Maine! Waxwings!
Cedar Waxwing: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — I have been looking for the flock of Cedar Waxwings that generally winters in town for months now, and while I have seen a few birds here and there with the Robin flock, yesterday was my first good Waxwing encounter of the season. And not once, but twice. Being birds, and prone to flight, I cannot say for sure that I did not see the same flock in two different locations, but I do know that I had two close encounters with 8-10 feeding waxwings. This shot is from the second when a few decided to pick off the last of the red berries on a tree in a yard right by the sidewalk. Great light. Great birds. Red berries. Nice background. What more could any photographer ask? (And I only had this second encounter because I decided to treat myself to a scone before walking home.) OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Immature White Ibis
White Ibis: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Certainly one of the oddest looking birds in all bird-kind, at least to my eye. It will come into its pure white plumage in good time, but this is the awkward stage we all go through. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 628mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Red-tail
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Out for a walk around the neighborhood between rain showers the other day, I saw this hawk come into a tall pine above a marshy area between two streets. It was a long way off still but it stayed until I worked my way closer…not close enough…this is a heavy crop from a shot at 800mm equivalent…but close enough to admire the subtle colors of the plumage in the diffuse light, and to catch it calling. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Acorn at Miriam’s
Acorn Woodpecker: Miriam’s Quetzals, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — We drove up to the top of Buena Vista Mountain as it is named on the maps, or Cerro de la Muerte as it is commonly known, but the mountain top was shrouded in dense fog, hiding the vistas, so we returned to Savegre for a morning of photographing silky water in the stream below the hotel. Then for lunch we drove back up to Miriam’s Quetzals, a small family owned restaurant/coffee shop/gift shop half way back up to the Panam highway, perched on the side of the Savegre canyon, with a wonderful deck and feeding station which draws all the common birds at its cloud forest elevation, approaching 9000 feet. In the year since my last visit they have improved and enlarged the deck and it is an even better perch for photographing birds. Acorn Woodpeckers are among the dominant species, and though we can see them in the Western US, they are always a treat to see in the mountains of Costa Rica. The deck at Miriam’s provides close up views. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Don’t get your tail in a twist
Eastern Grey Squirrel, Mousam River Reserve, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2024 — The squirrels were very active on one of the first moderately warm days of spring, everywhere I went yesterday. And feisty…even for feisty squirrels. This one was doing the whole “You shall not pass!” thing from the Lord of the Rings…his tail whipping around behind him like Gandalf’s cloak. I took a burst of shots hoping to catch the tail in an interesting position. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Handsome
Wood Stork: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — The Wood Stork is not, to my eye, beautiful…but it is certainly handsome. I will never forget my first encounter with one after a long hike in Georgia, but they are common along Blackpoint Drive these days. This one was very close to the road and totally unconcerned as I walked up for some photos. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pretty duck
Mallard: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Yes I know it is only a Mallard, but I like the colors, the reflections, the patterns in the water as the duck swims…and just the whole light thing going on here 🙂 Right place. Right time. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher
Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher: Savegre Mountain Lodge and Reserve, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The other “show” bird of the Talamancas Mountains has to be the Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher (after the Resplendent Quetzal of course). These are not ideal shots but they are among the first shots I managed after getting to Savegre late in the day, between my cabin and the restaurant/office/gift shop. Not actually a flycatcher, it is closely related to the Phanopepla of the US southwest. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400 IS zoom at 800 and 338mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. ISO 20,000 and 16,000 (early evening light). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! taking the red-eye
Horned Grebe: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — We have a few wintering Horned Grebes at the mouth of our local river most days. This one came close in for its photo. The second shot is a good portrait, but I like the first shot for its dynamic tension. OM System OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Cocked
Tricolored Heron: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Take out under the observation blind at the end of what used to the the WildBirdsUnlimited trail along Blackpoint Drive. That sponsorship has apparently ended, but the trail is still there and so are the birds 🙂 This Tricolored was intently hunting and only maybe 30 feet from the deck. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.