We went to Jewell Wetlands yesterday, early, for an adventure before it got too hot and the ozone levels got oppressive for Grandpa, who is definitely part of the venerable population. Lots to see. A bit rough-edged and dusty, but then that is the West this year. The girls were trying out their new microscope cameras. The big girl here is dealing with the after-effects of a hornet sting, and being very brave. Sony a6700 and Sigma 16-300 Contemporary doing what it does best—at a variety of focal lengths using my macro, insect, and birds and wildlife modifications, as well as auto for the little explorers. Processed in Photomator.

More of the Colorado kids. Back at the playground and playing around. Christmas mittens make actual mittens and socks. That is Mully, the Colorado Cat. Mom and dad are off on an adventure, and grandma and grandpa will make an adventure with the Colorado Kids. All things considered, we might have the easier part of the bargain. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary, focal length as needed for framing. Auto. Processed in Photomaker.

Visiting in Colorado. Took a walk to a local park. Not birds, not bugs, not wildlife (or at least not that way), and not landscape. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at various focal lengths for framing. Auto mode. (What I always use for people.) Processed in Photomator. Well, okay, maybe wildlife.

Great Egret: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — I never tire of watching egrets fish. This is actually a large fish for an egret to catch, by Maine standards. Egrets in Maine mainly live on tiny marsh shrimps, sand fry, and tiny crustaceans. This looks to be an actual fish. Big enough to make a lump in the egret’s throat when swallowed. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 700mm equivalent field of view crop. Program with flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

American Crow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — This time of year, with fresh plover and tern chicks, and tourist litter, there are always crows on the beach. This one took off in front of me and circled over me, quite low. So okay: I took its picture. Who could resist? I know, it is just a crow, but getting it in flight shows much more color—or at least shades of grey—than we are used to seeing. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view (little to no crop). Program mode with flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Great Egret: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — Sometimes you just have one of those days in Maine when the Egrets are close and they dance for you. I do not pretend to understand why, but I am grateful! I watched as this Egret caught 3 fairly large fish within 30 minutes, so the Egret was having a good day too. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at about 800mm equivalent field of view crop. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. -1EV for highlight control on this very white bird in full sun. Processed in Photomator.

Seaside Dragonlet (female): Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — Another interesting (to me) dragonfly, the little Seaside Dragonlet. This is a female. The males are all black with very faint suggestions of orange rings on the abdomen (what you might think of as the tail). It was a hot day, and the second shot shows the Dragonlet just going into obelisk mode, where the abdomen is pointed directly at the sun to minimize heat absorption. Dragonflies have no other way of regulating body temperature. The Seaside Dragonlet is, as its name suggests, one of the few dragonflies that breeds in salt or brackish water and is very common in marshes near the sea. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 800mm effective field of view crops. Program with insect modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Song Sparrow: Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — Here is something you do not see every day: a Song Sparrow eating what appears to be a wild cherry fruit. I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. I think of Song Sparrows as insect eaters, with the occasional side of grass seeds. Of course, when I looked it up, fruits do make up a portion of their summer diet. I did notice that the bird did not appear to eat the whole fruit. It picked it apart to get at the high-protein core and dropped the rest. Or maybe this particular bird was still getting the hang of eating fruit. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 800mm equivalent field of view crop. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Wild Turkey Polt: Arundel, Maine, USA, July 2026 — when driving back from Emmons’ Preserve yesterday, an oncoming truck flashed its lights at me. I checked. I was not speeding, and I did not know the driver—but then I came up over a little rise to find two hen turkeys and a dozen well-grown polts in the road. I grabbed the camera and rolled down the window in time for a few shots before they realized that I was going to let them cross the road—and they did just that—the whole bunch of them—disappearing into the dense forest on the other side. Thank you, unknown truck driver. Thank you, turkeys. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at maybe 600mm equivalent. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Spangled Skimmer: Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains Conservancy, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — Another favorite dragonfly—but mostly because of how it looks in flight. Imagine those little bright spots on the wrist of the wing—if dragonfly wings had bones, which they do not—in motion, describing arks and figure 8s as the wings more as only dragonfly wings can move. Boneless, the wings respond to both the complex muscles at their bases which control tilt and camber and speed, and dynamically to the currents of air they are navigating. And you can see this dance if you watch the patterns the spots on the Spangled Skimmer’s wings make. Spangled comes, of course, from that glittering dance. We have a female (brownish) and a male (bluish) here. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Program with insect modifications. Processed in Photomator.