21-9-1992 SITKA, ALASKA - HORNED PUFFIN (Fratercula corniculata)

The horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) is an auk found in the North Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of Alaska, Siberia and British Columbia. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often with other auks.

It is similar in appearance to the Atlantic puffin, its closest relative of the North Atlantic, but differs by a "horn" of black skin located above the eye, present in adult birds.

This juvenile lacks the horn and brilliantly colored rhamphotheca seen in sexually mature birds during the breeding season

The height of the adult puffin is approximately 20 cm (8 in), the weight is approximately 500 g (18 oz), and the wingspan is approximately 58 cm (23 in). Horned puffins are monomorphic (the male and female exhibit the same plumage coloration). Sexually mature birds have a small fleshy black "horn" extending upwards from the eye, from which the animal derives its common name — the horned puffin. A dark eyestripe extends backwards from the eye towards the occiput. The cheeks are white, with a yellow wattle at the base of the bill. The legs and feet are orange.

The horned puffin's bill, which is larger than those of other puffin species, is red at the tip and yellow at the base. In summer (breeding) plumage, the bill's outer layer – the rhamphotheca – grows in size and turns bright yellow with a dark orange tip. The size and color of the rhamphotheca helps to attract a mate. The brilliant outer layers of the rhamphotheca are shed in late summer, as the face reverts to a gray and black color, and the legs and feet fade to a pale fleshy color. This phase is referred to as eclipse plumage. The puffin's bill has fluorescent properties that are also used to attract a partner. Puffins can see ultraviolet rays, allowing them to spot luminescence on the bills of other puffins during the courtship display.

9-4-2006 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BIRD GRASSHOPPER (Subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae)

16-4-2003 PANAMA - GOLDEN COLLARED MANAKIN (Manacus vitellinus)

The golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus) is a species of bird in the family Pipridae.

It is found in Colombia and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and heavily degraded former forest.

10-10-2000 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - BLUE WINGED KOOKABURRA (Dacelo leachii)

The blue-winged kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) is a large kingfisher, slightly smaller than its cousin, the laughing kookaburra. It boasts a cream-colored plumage with brownish bars, blue wings, and a blue rump. The male is distinguished by its blue tail, while the female's tail is rufous with blackish bars.

Adults measure 38 to 42 cm in length and weigh between 260 to 330 grams. They lack the dark mask of the laughing kookaburra, have more blue in the wing, and striking white eyes. The bill is quite heavy. Juveniles can be identified by their more pronounced brown bars and marks, and their eyes are brown for the first two years.

This species is found in open savannah woodland, Melaleuca swamps, and farmlands, including sugarcane plantations.

The blue-winged kookaburra's range extends from southern New Guinea and northern Australia to Brisbane in southern Queensland, across the Top End, and down the Western Australian coast as far as Shark Bay.

They live in family groups of up to 12 individuals and are known for their maniacal cackling or barking calls.

The call of the blue-winged kookaburra is a distinctive and loud cackle or barking sound.

A cooperative breeder, the blue-winged kookaburra nests in tree hollows, with a breeding pair assisted by helper birds. They lay three to four white, slightly shiny eggs, and chicks are altricial, requiring extensive care post-hatching.

Their diet varies seasonally, including insects, lizards, frogs, crayfish, scorpions, spiders, fish, earthworms, small birds, and rodents. They are opportunistic and may even snatch insects fleeing from bushfires.

The blue-winged kookaburra is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, they face predation from red goshawks and rufous owls, and adults are at risk of vehicle collisions. Nests may be raided by olive pythons, quolls, and goannas.

10-10-2001 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - EASTERN CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis ssp. coromandus)

The Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus, is a member of the heron family Ardeidae, displaying a stout build with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 96 centimeters. It is characterized by its white plumage, which during the breeding season is adorned with buff plumes, and a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. The breeding adult is distinguished by its golden nuptial plumes and the buff coloration extending to the cheeks and throat.

