Author: John M. Hudson

The sun sets Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, on Beaver Dam Farm’s sunflowers in Botetourt County, Va., near Buchanan. Nikon D750, 85mm f/1.8 lens, 1/90th second, f/1.8, ISO 800. ©2020 John M. Hudson

On our way back to the lodge from a day-long game drive on June 6, 2019, driver Henry Nkuwi and I happened on this tree dripping with lazy lionesses. Wildebeests still have been migrating through this valley, and there still is plenty of tall, green grass to hide and hunt in, so these are fat times for lions … and terrifying times for grazing animals. Nyarboro Valley, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Nikon D500. Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6mm lens. ƒ/5.6. 200mm (300mm DX). 1/2000th sec. 400 ISO.

This serval, photographed on June 7, 2019, is spotted like a leopard, slinky and small-headed like a cheetah, a bit taller and lot longer than a house cat. Ilooks like a friendly kitty and it wasn’t bothered at all by our presence as it slithered through the savanna south of the Seronera region, eyes, ears and nose to the ground, hunting for lizards and small mammals. Nikon D500. Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 lens. ƒ/8. 500mm (750mm DX). 1/500th sec. ISO 400.

A pair cattle egrets ride on the back of a cape buffalo in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. June 9, 2019. Nikon D500. Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6. 500mm (DX 750mm). ƒ/5.6. 1/750 sec. 800 ISO.