Wild Wonders of Taiwan

08/04/2020

FAIRYTALE FOREST

HUGE
One of the World’s more impressive tree species, the Taiwan Cypress, Chamaecyparis formosensis. This individual said to be 2700 years old and 51 metres tall !!! Wonderful to see that there still are such giants remaining in Taiwan - in most other places in the world, they have all been cut. Seeing the wide carpet of continuous proper forest cover all around in the mountainous areas in Taiwan really makes one happy!
Nikon D850, Nikkor 14-24mm/2,8

FERNISH
In the cloud forest of Yushan National Park, Taiwan. A wet, cloudy and rainy place, with vast areas of really wild forest. A well kept National Park, a well managed trail and a simple but great cabin to spend nights in after the 14km hike to Walami.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 14-24 mm/2,8

FAIRYTALE FOREST
The montane forests of Yushan National Park are truly breathtaking. A tangled wall of green at first glance, but the closer you look the more you discover. Everything is covered in moss, ferns and even orchids grow in abundance on the gnarly trees. An incredible amount of plant life piled on top of each other, yet everything has its specific place and niche to grow and flourish. The clouds continuously rolling through create an eerie atmosphere that makes this one of the world's most spectacular forests.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 14-24mm

COLOURFUL CARPET
Leaf litter, mainly from Indian almond trees, on the rainforest floor in Banana Bay Forest Rerserve, Kenting National Park, Taiwan.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70mm/2,8

HOLY GHOST TREES
What you see here is incredibly enough all one tree individual. One single individual, with an impressive network of side shoots, support roots, aerial roots (some of which have become trunks themselves), plank roots, climber roots and more, finally occupying an area the size of a soccer field! An amazing experience!
Bairongyuen Forest in Kenting National Park.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 14-24mm/2,8, flash SB 9000

WET STUFF
The cloud forests and subtropical forests in Taiwan are quite wet places and therefore also lush and green. Water and sunlight in rich doses give the chance for a lot of vegetation and wildlife. Wildlife is rapidly coming back in numbers and places like here in the Yushan National Park are truly wild. Mountains are steep and hard for humans to move around in. The forests are thick and there is a multitude of streams and rivers that are tricky to pass. However there is a good hiking route into the centre of the park. A beautiful waterfall, at the beginning of the hike.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70mm/2,8 VR.

Photos by Staffan Widstrand for Wild Wonders of Taiwan with support from National Geographic Society 國家地理雜誌 and Fondation Iris

07/04/2020

DEADLY BEAUTY Snakes of Taiwan

Taiwan green bamboo pit viper, Trimeresurus stejnegeri, one of Taiwan’s most common venomous snakes, this green, tree-living female should not be fiddled with, but rather admired at a safe distance. Then both they and you will be all fine!
Nikon D5, Micro-Nikkor 105mm/2,8

Brown-spotted Pit viper, Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, Eluanbi park, Kenting National Park, Taiwan. Another beautiful, yet quite harmful snake, very common in Taiwan. Yet, harmful only if you fiddle with it. Otherwise it minds its own business and humans are not part of that. This viper is an eater of rodents and frogs. This specimen found thanks to Taiwanese snake specialist Professor Tu Ming-Chung and David Lin.
Nikon D5, Micro-Nikkor 105mm/2,8

Yellow-lipped or Banded Sea krait, Laticaudata colubrina, SanXianTai/ San-Hsien-T'ai Island, Chenggong township, Taiwan. Thanks to Professor Tu Ming-Chung, one of the World’s leading experts in sea snakes, we got to experience a sea snake Bonanza, when sea snakes of two species came from the salty ocean, up on land ”en masse”, to have a drink of tasty fresh water. Here the Yellow-lipped Sea Krait, Laticauda colubrina. Its venom, counted per unit, is extremely venomous, but luckily, people extremely seldom get bitten by it, since it is a very docile and friendly snake, and also its fangs are very short, plus that the amount of venom it then would inject is very small. All taken together, a very nice snake, good-looking and friendly! Taiwan has no less than 4 species of sea snakes!
Nikon D5, Micro-Nikkor 105mm/2,8, SB-9000 flash

Blue-lipped Sea Krait, Laticauda laticaudata, another sea snake in SanXianTai/San-Hsien-T'ai Island, Chenggong township, Taiwan
Nikon D5, Nikkor 70-200/2,8, flash SB-9000

Many-banded Krait, Bungarus multicinctus, Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area, Taitung, Taiwan. One of Asia’s prettiest snakes, really elegant and also really venomous. This is one that you don’t want to be bitten by. They are snake-hunters that prey on other snakes! Luckily they are quite easy to spot and avoid getting too close to, plus that they are quite timid and shy.
Nikon D5, Nikkor 70-200/2,8, flash SB-9000

