Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

This is a terribly lonely tortoise. It was removed from its homeland of Madagascar decades ago to this island (Bird Island) when the island was a coconut and…


Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

This giant tortoise species is named after one of the largest atolls in the world, Aldabra, which is also its last stronghold after centuries of human…


Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

This is the second of just 3 bird species I encountered at this lagoon in the Shuab valley on the west coast of Socotra. Here it's resting in the warm light of…


Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)

Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)

The oxbow lake at Amazon Research and Conservation Center, deep in the Peruvian Amazon, was almost still as I watched this heron stand perfectly still and then…


Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

It's the end of the dry season in the Pantanal, and the torrential downpour of last night is now flowing towards the permanent rivers and lakes. In this photo…


Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

This is a very skittish species, perhaps one of the most nervous of all. When I drive up any river these are the birds that first take to the wings to escape.…


Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)

Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)

It's a rare opportunity when you find toucan's nest, and even more so when you can follow their food delivery to the chicks. Here it's coming with a large…


Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum)

Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum)

This immature rufescent tiger heron is quite hard to see when it's standing still among the branches seen here.


Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

This is a nocturnal bird for the most part, but that doesn't mean they are asleep during the day. Here I passed by silently in my canoe, but even though I was…


Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)

Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)

The many canals feeding water to the rice fields at Fazenda San Fransico hold a diverse flora and fauna, and in a blink of an eye you may see a tapir - in the…