessly crosses a stream near the Lamar Valley.

In the Fall, male Bighorns compete for dominance by charging and butting each other. In this photo, an interloper on the left, is trying his luck against a large dominant male. 

This is the most common Grebe in the world. It has an unusual feeding- migration cycle which includes many months of feeding and storing fat in the Western U.S. During this time, which can last up to 10 months, it gains so much weight that it becomes unable to fly. As it's migration to the Southwest U.S. and Mexico approaches, it's flight muscles and heart grow rapidly, enabling it to make the late fall flight to it's breeding waters.

One of the larger mammalian predators that may survive into the near future despite humans' relentless efforts to kill them, the adaptable and cunning coyote has found ways to thrive alongside man. This large male was foraging near us while we were hiking in the Yellowstone Park.

A mother bear watches closely as one of her cubs tries navigating a tree.

The marmot is a medium-sized rodent with a bushy tail that is actually a large ground squirrel. This curious rodent was seen at the Sheepeaters Cliff in Yellowstone.

We saw this magnificent pelican, gliding over the Yellowstone River in the late afternoon. It had the unusual projection on its beak that develops during the breeding season.

A Black Bear sow relaxes with her young cubs on a grassy slope in Yellowstone National Park, near  Mammoth Hot Springs.

Sanibel Island is a shell collector and bird watcher's paradise. Hundreds of birds visit each year, and hundreds of seashells wash up on the lovely beaches.

This elegant egret was soaring overhead, with his catch, while we were beach combing.

Also called "Valley Quail", these attractive birds are usually foraging on the ground in chaparral, sagebrush or forests in groups called coveys. This alert male is doing guard duty, while his family looks for food nearby.

Flocks of these sandpipers work the beaches at Point Reyes National Seashore, hunting for small insects and crustaceans in the tidal flats.

Thousands of shore birds visit the Point Reyes National Seashore each year. These sandpipers are foraging for small crustaceans in the wet sand at Drake's Bay, in the Point Reyes National Seashore.

A pair of Brown Pelicans chat while soaring off the cliffs of Rancho Palos Verdes.

An Osprey was seen with a Barred Sand Bass off the San Vicente Cliffs of Palos Verdes.

Not much is known about the natural history of Rock Wrens, but it is known that individual males have song repertoires of greater than 100 songs each! These two were having a ‘conversation’ about who-knows-what on the rocky bluff at Point Vicente, with a great view of Santa Catalina Island.

This exuberant male buzzes and chirps while flying from branch to branch, signaling his presence to would-be intruding males and possible female mates.

Although very common, this Western Gull still makes an impressive display as it glides overhead on the Palos Verdes Peninsula of Southern California.

When the light hits the 'gorget' of hummers just right, brilliant colors explode into view. Hummingbirds are daily bathers in our water fountain.

Advertising his suitability as a mate and his newly built nest nearby, a House Wren sings his heart out.

This young hummer is almost as big as its mother and fledged the day after this photograph was taken. The tiny, carefully constructed nest was made from plant material held together by spider webs. 

A Cooper's Hawk eyes an inquisitive Fox Squirrel, who wants to get by the hawk. The squirrel eventually irritated the hawk enough that it flew off. 

Pond Sliders are turtles that are not native to Southern California, but have been introduced to the streams and ponds by unwitting humans. The "Red-eared Slider" is a common turtle offered in pet stores and, until recently, awarded as a prize at carnivals and local circuses. When the children who have been given these reptiles as pets grow tired of them, ignorant parents often release them into local waterways. Unfortunately for the only native turtle in Southern California, the Western Pond Turtle has experienced a steep decline due to loss of habitat and this introduced, non-native species.`

I keep looking for Western Pond Turtles, but almost never see them. These Slidrers are very easily seen throughout much of Southern California.

Robins are migratory songbirds in the thrush family that winter from southern Canada, through the Pacific coast to central Mexico. 

