What is the most "exotic" animal you have photographed in the wild?

Ibises, manakins and tanagers, for sure.

 

@RatioTile, are these really that uncommon? Coming from Japan, I might be exposed to more endemic rarities but I have seen these wandering around in the center of Tokyo. I've also seen them a lot in the countryside at night.

 

There's none outside of Japan. The title says "most exotic", not "rarest".

 

If you're not from Japan, going to Japan and seeing one is a memorable experience. It's like how coyotes are common in North America, but people from Europe or Asia would be far more excited to see one. It would be exotic.

 

Polar Bear
Ringed Seal
Muskox

 

Probably some of the wild parrot species in Texas. Red Crowned, White Lored Parrot, Green Parakeet, Monk Parakeet, etc.

 

The penguins in melbourne were probably the animals I photographed furthest away from home.
The rarest animal is probably the Blainville beaked whale.

 

2023. 01. 18.
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Maybe a feral domestic goose. I found this goose on January 1 this year while observing whooper swans coming every winter in the river near my house, and I have been able to observe it a few more times since then.

Domestic goose that are generally raising in Korea have orange beaks and feet, but this goose had pink beaks and feet, and it could be seen that it flew with swans from outside the Korean Peninsula because it was following swans around with a strong sense of caution against humans.

You may think why I chose domestic goose as exotic animals, but but as I said earlier, there are no domestic goose with pink beaks and pink feet in Korea. So it was exotic enough. I wonder if this friend will come my hometown again this year.


And a very exotic combination rather than an exotic animal:

2023. 02. 05.
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Cinereous vultures and a feral nutria. It is a sight that can only be seen in Gyeongsang Province.​

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Considering its location, the most "exotic" animal is the Ross Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) that I photographed in Belgium. It's an arctic bird living in the north of Siberia, Greenland and Arctic part of the America:



Otherwise: Milky Stork and White-Bellied Sea Eagle in the wetlands of Singapore

 

Orangutan, Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Proboscis Monkey and Asian Black Hornbill on the Kinabatangan River.

 

Singapore:

Sunda Colugo
Common Treeshrew
Oriental Darter
Sunda Scops Owl
Brown Boobook
Buffy Fish Owl
Spotted Wood Owl
Blue Eared Kingfisher
Javan Pond Heron

Japan

Japanese Serow
Japanese Green Woodpecker
Japanese Accentor
Crested Ibis

 

My furthest from home animal pic is perhaps not the most interesting species - a Herring Gull in Bath, UK.

If we're counting animals furthest from their home, the answer is still a gull a vagrant Laughing Gull that turned up in Queensland, Australia - at least 14,000km from it's native range! Most likely ship-assisted I would imagine, but insanely cool to see nonetheless.

 

I’d be interested to see more photos of this bird

 

I just photographed 4 wild Black Faced Spoonbill in Tokyo. They are globally endangered and until recently, photographing these in the wild in Tokyo Bay was unheard of. This spoonbill population is steadily growing thanks to the many conservation efforts of institutions worldwide, and they are an annual migrant to Kasai Bird Sanctuary now.

Black Faced Spoonbill ~ Kasai Rinkai Bird Sanctuary by Dr. Wolverine posted 7 Apr 2024 at 7:17 AM

Black Faced Spoonbill ~ Kasai Rinkai Bird Sanctuary by Dr. Wolverine posted 7 Apr 2024 at 7:12 AM

Black Faced Spoonbill ~ Kasai Rinkai Bird Sanctuary by Dr. Wolverine posted 7 Apr 2024 at 7:11 AM

Black Faced Spoonbill ~ Kasai Rinkai Bird Sanctuary by Dr. Wolverine posted 7 Apr 2024 at 7:09 AM

 

Yes, I'll show you a few more pictures.

Jan. 01. 2023.

This is a picture from the day I first met this goose.



Jan. 08. 2023.


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And even though I haven't been able to tell you, I was able to find the feral goose again this winter near the location where it was observed. the picture is below.

Jan. 25. 2024.



Jan. 30. 2024.
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Although observed in almost the same location, the goose had an orange beak color, as shown in the picture. So, I'm not sure if it's the same goose, but I think its beak color may vary depending on its growth process and body condition.

This goose was staying with mallards and cormorants as shown in the first picture, and after that, it did not hang out with swans and went around alone. The area where this goose was located was the territory of a young white-tailed eagle, and seeing as it stayed alone in such a place, this goose seemed to have a strong vitality. I'm hoping to see goose in this winter again.

 

How could I forget, Straw headed bulbul

 

Could this be a leucistic greylag goose? Idk for sure so don’t quote me on that.

 

No, you can see the slight knob on the bill, evidence of Swan Goose ancestry.

 

Ok, Thank you for the clarification.