Maine! See what I got!
Common Loons: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — The loons were having a productive morning. As I watched one or another of the 4 working within sight took a crab from the bottom of the inlet every 5 minutes or so. This one seemed proud of his catch…though it was not the biggest one I saw that morning. Maybe it is a he and a she and she hoped he was in a sharing mood? OM Systems OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Cuteness
White-faced Capuchin Monkey: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Cuteness overload. This youngster must be reaching its last days of backpacking on mom. In fact it hopped off as she went up a tree trunk in search of food. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 200, 300, and 372mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! happy couple
Red-breasted Merganser: York County Maine, USA, February 2024 — And here is the happy couple: Male and female Red-breasted Mergansers showing their fancy party hairdos. OM Systems OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Anhinga
Anhinga: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Anhinga’s out drying. Female and male. Male entering breeding plumage. Called the “snake” bird for its habit of swimming with its body totally submerged and just its head and long neck showing above the water. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent (female) and 454mm equivalent (male). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Show-off
Red-breasted Merganser: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — There have been female or immature Red-breasted Mergansers in the tidal creek near the mouth of our local river since the beginning of winter, but this might be the first male I have seen, and he was putting on a good show for the female that was with him. Such a handsome bird! OM Systems OM-1Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom. First two Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Third Program mode with my custom birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Florida! the business end
Great Blue Heron: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — A Great Blue Heron posing for a close up portrait along Blackpoint Drive. The bird was only a few yards from the roadside, and busy with its hunting. It had its spot. It was there almost every time I went around the Drive. OM Sysems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Rim light Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — I am testing a new camera body with my 100-400mm zoom so I have spending a lot of time in the backyard shooting Bluebirds and Chickadees. Most shots I crop close to access the sharpness of the image…but I really like this partially back-lighted image for the feelings it evokes. This is one for framing. OM Systems OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Framed in FrameMagic.
Costa Rica! Hybrid incoming
Hybrid Scarlet and Great Green Macaw: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — One of the results of the dominance of the male Great Green Macaw in the flock of Scarets, this hybrid bird was coming in fast and just swerved at the last moment to avoid a collision. Right place at the right time! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 200mm equivalent. (This bird was close!) Program mode with my custom birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! White bird in the sun
Snowy Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Always a challenge…a white bird in the sun. You want to catch the feather detail. The OM-1 handles it very well. And who could resist the pose? This Snowy Egret was sitting up only a few yards from the road. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! two Macaws
Scarlet and Great Green Macaws: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Two, not of a kind, but closely related. This is a sight you don’t often see. These are both free flying birds that have settled at the Macaw Ranch and are habituated to human proximity. This is in the gardens outside the ranch house. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 300mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.