ted_k_raab's Favorites

Love is on the air, but not nearly as gregarious as co-occurring Pierids.

Hey there ! Someone flew over and visited.

About 1.5-2 in SVL, and a wonderful addition to a fossil hike.

Silent and watchful.

They are certainly affectionate to pups.

Warming itself on cheesewood landscaping.

Originally thought it was a chestnut, half-buried. Rains have started here in the last day or two, so on cue …

A real stunner, hiding in coastal scrub.

Very fresh —- will collect and cook next time !

One of the smallest (9-10” long) individuals I’ve encountered of this species. Orange/red morph, with very shiny scales on head, and slight iridescence on body scales.

Sunning itself on the end of the log, with plenty of waterbird friends.

Two very calm cats, sunning/scouting at edge of drainage.

"Cross" fox variant, carrying away early dinner.

A lovely tiny butterfly capable of bursts of speed.

Mother with resting young.

Just a lovely color.

Agile, well-fed bear visited our site near historic Carnegie Research cabins.

An absolutely silent, athletic snake. It was a joy to watch it climb vertical rock ledges effortlessly, scenting- out small prey (skinks ? Lizards ?).

Most abundant lizard in upper portions of Canyon.

Metallic green skink; thermoregulating on shaded granite near summit of Buddhist historic site. (former genus name: Mabuya)

We now have a family of at least 3; pups were observed dismembering hare. Not terribly fearful of humans.

Very chill — scoping potential prey in bay laurel/oak glade along stream.

Possibly warming itself on bike path, or in search of nearby pocket gophers.

Abundant and smart looking waterfowl.

Very common, very vocal near local Fort,

Near a body of water; spotted nesting pair later.

A flash of iridescent purple, and the distinctive down-curving bill. In dry thorn scrub, N of Jaipur.

A serious bit of convergent evolution -- looks like a N American elk, but some dietary habits of moose. Always social.

These deer do seem quite a bit less social than Barasingha.

This one puzzled me — just hopping on the ground wo/ legs showing. Seemed big to have fallen out of a nest.

This big fellow was playing the “long game” for a nearby Sable Antelope, but was likely moving the prey towards some female lions.

Heading across trail, definitely had the scent, disappeared silently into dormant thistles. Near Ed Levin County Park.

Breeding pair, alternating half-hearted mating, and also playing the "long game" while stalking a pair of European hares.

Based on size difference, I'd guess mating pair, but a bit too far.

Purposefully avoiding biologists, dry forest (Yala NP).

Thermo regulating at brackish pools, Yala National Park.

Drinking water and extremely skittish, due to male lion within a few hundred meters, also drinking.

Lone musk ox spotted near Pipeline Road, about 30-45 min N of Toolik Lake Field Station. Certain that larger group was not far.

Seemed to be on the scent of some Red Lechwe. Near Chobe NP.

Black and white color morph, 1 m+ in length, sunning itself on trail, then retreating to nearby serpentine grassland.

Thermo-regulating on the bank, late afternoon.