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Will Wilson

@2wsphotography.bsky.social

Will is a wildlife photographer who also writes about the life of birds and other conservation topics - www.2wsphotography.com

3282 Posts8912 Follower 212 Folgt

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Whimbrel in the water… 📍Miligotini, Lazy Lagoon Island, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography 🪶

Large, brown shorebird with long, decurved bill. Note bold head stripes. Occurs on mudflats, beaches, and coastal marshes. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other large shorebirds like Willet or godwits. Extensive global range, breeding on the Arctic tundra and wintering on coastlines as far south as Tierra del Fuego. Generally uncommon to rare inland.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Malachite Kingfisher - an absolute gem! 📍Bagamoyo, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Tanzania 🪶

Small, gem-like wetland kingfisher. Shows geographical variation, with most birds having orange underparts, but birds in some parts of the range have a white belly. Found in almost all habitats with water, including streams, rivers, lakes, rice paddies, and lagoons. Sits motionless for long periods before plunging to the water to snatch prey.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Whimbrel on the wing… 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam. #Tanzania #Birds #NaturePhotography 🪶

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Little Bee-eater on a branch. 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam., Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Birds 🪶

A small, mostly grass-green bee-eater with a canary-yellow throat separated from buff underparts by a black line across the throat. Singles and pairs occupy grassy savanna and wetland edges. They often perch lower than 1.5 m above the ground, and dart around hunting flying insects, then returning to the same small twig.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Western Reef Heron watches for movement in the water below… 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Tanzania 🪶

Gangly heron with significant variation in plumage. Distinct dark morph is slate-gray with a white throat, while the palest morph is white with a yellow bill and lores. Pale gray intermediate morphs can also be found. Little Egret can look similar, but it has a darker bill than the white morph of the Western Reef-Heron. Primarily a coastal inhabitant, foraging on shorelines and in estuaries, but can also be found at some inland water bodies.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Water Thick-knee on the wing. 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Tanzania 🪶

A tall, dome-headed, plover-like bird with large, yellow eyes. Mostly brownish in color, it has a grayish wing panel that is bordered above with a narrow white bar. This thick-knee never wanders far from permanent water. It is crepuscular and nocturnal; early evenings are often punctuated by its distinctive, high-pitched, piping calls that speed up then slow down.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Common Sandpiper foraging amongst the rocks. 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. #Tanzania #NaturePhotography #Birds 🪶

Small bicolored sandpiper which often bobs its tail in a distinctively wagtail-like manner. Plain brown with white underparts; distinguished from bulkier and rounder-headed Green Sandpiper by a prominent white spur at the shoulder. Found in a variety of wetland habitats; breeds on stony ground along rivers and lakeshores, with migrants occurring on muddy and rocky substrates from concrete canal banks to channels in tidal mudflats.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Water Thick-knee keeps watch… 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. #Birds #Tanzania #NaturePhotography 🪶

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Whimbrel on the wing… 📍Oyster Bay, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. #NaturePhotography #Birds 🪶

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

The only thing better than one Böhm’s Bee-eater, is two of these beautiful birds! 📍Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro, Tanzania. #Tanzania #Birds #NaturePhotography 🪶

Slim green bee-eater with an orange throat and crown, a black tip to the tail, and elongated black tail streamers. Found very locally in moist woodland and forest edge, usually near rivers and streams. Typically in pairs or small groups. The call is an up-and-down series of high-pitched whistles.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Olive Sunbird feasting on nectar in the warmth of the late afternoon sun. 📍Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro, Tanzania. #Tanzania #NaturePhotography #Birds 🪶

Large, dark, olive-green sunbird with a long, down-curved bill. Can show yellow tufts on the shoulders, though these are usually hidden. Found in forest and adjacent gardens and lush scrub. Usually in the understory. Less social than other sunbirds, and often seen alone. Most distinctive vocalization is a pretty, up-and-down series of clear notes.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Northern Brownbul looking for their next perch… 📍Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro, Tanzania. #Tanzania #NaturePhotography #Birds 🪶

