Wood Lily, Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains WMA, Maine

While it is still Wood Lily season, another shot of a lily at the edge of Day Brook Pond on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area, this time with some context. Sony RX10iv in-camera HDR at 24mm equivalent. Program Shift for greater depth of field. I moved the focus spot using the touch screen to put it over the lily in this composition.

Bumble Bee in Rugosa Rose, Kennebunk Maine

Yesterday was a day of diffused light and light fog along the coast, and the light added intensity to the greens and pinks of this shot of a Beach Rose (Rugosa Rose) along the edge of Rt 9 where it crosses the Mousam River. I had stopped for the landscape, but I could not resist the bee in the rose. Sony RX10iv at the 600mm. 1/640th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Day Lily, the yard, Kennebunk, Maine

Our Day Lilies bloom at least two weeks later than the lilies just a quarter mile up the street, and a week later than the lilies just down the street. I think we sit right in a cold pocket, and certainly our yard is more shaded than most. On the other hand, along our driveway, we have double lilies…lilies that produce complex blossoms that have at least twice the number of flower parts they need…one flower nestled inside the other. In other parts of the yard our lilies are normal. ?? This is one of the doubles. Sony RX10iv at 465mm. Program mode with Program Shift for greater depth of field. 1/100th @ f9 @ ISO 500, in late afternoon shade. Processed in Polarr.

Tree Swallow, Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains WMA, Maine

They put up two new Wood Duck boxes at Day Brook Pond on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area last fall, in addition to the one that was already there, and, of course, this year all three have Tree Swallows nesting in them. I am not sure they appreciate the effort that went into their new homes…but as the Wood Ducks apparently don’t either, better Tree Swallows than nothing at all. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/200th @ f8 @ ISO 100. (I was using program shift for Wood Lilies and did not reset it for the swallow 🙂 Processed in Polarr.

Round hay bales, Kennebunk Maine

It is that time of year here in Southern Maine. They are rolling up the fields of hay into round bales. Round bales were rare in upstate New York in the 50’s and 60’s when I sometimes helped my cousins to bale hay. They are efficient if you leave the hay in the field. If you move it to barns then rectangular bales make a whole lot more sense. Here in Southern Maine, round bales are the rule. I don’t think I have ever seen a rectangular bale. I will admit, I like round bales. And I like this time of year, in part, because of them. Sony RX10iv at 24mm. In-camera HDR. Nominal exposure: 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Wood Lilies, Kennebunk Plains WMA, Maine

A cluster of Wood Lilies is even more rare than a Wood Lily itself. They generally grow singly. Even so, a cluster is likely several individual plants growing close. I have only ever found a few plants with multiple blossoms on the same stalk. Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area in West Kennebunk, Maine. Sony Rx10iv at 238mm equivalent. 1/1000 @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Common Whitetail Dragonfly, Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains WMA, Maine

There seem to be fewer Dragonflies at Day Brook Pond on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area here in Southern Maine this year than last, but maybe it is just that I am not getting to the pond on the right days. On my last visit, in search of Wood Lilies, the only dragon I saw was the Common Whitetail, and I only saw a few of those. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. 1/800th @ f4 @ ISO 100. -.3EV. Processed in Polarr.

Male and female Mountain Trogon, Opatoro Highlands, Honduras.

I am making up panels for my article on the Honduran Highlands from my trip with Alex Alvarado and Honduran Birds. These shots of a male and female Mountain Trogon from our day in the Opatoro Highlands shows my favorite bird of the day. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 1250. Processed in Polarr.

Green Metallic Bee on Wood Lily, Kennebunk Plains WMA, Maine

I only saw my first tiny Green Metallic Bee a few years ago. Before that I was totally unaware of their existence…and not blissfully unaware either. When I first saw one I was amazed. What a creature. So small. So shinny. So green. So metallic. I had to google the creature to find out what it was. So okay, finding out it was called a “Green Metallic Bee” was bit of a let-down. I expected something more exotic maybe…but still, they are fascinating creatures. Combine Green Metallic Bees with the brief beauty of Wood Lily, and it is almost too much to bear. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 640. Processed in Polarr.