Lions at the Reservoir: Photography by Dan Quinn

Dawn over Lewa

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:18:57 GMT

]]>Sky fills with light. 6:08 am as we leave our compound.

Unicorn Oryx -- with Birds

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:19:00 GMT

]]>The East African Oryx is endangered. Here there are two birds on its back; another lands on a stem. 10/5/2026, 6:10 am. In the 1960s, the Department of Fish and Game introduced a relative, the Gemsbok (O. gazella) to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, for hunting (!). They prospered beyond expectations: with less than 100 released, the population expanded well beyond the planned area, to about 6000. Oh, there are no Lions in New Mexico, their main predator? Stop! Don't double down on Lions!! Now they are somewhat under control, down to 2000 with hunting and control. (I can hardly wait for the introduction of Elephants to Jasiper Ridge Biological Preserve near Palo Alto ;-( )

Reservoir at Dawn

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:08:58 GMT

]]>Early sunlight enters the depression. Birds of all sorts gather in this welcome body of water. Lions! Three lions drink in two groups; three more descend from the ridge to join them. An unexpected encounter! 10/5/2026, 6:23:35 am.

Lions Drink at Reservoir

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:09 GMT

]]>Two more join the two at the water's edge/ 6:24:08 am.

Sustaining Drink

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:12 GMT

]]>Three lions drink from a reservoir at dawn. 6:25:13 am.

Lions Drink, Birds Rest

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:23 GMT

]]>More lions gather at water's edge. Birds rest. Our guide Daniel hears lions calling from the disance, answered by those below. 6:26:10 am.

Reservoir at Dawn: Lions and Birds

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:27 GMT

]]>Eight lions now. Daniel hears them calling with others on their way. Many water birds. 6:26:29 am.

Patriarch Appears

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:30 GMT

]]>Black-maned patriarch takes his stand on the ridge above the reservoir, near our van of excited photographers. He regally surveys the scene. 6:27:42 am. He wears a tracking collar.

Reservoir Scene with Patriarch

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:33 GMT

]]>Nine lions rest at reservoir's edge. From the ridge above, the partiarch surveys the scene. Water birds rest. Swallows swoop about. The dawn shadow of our van crosses the scene. 6:27:58 am.

Pride's Patriarch

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:38 GMT

]]>His Honor surveys the contented pride at water's edge. 6:29:01 am.

Lions Gather at Water's Edge

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:43 GMT

]]>Here are six of the nine along the water. Peaceful dawn scene. The reservoir's water level is low; the dry time is aboiut to end. 6:29:27 am.

Drinking at Water's Edge

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:45 GMT

]]>Dawn light bathes two lions as they drink from the diminished reservoir, remaining alert. 6:29:43 am.

Patriarch Turns

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 21:25:54 GMT

]]>Not deigning to descend to the water, the patriarch remains on the ridge above. As always, these lions are well aware of our presence, and indifferent. 6:30:02 am.

Patriarch Departs

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:53 GMT

]]>The pride's patriarch leaves the others in their refuge. He is off on another mission, on his own for now. 6:30:43 am. Many of the other lions have their fill of water, and are ascending the ridge to rest and play. 6:30:43 am.

Refreshments Accomplished

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:09:57 GMT

]]>Finished with their drink, lions ascend to the ridge to rest and play. They cross the long shadow of our van. 6:31:31 am.

Resting Lion

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:04 GMT

]]>After Daniel drives us below the ridge for a better camera angle and better light, a male lion poses on the horizon. 6:38:42 am.

Resting Lion (2)

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:27 GMT

]]>A female (?) also poses. 6:38:50 am.

Resting Lion (3)

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:31 GMT

]]>She is well aware of our presence -- and indifferent. 6:39:16 am.

Resting Lions with Shadow

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:35 GMT

]]>Five lions in a row, bellies full of food and a welcome drink, rest along the ridge above the reservoir. Our shadws fall on the foreground. 6:39:38 am.

Lions Move to the Other Side of the Reservoir

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:40 GMT

]]>Daniel has anticipated this migration to a shaded resting place. We have spent the last 50 minutes leisurely making our way around the other side of the reservoir, watching birds, before meeting up with the pride again at their new shelter 10/5/2026 7:28:24 am.

Procession

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:46 GMT

]]>We have come around the other side. Lions move quietly along this side to a shady resting place, followed by another tourist van. 7:38:58 am.

Resting in the Shade

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:10:51 GMT

]]>Lions settle down for a doze in the shade of an acacia tree. 7:40:35 am. (The artifact in the upper left corner is my hand, shielding the lens from sunlight in this photo toward the sun.)

More Lions Assemble

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:11:01 GMT

]]>The pride moves gradually to the new resting place. The patriarch has departed far away. 7:41:35 am.

Surveying the Plains

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:11:08 GMT

]]>A lion looks over the plains; the patriarch is out there alone, somewhere. Two more lions settle down in the shade. Swallows swoop. 7:43:24 am.

Nervous Giraffe

capturethelight@mac.com (Photography by Dan Quinn) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:11:12 GMT

]]>In the distance across the grasslands, a giraffe nervously surveys the area. Daniel points out a lion (the patriarch?) in the grass to the left; I can't pick it out. One strong lion could possibly bring down an adult giraffe, but one kick from the giraffe could killl a lion. This is probably a truce for now. The giraffe is alert and nervous, lunging away after this photo. 10/5/2026, 7:47 am.