Bluebird faithful…
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Yesterday I shared three of our faithful feeder birds…three shots taken during our March snow storm. It would not be fair to our other faithful friends, our Bluebirds, not to give them their due. Right now we have at least 5 bluebirds coming each day for mealworms: our pair of nesting adults and 3 of last year’s young. Sometimes they are all sitting on various perches on our deck at the same time. I have, of course, way too many photos of them, but they are very photogenic. They pose and posture and are always doing something interesting. These storm photos are proof. It was wet snow and you can see the wet in their feathers. And the young bird seems totally mystified, or maybe just offended by March, that this white stuff is falling from the sky and landing on him. I mean! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Nubian Giraffes
Nubian (Rothschild’s) Giraffe: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Not everyone thinks that Nubian (or Ugandan) Giraffe and Rothschild’s are the same sub-species of Giraffe…but there is no doubt that the Giraffes in Uganda used to be called Rothschild’s. These shots are from our second encounter with this same tower of giraffes on our early morning walking safari on our last day in Africa. Coming to the end here. This time we were even closer, almost right in amongst them. Sony Rx10iv at 469mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .3 EV.
Faithful trio…
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Three of our daily visitors spent most of their snowy day on our deck…or so it seemed. Despite the snow falling it was excellent light for detail. So maybe an uncommonly good look at some common birds…our faithful trio at the feeders. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500, 640, and 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Another shot of our American Tree Sparrow in yet another snow storm. This bird seems to only show up at our back-deck feeding station when it is actually snowing. Maybe we should call it a “Snow Sparrow”. 🙂 It is a pretty bird actually. Not flashy, but pretty in an understated way. We are getting another 10-15 inches of snow today…so I expect to see the Tree Sparrow! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Lilac-breasted Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Not nearly as good a shot as the ones from our first encounter, but proof, at least, that once we saw one Lilac-breasted Roller, we did see more. From our walking safari on our last day in Africa. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent (and a radical crop at that…the bird was distant). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Distant Blue-eared Starling
Blue-eared Starling: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — a very distant shot of a Blue-eared Starling…mostly just for the record. See, we saw it! This is an extreme crop so not a lot of feather detail here, but at least you can identify the bird. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus 2EV for backlight.
Cardinal dance
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2023 — The birds were not only active at the feeders during the end of February snow-storm, they were active around the feeders…particularly active, bouncing around, fluttering, being generally aggressive toward each other for no apparent reason…active! This female Northern Cardinal posed for a second, and then danced in place for several. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Process in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Brubru
Brubru: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — A relatively common bird of the acacia thickets and semi-open savannah through-out East Africa, but this is the only one we saw on our trip, and we saw it on our walking safari on our very last day in Africa. Still, better late than never! It is a bush-shrike, and there is a race in Tanzania that does not have the white eye-brow…but this is the typical male. 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. Plus 1.7EV for the backlight.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2023 — So, okay, this was taken on the last day of February, but still in February. We have a pair (at least) of doves that are regular in our yard and they came with the rest of the mixed flock many times on our snowy day. The subdued light brings out the subtle colors. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Woodland Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — There are still Kingfishers in Uganda that I have not seen or photographed…which is almost enough reason to go back 🙂 This is one that I have seen several times, and have several good photos of…the Woodland Kingfisher. Again, from our walking safari on our last day in Africa. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.