Large-footed Finch
Large-footed Finch: Miriam’s Quetzels Restaurant, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2022 — Not the most exciting bird in the world, but another mountain speciality…hugging the area from cloud forest up to tree-line. It’s behavior is very like our North American Robin…scratching for invertebrates in the grass and leaf litter. And, yes, it does have large feet! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 4000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Crakes over Croc
Black Crake: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — I remember how excited I was to see my first Black Crake along a stream in Masi Mara several years ago now…in Uganda they are common along most bodies of water and streams. These were feeding at the edge of Lake Mburo when we passed on the tour boat. That is a huge Crocodile in the foreground. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 800 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
White-treated Mountain-Gem
White-throated Mountain-Gem: Miriam’s Quetzals Restaurant, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2022 — The White-throated Mountain-Gem is, in my experience, the Gem found at the highest elevations in Costa Rica. I had only seen the Purple-throated in the high foothills, and, if memory serves, I have never seen the White-bellied. I have seen way more female White-throated Mountain-Gems than males, so it was nice to see this one off the deck at Miriams on our first stop there. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 4000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Croc #2
Nile Crocodile, Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — One Croc deserves another…this one is slightly smaller than the one I posted yesterday, but then most crocs would be. This is maybe 12 feet long, and not so massive…and is showing off all its teeth. As cold-blooded animals, Crocodiles hold their mouths open to lower their body temperatures on warm days. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Long Sands Beach, York, Maine
Long Sands Beach, York, Maine, February 2023 — I got on the wrong road coming back from York Hospital where I had a Travel Medicine appointment yesterday, and came up the coast a ways. Not the first time it has happened. I don’t go to York enough to know where I am. Still, it was a beautiful afternoon in February, and I stopped along Long Sands, south of Nubble Light, for this iPhone ultra-wide shot. Auto exposure (which has HDR always engaged on my iPhone 13). Processed in Apple Photos.
Uganda Edition: Croc!
Nile Crocodile: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — We were coming to the end of the trip and my friend Stan was complaining that he had not seen a “monster” croc yet…so, of course, we had to find him one from the tour boat on Lake Mburo. This gentleman had to be 15 feet long, and was just massive with it! Just the kind of croc who figures in the fables. Old and wily and wise…a true climax predator, without an ounce of mercy in his whole body! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher (and Baltimore Oriole)
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher (and Baltimore Oriole): Miriam’s Quetzals, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2022 — The Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher is not, in fact, a flycatcher, but it does have a long tail. Here in the US, we also have a silky-flycatcher, the Phanopepla of the South West deserts. And, of course, the Baltimore Oriole keeping company with the Silky-flycatcher is a common summer bird all up our east coast. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. The birds were not close, and the “close-up” is a heavy crop. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Hippos at Lake Mburo
Hippopotamus: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — There are hippos in Uganda wherever there is water deep enough to cover their backs when they kneel on the bottom. Lake Mburo is, of course, no exception. In the fading light of a late afternoon, we saw as many as we could have hoped for from the very large tour boat on the lake. Sony Rx10iv at 580mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 160 and 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Yellow-thighed Bushfinch
Yellow-thighed Bushfinch: Miriam’s Quetzals, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2022 — There are generally a few Yellow-thighed Bushfinches around the feeders at Miriams, and they are always a treat to see. Such an unlikely bird! The sooty-black, fine textured plumage and then those bright yellow booties. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 3200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Cape Buffalo with Oxpeckers
Cape Buffalo and Yellow-billed Oxpecker: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — As we cruised up the shore of Lake Mburo, we saw quite a bit of wildlife, including these two Cape Buffalo, resting in the shallows and on the shore. And, of course, where there are Cape Buffalo there will be Oxpeckers! Always (at least in my experience). Notice the apparently well worn ear on this animal…though various amounts of fringing is normal on the Cape Buffalo’s ears. Sony Rx10iv at 580mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.