A drab, long-tailed brownish bird related to greenbuls. The tail is rufous and the throat paler buff. Found in scrub, thickets, and areas of dense woodland, almost always in small and vocal groups. The loud calls are rollicking series of babbling calls, somewhat similar to both woodhoopoe and babbler vocalizations.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Southern Cordon-bleu takes a break from foraging amongst the grass. 📍Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Tanzania 🪶

A small gray-brown and powder-blue waxbill with a blue-gray bill. The male is bright with extensively blue underparts, while the female is paler, often with a grayish belly. Pairs and small flocks are resident in dry savanna, cultivation, and rural villages close to permanent water for drinking. The species may disperse during drought.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Red-fronted Tinkerbird perched in the sun. 📍Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Tanzania 🪶

Strikingly marked miniature barbet. Adults have a red patch above the bill, but immatures lack this. Found in woodland and savanna, ranging from arid to moderately moist. Most common call is a monotonously repeated “took” call that is sometimes given hundreds of times consecutively. Also gives a higher 2- or 3-part call and a fast trill.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Böhm’s Bee-eater looking awesome in the sun! 📍Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro, Tanzania. #Birds #NaturePhotography #Tanzania 🪶

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

A Green Turtle hatchling emerges from their nest and makes an epic journey - for one so small - to the Indian Ocean. Truly inspiring to see the awesome conservation work of SeaSenseNGO in action. 📍Da es Salaam, Tanzania. #Tanzania #Comservation #NaturePhotography

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia.[6] Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but it is also found in the Indian Ocean.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

A female Black Lemur chewing on a snack… 📍Lemur’s Park Botanical Gardens, Madagascar. #Madagascar #Primate #Lemur #NaturePhotography

Black lemurs are found in Madagascar and reside in the forests of the Sambirano region. Their startling eyes are either orange or brown and their faces are framed by tufts of ear fur used for visual communication.

Not all black lemurs are coloured black. The fur of a male lemur is either very dark brown or black, whereas females are a much lighter shade of brown making it easy to tell them apart.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

A rather wet Parson’s Chameleon… 📍Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar. #NaturePhotography #Madagascar #Chameleon

Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii) is a species of chameleon in the family Chamaeleonidae that is endemic to eastern and northern Madagascar. It is found from lowlands to an altitude of 1,195 m (3,920 ft) above sea level and mainly inhabits humid primary forest, but can also occur in disturbed habitats with trees.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Being watched by a Common Brown Lemur… 📍Andasibe, Madagascar. #Madagascar #Primate #NaturePhotography

Unique among Eulemur species, common brown males and females share the same coloring—grayish brown with a blackish face and orange-red eyes. The more northern population has large, noticeable light patches above the eyes. Weighing 2-3 kilograms (about 4-6 pounds), they are sometimes confused with mongoose lemurs, which are grayer and sexually dichromatic.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Juvenile Parson’s Chameleon. 📍Peyrieras Reserve, Marozevo, Madagascar. #NaturePhotography #Madagascar

Panther chameleons are one of the largest and arguably the most colourful of all chameleons, making them a brilliant species to keep. They are native to Madagascar and occur over the Northern Half of the Island. The males are considerably more colourful and grow much larger than the females. The colour scheme of each individual is determined by whereabouts in Madagascar they come from (referred to as their locality).

