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.
Yellowstone! Pronghorn pawing.
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Another rutting behavior…the bucks paw the ground where the does have been walking or resting. Though “pawing” is a dog term, obviously. Pronghorns don’t have paws…so maybe hoofing the ground? Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pine Warbler on deck
Pine Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — We always have a few Pine Warblers come through the yard, early in the spring and late in the fall. We had a female or immature a few days ago, and this nice fall male was around off and on all day yesterday. I like Pine Warblers…in part at least because they are one of the few warblers we actually see in the yard. 🙂 Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pronghorn love song
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — This buck Pronghorn was in the mood for some loving, and was singing his love song and prancing around to please the ladies. Without success as far as we could see, at least while we were watching. They did not seem to pay him any mind, other than to move on when he wanted them to. This is only part of his mating behavior. More to come. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Chickadees never fail me
Black-capped Chickadee: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — If I have the urge to photograph something…and that seems to happen to me fairly frequently :)…I know that if I go sit on my little folding camp stool on the back deck for a few moments the Chickadees, at the very least, will come, even here in the bird doldrums of deep November in Maine. They have no fear. This one sat there on the rail not 6 feet from me in my corner of the deck for maybe 30 seconds. Time enough. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pronghorn on the ridge
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — We came back down off our second loop on the Blacktail Plateau and our amazing Wolf encounter, to find a small herd of Pronghorn feeding in one of those wet low spots between two ridges below the road as you come into the Lamar Valley. The buck had stationed himself on the western ridge above the herd where he would keep his eye on things. Of course we stopped for photos. 🙂 He was a handsome, heathy, well grown buck, and proud with it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Crow attendant
American Crow: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Of course when the eagles are perching by the river they are never without their attendant crows. And not the kind of attention they really like. The crows are continuously harassing the eagles, trying to keep them moving, never letting them settle for long. Of course our eagles are used to it and pretty much ignore the crows, but that does not stop the crows from trying. This one landed right above me. Sony a6700 with E 70-350 G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Wolf at the carcass
Wolf: Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Sorry for the “nature raw” shots if they bother you, but this is real. My wolf encounter was because wolves were coming to a carcass that was right by the road on Blacktail Plateau. Others who were there that day saw this mother with 2 pups about 200 yards down the draw from the carcass, and she was obviously carrying food back to them. While we were there, the park rangers came with a truck with a winch and hoist and removed the carcass to take it somewhere where the wolves could feed without being in such close proximity to fool hearty tourists and photographers. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pair of Stares
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The Bald Eagles are coming to their perches along the river more frequently as the season progresses. I was surprised to find them there at high tide. One flew in, and then, with a lot of whinnying, the other, I am assuming her mate, joined her on the same perch for a short time, before it flew off again up river. These birds are considerably further away than they look in the photos :). Sony a6700 with E 70-350 at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Highlight metering and -0.3 EV exposure compensation to hold highlight detail. Processed in Photomator (my basic processing for highlight and shadow and sharpness, then AI upscale). I have to say I am impressed with what the little Sony zoom can do on the a6700.
