THE BEST OF 2025

COLOMBIA

Long-tailed Sylph Golden-plumed Parakeets Violet-tailed Sylph White-collared Swift Tanager Finch Spectacled Parrotlet Golden-plumed Parakeet Spotted Woodcreeper Rufous-throated Tanager Spot-crowned Barbet Black-collared Jay Black-billed Mountain Toucan  Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan Tourmaline Sunangel Sword-billed Hummingbird Buff-winged Starfrontlet Andean Cock of the Rock Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer Glistening GReen Tanager Gold-ringed Tanager Velvet-purple Coronet Rainbow-bearded Thronbill Tolima Blossomcrown White-tipped Sicklebill Southern Emerald Toucanet Bronze-winged Parrot Yellow-eared Parrot Red-crested Cotinga  Tolima Blossomcrown Red-bellied Grackle  White-collared Swift What a cool moth! Golden-plumed Parakeet  Barred Fruiteater Slate-crowned Antpitta  Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia Yellow-vented Woodpecker Green Thorntail Andean Emerald LOCAL SHORT-EARED OWLS Every winter I think "I should go over to Vancouver and try for the Short-eared Owls". And then I get lazy and don't.  So, this year I finally made up for it and got the job done!! A fun mini shoot.   Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Bald Eagle Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Short-eared Owl  COLORADO CHICKEN RUN My main personal shoot for the year turned out to be a week-long journey through Colorado and Kansas to photograph Grouse and Prairie Chickens. It was a really fun shoot and I was very fortunate with the weather and overall conditions.  Another domestic trip I had been wanting to do for years and finally made it happen.   Greater Sage Grouse Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Sage Grouse Greater Prairie Chicken   Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken Greater Prairie Chicken  Greater Prairie Chicken     Greater Sage Grouse Greater Sage Grouse Greater Sage Grouse Greater Sage Grouse Greater Sage Grouse Eared Grebe Mountain Bluebird Sharp-tailed Grouse Greater Sage Grouse  Greater Sage Grouse  BRAZIL In late June I headed down to Brazil to lead another tour. The Atlantic Rainforest and Pantanal regions of Brazil are just phenomenal places for bird photography. I think this was probably the best year ever for this trip.  We had so many incredible photo opportunities for birds and also Jaguars. What a trip!     Green-headed Tanager Ringed Kingfisher Jaguar Planalto Woodcreeper Blonde-crested Woodpecker Red-breasted Toucan Red-breasted Toucan Olive-green Tanager Red-rumped Cacique Magpie Tanager Brazilian "lowland" Tapir Gray hooded Atilla White-shouldered Fire Eye Blonde-crested Woodpecker Yellow-fronted Woodpecker Red-breasted Toucan Plain Parakeet Saffron Toucanet Yellow-fronted Woodpecker Magpie Tanager Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Black-bellied Whistling ducks Black Skimmer Greater Rhea Yellow-chinned Spinetail Greater Rhea Jabiru Southern Lapwing Campo Flicker Plumbeous Ibis Pied Lapwing Red-crested Cardinal Cattle Tyrant and Capybara  White-eyed Parakeet Hyacinth Macaw Bare-faced Currasow White-throated Piping Guan Large-billed Tern Laughing Falcon Jaguar Jaguar  Jaguar Black-collared Hawk Striated Heron Amazon Kingfisher Rufescent Tiger Heron Ringed Kingfisher  Red-necked Tanager Festive Coquette Saw-billed Hermit Red and White Crake   PATAGONIA & FALKLAND ISLANDS After a nice long summer break, I headed off in October for a new tour that I have called "Patagonia, Pumas and Penguins". The tour more than exceeded my hopes and expectations for it. We had a great group and some very memorable photo opportunities over the course of the two weeks trip.  It's hard to believe all of the things we packed in to this one! Long-tailed Meadowlark Silvery Grebe Flying Steamer Duck Mrs Magellanic Woodpecker Mr Magellanic Woodpecker Dark-bellied Cinclodes Flying Steamer Duck Spectacled Duck Austral Pygmy Owl Tufted Tit Tyrant Great Grebe Great Grebe Yellow-billed Pintail Patagonian Crested Duck Guanaco Chimango Caracara Grey Fox Cougars Cougar Mr Magellanic Woodpecker  Chilean Swallow Rockhopper Penguin Magellanic Penguin Imperial Cormorant Elephant Seal Flightless Steamer Duck Two-banded Plover Gentoo Penguin Gentoo Penguin Giant Petrel Striated Caracara Silvery Grebe  Flightless Steamer Duck Rufous-chested Dotterel King Penguin Magellanic Oystercatcher Gentoo Penguin Gentoo Penguin Brown-hooded Gull King Penguin King Penguin King Penguin Brown-hooded Gull Crag Chilia Diademed Sandpiper Plover PANAMA To finish up this busy year I returned to Panama for another fabulous photo workshop.  We had fantastic success throughout the trip. But I'm sure everyone would rank the Harpy Eagle that we photographed at the top of the list.  A great way to wrap up another action packed year of nature photography. Harpy Eagle Harpy Eagle Rufous and White Wren Black-faced Antthrush Spotted Antbird White-breasted Wood Wren Broad-billed Motmot Broad-billed Motmot Rufous Motmot Collared Forest Falcon Sooty-capped Chlorospingus Black-billed Nightingale Thrush Blacka nd Yellow Silky Flycatcher Talamanca Hummingbird I am so lucky to get to spend such a large part of my year out in nature and to see these beautiful animals. I don't take it for granted at all that's for sure. For 2026 I've got a few road trips lined up all along the West coast of North America. Should be fun to get out on the open road! If you'd like to you can stay tuned to all the latest news by signing up for my newsletter - HERE Happy 2026 Everyone!