This Brown-spotted Pit-viper (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) is unfortunately dead. Strangely it had a striking pose i its death moment... We can see the fangs lodged in the upper side of the mouth, at least 1,5 cm long. Another beautiful, yet quite harmful snake, very common in Taiwan. Yet, harmful only if you fiddle with it. Otherwise it minds its own business and humans are not part of that. This viper is an eater of rodents and frogs.
Nikon D850, Micro-Nikkor 105mm/2,8

Taiwan Kukri snake, Oligodon formosanus, Endemic, Taitung, Taiwan. Named after the Nepalese Gurkha people’s favourute bush knife, the Khukri. This is because this snake has some razor-sharp fangs that will inflict a deep and profusely bleeding wound if it bites you. It is not venomous, but they rarely brush their teeth so it can get infected and nasty anyway. The good news is that it is a very peaceful snake, nothing to be afraid of at all, so the only ones who are sometimes bitten by it are snake-handling herpethologists... So if you see it, enjoy and don’t try to handle them. This is an egg-eating specialist.
Nikon D5, Micro-Nikkor 105mm/2,8

Photos by Staffan Widstrand for Wild Wonders of Taiwan with support from 國家地理雜誌 , National Geographic Society and Fondation Iris

27/03/2020

GLOW IN THE DARK
Cool, colourful creatures underwater in Taiwan.

Tiny hydrozoa, which is a predatory jellyfish-like animal. The hydrozoans are related to jellyfish and corals and belong to the phylum Cnidaria, Green Island, Taiwan.

Unidentified transparent nudibranch drifting ans swimming in the open ocean, Green Island, Taiwan.

Thysanoteuthis rhombus, juvenile (2 cm), Longdong, Taiwan. This is the first every sighted juvenile diamond squid in Taiwan. A rare shot. When adult it is a huge squid and grow up to one meter in mantle length and weigh up to 30 kg. This unusual cephalopod lives in pair-like relationships so if one is caught by squid fisherman, the other diamond squid will likely remain in the area until it is also caught.

Juvenile transparent Acanthuridae sp, most likely a surgeon or a unicorn fish. Kenting Nationalpark, Taiwan.

Red unidentified pelagic squid, 14 cm long, showing distinctive chromatophores in Kenting Nationalpark, Kenting, Taiwan.

Oval squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, or bigfin reef squid, Longdong, Northeast, Taiwan. This is a commercially important species. Longdong (Dragon Cave) is the largest bay on the Northeast Coast and the bay host an abundant marine life.

Juvenile flying fish, Cypselurus sp, family Exocoetidae, Longdong, Northeast, Taiwan. Longdong (Dragon Cave) is the largest bay on the Northeast Coast and the bay host an abundant marine life.

Photos by Magnus Lundgren for Wild Wonders of Taiwan with support from National Geographic Society Fondation Iris and 國家地理雜誌

23/03/2020

BIRDS OF TAIWAN

Swinhoes pheasant, Lophura swinhoii, found nowhere else on the planet but in Taiwan, this pheasant is one of the main ambassadors for Taiwan´s natural heritage. Their population had declined during the 20th century, but due to conservation efforts they are not threatened and more than 10.000 individuals are estimated to roam through the dense montane forests of Taiwan. The individual you see here is a male bird, only they display flashing and elaborate plumage, the females have a cryptic brown colouration, which gives them perfect camouflage.

The Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor, an absolute star of Taiwan's birds and one of the world’s rarer birds. 25 years ago almost extinct, but thanks to strict nature conservation efforts, it is now on its way back, latest number is 3941 individuals!! It breeds in North Korea, migrates along the mainland China coast and winters in Hongkong and Taiwan. Another wildlife comeback and de-extinction success story!

The Taiwan Blue Magpie, Urocissa caerulea, is undoubtedly one of the islands most beautiful species of bird. Their gorgeous plumage alone would make it hard to overlook them and their behaviour makes it impossible. They are very social and live in groups of usually 6-12 individuals, but pairs within these groups are monogamous. Taiwan blue magpies often fly in peculiar patterns, where individuals follow each other in a straight line, also referred to as "long-tailed formation". Before you spot them however, you usually hear them, as they constantly seem to chatter with their raucous voices.

Taiwan yuhina, Yuhina brunneiceps, also known as Formosan yuhina, among cherry blossoms in Alishan National Scenic Area. A small songbird endemic to Taiwan.

