Squirrel among the Maple blossoms
Eastern Gray Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I looked out of my window yesterday afternoon, peaking between the blinds, and saw a squirrel on the maple branch above me. He appeared to be eating the maple blossoms…I have been watching the maple blossoms since they were just tiny red beads on the branch tips. Maple blossoms are one of my favorite things about spring. They are so beautiful, and so unlikely. I suspect the vast majority of Americans do not know that maples flower, and certainly do not know how beautiful the flowers are. Our blossoms are not quite ready to open into full flowers yet, but they have made a lot of progress the past few days. I certainly did not expect to see the squirrels eating them. A google peruse this morning shows that it is common behavior…to the extent that are recommended “cures” to keep squirrels from decimating ornamental maples in folk’s yards. We have so many maple trees here in Southern Maine, and even in our yard, that it would take a plague of squirrels of biblical proportions (as they say) to do much damage. Much as I appreciate maple flowers, if the squirrels prefer them to my sunflower seeds in season, I say “let them eat flowers!” Anyway, I got my camera and spent a while watching and photographing the squirrel getting into all kinds of greedy postures among the maple blossoms. Each of these three shots tells its own story, and together they tell a tale. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 400, 250, and 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Chickadee snack
Black-capped Chickadee: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — this Black-capped Chickadee spent a few moments dispatching a small seed, one bit at a time…the way they do…with the seed held between the foot and the branch, and bending down to peck at it with the beak. Taken from my backyard photo blind with the Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Tufted Titmouse pair
Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — this pair of Tufted Titmice have been with us for several years now, summer and winter, visiting our feeders many times a day. The male is harder to photograph as he spends less time around the feeders. It is not that he comes less often…it is that his raids are fast, and he does not perch anywhere in sight most of the time. I attribute some of his shyness to his unique coloration. It might be just that much harder for an atypical titmouse to survive. His partial melanism is, evidently, not hereditary, as they have raised several broods while we have watched, and all have been normal titmice. Taken from my backyard photo blind. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Both shots: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Easter Cardinal
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — We don’t have Cardinals nesting in our yard. The nearest pair is a block away. I hear them singing this time of year, and most of the summer, whenever I am in my blind, and occasionally, they come to see what seed is being spilled under our feeders. I had only been in the blind a few moments yesterday, and was still getting set up, when both male and female came by…not close…but passing through the pines on their way somewhere else. I managed a few shots of the male. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Better than a chocolate egg for Easter any time!
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — The Mourning Dove is another bird that only started frequenting our yard last year. I am sure we had a few pass through in previous years, but now that I am using a seed mix in some of my feeders, and there is always spilled millet and milo on the ground, the doves are daily visitors, sometimes a dozen at a time. That is okay by me. It is actually rare to see on up in a tree like this, but they do fly and perch, even though they are primarily ground feeders. Such subtle color. So beautiful. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — When I rebuilt my backyard photo blind feeder station this spring, I added a few more perch branches, and relocated the mealworm feeder. The Bluebirds are now using the perches on the way in to the feeder, which gives me a chance to photograph them in a more natural setting…as opposed to at the feeder itself. This is our male. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Standing tall, Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — This female Eastern Bluebird was stretching up tall to see something happening a few branches or trees over. On alert. Being able to observe at this this level of behavior is one of the blessings of using my backyard photo blind. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — As I have mentioned, the Song Sparrow is one of the first migrant passerines to arrive back in Southern Maine as spring comes on…about the same time as some of the larger non-passerines…the Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks. Many of our common feeder birds winter over these days. I saw my first Song Sparrows last week, though I have not heard one singing yet. They come in under my backyard photo blind feeders to clean up after the other birds. This one posed nicely, up off the ground for a change, before moving on. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Nuthatch at the feeder(s)
White-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I never get tired of watching the White-breasted Nuthatches at our feeders. When photographing them, the better trick is catching when they are not at a feeder. They tend to fly in for a quick raid and they fly off, quite far, before dealing with their spoils. Still, I will take my Nuthatches any way they are willing. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Vertical: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/1000th, Facing: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Horizontal: ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Pugilant Squirrel
Grey Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Great light, engaging squirrel…what could go wrong? I was in my backyard photo blind (a chair blind I put out when I need it, and take down when I don’t), and the squirrel was certainly aware I was in there. He or she was not threatened enough to do more than aggressively posture…but posture he or she did. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.