Category: Wildebeests

African Lion, Badger, Bobcat, Cheetah, Coyote, Favorite Images, Leopard, Lion, Point Reyes National Seashore, Serengeti National Park, Wildebeests

Some of My Favorite Images from 2018

Back in late 2007 a photographer by the name of Jim Goldstein invited other photographers to do blogs showing their 10 best photographs of that year and to send him a link to their blogs which he would then add to a list of the blogs of all who were participating.  It was a great service to all who appreciated good photography.  It gave me a handy list of photographers (mostly nature photographers) so I could easily look at what they were doing and how my work compared to theirs.  I participated a couple of times, but somehow forgot about it.  I saw a notice about it recently and decided to participate again.

2018 for me was highlighted by a trip to Tanzania hosted by the African Wildlife Foundation (Craig Sholley) and Nature’s Best Photography (Jeff Vanuga).  They hired Thomson Safaris to deliver all the necessary services such as camps, food, drivers etc.  All three were superb.  I also made my regular trips to Point Reyes National Seashore, which is a short drive from my home.

Jim Goldstein used to ask that you list your 10 “best” photos.  The limit of 10 was not strictly followed by most and Jim seems to have de-emphasized it nowadays.  Picking what you think are your “best” photos is not easy.  So, below is a list of “some” of my “favorite” photos of 2018 in no particular order.

Finally, Jim’s list of links won’t be out until about the second week in January and when it comes out I’ll insert a link here.  here it is:  https://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog/2019/01/08/photos-2018-jmggalleries-blog-readers/

For now, you can go to his blog touting the 2018 round and linking to all the previous rounds all the way back to 2007 by clicking here.  Thanks Jim!

A healthy-looking coyote moves through a ranch pasture.

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A leopard stares from under the overhanging leaves of a palm tree.

Leopard, Serengeti National Park

This is a photo of a bobcat sharpening its claws.

Bobcat with Damaged Eye, Point Reyes National Seashore

Wildebeests become trapped on the steep north bank of the Mara River

Wildebeest Crossing Mara River, Serengeti National Park

cheetahs, cheetah, photo, image, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Two Cheetahs Rest, Serengeti National Park

Mother elephants keep their calves protected inside the herd.

Mother Elephants and Calves, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male bobcat.

Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

Bobcat hunting at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Bobcat, Point Reyes National Seashore

Male Lion, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male African Lion, Serengeti National Park

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A group of elephants faces the camera at sunset in Tarangire National Park.

Elephants, Tarangire National Park

A coyote stares at the camera.

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A male lion walks through the Serengeti and stares at the camera.

Male Lion, Serengeti National Park

A coyote looks over its shoulder.

Coyote, Point Reyes National Seashore

A badger stands next to a hole it is digging looking for gophers.

Badger, Point Reyes National Seashore

Wildebeests, zebras

Wildebeest Crossing Mara River, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Here are just a few of the 2,200 photos I took of thousands of wildebeests crossing the Mara River one morning in late September of 2018.

Wildebeests, Mara River, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Wildebeests Stampeding Down the South Bank of the Mara River

Our guide, John, got us to the Mara River early in the morning and told us that there was no guarantee we would see any of the thousands of wildebeests we were watching actually cross the river into Kenya.  We crossed our fingers.  Many people wait for days without witnessing a crossing.

Wildebeest Crossing, Mara River, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Some of the Thousands of Wildebeests that Crossed the Mara River

My two safari mates and I were standing and looking out the top of our Land Rover taking photos of the many wildebeests around us when John shouted “get down, get down”!  He had spotted one or two individuals start to move down the steep bank of the river and he knew in a few seconds thousands of wildebeests would follow them and stampede to and across the river.  John raced to a spot near the river’s edge where we could witness the crossing.  In all my years of photographing wildlife this was the first time the word “pandemonium” came to mind, but that’s what it was.  It was truly a moving experience.  Thousands of wildebeests and a few zebras raced by for over 30 minutes.

Wildebeests become trapped on the steep north bank of the Mara River

A bottleneck occurred because animals were arriving at the far side of the river faster than they could climb the steep bank.

In addition to the still photos I shot many videos of the crossing.  One shows animals falling down the bank either because they lost their footing in their steep climbs or they were forced off edges by too many animals in too little space.  Some fell on others below.  I had heard of animals breaking legs in these crossings, but all the ones we were watching made it across without any obvious injuries.  There were no crocodiles where they crossed.  John told us later that the water was too shallow there.  Crocodiles prefer to grab their prey and drown them and this area was too shallow for that.  I don’t know if the wildebeests crossed here for that reason.

After the dust settled, we drove upriver a ways and saw two wildebeests wedged between rocks in a rocky section of the river trying to free themselves.  As we watched, it became clear they were never going to get free.  None of their legs could touch bottom.  There was a large crocodile watching them and just biding its time.