This species can be identified by its relatively short, thick neck, sturdy bill, and hunched posture. The non-breeding adult is predominantly white with a yellow bill. During breeding, the buff on the head extends to the cheeks and throat, and the plumes take on a more golden hue. The bill and tarsus are longer than those of its western counterpart, and it is generally smaller with shorter wings.

The Eastern Cattle Egret favors drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Its preferred environments include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies.

Native to southern and eastern Asia, and Australasia, this species has expanded its range remarkably, partly due to its symbiotic relationship with cattle and other large grazing mammals. It has established itself in the north and east of Australia and regularly visits New Zealand.

The Eastern Cattle Egret is often seen in the company of cattle or other large mammals, taking advantage of the insects and small vertebrates these animals disturb. Some populations are migratory, while others disperse after breeding, showing a remarkable adaptability in their movements.

10-10-2001 BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW, AUSTRALIA - EASTERN GREY KANGAROO (Macropus giganteus)

The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus: gigantic large-foot; also great grey kangaroo or forester kangaroo) is a marsupial found in the eastern third of Australia, with a population of several million. Although a large M. giganteus kangaroo male can typically weigh up to 69 kg (152 lb) and have a length of well over 2 m (6 ft 7 in),the scientific name is misleading as the red kangaroo of the semi-arid inland is larger, weighing up to 90 kg (200 lb).

The eastern grey kangaroo was described by George Shaw in 1790 as Macropus giganteus.

Although the red is better known, the eastern grey is the kangaroo most often encountered in Australia, due to its adaptability. Few Australians visit the arid interior of the continent, while many live in and around the major cities of the southern and eastern coast, from where it is usually only a short drive to the remaining pockets of near-city bushland where kangaroos can be found without much difficulty. The eastern grey prefers open grassland with areas of bush for daytime shelter and mainly inhabits the wetter parts of Australia. It also inhabits coastal areas, woodlands, sub-tropical forests, mountain forests, and inland scrubs.

Like all kangaroos, it is mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, and is mostly seen early in the morning, or as the light starts to fade in the evening. In the middle of the day, kangaroos rest in the cover of the woodlands and eat there but then come out in the open to feed on the grasslands in large numbers.The eastern grey kangaroo mainly graze a wide variety of grasses[ compared to other species (e.g. the red kangaroo) that also include significant amounts of shrubs in their diet.

Eastern grey kangaroos are gregarious and form open-membership groups. The groups contain an average of three individuals. Smaller groups join to graze in preferred foraging areas, and to rest in large groups around the middle of the day. They exist in a dominance hierarchy and the dominant individuals gain access to better sources of food and areas of shade. However, kangaroos are not territorial. Eastern grey kangaroos adjust their behaviour in relation to the risk of predation with reproductive females, individuals on the periphery of the group and individuals in groups far from cover being the most vigilant. Vigilance in individual kangaroos does not seem to significantly decrease when the size of the group increases. However, there is a tendency for the proportion of individuals on the periphery of the group to decline as group size increases. The open membership of the group allows more kangaroos to join and thus provide more buffers against predators.

10-10-2001 AUSTRALIA - KOALA BEAR (Phascolarctos cinereus)

The koala or, inaccurately, koala bear (Phascolarctos cinereus), is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Fur colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.

The koala's range covers roughly 1,000,000 km2 (390,000 sq mi), and 30 ecoregions. It ranges throughout mainland eastern and southeastern Australia, including the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The koala was introduced to several nearby islands. The population on Magnetic Island represents the northern limit of its range.

Fossil evidence shows that the koala's range stretched as far west as southwestern Western Australia during the late Pleistocene. They were likely driven to extinction in these areas by environmental changes and hunting by Indigenous Australians.  Koalas were introduced to Western Australia at Yanchep in 1938 but that population was reduced to 4 individuals by 2022. Koalas can be found in both tropical and temperate habitats ranging from dense woodlands to more spaced-out forests. In semi-arid climates, they prefer riparian habitats, where nearby streams and creeks provide refuge during times of drought and extreme heat.