These tiny birds are constantly moving, searching for insects in the branches of trees and bushes. Because they are so small and have a high metabolic rate, they must eat constantly and can starve to death in one hour if unable to find food.

Southern California's largest hummer is a year round resident. Males displaying for other Anna's will slowly climb to 50-100 feet and then perform a high-speed dive with a loud explosive popping sound at the bottom of the show.

These large, colorful seed-eaters occasionally show up at feeders, to the delight of bird enthusiasts. They stand out from most of the smaller finches and sparrows that are seen more often and usually aren’t as colorful.

This beautiful little hawk was patrolling a canyon in Palos Verdes, looking for dinner. They are good at keeping the songbirds alert and 'on their toes', being a specialist on preying on small birds.

"Townies" are gorgeous little warblers that show up in California near the coast in the fall. This one was in a lemon tree, shining bright while hunting for insects. 

These minute birds are very sociable and are usually seen in 'straggling' flocks of dozens at a time. They constantly converse in light, gentle notes as they move from branch to branch, looking for insects.

Not a native to North America, but recently famous in Central Park in New York, this incredibly gaudy male Mandarin and his duller, but still elegant mate were found among dozens of Mallards, many Coots and some very pretty Wood Ducks in Irvine. I think few birds can match the amazing beauty of this species.

This large, colorful duck gets its name from its long, flattened beak. Usually seen with a female, this male was found in the oasis known as Ken Malloy Harbor Regionl Park, in densley populated Los Angeles County.

We watched this heron hunting Ghost Crabs on the beach in Hillborough, Carriacou. Standing absolutely motionless for minutes on end, we watched him finally chase a victim into the surf, where he managed to grab it and begin to disassemble it at his leisure.

These diving ducks have amazing colors when breeding. The males have sky-blue bills, with contrasting white and black patterned heads.  They beat their bills against their necks, causing the water to swirl, to attract the females.

These tiny, hyper-active birds are in danger of going extinct in the near future due to loss of their habitat; Coastal Sage Scrub. Extensive development along the Southern California coast has reduced homes for these birds to a few 'islands' of CSS. The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy has set aside an impressive amount of habitat and is constantly removing invasive plants and restoring Sages, Lemonade Berry and other native plants to the area, to help these birds survive.

Cactus Wrens are large, charismatic birds found on the slopes of coastal sage scrub habitat in southern California. Because most of this CSS has been lost to development, this sub-group of the more common Cactus Wrens in the deserts is severly threatened. The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy has been restoring CSS habitat on over 1600 acres of the Peninsula and I was fortunate to get a few seconds of 'quality time' with this beautiful male in the Nature Preserve.

For more information about the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, go to www.PVPLC.org

Amazing flyers, hummers can hover, fly backwards and do other feats of aeronautics that seem magical. Unlike almost all other birds, Hummingbirds gain lift not only on the downstroke of their wings, but also on the upstroke, similar to insects. 

A young Kit Fox  makes a dinner out of an Audubon's Warbler. These tiny foxes are severely threatened by extinction due to the loss of most of their natural habitat, the fertile San Joaquin Valley, to agriculture and development.

A young fox gets groomed by its father. Although threatened by extinction, these small foxes survive in an urban area of tree-lined parks in the San Joaquin Valley.

Young San Joaquin Kit Foxes play on a summer day in the San Joaquin Valley.

This full grown adult is not much bigger than a house cat. It's one of the smallest wild canines in North America and is greatly threatened with extinction due to the almost complete loss of its natural habitat to farming and development in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Also known as  'Swan-necked Grebes', these elegant diving birds winter along the Pacific coast of North America. As seen in this photograph, they hunt for small fish and are excellent underwater swimmers.

These huge waterbirds dive bomb into fish near the surface and use their throat pouches to scoop and hold their prey. The can be seen along the coasts of North America and in Baja California, as well as many coastal areas throughout the world.

