Maine! Eagle-eyed stare
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, January 2023 — The river was running fast and there were ice bells on every willow wand along the bank…just the fishing conditions an Eagle likes, and our local Eagle was still at it until almost noon yesterday. I almost missed the Eagle altogether as it was perched much closer to the water than usual. Once I found it I watched as it alternated perches up and down the river. If I were a fish I would not want to be caught in that stare. 🙂 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! Olive-backed Euphonia
Olive-backed Euphonia (male and female): Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Euphonia’s are small finches of the American tropics. They tend to be seen in mixed feeding flocks with Honeycreepers and other Tanagers. They were part of such a flock at Dave and Dave’s, along with Blue-Grey Tanager and Green Honeycreeper, feeding on the berries along the viewing platform. 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! Air traffic control
Herring Gull: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — a couple of Herring Gulls on approach to a busy stretch of cobbles along the river mouth. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Chestnut-headed Oropendola: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — I have never seen a Chestnut-headed Oropendola at Selva Verde lodge, right on the Sarapiqui River, but they are common at Dave and Dave’s on the sharp bluff 100 feet above the river…but that might be because Dave and Dave’s is at canopy hight for the trees growing below, and perhaps Chestnut-headed are less likely to drop down to feeders than Montezuma’s are. ?? I have seen both at Dave and Dave’s. Not quite as colorful as the Montezuma, the Chestnut-headed is still an impressive bird. They also build the same kind of hanging, oriole-like (they are indeed members of the Oriole family), nests in colonies and though I did a google search I could find no indication that they ever share a nesting colony with their slightly larger cousins. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 420 and 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Canada Geese
Canada Geese: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Down at the beach after the storms looking to see what birds might have come in. There is a small flock of Canada Geese perhaps wintering in the marsh around the mouth of our river. We will see how long they stay. I caught these on the move from one feeding area to another. 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! Green Honeycreeper
Green Honeycreeper (male and female): Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Clearly the Green Honeycreeper is named for the female of the species…otherwise it would be the turquoise honeycreeper. In whichever sex and color it is a striking bird of the fruiting undergrowth under the rainforest canopy. A member of the tanager family, it is generally part of a mixed feeding flock with other honeycreepers, tanagers, and euphonias. They are often seen in pairs, as we encountered them at 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.
Maine! Herring Gull with a prize
Herring Gull: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Not my favorite gull, but then gulls are not my favorite birds either. 🙂 Early in the morning on the beach, after the storm. 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! Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Catching the Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer hovering by the flowers is another goal of every visit to Dave and Dave’s. On a morning visit, when the birds are most active, the light is not ideal, but it makes for some dramatic backlighting. Gotta love the red feet! At one time this was called the “red-footed plumeleteer. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator. These are natural light photos…no flash.
Maine! Mine!
Ring-billed Gull: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — A Ring-billed Gull defending its find on the local beach. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 1–=400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! White-necked Jacobin
White-necked Jacobin: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — This shot of the White-necked Jacobin with the tail flared against the sun is one you can hope for at Dave and Dave’s on any visit. Patience and anticipation are all that are required. A camera that is up to the job helps. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.