The wildlife we found along the way.
|
Friday 🗺️ September 25, 2026 Happy Friday, Reader! Route 66 may have been the road we followed most of the year, but it wasn't the only thing we were watching. Some of my favorite moments this year have come from pulling over for a burro or a prairie dog instead of a landmark. Blending nature into our travels is what makes my heart happy, and these are a few of the wild neighbors who shared the road with us. A couple of my favorite encounters actually happened after we finished Route 66 and made our way to the Badlands. Some residents of Oatman, AZ have been here longer than the tourists. The wild burros that wander into town each day are descendants of the pack animals gold miners used in the late 1800s. When the miners moved on, some of their burros were left behind. Today, their descendants roam the Black Mountains surrounding Oatman. Each morning, many make their way into town, where they've learned that tourists usually mean treats and all pockets must be searched. They stroll the streets, stop traffic, and generally behave as though Oatman belongs to them. In a way, it does. The locals consider the burros part of the family. New arrivals are such a big deal that people publicly announce births and hold naming contests for the babies. And yes, when a burro decides to stand in the middle of Route 66, you wait. His calm pose was just the shot I was looking for. Not every wildlife encounter requires a long lens or a national park. Sometimes it's as simple as slowing down long enough to notice what's right in front of you. This busy bumblebee was completely focused on the coneflower, giving me the perfect excuse to stop and enjoy one of nature's tiny moments. Apparently, oceanfront dining isn't just for humans. 😂 This gull managed to score quite a meal near Santa Monica. With the Pacific and mountains behind him, I couldn't resist capturing the moment. Not exactly the wildlife encounter I expected at the start of Route 66, but definitely one I'll remember! Wildlife photography often means waiting… and waiting… and then suddenly everything happens at once. I caught this yellow-crowned night heron just as it grabbed its meal from the water. The splash, the catch, and that beautiful reflection turned an ordinary feeding moment into one of my favorite action shots. After Route 66, we headed north to the Badlands, where prairie dogs provided plenty of entertainment. This little one seemed perfectly content sitting among the grasses, enjoying breakfast. Sometimes the smallest residents are the most fun to photograph. This was another encounter from our time in the Badlands, and one with a little more tension. A coyote wandered through while several pronghorn rested nearby. Everyone knew exactly where everyone else was even if they weren't looking at each other. I loved being able to capture both predator and prey in a single frame and tell a much bigger story than a portrait of either animal could have told alone. One Thing to Know ... when photographing wildlifeWildlife rarely performs on command. One of the best things you can do is slow down, watch, and wait. Pay attention to an animal's behavior and look for clues about what might happen next. A heron staring intently into the water may be getting ready to strike. A bird might pause just before taking flight. Wildlife watching something in the distance may suddenly react. Patience gets you into position. Timing gets you the shot. Keep your camera ready, use continuous autofocus and burst shooting when action is likely, and resist the urge to move on too quickly. Sometimes the difference between a nice wildlife portrait and a photograph that tells a story is just a few seconds. 📷 Want to Improve Your Wildlife Photography?Patience and timing are just two pieces of the puzzle. I’ve shared more of what I’ve learned about photographing wildlife—from camera settings and focusing techniques to getting sharper images—in several posts on the blog. → Explore more on photographing wildlife and "Capturing Authentic Moments in Nature". Until next week,
|
