Common Loon: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — It seems to me that the Common Loon was much more common in our tidal rivers and creeks when I first moved to Maine in the late 90s of the last century. (Seems such a time ago, especially when I say it that way.) However, a quick check of the actual data shows that the population in southern Maine has steadily risen over the past 20 years and is at a current high point. It could be that the sea and creek beds in my particular haunts have changed, and that the loons are just congregating elsewhere. Or it could just be my aging imagination. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm. Cropped to maybe 800mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

It has been so cold for so long here in Kennebunk, Maine, that the rapids in the Mousam River have frozen almost up to the dam. We have had a few days late last week above freezing, so the ice is beginning to break up, but it is still pretty solid, if you can call the filigree of ice sculptures under the surface “solid”. The close-up, at 450mm equivalent field of view, shows the detail. The second shot is a panorama of two 450mm equivalent shots, and the third shot is a panorama of four 24mm equivalent shots. Together, they might come close to capturing the effect of the frozen rapids. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300mm. Auto with Landscape Scene Mode. Processed in Photomator and panoramas assembled in Bimostitch.

Red-breasted Merganser: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — We had a female Common Merganser hanging out on the river in the rapids just at the tide/ice line, until it pretty much froze over, and we have had a few female Red-breasted Mergansers down at the mouth of the river in the tidal creek that comes in there, just behind the dunes, but yesterday we had a small raft of mixed males and females there…the first male mergansers I have seen this winter. According to the authorities, Red-breasted Mergansers are true sea ducks in winter, preferring salt to fresh, while Commons are freshwater ducks. The female Commons apparently leave the northern lakes and rivers when the ice begins to form and move south and closer to the coast to find open water, while the males hang back until (and if and when) the ice completely closes the waters. You are more likely to see small groups of male and female Red-breasted right along the coast. Handsome ducks in any case, and you have to love the wild headgear. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm (cropped to at least 1000mm equivalent field of view). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Brown Creeper: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — Brown Creepers almost never come to our deck on nice days…days with enough light for photography. It has to be cold and dark. I suppose they find enough to eat in the forest on any other kind of day. Still, I love to see them. Partially, I suppose, because they are so elusive, but partially because they are just so function-over-form interesting. They are so obviously made to purpose…and a very specialized purpose at that. I love how inventive and intentional nature can be…almost always is. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view (cropped to maybe 800mm). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Buffleheads and a Goldeneye: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — Buffleheads and Goldeneyes, like many ducks (including the Mergansers I shared a few days ago), have to run on the water to get airborne. When a group takes off together, as they often do, it really does look like a race to get into the air. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm (and cropped to something like 1000mm equivalent field of view for the second shot). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Common Goldeneye: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — More of the winter ducks in the tidal creek behind the dunes, just back from the mouth of the river. As I remember it, Common Goldeneyes used to be common along our coast in winter, or at least more plentiful. Now I consider myself blessed if I see a single pair in a winter. Maybe it is just my imagination. Maybe there never were more than a few pairs. Maybe, like the Buffleheads, whose numbers have increased over the past few years from a low maybe 4 or 5 years ago, the Common Goldeneye is making a rebound in our waters. At any rate, I am always happy to see them. Gotta love that eye! This is one of two pairs that were on either side of the bridge over the creek. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm (cropped to at least 1000mm equivalent field of view). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Common Mergansers: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — Down on the tidal creek just behind the dunes at the mouth of the river, there are sometimes winter ducks…it seems less and less as the years roll on, but still on a good day, you can find several species. Mergansers are still pretty common, though I see way more females (and perhaps immature males) than adult males. All of the winter ducks are skittish. If I walk down to the bridge when they are close, they will just drift further out and away. If I stand and look at them for any length of time, they are up and gone…like this small group of Mergansers. Like most ducks, they need a runway to get airborne, and it is always fun to watch them running across the water. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm equivalent (cropped to about 1000mm equivalent field of view). Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — There is a tree loaded with crabapples at the corner of a preschool building that I check frequently for Cedar Waxwings. Under the tree, there is a little playground for the preschoolers, and they have hung a few bird feeders from the tree. This platform feeder is new since I visited last and probably put out specifically to attract this bird and his mate…and with success! I prefer not to take photos of birds on feeders, but in this case, the contrast in colors and textures between the bird and the background is too good to pass up. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view (cropped to something like 800mm). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Mousam River, Kennebunk, Maine, February 2026 — I have mentioned several times how completely the rapids below the dam in Kennebunk on the Mousam River are frozen over this year…not normal for many years now. You can see the record of how the moving water has resisted in the folds and buckles in the ice. This is still slightly tidal water as well, so it rises and falls over the course of the day. For it to freeze this solid, you know it has to be cold, and cold for an unusually long time. Mind you, I would not walk out on this ice (though the Mallards do). There is a beauty to the frozen river…I can find a place for it in the warmth of my heart, but I would not want to be in it. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 59mm equivalent field of view. Auto (Landscape Scene Mode). Processed in Photomator.

Mallard Duck: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2026 — As I have mentioned before, the river here in town is frozen higher up than I have seen it in years. There is certainly open water nearer the ocean (a few miles to the southeast), but below the dam in town, the river is almost completely frozen right through the rapids to the foot of the dam. It will be below zero the next few mornings, and I expect it will freeze over completely. That leaves our local population of Mallards without access to open water, and they have taken to spending their days on the ice (they may move downriver when the open water completely disappears, of course). They are feeding on something at or just below the surface of the ice and snow mix. I asked Gemini AI what it might be, and she said probably trapped plant matter (seeds mostly) that came down with the snow, or maybe small snails or crustaceans caught at the surface by the freeze. Or they might be eating snow for the moisture (but that seems unlikely while there is any open water left…unless of course they like the taste of snow). Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.