Maine! Skulking Sparrow
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I have noticed that the late staying Song Sparrows this November are staying mostly on the ground and mostly deep in the brush. It is amazing what Subject Recognition, eye-tracking auto focus can do. I had to use manual focus to help the camera find the bird behind the foreground obstructions, but one it found the bird, it locked on and stayed focused on the eye as the bird foraged deep in the brush under a dense bush. You can see the out-of-focus branches in front of it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Bison bugle
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — You have to be aware all the time when photographing Bison from the Lamar Valley road that there are, very possibly, bison behind you, just over the ridge where you can’t see them…and that they will sneak up on you when they are ready to cross the road to the rest of the herd. This bull bison had his harem behind us, but fortunately was in a challenging mood, and sounded off as soon as the herd, and its rival bulls, came in sight. He was still pretty close already when we turned. He did lead his harem across the road, and it looked for a few moments like we were going to see two dominant bulls go head to head…but nothing came of it…there is lots of space on either side of the Lamar road, for as many bulls as you might like to see. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications (just because that is how the camera was set from a sequence of head butting young bulls across the road). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Cardinal aglow
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The early morning light on our back deck caught the Cardinal when it make one of its rare visits and I just happened to be standing the open deck door photographing feeder birds. I know this does not look quite real…but it is indeed what I saw in the moment, just the effect of the light. I have not manipulated the photo other than global adjustments to shadows and highlights and sharpening. The glow is all the sun and the bird! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. -0.3 EV to preserve highlights. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Butting bison
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — The rut was really over by the time we got to Yellowstone, but there was still some rutting behavior among the young bulls. Just play but fun to watch. Head butting is part of the dominance ritual, and helps the herd to know who is boss. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Ducks away!
Mallard: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just a short hop over the reed bed in a local pond, but the image catches the full effect of the drake Mallard flight, and all his colors. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (motion blur sharpening).
Yellowstone! A little Bison rolling action
American Bison: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — We found a particularly active and even feisty herd of Bison beside the road in the Lamar Valley. Dust bathing, or dust rolling, is a common behavior among Bison. It combats ticks and other insects that would otherwise make their home on the Bison’s hide. It can look pretty odd and the bison get into all kinds of contortions doing it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Bluebird in the November Maple
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just another backyard bluebird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Spruce Grouse
Spruce Grouse: Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Grouse are generally shy creatures of the forest, and relatively hard to find. This one was right beside the road and in no hurry to get away from us at all when we pulled up beside it. It just ambled deeper into the brush as we watched and photographed it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 30-400 Di iii. The first shot was out the window of the car at 382mm equivalent. Close! The other two shots are at 600mm from the same distance and then as it moved away from us. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Robins in the November cherries
American Robin: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Most birds wait until the ornamental cherries have frozen hard a few times to concentrate the sugars before eating them…not so the Robins. They are already at them. I hope they leave enough for the Cedar Waxwings which often frequent this tree later in the season. Such a handsome bird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! From Blacktail
We made one more run up over Blacktail Plateau, past where the carcass was earlier in the morning, just to see what was happening. The scenery was gorgeous…the light just coming across the plateau almost horizontal, and picking out the mountains to the north. Sony a5100 with E10-18 f4 @ 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape scene select. Processed in Photomator.