Photos by Staffan Widstrand for Wild Wonders of Taiwan with support from National Geographic Society Fondation Iris and 國家地理雜誌

23/03/2020

CUTE BUT POISONOUS. Four different fish species that may not be as innocent as they look...

The cute porcupine fishes can inflate their bodies as a defense mechanism and their sharp spines then turn outwards. Some species are also poisonous, having a tetrodotoxin in the ovaries and liver. This neurotoxin is at least 1200 times more potent than cyanide. The poison is produced by bacteria from the fish's diet. Tough meal it seems...

The cool boxfishes can release neurotoxin tetrodoxin from its skin that may prove lethal to the fish in the surrounding waters.

The pink Leaf scorpionfish, Taenianotus triacanthus or paperfish. They are venomous and color varies from green, red, pink, brown, ocher and yellowish to a ghostly white. The fish molts every 10 to 14 days, and can change colors after the molt.

The stripy Striated surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus striatus, is one of the few herbivorous fishes which are occasionally toxic. Ciguatera poisoning.

Photos by Magnus Lundgren for Wild Wonders of Taiwan with support from National Geographic Society Fondation Iris and 國家地理雜誌
Green Island, Taiwan. The island is a small volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean famous for clear water, coral reefs and marine life in abundance.

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm
Underwater housing & strobes

09/03/2020

CATCH OF THE DAY. The Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, is so perfectly adapted to hunt fish, that it's species can be found on every continent (except Antarctica). From the rainforests of Amazonia, to the Taiga of Mongolia, on coral reefs in Australia or along the rivers of the African Savannah and even just around the buzzing city of Taipei, can you watch these birds of prey hunt in their spectacular fashion. They completely plunge into the water, grabbing a fish and then simply taking off to eat their prey in some tree near by.

Photo by Staffan Widstrand for Wild Wonders of Taiwan with support from National Geographic Society Fondation Iris and 國家地理雜誌
Nikon D5, Nikkor 800mm

28/10/2019

TINY
Taiwan Flamecrest, Regulus goodfellowi, is a small (only 9 cm!) colourful Endemic bird in Alishan National Scenic Area, Taiwan.

Photo by for with support from .media and
Nikon D5, 600mm/4

小精灵
这只火冠戴菊仅有9厘米大，是色彩鲜艳的台湾特有物种。拍摄于阿里山。

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D5, 600mm/4

小精灵
这只火冠戴菊仅有9厘米大，是色彩鲜艳的台湾特有物种。拍摄于阿里山。

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D5, 600mm/4

TINY
Taiwan Flamecrest, Regulus goodfellowi, is a small (only 9 cm!) colourful Endemic bird in Alishan National Scenic Area, Taiwan.

Photo by for with support from .media and
Nikon D5, 600mm/4

28/10/2019

REDHEAD
Malayan night heron, Gorsachius melanolophus, one of the two species of night heron you can find in Taiwan. In the spring, during breeding season, their plumage is most intense in colour, the most striking change is the intense blue of their facial skin.

The vivid blue serves only one purpose, making them more attractive for their mate. This image is taken in the autumn though so not as bright but still good looking right?

Photo by for with support from , and .media
Nikon D850, Nikkor 600mm/4

紅頭
黑冠麻鷺，因為它阿呆的個性又俗稱地瓜鳥、大笨鳥，是在台灣可以找到的兩種夜鷺之一。在春季，繁殖季節，它們的羽毛顏色最強烈，最顯著的變化是面部皮膚的強烈藍色。

鮮豔的藍色僅起到一種作用，使它們對伴侶更具吸引力。這張照片是在秋天拍攝的，雖然不是那麼艷麗，但是看起來還不錯吧？

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 600mm/4

紅頭
黑冠麻鷺，因為它阿呆的個性又俗稱地瓜鳥、大笨鳥，是在台灣可以找到的兩種夜鷺之一。在春季，繁殖季節，它們的羽毛顏色最強烈，最顯著的變化是面部皮膚的強烈藍色。

鮮豔的藍色僅起到一種作用，使它們對伴侶更具吸引力。這張照片是在秋天拍攝的，雖然不是那麼艷麗，但是看起來還不錯吧？

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 600mm/4

REDHEAD
Malayan night heron, Gorsachius melanolophus, one of the two species of night heron you can find in Taiwan. In the spring, during breeding season, their plumage is most intense in colour, the most striking change is the intense blue of their facial skin.

The vivid blue serves only one purpose, making them more attractive for their mate. This image is taken in the autumn though so not as bright but still good looking right?

