Wildlife Highlights 2020: The Best Shots

Person in camouflage gear looking through binoculars, spider threads overhead.

My best of 2020 includes a small selection of my first wildlife images. This was the year I started wildlife photography. The animal photos were taken in Germany, mostly in Bavaria, but also in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) in side profile on a thin twig, turquoise-orange plumage against a lush green background.

Kingfisher on its perch
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 TC: 1.4x Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Coiled European adder with red eye camouflaged among grass blades.

European Adder
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 TC: 1.4x Location: Bavaria

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) with red face and yellow wing bar on a dry stem in warm evening light.

European Goldfinch
Camera: Sony a7RIII Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Bavaria

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) with yellow talons thrust forward swooping just above a lake, reeds behind.

White-tailed Eagle hunting
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Great egret (Ardea alba) in flight with lowered wings, white plumage in side light against a dark green background.

Great Egret
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Tripod: Berlebach UNI 22C Location: Bavaria

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) catches a fish in a pond, water splashing.

Grey Heron with prey
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Red deer stag with antlers standing in dune grass in front of the sea.

Red Deer on the Baltic coast
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Red kite (Milvus milvus) with a caught fish in its talons lifting off just above the water, spray trailing behind.

Red Kite with prey
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) with turquoise-blue back and orange breast on a branch.

Kingfisher – My first wildlife photo of a kingfisher
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Bavaria

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying with a caught fish in its talons against a blue sky.

Osprey – My first image of an osprey
Camera: Sony a7III Lens: 200 – 600mm F5.6 / 6.3 Location: Bavaria