Called 'Spice Finches' in pet stores and recently called 'Nutmeg Mannikins', now they are 'Munias'. These active little finches are native to countries in or near the south Pacific. Escaped pets  have led to large numbers of now perennial residents in southern California.

These colorful, noisey birds from tropical South America have become inhabitants of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Florida. They were likely introduced by fanciers of caged birds that were accidentally or purposely set free. This bird was feasting on Coral Tree blossoms in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles County.

Scotty's Castle, in Death Valley, has large, verdant areas with running water, bushes and trees. This oasis is a magnet for migrating birds like this tiny, colorful warbler.

This little desert dweller was found in Mesquite next to the golf course at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California.

A New World rabbit, the Desert Cottontail is found throughout the western United States. This one was foraging near the golf course, which acts like a magnet for wildlife in the harsh desert environment.

These tiny 'hummers' are found in the southwestern parts of California and Arizona and into Mexico,  in deserts, chaparral and coastal sage. Costa's are identified by the males' purple or amethyst crown and throat.

Cactus Wrens are larger than most other Wrens and are found in arid environments. Fairly common in California deserts, a sub-species, the Coastal Cactus Wren, is almost only seen in small areas of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County. This curious Wren was seen near Borrego Springs.

This hooked-billed songbird was perched on an Ocatillo plant in the desert near Borrego Springs.

These hyperactive, tiny birds almost never stop moving, flitting from branch to branch in search of insects. 

These tiny, active birds are found in brushy lowlands in desert regions of southwest North America.

These night-time hunters of small rodents can find their prey in the darkest nights due to an incredibly acute sense of hearing. They roost in dense trees in the day, blending in with the trunks and  branches, which makes them hard to see.

This elegant little falcon was patrolling the dry banks of the Salton Sea, probably in search of a lizard, snake or small bird.

At least a half dozen Acorn Woodpeckers were seen flying among tall Palms at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara.

Nesting season brings out the fierce protectiveness of many animals. These Blackbirds are trying to scare off the much larger Crane from the tall grass where they are likely hiding their offspring. 

Black Bears, which can be black, brown or cinnamon have taken over the range once occupied by Grizzly Bears in California. This  healthy-looking  bear was steadily foraging about 20 yards uphill from us in mid June.

This dark-backed, acrobatic woodpecker with a raspberry-colored chest is often found in high elevation forests that are recovering from fires. It is the only woodpecker that perches on wires. This one is using a telephone pole for its nest-hole and was seen bringing insects to its noisy chicks. Not surprisingly, the forests here had experienced a fire a few years ago.

Flying overhead, these large white birds took on the pinks and oranges of the setting sun.

Good climbers and swimmers, Bighorn Sheep, also called "Mountain Sheep" have hooves with hard outer edges and spongy centers, giving them good traction, even on sheer rock. They live in herds of about 10 individuals, except when the rams join the herd in the winter. Then as many as 100 sheep, all led by an old ewe, may comprise a herd.

Powerful fliers, clocked in dives at speeds faster than any other bird or animal on earth, these beautiful falcons are found in many habitats from the Arctic to the far south. When nesting in urban environments, they mainly hunt pigeons. Many urban planners welcome them and try to accomodate them when renovating or building new buildings, both out of concern for their wellbeing and for the valuable service they provide by controlling the pigeon populations.

This very large, exotically beautiful pigeon, named after Queen Victoria, is considered the largest surviving species of pigeon in the world. It is threatened by loss of habitat and hunting, especially where locals have access to guns. 

Most tree frogs have large discs on their fingers and toes that help them grip leaves and big eyes for night vision.

All of the unusual and amazing animals only found in Madagascar are perilously close to extinction due to the super predator, man. Over ninety percent of the natural environment there has been destroyed. 

I was standing 2 feet away from a tree in the forest in Andasibe National Park, when my guide said..."I want to show you something". He then pointed right next to my ear. It took us quite awhile to make out the 3 feet long gecko perched head-down on the tree, right next to me. This may be the most camouflaged terrestrial animal I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing. See next photo for a closer shot. Wow!

