Grey Catbird, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I saw a Catbird, through the full thickness of the brush under our pines where my feeders hang for my backyard photo blind, the day before yesterday, and heard it singing off across the yards, probably in the forest edge along the railroad tracks, but yesterday it perched nicely in the brambles near the blind, and sang for me. 🙂 Another species for the yard and for the blind. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — there is a poem for this one too 🙂

When the Lincoln’s Sparrow
showed up in the litter under
the feeders, I had to convince
myself, first, that it was not
wishful thinking. It could so
easily have been a Song, of
which we have several every
day, doing the same forage
in last year’s oak and maple
leaves, looking for the seeds
the finches spill. Still, the
Lincoln’s is such a fine featured
bird compared to the chunky
Song, and eventually I got
a good enough look to tick
off the tells, and be sure it
was more than wishful. I am
pretty sure it is my first Lincoln’s
for this southern end of Maine.
They don’t nest here, except
rarely, but I have seen them
in migration many a time in
Cape May, New Jersey, and
a time or two up north in
Maine, at Acadia National Park.
So, there it is, one more bird
for the yard list…one more
photo from the blind. And not
and easy bird at any time.

Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr. The light here was early evening and warm, but I have tried to strike a balance in the processing.

Northern Cardinal, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I had a great afternoon for photography yesterday, as the cold front came through, and with threatened frost overnight. The birds were very active at the feeders, and the late afternoon sun, coming in level from the west, was beautiful. Both male and female Cardinals came, and did their usual perch for a moment and then skulk under the feeders routine. They only stayed maybe 7 or 8 minutes and my attention was well divided between the two…a photographer’s desired dilemma…having to pick among multiple great subjects 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. The colors here are very intense, but I can testify that, in that late afternoon light, they are visually accurate.

Downy Woodpecker, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — This Downy Woodpecker was very interested in what was happening in the branches above it our big pine. I could not see up that high because I was inside the blind, but something was going on up there. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.

Purple Finch, Kennebunk, Maine, USA. — In the past we have had a few Purple Finches visit our feeders on their way through to somewhere else, but this year we have 3 individuals coming to the feeders every day, and have had for more than a month now. It is possible the mixed seed I have had to resort to during the pandemic is just that much more attractive to them than the Black-oil Sunflower I have fed in past years, or it could be that there are just more Purple Finches this year in Maine. At any rate we are enjoying them. I have been watching this bird every day, semi-convinced that it is a first year male, while our other two are definitely females. Yesterday, for the first time, I was able to see the growing purple coming in the plumage. It is subtitle but it is definitely there. 🙂 And just for fun, I will include a “personality” shot as well. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.