Maine! Snowy Egret in the noonday sun.
Snowy Egret: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, York County, Maine, USA — It was high noon by the time I got to the overlook on the back side of the Little River marsh, and the light was really too bright for white birds! This Snowy Egret with a nice plume was busy feeding in the pool close in. Such a handsome bird! OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 250 @ f7.1 @ 1/640th and ISO 320 @ f7.1 @ 1/800th.
Maine! Great Egret
Great Egret: York County, Maine, USA, July 2023 — Great Egret banking into a turn as it flew in from far out in the marsh. Not ideal lighting for a white bird…mid-day sun on our first sunny day in more than a week here in southern Maine. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds-in-flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 2000 @ f6.3 @ 1/3200th. +.7EV (because I was expecting flight shots to be against the sky 🙂
India! More Nilgai
Nilgai: Rathambore Tiger Reserve, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — Nilgai seem to be doing just fine in all the reserves of the part of India we visited, and we saw them pretty much everywhere we went. This is a “blue-buck”, apparently a relatively young male, and a female for comparison. They seemed much bigger at the marsh reserves than they were at Rathambore in the forest, but maybe that is just a matter of perspective. Sony Rx10iv at 91, 256, and 400mm. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/250th and ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Maine! Young and Downy
Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2023 — Our pair of Downy Woodpeckers has successfully fledged, or semi-fledged at least, one chick this year. It is coming to the feeders with both the male and female downy in attendance. Though it is feeding itself already, and I have already seen it in the suet cage on its own, both parents are still feeding it on demand. It is a most curious bird, never still a moment, always with its head on swivel trying to take in its new world. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and assembled in FrameMagic. ISO 3200 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! More Least Terns
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, June 2023 — More Least Terns in flight at the mouth of our local river. I got so dizzy following these birds with the long lens on my camera that I came perilously close to a falling down faint once I stopped and started walking back. Worth it though! OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving Birds-in-flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 640 @ f6.3 @ 1/4000th. +.7EV for backlight.
India! Indian Nightjar
Indian Nightjar?: Rathambore Tiger Reserve, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — I think this is an Indian Nightjar…though we had a discussion as to whether it might be Jungle. The short wings and tail I think make it Indian??? Anyone who knows better, please advise 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1.7EV for backlight.
Maine! Hunting Least Tern
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, June 2023 — There were at least a half-dozen Least Terns hunting over the mouth of our local river. This is, as I have mentioned, a new colony this year I think…as the Least Terns reclaim more of their territory, moving up the coast from the main colony at the river mouth south of us. Terns are graceful hunters, and the Least Tern is among the most graceful. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds-in-flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 250 @ f6.3 @ 1/4000th.
Biggest Week in American Birding: making shoulders at me….
Red-winged Blackbird: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2023 — This Red-winged Blackbird was perched right over the boardwalk, just above head-height, and harassing the birders as they passed under him. Perhaps he enjoyed it. I know I did. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent and just about its closest focus (just over 4 feet). Program mode with an early version of my bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 640 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th. -.7EV.
Maine! Willet on approach…
Willet: York County, Maine, USA, June 2023 — Another composite of three shots of an approaching Willet. It came in from many hundreds of yards out in the marsh, and I followed it all the way at 25 frames per second. These are the three shots I saved out of several hundred. 🙂 I had no idea when I started shooting that it was coming to me. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight modifications. Processed and composited in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 640 @ f6.3 @ 1/3200th. Plus .7EV for the bird against the sky.
India! More Lagur Monkey business
Langur Monkey, Rathambore Tiger Reserve, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — Along the stream below the temple within Rathambore National Park and the Tiger Reserve, there was a large troop of Grey Langur monkeys, going about their business. This large female was after a drink from the stream. Sony Rx10iv at 266 and 467mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos and assembled in FrameMagic. ISO 320, 250, and 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.