This is the head of a 3 foot gecko. Its' body is flattened onto the tree and its' skin completely mimics the bark of its' hiding place.

One of the more colorful lemurs in Madagascar. All Sifakas live in the trees and are active in the daytime. They can descend to the forest floor and bounce along on their hind legs. Some are called "dancing Sifakas" because of this unusual gait.

When it comes to camouflage, Nightjars are the champs. These uncommon, shy birds were virtually invisible to us, even though we were only a few feet away in daylight. Many forest and desert dwelling animals in Madagascar and elsewhere rely on invisibility to avoid predators and sometimes to lie in wait to ambush their prey.

One of the largest chameleons in the world, reaching up to two feet in length, this master of color changes is found in the forests of Madagascar and nowhere else. Madagascar is the main center of diversity for chameleons, with the world's smallest and largest. At this time, at least 80 endemic (only found in Madagascar) species are known, and more are still being discovered.

Also called "Gentle Lemurs", Bamboo Lemurs are attractive ("cute"), little primates that are Madagascar's version of the Pandas of China; their diet is mostly comprised of bamboo and similar vegetation.

Sportive Lemurs are medium-sized with long tails. They are usually seen in the daytime, looking  down from a hole in a tree or from branches concealed by leaves. They are active at night and can leap great distances in search of flowers and leaves.

Most Lemurs are attractive, inquisitive and gentle. The Dancing Sifakas are one of the most colorful and distinctively marked and irresistible of all the primates in Madagascar. They bounce around on their hind legs, providing an adorable spectacle to anyone fortunate enough to witness it. A number of these attractive lemurs were in the trees around the Berenty Reserve.

Ringtail Lemurs are very inquisitive, attractive and humorous primates. We found them to be very efficient at 'borrowing' any fruit (especially bananas), nuts or other foods we didn't watch carefully and were unafraid of us when we complained. Their long, black and white ringed tails are often fully erect when they troop around, looking for some mischief to get into. Despite their bravado, they are gentle and friendly and are very amusing.

Apparently the most dangerous animal in Africa, the Hippo has a reputation for a bad attitude that's well deserved. Common knowledge says to avoid getting between a Hippo on land and the water. This one surfaced near our boat and eyed us, but let us go on our way without any trouble. There were many Hippos in the water in the Kazinga Channel.

A pride of lions walked by our safari vehicle in the Mala Mala private game reserve. Each lioness stopped and gazed up at us; each cub looked at us briefly and hurried by. All the while, we all hoped that we didn't look like prey and were feeling grateful for such a wonderful spectacle.

This old veteran was observed following his pride of lionesses and cubs in the Mala Mala Game Preserve in South Africa. Unfortunately, poachers and ignorant, unfeeling "trophy" hunters are dire threats to the survival of these magnificent animals.

Apparently, of all the mammalian predators in Africa, only the Ethiopian Wolf is more endangered than Wild Dogs. They have been hunted to near extinction by farmers and poachers and suffer from loss of their habitat. They look like long-legged, spotted domestic dogs, but are very dangerous hunters. Working in packs, they attack and devour animals like Kudu, a large antelope, in a matter of a few minutes. We were fortunate to sit in our safari vehicle and watch a pack for over twenty minutes. A rare glimpse at an amazing animal severely threatened by extinction today.

Vilified by Hollywood and the print media for decades as a terrifying killer, the gentle, retiring gorilla has been driven almost to extinction.  Loss of its mountainous forest home due to constant encroachment by timber and mining companies and subsistence farmers,  despicable poaching to sate foreigners' appetites for gorilla heads, hands and pelts and from the "bush meat" trade, providing food for the ever growing, hungry masses in Africa has reduced their numbers to all time lows.

Eco tourism seems to be a controversial, but necessary way to protect the remaining gorillas from extinction.

