Seaside Dragons in love
Seaside Dragonlet mating wheels. Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — Down by the Bridle Path through the tidal marsh the Seaside Dragonlets were bush mating and ovipositing. There must have been a dozen pairs in the one small pool I observed. Busy busy. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my insect and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Ho hum…just another singing Song
Song Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — down by the beach on the inside of dunes, and singing…ho hum, just another Song singing…but he is putting his whole heart into it, and maybe that makes it special enough. 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Swallows
Barn Swallows: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — You never now what is in store. On an uncomfortably hot day in Southern Maine I went out along the marsh path and found a tree just full of fledgling swallows, mostly barn, but a few tree as well. I took lots of individual shots and then switched to my action modifications and zoomed wider to see what I could catch. 1/4000th of a second. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 198mm equivalent. Program mode with action modifications. Processed in Photomator. Assembled in FrameMagic.
Chipper
Chipmunk: Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 7/25 — While out looking for forest fungi, this little chipper ran along a log straight toward me. I thought he was coming over to say hi, but once he actually saw me he scurried down a hole at the base of a tree between the root. He did not stay down for long. Love his fat cheeks. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and TouchRetouch (to remove the obtrusive stalk that crossed his face).
Fishing the hard way
Great Egret: Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — The Snowy and Great Egrets are finally arriving at the mouths of our rivers, in the marshes, and on the beaches. I thought they might not come this year, strange after the unusually high numbers the past two years. But I see hope now. 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine Cedar
Cedar Waxwing: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — I posted a Cedar Waxwing from Maryland recently and was delighted to find this one as I rode my trike along a local road here in Southern Maine yesterday. I am pretty sure this is also a young bird, from this summer’s brood, just coming into full adult plumage. Note the limited red on the wing tips, and the general roughness of the plumage. It was also a solitary bird, and you generally see Cedar Waxwings it small flocks. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 @ 600mm (from the seat of my trike). Program with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Great Blue
Great Blue Heron: St. Anthony’s Monastery, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025: The friars at St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery maintain a pond between two arms of the river, which is frequented by herons, ducks, geese, kingfishers and dragonflies…not to mention deer coming for a drink. This hunting heron was very intent on its next meal. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Sika
Sika Deer, Dorchester County, Maryland, July 2025 — The eastern shore in Maryland is now home to a large population of the marsh-dwelling Sika deer. They are originally from Japan but were introduced in Maryland in the early 1900s, and have thrived. Though there was some concern about competition for resources with the native White-tail, it turns out that they prefer different habitats and can coexist just fine. This is a female. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Down the hatch
Cedar Waxwing: Woolford, Maryland, July 2025 — My brother has a black cherry tree outside his trailer that attracts all kinds of birds. This appears to be a young Cedar Waxwing…it is a Cedar Waxwing for sure…I am guessing that it is young because of the roughness of the normally very smooth feathering, and maybe a hint of remaining gape. My nephew spotted first and then we had to wait for a clear shot. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Pretty boy!
Red-winged Blackbird: Blackwater NWR, Maryland, USA, July 2025 — I took another swing through the refuge on my way from my AirBnB to my brother Rick’s. Not much happening on a hot July morning, but the Red-wings were showing off. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.