Colorado! Pearly
Pearly Crescent: Centennial, Colorado, July 2024 — I am not seeing many birds in the suburban Denver neighborhood where my daughter and her family live, but the butterflies have been interesting. There are lots of little flower plots in yards and as part of the landscaping of the developments, so there is lots to attract butterflies. This is a Pearly Crescent. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Insect subject recognition. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Intension
Black-chinned Hummingbird: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — The western counterpart of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird we get in Maine, the Black-chinned Hummingbird is energetic and graceful. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Colorado! Bushtits
American Bushtit: Centennial, Colorado, July 2024 — I went out the door in Centennial to walk to the store yesterday morning and was surrounded by a small flock of American Bushtits in the shrubs and trees of the culdesac. So I had to go back in and get my camera. Certainly a bird we don’t see in Maine. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Denver! Two-tailed
Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail: Centennial, Colorado, July 2024 — I went for a short walk around the neighborhood yesterday afternoon in the Denver heat to see if any birds were out and about. They weren’t, but I caught this Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail visiting the Day Lilies in the entry-way plantings of one of the many housing developments that make up this part of Centennial. Perhaps the largest and most colorful of the western swallowtails, this one was diving deep in the lilies after nectar. It was very active and hard to keep in the frame. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Insect subject recognition. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Honey Bee in the bee plant
Honey Bee: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — The Rocky Mountain Bee-plant was, true to the name, full of bees and other insects in the gardens at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. This is common Honey Bee from someone’s hive, making the most of bloom. I used the macro region of the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom on the Sony a6700 and leaned in close…closer than a foot. The insect subject recognition works well on the Sony. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — There were probably a couple of pairs of Black-headed Grosbeaks coming to the feeders at Randall Davey Audubon center in the foothills above Santa Fe, New Mexico while we were there visiting our daughter and granddaughter. Impressive birds that you would think might dominate the feeders, but the little Pine Siskins gave them a run for the bird seed. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Skipper?
Skipper? Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — I know it is a skipper. I am not sure which one. Fiery? Zebulon? Don’t know my New Mexico skippers. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Tail on
Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — Tail on and almost too close, but who could resist? Also pretty dark in the corner against the building in the garden at Randall Davey Audubon Center. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Tiny in the bee-balm
Sweat Bee in Bee-balm: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2024 — The Randall Davey Audubon Center has a small but highly productive native wildflower and plant garden between the buildings. It is full of Bee-balm right now, and the flowers are attracting all kinds of bees, skippers, and even sphinx moths. This tiny little bee is one of the sweat bees and you had to bend down close to see them…they are so small! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 172mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Insect Subject Recognition turned on. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Spotted Towhee
Spotted Towhee: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 2024 — This and the Eastern Towhees we have in Maine are very similar birds. In fact for many years they were considered the same species…but there are subtle and not so subtle differences. The Spotted is a “louder” bird overall. Its calls, its plumage, the red of the eye…all louder. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.