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Male Panther’s Chameleon doing his thing… 📍Peyrieras Reserve, Marozevo, Madagascar. #Madagascar #NaturePhotography

Panther chameleons are a large species of chameleon inhabiting in the tropical rainforests of Madagascar. They are an arboreal lizard found mostly in foliage, trees and shrubs, venturing to the forest floor only for egg-laying.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Diademed Sifaka on the move… 📍 Vakona Lemur Island, Andasibe, Madagascar. #NaturePhotography #Madagascar #Lemurs #Primates

The diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), or diademed simpona, is an endangered species of sifaka, one of the lemurs endemic to certain rainforests in eastern Madagascar. Along with the indri, this species is one of the two largest living lemurs, with an average weight of 6.5 kg.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

A rather awesome Male Panther’s Chameleon! 📍Peyrieras Reserve, Marozevo, Madagascar. #Madagascar #NaturePhotography #Chameleon

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Young fresh shoots… an Indri’s favourite snack! 📍Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar. #Madagascar #NaturePhotography #Primates

Like all lemurs, indris (Indri indri) are endemic to the island of Madagascar. This large island’s unique geography makes it a vibrant tapestry of diverse climates and distinct environments. Indris make their homes in the lush tropical rainforests growing along this island’s eastern coast. Here, the land slopes down from the mountainous central highlands toward the coast. Indris generally prefer forests at low-to-mid elevations, but groups are occasionally found at higher altitudes.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

The second of two posts of the awesome Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko - a master of disguise! 📍Peyrieras Reserve, Marozevo, Madagascar. #Madagascar #Gecko #NaturePhotography

• Did you know it can make its tail look like a dead, bug-chewed leaf to hide from predators?
• Did you know it licks its own eyeballs to keep them clean?
• Did you know it’s only found in Madagascar and nowhere else on Earth?
• Did you know it can flatten its body to erase its shadow and vanish?
• Did you know its scientific name (Uroplatus phantasticus) literally means “fantastic flat-tail”?
• Did you know its “satanic” name comes from its creepy look, not any devilish behavior?

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

The first of two posts of the awesome Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko - even at only 2.5 - 3.5 inches they are apex insect insect predators, and endemic to Madagascar. 📍Peyrieras Reserve, Marozevo, Madagascar. #Madagascar #Gecko #NaturePhotography

The satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is full of wild, almost too-weird-to-be-true facts.
Here are some prime “wow” sound bites for you:
• Master of Disguise — Its tail looks exactly like a dead, decaying leaf, complete with “bite marks” and ragged edges. Even the best Halloween costumes would be jealous.
• Disappear in Plain Sight — When threatened, it flattens its body against tree bark, erases its shadow, and vanishes into the background like a glitch in the Matrix.
• Nocturnal Predator — It hunts at night using its huge, lidless eyes, which give it a perpetual “I’ve seen things” stare.
• No Eyelids, No Problem — Instead of blinking, it cleans its eyes by licking them with its tongue.
• Endemic to Madagascar — You won’t find this creature naturally anywhere else on Earth — it’s a total island exclusive.
• Tiny but Terrifying (if you’re a bug) — The average adult is only about 2.5–3.5 inches long, but it’s an apex insect assassin.
• Name Straight Out of Metal — “Satanic” comes from its eerie look and red eyes in certain lighting, not from any actual unholy affiliations.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Black-and-white-ruffed Lemur hanging by their toes… 📍 Vakona Lemur Island, Andasibe, Madagascar. #Primates #Lemurs #Madagascar #NaturePhotography

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is an endangered species of ruffed lemur, one of two which are endemic to the island of Madagascar.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Such camouflage - can you spot the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko? Luckily they will spend a few days in the area location, making them easier to return to once found! 📍Andasibe-Mantadia NP, Madagascar. #Madagascar #NaturePhotography

Uroplatus sikorae, commonly referred to as the mossy leaf-tailed gecko or the southern flat-tail gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko… 📍Peyrieras Reserve, Marozevo, Madagascar. #NaturePhotography #Madagascar

Will Wilson @2wsphotography.bsky.social · last yr.

Relaxing like a Ring-tailed Lemur warming in the morning sun… 📍Lemur’s Park Botanical Gardens, Madagascar. #Primate #madagascar #lemur #NaturePhotography

The ring-tailed lemur has a distinctive large bushy black-and-white striped tail. They have white faces with black ringed features and fluffy white ears. Their coat is otherwise grey with a white underbelly.