Yellowstone! A little Bison rolling action
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — We found a particularly active and even feisty herd of Bison beside the road in the Lamar Valley. Dust bathing, or dust rolling, is a common behavior among Bison. It combats ticks and other insects that would otherwise make their home on the Bison’s hide. It can look pretty odd and the bison get into all kinds of contortions doing it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Bluebird in the November Maple
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just another backyard bluebird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Spruce Grouse
Spruce Grouse: Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Grouse are generally shy creatures of the forest, and relatively hard to find. This one was right beside the road and in no hurry to get away from us at all when we pulled up beside it. It just ambled deeper into the brush as we watched and photographed it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 30-400 Di iii. The first shot was out the window of the car at 382mm equivalent. Close! The other two shots are at 600mm from the same distance and then as it moved away from us. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Robins in the November cherries
American Robin: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Most birds wait until the ornamental cherries have frozen hard a few times to concentrate the sugars before eating them…not so the Robins. They are already at them. I hope they leave enough for the Cedar Waxwings which often frequent this tree later in the season. Such a handsome bird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! From Blacktail
We made one more run up over Blacktail Plateau, past where the carcass was earlier in the morning, just to see what was happening. The scenery was gorgeous…the light just coming across the plateau almost horizontal, and picking out the mountains to the north. Sony a5100 with E10-18 f4 @ 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape scene select. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Flight against the light
Ringbilled Gull: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I got down to the beach yesterday to see what was in the river mouth, hoping for a few winter ducks in close. Not much yet, but I had some fun with the gulls in flight with the sun behind them. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (a small amount of motion blur reduction).
Yellowstone! Pronghorn speedster
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — The Pronghorn is the fastest land animal in the Americas and is only outpaced by the Cheetah on the African plains…and that only by a single mile per hour, and, over a short distance. The Pronghorn can run faster and longer than any other land creature. They are built for speed. This shot was just an amble by Pronghorn standards. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (to remove motion blur).
Maine! Stand and deliver
Mallard Duck: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — While checking for Eagles on the river I watched a group of uncommonly active Mallards on the pond. There were a couple of males showing off and facing off. When this action happened the first time I switched the camera from birds and wildlife modifications to birds in flight and action modifications to be ready, and, indeed caught a couple of sequences of the drakes standing on the water. This one shows off that blue to good effect. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Marking territory
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Not a rutting behavior specifically, Pronghorn bucks are in the habit of attacking sagebrush plants with their horns…vigorously. They are actually marking the plants with scent from scent glands at the base of the horns, letting other bucks know that they have claimed this territory. It must be pretty powerful scent to stand out over the sent of the brushed sage itself. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! November Bluebirds
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — We have had Bluebirds in our yard year around for 5 years…adding a touch of welcome color in the months were there are no flowers and few bright birds. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.