Experience Wildlife 2024 Recap
2024 has been an incredible year for photography. We journeyed to the Galapagos Islands to seek out endemic wildlife, to the Alaskan wilderness in search of Alaskan Brown Bears, to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and from coast to coast to photograph wildlife and landscapes. We photographed wildlife such as snowy owls, islands foxes, wolves, whooping cranes, grizzly bears as well as dolphins, whales, seals and sea lions.
We wanted to share with you some of these highlights and we hope you enjoy the journey.
Royal Tern comes in for a landing on the beach in Central Florida
My first trip of the year was to Florida for the Space Coast Birding Festival. I was there leading workshops and giving presentations as well as running the Wildside Nature Tours booth in the Expo.
Imaging USA
My next stop was to Louisville, Kentucky for the Imaging USA annual conference.
Solo Exhibit at the Truewood Gallery
Our first tour of the year was the Wildside San Diego Weekender. Our focus was on newborn Harbor Seals that are born on the beaches of La Jolla each winter. We were also able to photograph surfing California Sea Lions, nesting Brandt’s Cormorants, Ridgeway rails, as well as many other wildlife and landscapes.
From the sunny beaches of San Diego to to icy cold of Northern Minnesota, I headed to Duluth to join up with a fellow Wildside Nature Tours leader while we looked for owls and other Boreal wildlife. We were able to photograph four different types of owls including, the barred owl, hawk owl, snowy owl and the great grey owl. We also found, crossbills, Canada jays and even an ermine.
After heading back south I kept going until I hit the gulf of Mexico. I was heading to the Whooping Crane Bird Festival, to work as a naturalist on their boat tours and in my booth in their expo. I was interviewed for the Texas Parks and Wildlife tv show that aired on PBS later in the year. Here is that video.
When I was in Florida earlier in the year, I had seen a pair of Sandhill Cranes lay an egg and I wanted to return back to the same area to see if the eggs had hatched. I was not disappointed and the results from this session certainly did not disappoint.
Texas Photography Festival
In March I led a photo walk for the Texas Photography Festival in Georgetown, TX.
Come late March into early April it was wildflower season in Texas. Most people come far and wide to see the Texas Bluebonnets, but other flowers such as the Indian Paintbrush and Red Poppies are equally as beautiful.
On April 8th a phenomenon came through central Texas, a total solar eclipse, and I was there leading a Regional Event for the North American Nature Photography Association.
Total Solar Eclipse
In the height of the wildflower season, this Total Solar Eclipse was a once in a lifetime event.
At the end of April I headed back to Florida for the Florida Photo and Birding Festival. I was one of the Keynote Speakers and photo workshop leader with Wildside Nature Tours. I was also interviewed for this video for Wildside.
After Florida I headed to Ohio for the Biggest Week in American Birding.
My next set of trips led me to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I spent five weeks leading 3 different tours. It snowed on Memorial Day and as the sun started to come out so did much of the wildlife. This was the last time I was able to photograph Grizzly 399. We got seven different sessions with her and her cub. Later this year she was struck by a car and passed. I was so sad to hear this news, but grateful I got to spend so much time with her this year.
Girls Who Click
My annual Girls Who Click workshop in La Jolla partnered with Be Wise STEM group.
After my Girls Who Click workshop in La Jolla I headed out to the Channel Islands National Park to photograph the Island Foxes that are endemic to these Islands. I didn’t expect to see whales and dolphins along the way.
My next adventure was a big one. I headed to the Galapagos Islands with Wildside Nature Tours to co-lead Kevin’s 50th trip.
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
A brief stop in Tucson, Arizona to lead a workshop for the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival and even photographed a Gila monster.
From Arizona I headed north to Alaska with friend and college Alyce Bender to scout an Alaskan Brown Bear photo workshop for next year. We visited three different locations within two National Parks. Katmai and Lake Clark.
In September I headed back to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to lead two more workshops for Wildside Nature Tours. It was warmer than expected but the color of the leaves was phenomenal.
Cape May Birding Festival
My last bird festival of the year took me to Cape May, New Jersey. This was my first time on the Jersey Shore and I can see why so many people are drawn to it. We were even able to photograph the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.
After getting to spend some much needed time at home catching up on editing. I made my last trip of the year. I led another Regional Event for the North American Nature Photographers Association, but this time to the Gulf to photograph Whooping Cranes. We not only saw 42 whooping cranes but also got to see a rare American Flamingo a Nine-banned Armadillo and many more birds.
I couldn’t have asked for a better year. I am so grateful for all the amazing opportunities and I can’t wait to see what blessings 2025 has in store for me. Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year.
View some more of my images in this video: