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Collared peccaries, Costa Rica

A pair of collared peccaries crosses a trail in the forests of Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park. Corcovado is one of my favorite places on earth. The diversity of species we see there during my tours always amazes.

Heading back next year if you'd like to join me! ;)

American pika on Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone.

It's a day of reflection for me, so I'm thinking back to early adventures and special moments from my time behind the lens. In my early years I was just getting started exploring (and falling in love with) Yellowstone. This pika was photographed during a hike up Mt. Washburn some 23 years ago.

Black morph red fox with a rabbit, western Washington

Who else is looking forward to Easter Dinner?

Did one just a couple years ago (it’s the one with the elephant in profile… the text is symbolically faded).

Just did otters two years ago (and reprinted last year), so I’ll give you another suggestion!

A couple. The question is whether there's enough variety in my portfolio to fill a calendar!

It gets discussed every year! Maybe this is finally the year...

*-Assuming it hasn't already been suggested by someone else, or that I haven't already chosen it. For example, I do a Yellowstone theme every year, so that's already taking one of the slots.

Max Waugh nature and wildlife calendars from over the years.

Pick my next calendar theme!

I have 4 of 5 new themes decided. Tell me your idea for a new 2027 calendar. If I choose it*, I will send you a free copy of that calendar!

(To help, here's a collage of themes I've done over the last decade. Ideally, the fifth calendar will NOT repeat any of these.)

First thought you wrote "Silmarillion," and sighed, fearing I might have to read that now.

Small catfish surfacing in the Brazilian Pantanal. We were the only ones who cared... everyone else was staring at a snoozing jaguar.

Those completely random moments with "Subheader Species" often help fill my wildlife experiences & turn a good trip into a great one.

Last year we approached 5-6 boats puttering near a sleeping jaguar in Brazil. BORING! But hundreds of tiny catfish, randomly burbling on the surface nearby? Awesome!

Bighorn rams, Yellowstone

A pair of bighorn rams hang out along Yellowstone's northwest border. Larger herds of sheep usually gather here in winter, in part because the area gets much less snow than the rest of the park, making foraging easier.

Roseate Spoonbill splashing water in Costa Rica

Splish, splash! A Roseate Spoonbill takes a bath in the Rio Tarcoles in Costa Rica.

In general, it's tough sledding for wild predators (e.g., the average age for a wolf in Yellowstone is 3.5 years). In this particular case, I think the estimate was that he was maybe 4 years old when I first saw him in 2017, so if that's the case, ~13 is a pretty good run for a dominant male puma.

No time for Alt text as I rushed out the door this morning, but they are all the same male, with the exception of the final post, showing his (presumed) offspring and grandcubs.

The Dark is gone now. But his legacy will live on in southern Chile for countless generations.

Last year we happened upon him one more time. He had stumbled upon a researcher's trap and was forced to wear a radio collar. Along with a bit of a deer belly in older age, the big boy had lost a bit of his lustre, but he was still plenty intimidating. The other cats still gave him a wide berth.

It was a full 6 years before I saw him again. We'd been following another family (including his grandchildren, presumably) when he suddenly emerged in the fading light and came right toward us. A huge shock and a delightful surprise. You don't often witness pure muscle and power like this up close.

I first saw this dark male puma when he had just arrived on the scene in Torres del Paine in 2017. He quickly established himself as the dominant male in the region. He was the first gray puma I ever saw—and the biggest—but in subsequent years there were gray cats popping up everywhere.

I don't obsess over individual animals like some wildlife groupies, but there's no denying that certain characters simply leave a bigger impression. Also, I don't dig nicknames, but "The Dark" had a pretty cool one, and boy, was he badass.

Galapagos marine iguanas

After sharing a few birds recently, here's a different modern dinosaur.

(Galapagos 2025)

Female Northern Flicker fanning her tail to get a male's attention in Yellowstone.

The Northern Flickers were tapping on the side of the house again this morning. 'Tis the season, I suppose.

One fun thing about this species is that the females actually vie for attention from the males, even displaying for them (as seen in this frame from Yellowstone).

Thank you for following the adventure!

It is! They (and anhingas) often seem to have a hard time figuring out to swallow the fish safely.

Neotropic Cormorant with fish, Brazil

We didn't stick around to see how this Neotropic Cormorant was going to manage its meal.

Guanaco exhaling a cloud of steam on a cold morning in Chilean Patagonia

A little over a month before I return to southern Chile. And yes, we do try to photograph more than just pumas. Here's a guanaco on a frigid morning.

Thank you, Sarah!

Lilac-breasted Roller, South Africa

I suspect it's because some of the other rollers also have a lot of blue plumage. Lots of colors to choose from on this species, for sure!

Lilac-breasted Roller, South Africa

I'm fortunate to have two trips to Africa lined up later this year (unless the current political crisis interferes with flights), so I guess that means more attempts at capturing Lilac-breasted Rollers in flight!