Ocelot by night...

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 28, 2011223 views7 comments

When we were visiting the Pantanal last year our main goal was the Jaguar. We didn't dare dreaming to see an Ocelot. Almost every night we went out by car to see nocturnal wildlife.
This Ocelot was walking on the road and when we came closer it jumped of the road down to a puddle to have a drink and walked away very relaxed. We jumped out of the car and managed to take some shots.
I know its not the best of shots, but just liked to share this magnificant, endangered species with you.

D300, Nikkor70-300@220mm, 1/60, F10, ISO3200, external flash.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 28, 2011 at 12:49 PM

This is a truly special encounter. Your exposure looks excellent...all you could have asked would have been for a head turn!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on August 28, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Awesome ! What a splendid looking coat. Love the way its strolling effortlessly on the steep bank. A little more of the face would have been nice, but this has a charm of its own

Techs look spot on as well. Thankfully, am sure they are not considered endangered as yet.

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 28, 2011 at 2:22 PM

You're very lucky (as you know). I've seen one and had a couple of near-misses, but never got photos. Despite the lack of a face, the exposure is great and it's a nice look at the fur patterns.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 28, 2011 at 6:38 PM

Great experience. The image looks sharp, without a large image to judge from, and the color is good. If you could have captured him with a head turn it would have been a very good image. It still would have been an exciting experience.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 29, 2011 at 8:21 AM

Hi Ellen,

Nice documentation of this rarely-encountered species. While I don't disagree with the comments that a head-turn would have been nice, just seeing an ocelot in a real treat, let alone getting any type of shot at all. You must be very pleased!

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on August 29, 2011 at 12:44 PM

An exceptionally cool species to spot. Well done Ellen. Thanks for sharing this beauty.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 30, 2011 at 9:45 PM

Congrats on witnessing this and getting a nice, sharp image of it Ellen

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments