Red-bellied Woodpecker showing its belly
Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk Maine, USA — I had been birding for years before I got to see the red belly on a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and then to say that I was underwhelmed would only be the truth. I can think of lots of more descriptive names for this bird…unfortunately they are all already taken by other woodpeckers…which is how, I always figured, the Red-bellied Woodpecker got its name. In this shot the belly is showing as well as I have ever seen it…though I have better photos of the bird overall. For one thing it was taken through thermal glass. I have learned that if I attempt to get the deck door open for a shot…or even if I get too close to door, the Red-bellieds are off…and I don’t get my shot. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/50000th.
Titmouse in the leaves…
Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk Maine, USA — I went out on Saturday and stood by the feeders under the trees for an hour, trying for photos of the yard birds among the fall leaves. The light was beautiful and the colors of autumn make for interesting backgrounds. This Tufted Titmouse found some spilled seed under one of the feeders. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Hairy in the fall…
Hairy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — We have a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers who visit the yard most days…not as often as the Downy woodpeckers, but at least once a day. I caught this one stripping bark off a dead limb in search of insects, against the backdrop of the autumn oaks. 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. Cropped considerably.
Rapids in Fall
This is along the Mousam River in Kennebunk Maine, at Roger’s Pond Park. Slipping on into the very end of fall. Sony Rx10iv at 24mm equivalent. Program mode with HDR. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Nominal exposure: ISO 100 @ f2.8 @ 1/250th.
Swamp Sparrow playing hide and seek
Swamp Sparrow, Roger’s Pond, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — This Swamp Sparrow just would not give me a clear shot. I stood in the middle of the road at Roger’s Pond (fortunately there was not much traffic) for fifteen minutes waiting on this bird to show as was actively feeding in a clump of brush under the trees and this is the best I managed. I could have waited longer, but it became clear that not showing itself was habit not happenstance with this bird, so I moved on. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Flaming Duck
Mallard, Roger’s Pond, Kennebunk, ME, USA — Just a female Mallard…but in an interesting pose and with the rippled reflections of the turning oaks on the water. Sometimes it just all comes together in an unexpected way…and if you happen to be pointing the camera in the right direction you get a shot that goes well beyond expectations. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Desperate #3
American Robin, Rodger’s Pond, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — This tree will be much more popular after the first freeze and snow, but even now, with the color of the turning oaks still behind it, it attracts the Robins. And the American Robin is another of those birds we notice, but do not any longer really look at…to our loss. (Or maybe I need to speak only for myself on this…maybe you still study every Robin you encounter 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Desperate #2
Mallards, Roger’s Pond, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Like the Rock Pidgin from yesterday’s post, Mallards probably do not get the appreciation they deserve, simply because they are so common…the default puddle duck across much of North America…likely wherever there is the smallest body of fresh (or at least non-salt) water. I have seen them in rushing rivers and the deep puddles on people’s yards after heavy rains…and everywhere in between. They are, however a beautiful bird, worth the good look I rarely give them. These two bright males were on the small kid’s pond (fishing and skating) in a park here in town. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Desperate! ?
Rock Pigeon: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — You can tell I am desperate for photographic subjects when I start photographing Rock Pigeons…Robins, Mallards, etc. I found myself photographing all three yesterday, here in Kennebunk, Maine. They were there, and little else was, of course, but I was also appreciating their beauty…which most of the time I overlook. The iridescence on the throat of this otherwise basically gray Rock Pigeon really stands out. And note the bright red eye. This bird is actually a pretty fair example of the typical wild Rock Pigeon, harkening back to the original stocks that came over from Africa to colonize North America. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f5 @ 1/1000th.
Second fall…
Southern Maine’s second fall…when the oaks and birches turn…is not, perhaps, as spectacular as the first…when the Maples turn bright yellow and red…but it has a beauty of its own…especially under the late October (and sometimes November) skies. October this year, definitely, as the season came early. This is a little stream that comes down to the Mousam River and crosses under Water Street in Kennebunk, Maine. Sony Rx10iv at 28mm equivalent. Program mode with Auto HDR. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Nominal exposure: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/320th.