Tawny-throated Leaftosser, La Tigra National Park, Honduras

When we saw this bird along the trail in La Tigra National Park, walking in to find the Wine-throated Hummingbird, Alex Alvarado of Honduran Birds and Older (a young guide from Pico Bonito who was along for the birding) did not make a big deal out of it, so, despite it being listed as “uncommon” in the Peterson North Central American Field Guide, it must not be all that uncommon at La Tigra. Gotta love the name. There are actually a few Leaftossers. They make their living on the ground, well, tossing leaves to find bugs. These were not easy shots to get, as it was way dark under the canopy at the edge of the cloud-forest. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. 1/25th and 1/50th @ f4 @ ISO 6400. (You have to admire the image stabilization in today’s best P&S cameras, though I did have my bean-bag topped mono-pod under the camera.) Processed in Polarr, including some noise control. They are not the kind of images I would make a big print from, but they are certainly fine as a record of a good bird. 🙂

Honduran Emerald Hummingbird, El Cajon Area, Honduras

A while ago I posted a single shot of the Honduran Emerald Hummingbird from my tour of the Honduran highlands in May, hosted by Alex Alvarado and Honduran Birds. Several years ago Alex discovered an isolated population of the Honduran Emerald, the only endemic bird in Honduras, in the area around the El Cajon hydroelectric project, where, honestly, no one expected to see it. Most people who see the Emerald, see it in or around the Honduran Emerald Reserve in the Aguan Valley…which is a long ways from El Cajon and, to be frank, a long drive from everywhere. About the same time, Alex Martinez Matute moved to the El Cajon area to start a restaurant / hotel, and got interested in birds. He contacted Alex for directions to the spot where he and seen the Honduran Emerald, and eventually relocated it. Since then Alex Martinez Matute has scoured the El Cajon region for birds and located at least two reliable populations if the hummingbird, as well as quite a number of other hard to see Honduran birds. He is the expert on the area, and a visit to his El Rancho restaurant in El Cajon is rewarding for any birder. The big deal here is that the El Cajon region is within an hour of the airport in San Pedro Sula, and practically right next door to the well known birding destination of Panacam Lodge. Anyone who has ridden in a transport van the three and a half hours from the Lodge at Pico Bonito to Honduran Emerald preserve (and three and a half hours back), will appreciate how much more accessible the Emeralds are around El Cajon. When we visited in May, we had difficult lighting, but I still managed some memorable shots. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. +2 EV for the backlight. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 320. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.

Eastern Kingbird, Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area

There are generally a few Eastern Kingbirds nesting around Day Brook Pond on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area in West Kennebunk, Maine. This year is no exception. I heard their chatter before I saw them. They hunt bugs over the pond. I was hunting dragonflies myself when this one landed in the pine above me. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 160. Processed in Polarr.

Asian Lily, Sweet William, Foxglove, Lamb’s Ear

Just a few flowers from around the yard. It is that time of year in southern Maine. We don’t have the mass display of other yards, but we do have a variety. The Foxglove and Lamb’s Ear are volunteers…self seeded from year to year…always coming up somewhere new. 🙂 I love having such beauty in our yard. Sony RX10iv in Program Mode. Various focal lengths and exposures. In-camera HDR. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.

Canada Geese with goslings, Branch Brook, Kennebunk Maine

I was out on my eBike last week, crossing Branch Brook on Rt. 9, when a large group of Canada Geese goslings caught my eye. I had to stop and take a few pics. 🙂 The goslings are pretty big, and, while it is not unheard of to see them in a group this size, I have not seen a group like this for quite some time. I suspect it is a nursery group, the hatch of 4 females, but it might be just unusually large broods of two pairs. There were two adult geese with them, though only three show in the photo. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 160. Processed in Polarr.

Asian Multi-colored Ladybird, Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine

This Ladybug caught my eye on my last photoprowl to Laudholm Farms (Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve). How could it not? Especially ensconced on the bright green leaf. It was blowing around in the wind, so I had to resort to tracking auto focus to get a sharp shot, and even then I only really got one out of a burst of a dozen or more. A little research this morning reminded me that individual species of Ladybugs most often are named “Ladybird”…this is, I think, the Multi-colored Asian Ladybird…invasive in most parts of North America, and worldwide. It is one of the few Ladybirds with more than 7 spots. Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with tracking auto focus. 1/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Wine-throated Hummingbird, La Tigra National Park, Honduras

I am working on my article on the Birds Honduras trip to the highlands of Honduras, so I am looking back through the images. I posted a single shot of the Wine-throated Hummingbird Alex Alvarado found for me in La Tigra National Park above Tegucigalpa. It really deserves more! I told the story briefly of following Alex as he bushwhacked off the trail to a precarious vantage on this bird as it fed and returned to one of several perches in front of us. We were literally balanced on fallen trees covered with vines and buried in reeds, and the way in was beset with thorny plants and stuff in the undergrowth that I do not want to think about. Worth it though. One of the most amazing hummers I have ever seen. Tiny! We were maybe 30 feet from its perches and this is the best I could do at 600mm…and heavily cropped at that. Sony RX10iv. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 125. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.

Tom Turkey, Laudholm Farms, Wells Maine

I have known for a while that this Tom Turkey must exist. I have see his harem out and about at Laudholm Farms, and in the yards near the entrance, but this is the first time I have seen him…at least in several years. He is a magnificent specimen, and never more magnificent than when on full display as in these shots. He was guarding his harem as they fed…keeping the tail spread and the full fluff on. What can I say? A sight to be seen! Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 500. Processed in Polarr.

Blue Flag Iris, Blue Eyed Grass, Rose Pagonia Orchid, Wild Rose, Sheep Laurel, Nightshade, Owl Clover, Cinquefoil, Milkweed.

On my recent photoprowl to Laudholm Farms (Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve) Rose Pagonia was not the only wildflower blooming (see last Sunday’s The Generous Eye post). This is a panel of 9 of the wildflowers of Laudholm Farms in June. Left to right and down: Blue Flag Iris, Blue Eyed Grass, Rose Pagonia Orchid, Wild Rose, Sheep Laurel, Nightshade, Owl Clover, Tall Cinquefoil, and Milkweed. All were taken with the Sony RX10iv and all at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic. Ah to be in Maine in June.