If you would like to get more information or help, a great organization to look into is www.fauna-flora.org

When tourists are brought to a family of Mountain Gorillas, they are warned by their guides to not make loud noises, avoid eye contact, especially with the dominant male, and avoid interacting with any infants. This curious baby was doing somersaults and ended up at my feet! Fortunately, the silverback gazed on benignly and I backed off as quietly as I could. This young gorilla was too cute for words.

Like most African animals, Blue Monkeys are threatened by loss of their habitat and poaching. They prefer to live in shady, tall trees, which are rapidly being replaced by replanted pine forests and subsistence farms.

This beautiful raptor prefers grasslands and open plains, where it searches for insects and small animals. 

Of all the African primates, the baboons may be the most able to coexist with the relentless assault on the natural environment by humans. They are very adaptable, intelligent, fearless and aggressive. 

When boating to and from Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California coast, you can often see dozens, sometimes hundreds and occasionally thousands of these energetic, beautiful Cetaceans careening through the waves. If you are lucky, many will rapidly approach your boat and play in the bow wave or the wake. They seem to possess unlimited power and keep up with a speedy powerboat for minutes on end, only to suddenly vanish into the deep.

While bird watching at the Eco-lodge “Cock-of-the-walk”, which gets its name from the famous bright red bird found in the forests there, a troop of these inquisitive and fearless monkeys showed up and promptly began stealing bread, bananas and anything else left on the table.

This little bird that's usually found sitting on large animals,  was seen on an African Buffalo, on the shore of the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth Park, Uganda. Oxpeckers feed on ticks and flies that infest large mammals. Hunters and poachers dislike them because they are alert and warn their hosts when danger is near.

Sometimes you get lucky on safari; traveling on a dusty trail, we came upon this beautiful cat lolling in the middle of the track. We thought it would get up and run; instead he showed us who owned the area and gazed at us for 10 minutes or more, before we backed up and left him to his own devices.

Queen Elizabeth National Park in West Uganda at over 764 square miles in size was established in 1954. It is home to as many as 500 species of birds and 95 species of mammals including Elephants, Hippos, Congo Lions and Chimpanzees.

We spotted this exotic looking eagle in a banana tree alongside the road near Entebbe, Uganda. It was hard to drive any distance without slowing down, due to the large numbers of interesting birds and animals along the way.

The Entebbe Botanical Garden is a huge, beautiful forest bordering Lake Victoria. Besides an amazing number of beautiful birds, many other animals can be seen there like this inquisitive Vervet Monkey.

Most Sunbirds have long, decurved bills are are brilliantly colored. Due to convergent evolution, sunbirds in Africa, India and the Indo-Pacific,  hummingbirds in the Americas and the honeyeaters in Australia all have similar appearances and mostly feed on nectar.

One of the prettiest of the African cats, the leopard's spots provide a disruptive coloration to make it less visible to its prey. This stealthy predator was at the amazing Mala Mala private game preserve in South Africa.

I’ve been aware of Lantana for my whole life and didn’t realize that it was an African plant until I was fortunate to visit Rwanda a few years ago. This Pretty little bird, that apparently is ‘common’ to the locals, was pretty cool to me when I saw it.

My wife and I consider Zebras to be some of the most impressive animals in Africa. Despite their ubiquity, individuals always seem bursting with life, muscular and beautiful. This youngster seems to be irritating his mother; maybe it’s the Mohawk hairdo.

Being lucky enough to observe a magnificent relic from the past like this huge Rhino is humbling and becoming more and more difficult due to the horrific onslaught of poachers, who are killing them by the the thousands for their horns. The term "White" to describe them comes from an Afrikaner term for "wide", describing their mouth, not for the color. Rhinos are gray to black.

There were approximately 200,000 Rhinos (Black and White) living in the wilds of Africa in the twentieth century. Fifteen years later, there are fewer than 26,000! At this rate, there will be no wild Rhinos in the world by the end of this decade.

