Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — another favorite aerial technique of the Least Tern — the hover. On spread and beating wings, the bird dances to stay still, suspended seconds at a time. They use it while hunting. They use it as a mating display. They use it as a threat. I always think it makes them look angelic. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 800mm equivalent. Program mode with flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — Terns are fast and agile and just predictable enough to be fun to photograph in the air—or to attempt to photograph in the air. When defending their nests, they will attack anything that moves, whether it is a threat or not. I do my best not to be a threat—staying well away from the protected area of the dunes where they nest and only making eye contact from a distance. And of course, I have never, ever, taken an egg or harassed a chick. You would think they would know that by now. And yet they are on me before I know it, coming in from behind. What I do not do is immediately retreat, at least until I get a few photos as they wheel around me and come back in at eye level, swooping up only at the last moment. A few shots, and then I do turn my back and move on. And not often, once a week at most. It is my deal with the terns. And each year, I get a handful of photos that catch just a bit of the energy and elegance of these amazing birds. Be kind to them if you share their beach, and you will be rewarded with their endless aerial acrobatics and the sense of living grace. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 600mm equivalent field of view. Program with flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Common Yellowthroat: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I found this Common Yellowthroat at the edge of the forest at Laudholm Farms, keeping company with a much more scarce Chestnut-sided Warbler. Since both were in the same area a week ago, it is likely that both are nesting there. The Yellowthroat was much more cooperative and gave me a couple of good views. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 600mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Sub-adult Bonaparte’s Gull: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — While photographing our nesting Least Terns in light, this bird passed over relatively low. I knew it was not a Tern when I photographed it, but I had to look it up while processing the photos. It appears to be a sub-adult, perhaps first summer, Bonaparte’s Gull. A portion of the sub-adults are known to linger behind the adults the first year—and not make it to the Arctic breeding grounds—hanging out along the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Maine all summer. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 600mm equivalent field of view (cropped). Program with flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — There must be at least 25 pairs of Maine Endangered Least Terns actively nesting or preparing to nest on our local beach right now. They are actively feeding along the water line for Sand Lance and flying them back to prospective mates. I caught this one low against the backdrop of forest on the far side of the river. They are elegant (and fast) flyers and it is always fun to relearn to catch them in the air—and I do have to relearn it every year. I really like to catch them with the Sand Lance. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view (cropped to maybe 800mm). Program with my flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Least Terns: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2026 — It is the season when male Least Terns dangle Sand Lances in front of prospective mates to increase their chances. Mostly I see frustrated males—with females scuttling away from them and their smelly fish. It must work at least occasionally since there are birds on eggs already. 🙂 Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 1000mm equivalent field of view (cropped and super-sized). Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

The beach roses are just beginning to bloom here in Kennebunk, Maine, USA—and though they are invasive and problematic in some places, they are certainly beautiful. And this little green bee thinks so too. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 318mm equivalent field of view. Aperture program with my macro modifications. f/10 for depth of field. Processed in Photomator with my macro preset.

Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2026 — The same Least Tern in two different aspects with what is probably a Sand Lance (or eel) on its way to try to attract a mate. Sand Lance is a better name since it is a small fish, not an eel at all, but they are commonly called Sand Eels, and, along with juvenile herrings (which look very much the same), are the favored foods of Least Terns here in Southern Maine. The two frames used to put this sequential shot together were taken at 5 frames per second. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view (cropped to something like 800mm eq.fov). Program with birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in Pixomatic.

Purple Finch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2026 — This is not the season when we see Purple Finches at our feeders, so I was mildly surprised—and quite delighted—to see a whole little flock of them in the scruffy pines along the marsh trail. They moved ahead of me until they reached the open area of beach rose and flowering bushes, and then circled around me back to the pines—but not before I got a few shots of them. This one had this interesting ruff of fine breast feathers on both sides under the wings. Maybe a molt pattern? Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at about 500mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Blackburnian Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2026 — One of my favorite warblers, this Blackburnian posed in a little window in the foliage right beside the boardwalk just long enough for me to get off a burst of exposures at 5 frames per second. He seemed intent on showing me his best side, but, of course, he was actually looking for bugs and spiders on the underside of the leaves. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.