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.
New Mexico! Hummingbird Moth
Though it is often called a hummingbird moth because it looks and acts like a hummer, it is actually a White-lined Sphinx Moth and it was busy among the flowers at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in the hills above Santa Fe, New Mexico yesterday (two actually). I got to test out the insect subject recognition auto focus on the Sony a6700. It works very well…however I had to switch off “silent shutter” as the rolling shutter effect did strange things to the moth’s wings. Propeller effect for sure. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications and Insect Recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
New Mexico! Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA — Not the best light, sitting in deep shade with an adobe building in the background, but still, sitting, and close. One of the more common hummingbirds at the feeders at Randall Davey Audubon in the hills above Santa Fe. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications (1/500th). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! bug in the eye
A little worm on the variant Blackeyed Susan in our Kennebunk, Maine yard. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 106mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving macro modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Shelter
Piping Plover: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2024 — Just a day out of the egg (not quite) two of the 4 Piping Plover chicks seek some shelter after an adventure down to the distant (in plover chicks terms) wet area of the beach. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Dive bomb
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, July 2024 — Now this tern means business! He or she has been practicing and got 3 direct hits on me…one on my hat 🙂 and two right in my eyes (or way too close for comfort 🙁 Business all the way. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! What a day at the beach!
While out photographing Least Terns and Piping Plovers. 🙂 What a sky! Sony a5100 with 16-50 kit zoom at 24mm equivalent. Auto+ with Landscape Creative Look. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! A little beach action
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, July 2024 — With my camera already set for birds in flight, I was able to catch this interaction between two Least Terns on the beach. I think this is a mated pair and their chicks have already hatched, so I am not sure what was going on exactly. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Bee in rose
Bumblebee in wild rose: Along the Kennebunk Bridle Path while looking for Egrets, this bee in a lovely wild rose caught my eye. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with insect recognition and my bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Flyover
Osprey: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2024 — While photographing Least Terns in flight at the beach, this Osprey flew over on its way out to the mouth of the river. Too good to pass up, especially when I was already set for birds in flight. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.