Hornbills are large birds with heavy-looking, down-curved bills. The females enclose themselves in a nest cavity and remain with the eggs and nestlings for many months; the males bring the females and chicks food until the chicks leave the nests.

This large Bovine is quite dangerous to humans. It gores and kills over 200 people each year. The male has horns which are characteristically fused and referred to as a "boss'.

In Swahili, "Kuro", waterbucks are large antelopes that inhabit savannas near water. Only the males have the long spiral horns, such as seen here on an  alert buck resting in the grass.

The annual migration of zebras and wildebeests is one of Africa's most compelling natural events. We came upon dozens of animals taking time to rest and drink from a stream near the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Also called an Anubis Baboon, this is one of the largest and most widespread of all old world monkeys. It can be found in 25 African countries and males can weigh over 100 pounds.

Common throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, these beautiful birds are favorite subjects for birders and photographers due to their amazing coloration. This is the national bird of Kenya.

Found at night on the forest floor of the Sukau Rainforest in Malaysian Borneo.

This national bird of Peru is very elusive and found only in the dense Andean rain forest. The males perform an exotic display at dawn and dust, apparently to attract a female. When we saw this one, he was displaying for other males; there were no females in sight.

Found in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, these social New World monkeys live in small groups and defend their territory by screaming and chasing intruders, but rarely resort to physical attacks.

Also known as the Spectacled Caiman, these are the most common of the crocodillian species. They live in rivers and can tolerate salt water. The largest males may reach over 6 feet in length.

It’s usually accepted that egrets, herons and other wading birds prey mainly on aquatic animals. I watched this Great Egret, far from any water, stalk a Western Fence Lizard (slightly left of center in the picture) for at least 10 minutes. Seems like a lot of time spent for such a small morsel. It was all for naught. The lizard eventually scurried away.

One of the smallest and widespread hawks in the Americas. 

One of the many brilliantly colored Parrots in Australia.

This South American penguin is named after the cold current it swims in. Due to overfishing, climate change and ocean acidification, it is listed as threatened for extinction and its numbers are declining.

Small in stature, but huge in attitude. One of my favorite birds. These little owls always look like they disapprove of something or are intent on staring you down.

They are still fairly common along the roadside berms near the Salton Sea, but are losing a lot of their needed habitat to human encroachment in many places in California.

This highly camouflaged spider hunts at night in the leaf litter of the Malaysian forest.

Orangutans are highly intelligent, close relatives of humans. Primarily due to very heavy losses of their forest habitats in Sumatra and Borneo by loggers and Palm oil producers,  these gentle primates are in a 'race' with our other endangered relatives, the Gorillas, to see which goes extinct first. Without immediate worldwide help, both species may be lost forever in the decades to come.

The atoll also known as Swallow Island is administered by Malaysia and is a remote destination for SCUBA divers hoping to get a glimpse of hammerhead sharks that often circle it.  This island is also a major rookery for seabirds like this beautiful tern.

This Little Egret is tossing its prey, a freshwater eel, that it has found in a rice paddy.

Looking much like a feathered dinosaur, the primitive Hoatzins usually roost over water, like this lake in the Amazon rainforest.

These large lizards can get up to over 3 feet in length and were so common when Charles Darwin studied them that he reported he had trouble finding a place to put his tent for all the iguana burrows on the island. Human predation and introduction of pigs, dogs, cats and rats has caused significant declines in their numbers.

A young monkey leaps over its mother in the leafy "Monkey Forest" in the heart of Bali.

Related to the more familiar Cormorants, Anhingas, also called Darters, can be found from South America to the Florida Everglades.

This grebe is rarely seen in flight, in part because it migrates by night, landing on the nearest body of water before or at dawn. When hiding, it may remain underwater with eyes and nostrils just above the surface. These chunky, little birds are capable of long overwater flights; it has reached the Hawaiian Islands, Europe, the Azores, and the Canary Islands.

