Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — On the “things you don’t see every day” theme, the Downy Woodpeckers that frequent our feeders have learned to eat whole sunflower seeds…while that is not unheard of, it is certainly not, as far as I know or can discover in a casual google search, common behavior. They do seem to enjoy sunflower chips when they are on offer, but whole seeds of any kind are not a big part of their diet, and sunflower seeds require a specialized technique…mastered in different ways by the titmice, chickadees, and nuthatch clans…to open and get at the kernel. I certainly do not begrudge them the sunflower seeds…but I am still at the point when I have to smile when I see a Downy on the tube feeder. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Taken through the thermopane glass of the deck door during a snowstorm. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1 EV exposure compensation.

European Starling: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — As I have mentioned before, we do not have many Starlings in southern Maine…nothing like the mass flocks you see elsewhere. Here in Kennebunk I know of no location to reliably see them…though there are sometimes a few mixed in with flocks of Robins. The past two days we have had one coming to our mealworm feeder. I have mixed feelings about that. In mass, Starlings are aggressively messy birds that take up space that might otherwise be occupied by some native species. And lest we forget, they are forever “European Starlings”, never to be at home here in America. Individually, they are actually quite beautiful, with their iridescent greens and purples over that speckled black…almost tropical in their colorations…with an interesting sculpted quality to the feathers. As yard birds go, I certainly would not like to entertain a flock of them…and I have to say, even this single bird has me worried for my mealworm outlay. I buy the expensive mealworms for my Bluebirds, and don’t begrudge the titmice and chickadees the occasional raid, but the Starling will sit on the perch for an hour at time, keeping even the Bluebirds away, and literally empty the feeder in a sitting. That I can not afford to be complacent about. So, while I can enjoy the beauty of the bird, and am happy to have one more yard bird, I will drive it off the mealworm feeder whenever I see it. Perhaps a little gentle discouragement will be enough. 🙂 This shot was taken during a snowstorm yesterday, through the thermopane deck door, so it looses some sharpness. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1 EV exposure compensation.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — taken through the glass of the deck door so I did not flush the bird off its perch. A very intense bluebird. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 125 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — This is very similar to a shot I posted a few days ago, but the bird is turning the other cheek 🙂 If one view is good, two must be better. The Down Woodpecker is an elegant bird whatever the view. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Our male bluebird is already getting its spring mating color…getting already very bright. Which is nice to see. It is a promise we need to be reminded of in mid-February…or at least I do. This is another shot from a greater distance than my deck shots, but the bird stills shows well. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent…cropped to about 1800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — A little unexpected action as this immature Eastern Bluebird throws out a wing for balance as it considers moving to the feeder. It remained perched for a few more moments before making the plunge. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Taken through thermal glass on the deck door.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — To fully “get” this photo you need a little story. I rarely get the deck door open without flushing the Eastern Bluebirds that come to our meal-worm feeder…and they are reluctant to land on any of the perches we have provided while I am standing in the open door. They will fly right up to the perch, and then, seeing me there, will veer off into the tree branches high up on either side of the deck. This bird did just that, and disappeared behind the eve of the house, so, of course, I tipped my head and peaked out from under the eve to see where it went. This is what I saw looking back at me. Don’t tell me the Bluebirds are not totally aware of everything I do on their deck, around their meal-worms. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Here is a view of a Downy Woodpecker’s tail that you don’t often see. Not only the barring on the tail proper but the little speckles on the vent covers. And it captures the unique Downy attitude as well. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — there is nothing as perky as a Red-breasted Nuthatch…or at least that is my take on the subject of perky. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.