Herring Gull: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2026 — I went to the beach partially hoping to test a theory about photographing birds in flight with my new Sony RX10 V and did indeed find some birds in flight. Mostly cormorants and gulls. I have no fondness for Herring Gulls—respect, yes, some. They are survivors. Not good neighbors maybe, but tough as old boot leather. Still, they have a certain beauty in flight. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent. Cropped to about 1550mm effective field of view (a 3mp image). My Flight and Action mode. Processed in Photomator.

Japanese Knotweed is a terrible invasive plant with such an extensive root system that it is very difficult to eradicate once established. It is very quickly taking over the roadside on one of the side streets near us, which runs back through a patch of remnant wetland and is a favorite place for me to look for birds. Yesterday it was, however, full of insects. Bees of at least three varieties, two uncommon flies, some tiny green bugs I had never seen before, and these four species of wasps. There is one photo each of a Bramble Mason Wasp and a Common Yellow-jacket, and two photos each of the 4 Banded Stink Bug Wasp and the narrow-waisted Eumenes fraternus. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent, each cropped to about 850mm effective field of view. My Birds and Wildlife Mode. Processed in Photomator.

Great Blue Heron and two female Mallards: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2026 — I visited a local pond yesterday and found a Great Blue Heron along the far shore, along with a number of Mallards, to mention just two species. There were also Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Canada Geese, and a flock of Cedar Waxwings hawking insects over the water. The Heron decided to move from the bank to the water, and evidently the ducks were not happy about it. I do not know why. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent, cropped to about 850mm effective field of view. (A 10mp crop.) My Birds and Wildlife Mode. Processed in Photomator.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Immature): Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2026 — I was out on the deck waiting for the birds on a dark, overcast day, when this little immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird, probably this year’s brood, came swooping in, as they will do, and visited one of our hanging plants. For a second. 2 at the most. No time to think. Point and shoot. Not a perfect shot, but satisfying. And somewhat surprising. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent. Cropped to ~1000mm effective field of view. (7mp) My birds and wildlife mode. 1/250th. Processed in Photomator.

Blushing Rosette Mushroom. Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2026 — Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, which are fibrous networks growing underground, often in association with tree roots. The Blushing Rosette is odd even by mushroom standards in that it has a maze of pores instead of gills on the back side of the mushroom. It is famous when just emerging for engulfing any twigs or small tree shoots that might be in its way as it grows. Like some other related mushrooms, it often extrudes liquid drops, in this case red drops. So strange! (I do not know all this. I looked it up using Gemini.) Sony RX10 V in my Macro Mode. f/8 for depth of field. From my tiny carbon fiber tripod. Processed in Photomator.

Cedar Waxwing: Kennebunk Plains Nature Conservancy, West Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2026 — Again one of my favorite birds, this time perched—I will not say sedately since he or she is obviously very intent on the bug action over the pond—but at least still for a moment. Too far away still, to show maximum feather detail—especially with feathers as fine as a waxwing’s—but we do what we can. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent, cropped to about 1200mm effective field of view. My Birds and Wildlife shooting mode. Processed and upscaled in Photomator.

Cedar Waxwing: Kennebunk Plains Nature Conservancy, West Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2026 — On the last day of August, I drove out to the plains to see what I could see. The Northern Blazing Star is still disappointing this year. Not many blooms, and all small and dry. The pond is down a good 4 feet. But there were half a dozen or more Cedar Waxwings hawking insects over the pond and returning to the twiggy top of a dead birch snag. They were really too far away for my 600mm lens, but I must have taken 1000 frames of them coming and going and perched among the twigs. I really like Cedar Waxwings. I saw this happen through the viewfinder but was not sure I got it until I got home and processed the images. Not perfect. I was still in Birds and Wildlife Mode, so the shutter speed was only 1/800. Still, satisfying. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent, cropped to a 1200mm effective field of view. My Birds and Wildlife custom mode. Processed in Photomator. Upscaled using Super Resolution.

Immature Northern Mockingbird: Wells Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA, August 2026 — Perhaps because this bird is young (you can tell by the mottling on the breast and the dull eye) and does not know any better, it let me walk up fairly close. I would take a burst of photos, take 3 steps forward, and then take another burst. When it did fly, it only flew up into a tree not much further away. Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent, with a crop to 840mm equivalent field of view. My custom Birds and Wildlife shooting mode. Processed in Photomator.

Chestnut-sided Warbler: Wells Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA, August 2026 — Before this year, I have not seen Chestnut-sided Warblers beyond migration season in southern Maine. I know they breed here, but I have not seen them. This year I have seen a few, including this bird very actively foraging in deep brush along the trail. I guess I just have not been paying enough attention. 🙂 Sony RX10 V at 600mm equivalent. Cropped to about 1500mm equivalent field of view. My custom Birds & Wildlife shooting mode. Processed in Photomator.

Two of my favorite landscape scenes at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge—the old headquarters trail in Wells, Maine. I love the way the trees frame the marsh and the distant ocean from the first overlook on the trail, and the dappled light and mix of trees further along always catch my eye. Sony RX10 V at 24mm. My custom HDR-like shooting mode. Processed in Photomator.