1-10-2001 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - LAUGHING KOOKABURRA (Dacelo novaeguineae)

The Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is a robust member of the kingfisher family, known for its iconic laughter-like call. It has a white or cream-colored head adorned with a dark brown eye-stripe, while its upperparts are predominantly dark brown with a distinctive mottled light-blue patch on the wing coverts. The underparts are cream-white, and the tail is barred with rufous and black. Both male and female exhibit similar plumage.

This largest kingfisher species can be identified by its hefty bill, prominent brown eyes, and the unique pattern of its plumage. The male and female are similar in appearance, though the female is generally larger. The heavy bill is black on top and bone-colored on the bottom, and the bird has a dark eye-stripe that sets it apart from the blue-winged kookaburra.

The Laughing Kookaburra is found in a variety of habitats including dry eucalypt forests, woodlands, city parks, and gardens. It requires tree holes for nesting and is often seen in areas where the understory is open or grassy.

Native to eastern mainland Australia, the species has been introduced to parts of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia. It occupies territories throughout the year and is considered sedentary.

Laughing Kookaburras live in family groups, defending their territories with their laughter-like calls. They are monogamous, often retaining the same partner for life, and may be accompanied by offspring from previous years who assist in territory defense and raising young.

The bird's call is a distinctive laugh, used to establish territory and often performed in chorus at dawn and dusk. The call is a complex production, with the bird capable of producing two frequencies at once. It is a learned behavior, with young birds taught by the breeding pair.

1-10 2001 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SHORT BEAKED ECHIDNA (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), also called the short-nosed echidna, is one of four living species of echidna, and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus, from Ancient Greek ταχύς (takhús), meaning "fast", and γλῶσσα (glôssa), meaning "tongue". It is covered in fur and spines and has a distinctive snout and a specialised tongue, which it uses to catch its insect prey at a great speed. Like the other extant monotremes, the short-beaked echidna lays eggs; the monotremes are the only living group of mammals to do so.

The short-beaked echidna has extremely strong front limbs and claws, which allow it to burrow quickly with great power. As it needs to be able to survive underground, it has a significant tolerance to high levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen. It has no weapons or fighting ability but deters predators by curling into a ball and protecting itself with its spines. It cannot sweat or deal well with heat, so it tends to avoid daytime activity in hot weather. It can swim if needed. The snout has mechanoreceptors and electroreceptors that help the echidna to detect its surroundings.

During the Australian winter, it goes into deep torpor and hibernation, reducing its metabolism to save energy. As the temperature increases, it emerges to mate. Female echidnas lay one egg a year and the mating period is the only time the otherwise solitary animals meet one another; the male has no further contact with the female or his offspring after mating. A newborn echidna is the size of a grape but grows rapidly on its mother's milk, which is very rich in nutrients. By seven weeks baby echidnas grow too large and spiky to stay in the pouch and are expelled into the mother's burrow. At around six months they leave and have no more contact with their mothers.

The species is found throughout Australia, where it is the most widespread native mammal, and in coastal and highland regions of eastern New Guinea, where it is known as the mungwe in the Daribi and Chimbu languages. It is not threatened with extinction, but human activities, such as hunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of foreign predatory species and parasites, have reduced its abundance in Australia.

1-10-2001 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SOUTHERN HAIRY NOSED WOMBAT (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

The southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons ) is one of three extant species of wombats. It is found in scattered areas of semiarid scrub and mallee from the eastern Nullarbor Plain to the New South Wales border area. It is the smallest of all three wombat species. The young often do not survive dry seasons. It is the state animal of South Australia.

Among the oldest southern hairy-nosed wombats ever documented were a male and a female from Brookfield Zoo just outside Chicago. Their names were Carver, who lived to be 34, and his mother, Vicky, who lived to be 24. In South Australia in 2010, a domesticated wombat named Wally was also reported as having reached the age of 34. Hamlet, a wombat at the Toronto Zoo, similarly died at age 34.