Photo by for with support from , and .media
Nikon D850, Nikkor 600mm/4

21/10/2019

FRECKLED HAWK. A true ambusher on it's look out at a rich coral reef in Kenting National Park. This is an unusual colour morph of the freckled hawkfish, a predator waiting for the right moment to strike a passing crustacean or small fish. As a "sequential hermaphrodite" it starts life as female, and the largest female in territory changes s*x to a male if that position is free.

The Kenting National Park was established some 35 years ago and it is Taiwan's oldest and the southernmost national park on the main island.

Photo by for , with support from , .media and .
Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm/f2.8

Location: Kenting I Depth: 16 m I Size: 12 cm I Water: 28C I DC:

福氏副䱵（格仔）
在墾丁國家公園富饒的珊瑚礁裡，它是一個真正的伏擊者。這只顏色不尋常的格仔魚正潛伏著，等待正確的時機來襲擊路過的甲殼類動物或者小魚。它是一種順序性雌雄同體物種，意味著它出生時都是雌性，如果一個群體裡沒有其他雄性，最大的雌魚則變身為雄性。

墾丁國家公園建立與大約35年前，是台灣歷史最長也是台灣島最南端的國家公園。

攝影：马格纳斯·龙格尔Magnus Lundgren，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm/f2.8

#台灣國家公園 #墾丁 #水下攝影

福氏副䱵（格仔）
在墾丁國家公園富饒的珊瑚礁裡，它是一個真正的伏擊者。這只顏色不尋常的格仔魚正潛伏著，等待正確的時機來襲擊路過的甲殼類動物或者小魚。它是一種順序性雌雄同體物種，意味著它出生時都是雌性，如果一個群體裡沒有其他雄性，最大的雌魚則變身為雄性。

墾丁國家公園建立與大約35年前，是台灣歷史最長也是台灣島最南端的國家公園。

攝影：马格纳斯·龙格尔Magnus Lundgren，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm/f2.8

FRECKLED HAWK. A true ambusher on it's look out at a rich coral reef in Kenting National Park. This is an unusual colour morph of the freckled hawkfish, a predator waiting for the right moment to strike a passing crustacean or small fish. As a "sequential hermaphrodite" it starts life as female, and the largest female in territory changes s*x to a male if that position is free.

The Kenting National Park was established some 35 years ago and it is Taiwan's oldest and the southernmost national park on the main island.

Photo by for , with support from , .media and .
Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm/f2.8

Location: Kenting I Depth: 16 m I Size: 12 cm I Water: 28C I DC:

#台灣國家公園 #墾丁 #水下攝影

11/10/2019

ALL COVERED
Covered by climbers and epiphytes, which means plants that use other plants and trees to come higher uo towards the sunlight. Ferns, orchids, mosses, lichens that all use the big trees as ladders, stairs and high-rise buildings...
Taiwan has some of the World’s more well kept continuous forest covers. Forest biodiversity is extremely dependent on long forest cover continuity. Clearcuttings and plantations destroys that continuity completely. Wonderful to see that there still remains a lot of continuous forest cover and several ancient giant trees as well on Taiwan - in most other places in the world, they have all been cut. Seeing the wide carpet of continuous proper forest cover all around in the mountainous areas in Taiwan really makes one happy!

Photo by for , with support from , .media and
Nikon D850, Nikkor 70-200mm/2.8

滿滿覆蓋
攀緣植物和附生植物依靠攀附在其他植物和大樹上來獲取高處的陽光。蕨類、蘭花、苔蘚、地衣也會利用大樹當作梯子取得高度優勢。台灣擁有世界上保育最良好的幾處永續林。生物多樣性的多寡很大程度上取決於永續林的存續時間。砍伐和再植破壞了生態系統的連續性。所以看到台灣這些優良的森林和古老的神木讓人感到欣慰。在世界其他地方古老的大樹常常被砍伐殆盡。來到台灣的山林體驗永續森林的美，令人心曠神怡！

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 70-200mm/2.8

#尼康 #森林 #生態旅遊 #台灣 #神木 #拉拉山

滿滿覆蓋
攀緣植物和附生植物依靠攀附在其他植物和大樹上來獲取高處的陽光。蕨類、蘭花、苔蘚、地衣也會利用大樹當作梯子取得高度優勢。台灣擁有世界上保育最良好的幾處永續林。生物多樣性的多寡很大程度上取決於永續林的存續時間。砍伐和再植破壞了生態系統的連續性。所以看到台灣這些優良的森林和古老的神木讓人感到欣慰。在世界其他地方古老的大樹常常被砍伐殆盡。來到台灣的山林體驗永續森林的美，令人心曠神怡！