These beautiful birds are found in the Southern California deserts. I love watching a covey of many quail hurrying across the road at dusk.

These ground-loving desert dwellers would rather run than fly.

Elegant as they take flight at dawn, these beautiful geese stop over at the Salton Sea on their way to Northern breeding grounds.

Always on the lookout for an attack by a lion, leopard or hyena, prey animals like this beautiful Kob must be in top physical shape to survive for long on the savanna in Africa.

Famous for their other-worldly racket at dawn and dusk, these large, social monkeys usually spend most of their time high in the rainforest canopy.

Mercilessly hunted for their beautiful feathers and for the pet trade, Macaws and other parrots have faced near extinction. Islands of protection like the Manu Refuge give these beautiful, intelligent animals some hope for their survival in the future.

Peru has the distinction of being home to more different species of birds and animals than almost any other country in the world. This beautiful little songbird is one of many dozens of brightly colored Tanagers found in the Peruvian forests.

This beautiful goose is listed as "near threatened" (with extinction) due to loss of habitat to agriculture and to heavy hunting. It rarely flies or swims, preferring to feed near water and can be found roosting in trees at night.

The Salton Sea and the agricultural areas nearby are vital to millions of migrating and resident California birds, like these Cattle Egrets. they can form huge flocks around canals and ponds in the desert.

These hardy Zebras are nomadic, always searching for green grasslands. They tend to stay within twenty miles of water. As usual, Cattle Egrets follow along, looking for insects or other small animals stirred up by the hoof-steps of their bigger companion.

Leopards often are seen in trees, where they rest. They even carry animals they've killed up trees, probably to prevent hyenas and lions from stealing their hard earned meal. This one watches us in a forest near the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Similar to a Peacock, this little male displays  extravagantly long tail feathers to attract a mate. 

This beautiful, little bird and many other species of birds were seen in the Entebbe Botanic Garden- really a large wooded forest along the Western Shore of Lake Victoria.

Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda has large areas of grasslands with waterholes that attract big and small animals. Often Hippos can be seen here.

Also called the Senegal Wattled Plover, these wading birds are common in wet grasslands through much of sub-Saharan Africa.

The antelope named for Uganda is often seen in open grasslands. Usually, like most prey animals, even while resting and eating, all are alert for danger and their numbers provide a measure of protection from the carnivores.

Found in North and South America, this large Tern-like bird uses its longer lower mandible to slice through the water, scooping up fish near the surface.

Less common than Black and Turkey Vultures, these Yellow-headed scavengers are also known as Forest Vultures. They locate carrion by sight and smell, an uncommon ability for most birds. They often hunt with King Vultures, which cannot smell. The Yellow-headed Vultures cannot open the tough hide of larger mammals and rely on the King Vultures for that. In turn, since the King Vultures can't smell, they rely on the Yellow-heads to find their meal.

Cute and stern-looking at the same time, these little owls watch closely while I try to take their picture.

Common along the Southern California coast, it was a little strange to see these “sea-going” birds fishing and roosting in this desert encircled lake, far from the sea.

Eared Grebes congregate by the thousands at inland salty waters during migration. In the fall (late July through November) they head to either Mono Lake in California or the Great Salt Lake in Utah. In the spring (late January through early April) they tend to head to the Salton Sea and the Great Salt Lake, bypassing Mono Lake.

These little birds gorge on Brine Shrimp and Flies at the salty lakes and actually lose their ability to fly for up to 10 months a year, as their pectoral (flight) muscles reduce in mass as their digestive system increases. Just before they migrate North, the process reverses.

These elegant, long necked fish-eating birds have energetic courtship rituals. The pair will perform elaborate, synchronized head movements and then dance across the water in a beautiful ballet.

This large “Swamp Hawk” Migrates from Alaska to Mexico and south throughout the year. It is unusual for a hawk because it has an almost owlish face and seems to be almost a daytime owl-hawk . It is magnificent as it hunts low to the ground with it long, slender wings in a dihedral, as it guides over the fields.

