Maine! Spot-winged Glider
Spot-winged Glider: Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2024 — Earlier this summer we had more Wandering Gliders than I have ever seen in Southern Maine, patrolling mostly on the back side of the dunes along the seashore, and up the tidal creeks. I was surprised then to see, when I got to processing this shot from a few days ago, that this is a Spot-winged Glider. I have seen a few here over the years, right along this same stretch of trail through the tidal marsh beside the Mousam River, but this is the first one in a while. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect subject recognition auto focus. Program shift to f13 for depth of field. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Plover posturing
Semipalmated Plover: York County Maine, September 2024 — While the Semipalmated Sandpiper interactions this past week or so have seemed more like territorial disputes, the Semipalmated Plover interactions seem more like the kind of mock courting that goes on in the fall among many species, perhaps even forming pair bonds before the birds head south, or at least picking travel and wintering buddies. There was a lot of this tail up and flaring, head cocked action going on. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! the prize
Herring Gull (perhaps going into 1st winter plumage): York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — I am not at all sure what this young Herring Gull has fond, but it was certainly busy with it…picking it up and turning it and then repeatedly washing it a few steps into the surf. It does not look all that edible to me, but it seemed to be a prize for the gull. The gull was so busy with it that it let me get quite close. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Up, up, and away
Double-crested Cormorant: York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — This Double-crested Cormorant seems to have laid claim to a stretch of unnamed tidal creek in the marsh. It has been regular there for a couple of weeks now. Though you can’t tell from the photos, the creek at this point is only a dozen feet across, and varies in depth from 1 to 10 feet, depending on the tide. Cormorants are never going to win any prizes for deportment or elegance, but they get the job done…generally with a lot of splashing. Sony a6700 with my action and flight modifications. Animal/bird recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Black-saddlebags
Black-saddlebags Dragonfly: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2024 — I don’t ever remember seeing as many Black-saddlebags as I have seen this summer here in Southern Maine. Maybe I have just been more often to places where they are, but it certainly seems to me that there are more of them this year. And I have, with patience, certainly gotten more of them perched for me. 🙂 I had to wait 10 minutes for this one as it circled the path and the little stand of taller beach rose bushes many times before settling down. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Red over head
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, September 2024 — I watched this Red-tailed Hawk fly in to the far edge of the marsh, pursued by crows, as I walked out the trail and kept my eye out for it on the way back. Sure enough it came soaring down the berm from behind me, and circled twice right over me. I think it was actually using the thermal from the colder waters of the creek just there to gain a bit of height, but as it circled I was able to get a few relatively close shots of the hawk overhead with an interesting sky behind. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Over the Mousam and out to sea
A little unnamed tidal creek near the mouth of the Mousam River along the Bridle Path in Kennebunk, Maine. Looking out to sea under a complex sky. Sony a5100 with E 10-18 f4 at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Scene Mode. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Face-offs in the seaweed
Semi-palmated Sandpipers: York County, Maine, USA, September 2024 — a few more face-offs from Labor Day at the beach. Again, I don’t know exactly what is going on here, but it was interesting to watch. It certainly appears to be some kind of dominance game. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Labor Day at the beach
I went out looking for Sandpiper action at our local Kennebunk beach but had to stop for land/seascape. (There are some sandpipers along the surf line.) Sony a5100 with the E 10-18 f4 zoom at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Scene mode. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Sandpiper action
Semi-palmated Sandpipers: York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — I went back to the beach yesterday specifically to try to catch a few of these interactions…face-offs, tumbles in the air, and aggressive posturing…between the Semi-palmated Sandpipers as they fed up against the sea wall in the piles of seaweed. I am not certain what these interactions signify, but they are interesting to watch and a challenge to catch in a photograph. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.