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 70-200mm/2.8

ALL COVERED
Covered by climbers and epiphytes, which means plants that use other plants and trees to come higher uo towards the sunlight. Ferns, orchids, mosses, lichens that all use the big trees as ladders, stairs and high-rise buildings...
Taiwan has some of the World’s more well kept continuous forest covers. Forest biodiversity is extremely dependent on long forest cover continuity. Clearcuttings and plantations destroys that continuity completely. Wonderful to see that there still remains a lot of continuous forest cover and several ancient giant trees as well on Taiwan - in most other places in the world, they have all been cut. Seeing the wide carpet of continuous proper forest cover all around in the mountainous areas in Taiwan really makes one happy!

Photo by for , with support from , .media and
Nikon D850, Nikkor 70-200mm/2.8

#尼康 #森林 #生態旅遊 #台灣 #神木 #拉拉山

11/10/2019

OLD BEAUTIES
Ancient red Hinoki or Hong Kuai cypress trees, Taiwan Sawara cypress, (Chamaecyparis formosensis), up to 500-2.800 years old! Lalashan Forest Reserve, Baling, Taiwan.

Photo by for with support from and .media
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70mm/2.8

長壽之美
古老的台灣紅檜木，年齡可達500至2800歲！拉拉山八陵森林保護區，台灣。

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70mm/2.8

#台灣 #森林 #生態 #健行 #拉拉山 #尼康 #國家地理學會

長壽之美
古老的台灣紅檜木，年齡可達500至2800歲！拉拉山八陵森林保護區，台灣。

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70mm/2.8

OLD BEAUTIES
Ancient red Hinoki or Hong Kuai cypress trees, Taiwan Sawara cypress, (Chamaecyparis formosensis), up to 500-2.800 years old! Lalashan Forest Reserve, Baling, Taiwan.

Photo by for with support from and .media
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70mm/2.8

#台灣 #森林 #生態 #健行 #拉拉山 #尼康 #國家地理學會

06/10/2019

ELEGANT SUPER-PREDATOR
This is the Formosan Yellow-throated Marten, a Taiwan endemic subspecies of the Yellow-throated Marten. Cute and super elegant as they might be, with longer bodies than other martens, they are also formidable predators! They usually hunt in pairs, but here we had a very lively family pack of three or four individuals, that were all over the place at the same time. Their prey includes a vast variety of smaller animals from mice and lizards to snakes and pheasants. Their territories are regularly patrolled and defended, to ensure that no other marten might hunt on their turf.

Photo by for with support from
and .media
Nikon D5, Nikkor 180-400mm/4

優雅的猛獸
這是一隻台灣黃喉貂，台灣特有的黃喉貂亞種。它們的身體修長，比其他貂類還要苗條，看起來優雅又可愛，但其實是兇猛的獵食動物。
黃喉貂通常以兩隻或一群合作捕獵。它們的食物十分廣泛，從小型的鼠類、蜥蜴到蛇類和雉鷄類。它們也是領域性很強的動物，定期的巡查並包圍自己的勢力範圍，以確保其他黃喉貂群體不會來地盤偷吃。

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。

Nikon D5, Nikkor 180-400mm/4

優雅的猛獸
這是一隻台灣黃喉貂，台灣特有的黃喉貂亞種。它們的身體修長，比其他貂類還要苗條，看起來優雅又可愛，但其實是兇猛的獵食動物。
黃喉貂通常以兩隻或一群合作捕獵。它們的食物十分廣泛，從小型的鼠類、蜥蜴到蛇類和雉鷄類。它們也是領域性很強的動物，定期的巡查並包圍自己的勢力範圍，以確保其他黃喉貂群體不會來地盤偷吃。

攝影：斯塔凡·威斯特蘭德 Staffan Widstrand，Wild Wonders of Taiwan 奇境台灣自然影像傳播項目，由美國國際地理學會、法國埃利斯基金會、尼康相機提供支持。

Nikon D5, Nikkor 180-400mm/4

ELEGANT SUPER-PREDATOR
This is the Formosan Yellow-throated Marten, a Taiwan endemic subspecies of the Yellow-throated Marten. Cute and super elegant as they might be, with longer bodies than other martens, they are also formidable predators! They usually hunt in pairs, but here we had a very lively family pack of three or four individuals, that were all over the place at the same time. Their prey includes a vast variety of smaller animals from mice and lizards to snakes and pheasants. Their territories are regularly patrolled and defended, to ensure that no other marten might hunt on their turf.

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Nikon D5, Nikkor 180-400mm/4