Florida! Most wanted
Reddish Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, January 2024 — Another of my most wanted shots for my first trip back to Florida since Covid. Hunting Reddish Egrets are fun to watch as they are among the most energetic and erratic hunters among wading birds…often finishing off their act with an “umbrella” pose over the water to block surface reflections so that they can see and catch the fish. I stood and watched this one hunting for 15 minutes or more waiting for the umbrella pose. It happens in a second and then is gone so you have to be quick. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 614mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight modifications (used here to catch the action). Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Painted
Painted Bunting: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Titusville, Florida, January 2024 — Another top of anyone’s list birds from this area of Florida has to be the Painted Bunting…arguably the most colorful of North American birds. Fortunately for us, there are almost always a few coming to the feeders behind the Visitor Center at the Refuge. This year there are at least 3 males and half a dozen females…perhaps more than that, but three males is the most I saw at the same time so we will go with that. If you have been to the Visitor Center to see the Buntings you know where the feeders are is pretty dark and surrounded by dense undergrowth, so I was happy to get what I got! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Rosy!
Roseate Spoonbill: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titisville, Florida, January 2024 — This is my first trip to Florida since covid…I am doing workshops at the resurrected Space Coast Bird and Nature Festival…but before that I had been coming to the Space Coast every year for 15 years…so I came this year with kind of a “most wanted” list in mind…at least in the back of my mind. And I am happy to say that I clicked off almost all of them, or at least a first approximation, on my very first day here. Of course the Roseate Spoonbill in breeding plumage has to be on anyone’s most wanted list. This is a male in his full finery. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Three’s company
Common Goldeneye (male and female) and Red-breasted Merganser: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — The winter ducks are more present this year than in several years past, or so it seems to me. This Goldeneye pair has been hanging out with the Mergansers at the mouth of our local river for a week now. I have to say I think this is the first time I have really noticed the mustard on the female’s beak. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Blue-grey Tanager
Blue-grey Tanager: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The full sun of late morning in Costa Rica brings out all the subtle blues and feather textures of the Blue-grey Tanager, feeding just a few feet off the observation platform at Dave and Dave’s. This bird might have a damaged beak. Though the Blue-grey’s beak is somewhat stubby for a tanager anyway, this one seems to be unusually stubby. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Unsettled
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — The Eagle was active the last time I visited it…flying between perches low over the water, up and down the river. It did not settle in one place for long. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Star of the show
White-necked Jacobin: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Very much the star of the hummingbird show at Dave and Dave’s. If the White-necked Jacobins had their way, no other hummingbirds would visit the flowers at Dave and Dave’s. Ever. They seem to spend more time and energy defending the feeding spots than they do feeding. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS Zoom at 506mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Filigree ice
More filigree ice from the Mousam River here in Kennebunk. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 472mm equivalent. Program mode with in-camera HDR. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Smile for the camera
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Another shot of our local Eagle on a relatively low perch over the river…smiling for my camera 🙂 At least as close as a perpetually stern Bald Eagle gets to smiling. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Costa Rica! Ruddy Ground Dove
Ruddy Ground Dove: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The Ruddy Ground Dove is a common bird in fields and parks from western North America, all down through Central America, and in the northern two thirds of South America (minus the deepest Amazon). Still, an attractive little bird to see anywhere. I have seen it on almost every visit to Dave and Dave’s. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom, at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.