Tag Archives: Wildlife

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Asian Openbill Stork

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Asian Openbill Stork
Interestingly, the Asian Openbill isn’t born with a curved bill, it grows this way.

 

Not the prettiest looking bird by any mean,s but this Asian Openbill stood out to me when I visited Bundala National Park in Sri Lanka.

I’ve never seen a bird with a bill like this before, it’s curved so it actually doesn’t close shut all the way, except at the tip, strange huh? I asked about this Asian Openbill Stork, and was told that they like to eat snails so the curved bill works better! How is that for animal adaptation?

Just one of many bird species I saw in Bundala, if you’re into birding, or just enjoy nature like me, it is a must visit park in Sri Lanka!

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Blue Wildebeest

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Blue Wildebeest
A Blue Wildebeest photographed in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

 

One of two species of wildebeest, the Blue Wildebeest is the more common species and is larger than the Black Wildebeest more commonly seen in South Africa.

To most people who go on safari in Africa, the wildebeest is considered an ugly animal, often overlooked after you see thousands upon thousands of them in places like the Serengeti or Maasai Mara.

Indeed, they’re not known for their good looks, but what they are famous for is the Great Migration in Africa. More than two million animals make up the migration, which also includes hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles,making it the largest land mammal migration in the world.

Even if you’re not there during the peak of migration time, wildebeest seem to be everywhere when you travel through Kenya and Tanzania, playing an important role in the food chain for predators such as lions, hyenas, leopards and crocodiles.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Common Bottlenose Dolphins

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Common Bottlenose Dolphins
Two Common Bottlenose Dolphins, photographed in the Galapagos Islands

 

Dolphins are a special creature. We seem to have a connection to them unlike any other animal in the sea. They’re smart, seemingly playful and downright cute.

In reality though, they are fierce and ferocious hunters, with few enemies in the sea! Despite seeing dolphins in Brazil, the Maldives, Russia, Honduras and other places, I’ve always found photographing dolphins to be a futile effort.

They follow boats or may bow ride, dipping above and below the surface at great speed. Never still, getting a good shot has always seemed impossible! But, on my last trip to the Galapagos Islands I was lucky enough to have a number of dolphins hang out with our boat for around 30 minutes. They were porpoising and bow-riding and having all sorts of fun. So, with a bit of luck and guesswork as to where they’d jump out of the water next, I was about t capture this image of two Common Bottlenose Dolphins jumping out of the water at the same time.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Espanola Lava Lizard

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Female Lava Lizard
A Female Lava Lizard on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Islands

 

The Española Lava Lizard, or Hood Lava Lizard is one of nine species of lava lizards endemic to the Galapagos Islands. As it’s name suggests, it is specifically endemic to Espanola, or Hood, Island.

This particular lava lizard is a female lava lizard, as can be determined by the colouration of the face. While different lava lizards species have different colouration’s and their colours can change at times, the females often have a bright red colour under their necks.

Overall, male lava lizards are larger than the females. Both males and females will perform ‘push ups’ if they feel threatened by your presence, or to determine dominance over another lava lizard nearby.

The scientific name for this lava lizard is Microlophus delanonis and it was photographed at Punta Suarez on Espanola Island.

 

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Black-Naped Hare

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Black-naped Hare
A Black-Naped Hare at Ruhunu / Yala National Park in Sri Lanka

 

A cute creature, the Black-Naped Hare, also called the Indian Hare, is common across Indian, Sri Lanka and other parts of Southern Asia.

Not to be confused with rabbits, hares are entirely different animals. These hares enjoy feeding on twigs and berries and have larger ears and hind legs. They’re a pretty impressive size really!

This particular black-naped species is unfortunately a victim of poaching in parts of India, but still has healthy populations in the wild.