Maine! Flight against the light
Ringbilled Gull: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I got down to the beach yesterday to see what was in the river mouth, hoping for a few winter ducks in close. Not much yet, but I had some fun with the gulls in flight with the sun behind them. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (a small amount of motion blur reduction).
Yellowstone! Pronghorn speedster
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — The Pronghorn is the fastest land animal in the Americas and is only outpaced by the Cheetah on the African plains…and that only by a single mile per hour, and, over a short distance. The Pronghorn can run faster and longer than any other land creature. They are built for speed. This shot was just an amble by Pronghorn standards. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (to remove motion blur).
Maine! Stand and deliver
Mallard Duck: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — While checking for Eagles on the river I watched a group of uncommonly active Mallards on the pond. There were a couple of males showing off and facing off. When this action happened the first time I switched the camera from birds and wildlife modifications to birds in flight and action modifications to be ready, and, indeed caught a couple of sequences of the drakes standing on the water. This one shows off that blue to good effect. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
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.