Summer time in southern California is famous fro its beaches, surfing and water sports. Among birders, it has recently become famous for witnessing the revival of Peregrine Falcons. Once severely in danger of extinction here, it has made a comeback. This adult feeding its chick, on the 4th of July, attracted dozens of birders and tourists along the bluffs of the Palos verdes Peninsula.

A ‘rarity’ in Southern California, a Mountain Plover, takes on a larger Black-bellied Plover, apparently trying to move it from the smaller birds adopted territory.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and California State wildlife agencies, coastal sage scrub habitat has been reintroduced to open spaces here, giving this engaging little bird a chance at survival as a species for years to come.

While enjoying watching the many species of birds at the Madrona Marsh in Torrance, California, I spotted this altercation between a pesky Red-winged Blackbird and a Killdeer.

This common yellow—green warbler is an active hunter of insects. It’s orange crown is rarely seen in the field. This one, seen in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, is displaying his kingly ornament for a change.

If the famed ornithologist, Dr. Townsend, picked this bright little bird as his favorite warbler, I wouldn’t be surprised. This stunning ball of energy, of all the migratory birds that visit our yard in the spring, is my favorite too.

There are many different species of Bee-eaters in Africa. They all have variations of bright colors and patterns and are like little jewels in the forests.

This beautiful aerial acrobat and it’s hundreds of relatives are employing the nest boxes provided at the wildlife sanctuary and seem to be thriving here this spring. The US Forestry Service’s practice of removing dead trees has made it difficult for this species and many other cavity nesters to find adequate places to nest. Hopefully efforts to provide nesting sites throughout the Americas will help these birds to flourish for years to come.

This colorful mamber of the Damselfly family is a relative of the larger aerial hunters, the Dragonflies. Both stalk flying insects. They are more than welcome in my Koi pond, first because they are interesting and beautiful and second because they eat mosquitoes.

A pair of Turkey Vultures pick over the remains of a Mule Deer buck near the coast of central California.

This mostly eastern Canadian raptor was seen in Palos Verdes in late winter and is considered a rare, casual visitor to coastal California. These hawks form huge flocks and migrate in the fall to Central and South America.

This beautiful songbird spends summer in Canada and is rarely seen on the west coast of North America. It migrates along the eastern flyway to Florida, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

This attractive, hyperactive predator is found from Southern Canada to Bolivia. In snow-covered regions in winter, it can be mostly white.

An effective foe of rodents in particular, weasels help control populations of mice, rats and gophers. This individual performed for us for many minutes, jumping, running and almost flying into gopher holes, only to appear many yards away from another hole in just a few seconds.

These relatives of woodpeckers eat fruit and insects, but will also drill holes in the trunks of trees and feed on the sap.

This pretty little Butterfly is California’s official state insect. The males has a yellow silhouette of a dog’s head defined by black. This shows the underwing. The caterpillar feeds on False Indigo.

Watching a Green Heron hunt is sometimes an exercise in patience. They are always fun to watch. It’s kind of amazing that I can drive a few minutes into a very urbanized community in SoCal that has one of the last seasonal wetlands and vernal pools in the state. These areas are critical to provide habitat for all manner of flora and fauna. It is a testament that a few committed people can preserve valuable, natural spaces , like Madrona Marsh.

In late fall, 2022, a visitor from the far north showed up on suburban rooftops, causing quite a stir in the birding community and even on national news. This beautiful owl from the arctic somehow made it to southern California. I felt very fortunate to be a witness to such an impressive bird and hope it eventually will find its’ way back north again.

Although not native to North America, Red Foxes are found in many states. This mother is feeding her hungry youngsters.

A male Red Fox races back to its’ den with breakfast for the family.

This beautiful spring migrant to Southern California is one of many colorful birds heading north, with a stop-over in the Palos Verdes Peninsula.