Southern hairy-nosed wombat is a clumsy and plump marsupial with a charming face, large nose and small, bright eyes. Due to having adapted to harsh environment and a specific lifestyle, this animal is able to live on its nutrient-poor diet of grasses. One of 3 wombat species, this animal is distinguished from other 2 species of the family by relatively smaller body, longer ears, more reddish fur as well as shorter and more pointed muzzle, exhibiting white hairs around the nose.

1-4-1999 IGUAZU, ARGENTINA - SIDE STRIPED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthemis aequilibris)

The Side-striped Skimmer (Orthemis aequilibris) is a species of dragonfly belonging to the genus Orthemis, commonly known as Tropical King Skimmers. Males of the genus are often red, while females are brown. This species, Orthemis aequilibris, was described by Calvert in 1909 and is a member of the family Libellulidae, the skimmers.  

Classification: 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Family: Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus: Orthemis (Tropical King Skimmers)

Species: Orthemis aequilibris

Key Characteristics: 

It is a large dragonfly species.

Males are typically red, while females are brown.

Where it's found: 

As a member of the Orthemis genus, Orthemis aequilibris is a Neotropical species. Observations of this dragonfly have been made in various locations in South America, including Brazil.

1-4-1999 IGUAZU, ARGENTINA - SURUCURA TROGON (Trogon surrucura)

The Surucua trogon (Trogon surrucura) is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae, the quetzals and trogons. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The nominate subspecies of Surucua trogon is found from eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina east into Uruguay and in Brazil as far north as southeastern Tocantins. T. s. aurantius has a more restricted range in east central and eastern Brazil from Bahia south to São Paulo state. They inhabit the mid levels of primary and well-developed secondary forest and semideciduous woodland. T. s. aurantius often associates with bamboo. T. s. surrucura occurs as high as 1,150 m (3,800 ft) in Bahia, 1,550 m (5,100 ft) in Minas Gerais, and higher still in Rio de Janeiro state. T. s. aurantius occurs up to about 2,000 m (6,600 ft). 

1-4-1999 IGUAZU, ARGENTINA - GREEN HEADED TANAGER

The green-headed tanager (Tangara seledon) is a brightly colored bird found in the Atlantic forest in south-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay, and far north-eastern Argentina (Misiones only).

As other members of the genus Tangara, it is a small colorful bird, measuring an average of 13.5 centimeters (5.3 in) and a mass of 18g (0.6 oz). The green-headed Tanager has a greenish or bluish head, black on the back, and a contrastingly colored, orange or red rump. Females and juvenile birds have similar, though duller coloration. While essentially a bird of humid forests, it is also common in orchards and parks, where it moves through the canopy, making itself inconspicuous, as its apparently flashy blue-green coloration camouflages it well amongst the foliage. 

1-4-1999 IGUAZU, ARGENTINA - SPOT BILLED TOUCANET (Selenidera maculirostris)

The spot-billed toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

The spot-billed toucanet is 33 to 37 cm (13 to 15 in) long and weighs 137 to 193 g (4.8 to 6.8 oz). Males and females have the same bill pattern but the female's bill is shorter. The bill has a thin vertical black line at its base. The bill is mostly ivory at the base to greenish-yellow at the tip. The middle of the culmen is black, the maxilla has three to five vertical black stripes, and the mandible has a black patch near the end. Both sexes have bare green-yellow to blue skin arond the eye and a golden-yellow tuft of feathers behind it; both are paler in the female. Adult males have a black head, nape, chin, throat, and belly. Their upperparts are green with a yellow band on the lower neck. Their tail is green with chestnut tips on the central three pairs of feathers. Their flanks are yellow and their undertail coverts are red. Females have chestnut to cinnamon-rufous where the male has black. Immatures are duller overall, usually without a yellow band on the back, and their bill's pattern is not sharp.

 

1-4-1999 IGUAZU, ARGENTINA - GUIANAN SQUIRREL (Sciurus aestuans)

The Brazilian squirrel (or Guianan squirrel) (Sciurus aestuans) is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus endemic to South America. It is found in South-eastern Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela.

It is a dark brown squirrel that feeds mainly on fruits and nuts, but can also prey on eggs and the young of birds.