Maine! Close encounter of the Red Squirrel kind
Red Squirrel: Back deck, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2024 — As I have mentioned before, this Red Squirrel does not live in our yard. I suspect it actually lives in the forest along the railroad tracks several suburban lots away, but it comes to visit occasionally, to see what it can find on our back deck under the bird feeders. It is particularly fond of whatever mealworm fragments the birds have left behind. It has been, in past, quite shy, but this week it appeared quickly and then disappeared over the edge of the deck while I was watching, so I went to get my camera and went out to see if it was still in the yard. As I stood on the deck I saw it creep back up under the railings at one corner, not 3 feet from where I was standing. But instead of running off, it came up on the deck, then onto the rail to challenge me. I was clearly in the way of what it wanted to do, and it was having none of that. It was certainly not intimidated by me and my camera at all. I had to step back and zoom out to get it in frame. Lots of tail whipping and feet stamping going on, and if looks could kill. I took a lot of photos. It eventually came even closer, almost between my feet, too close for the zoom even at the widest end, and I slipped back inside so it could have the run of the deck and find its mealworm bits. Close encounters of the Red Squirrel kind. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 200-400mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications (no need to switch to animal mode for squirrels). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! 8 Cardinals
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am getting way ahead of myself with Maine bird photos, as the season turns to spring and we are getting more activity, and maybe because I am out more. 🙂 This is actually probably only 3 cardinals, with repeated shots of three birds in the course of a week found far enough apart in York County to be, likely, 3 individuals. There were 2 males at one location, but I only got shots of one. Two of these shots are from our backyard. As with bluebirds, I am seeing more cardinals this spring here in southern Maine than I can remember seeing in the past. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Pine at last
Pine Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am skipping over lots of good photos and good birds to being you this breaking news bird from the backyard. We have been seeing the Pine Warbler for a few days now, but these are the first photos of this year. It came to deck early in the morning, but then I did not see it all day long (and I looked). It only returned to the yard as the light was failing and as we were sitting down to dinner. I went out and stood on the deck and it continued to come in for mealworms and to pose nicely in the branches above. It was not much bothered byu me, but after enough shots I went back in so it could feel totally save about stealing our mealworms. One of my favorite warblers, and not just because it is generally the first one in the yard in the spring, and one of the few we actually get in the yard at any time. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Costa Rica! Another okay Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal: San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — We talked our guide into taking 2 of us back for another dawn with the Quetzals. We sat on the bus waiting to see if the rain would stop, and when it got to drizzle I said now or never, and we made the hike down to the stream and then back up the other side to the shelf where the Quetzals come, when they come. It turned out to be another good morning for Quetzals. Never enough light, but we make do with what we have. If I go again this year, I have some new techniques I want to try to see if I can do better. (But I know better is really about more light from closer…and that is unlikely to happen at least at this spot.) OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Are you looking at me!
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — Another from the series of shots of the Red-tailed Hawk circling me the other day. He was definitely aware of me as much as I was aware of him. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Photo Quality.
Florida! Reddish lunge
Reddish Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Back to the hunting Reddish Egrets and some of the amazing postures they presume. There were two here interacting…they looked to be squabbling over territory but it might have been mating behavior, I don’t know enough to know. Lots of chasing and lunging and all kinds of wing action. But definitely some hunting going on too, with the umbrella wings. Lots of fun to watch, and to try to photograph. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at
Maine! Red-tail close overhead
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA — I have seen this Red-tailed Hawk in our neighborhood three times now, enough to think it might have a nest somewhere close-by. On Google Earth our neighborhood looks like pretty much unbroken forest so it could be anywhere. This hawk was circling close overhead, and apparently circling me, so I got good looks at it…but only saw the mouse when processing the photos. I don’t know what its interest in me was. It already had its breakfast. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Photo quality.
Costa Rica! Violetear acrobatics
Lesser Violetear Hummingbird: Batsu Gardens, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — a few more shots from the flower set-up at Batsu Gardens, on the mountain- side high above Savegre Mountain Hotel and Spa. On the day we visited, in the misty rain, it was mostly Talamancas and Lesser Violetears. The Lesser Violetear is probably the most common hummingbird in Costa Rica at all elevations up to Cloud Forest. They are super active and aggressive defenders of nectar sources. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 570mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! More of that bluebird attitude
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — The male Bluebirds are getting bright and a bit feisty as breeding season starts here in Southern Maine. They are a bird that always shows a lot of attitude. This one is pretty obviously full of itself and all puffed up. OM Systems OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Rosey preening in the early light
Roseate Spoonbill: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Sometimes it is just (mostly) about color and light. Unless you know you might not even recognize one of these shots as a Roseate Spoonbill for sure. The second shot is more obvious but it is still really more about what the early morning backlight does to the feathers and to the colors, than it is about the bird. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800 and 454mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds in fight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.