Chick
Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — I knew the Least Tern chicks had to be in there somewhere (there being the posted and marked off section of beach up against the top off the dune), but they hide so well that I could not find them. So yesterday I made it my mission to find one. I found not one but two dozen 🙂 And I had my stool with me so I sat and watched them for a while, getting anointed several times for my effort…but the parents settled and I got to see several interactions, both between parents and chicks and chicks and chicks. They are so fast on their tiny feet! Here we have a parent apparently scolding offspring. That is both what it looked and sounded like. The chick is several weeks old and will be flying, short hops down the beach, any day now. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm. Heavily cropped and upscaled. (I was a lot further away than this looks). Program with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Voice
Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — I generally get terns in flight just about figured out just about in time for them to disperse after nesting, and I might not see another tern this close until next year. 🙁 Still. This one was voicing its appreciation (or displeasure). Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Eastern Amberwing
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — The dragonflies are becoming more numerous as the hot summer weather comes upon us. I have been waiting, and this is one I am always delighted to see. Not much bigger than large bumblebee, its deep amber wings can be seen flashing in the sun half way across the pond. It is in fact the second smallest dragonfly in North America, just ahead of the Elfin Skimmer (which I have never seen). Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with Insect subject recognition. Processed in Photomator.
Tree Swallows
Tree Swallows: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — There were 4 swallow on the branch when I lifted the camera, and then this happened 🙂 Thankfully the Program choose a shutter speed of 1/1000th so I got the shot. 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm. Program with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Pretty as a picture
Eastern Kingbird: Kennebunk, Maine, July 2025 — If you follow my work (play 🙂 you have seen this Eastern Kingbird before. It has taken the territory that belonged to an Eastern Phoebe for many years along one of our marsh paths. This is just (to my eye) a pretty picture. I like the bird. I like the pose. I really like the weathered wood of the stump and its bold form, and I like the background of mottled brown and green. It does not say much about anything, but it is pretty. And maybe that’s enough. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.
Fish from heaven!
Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — The Least Terns are apparently feeding chicks now. They hide really well so I have not seen one yet…but I have not gotten close enough to really look. I could not figure out was all the “courting” behavior meant…males offering fish…until I looked it up this morning. The chicks are fed on regurgitated fish, so the only way for a male to feed is offspring is to offer the fish to his mate…or do the job himself. I think maybe the hope, among the males, that they might get lucky again has something to do with it too…and that, as they say, is how the species survives. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Porcupine!
Porcupine: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — Shortly after seeing the deer in the milkweed (yesterday’s post) at my in-laws 4th of July cookout, a hawk flew across the back of the meadow and landed in a tallish tree at the edge of the woods. I did not get a good look, so, of course I kept my eye on that tree 🙂 That is how I noticed the dark blob moving through the foliage. Could only be a porcupine so I took the camera and again worked closer…this time right out into the meadow, almost to the edge of the woods. Again, the porcupine was aware of me, but I was no threat. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
I see you!
White-tailed Deer: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — As we sat down to a late 4th of July cookout lunch at my in-laws, someone spotted this deer grazing in the wild meadow at the edge of their property. Of course I hustled right over to the car to get my camera (I do not run anymore, hustle is as good as it gets). I worked my way around the house to get closer, stopping every 15 yards or so to take photos. She watched me coming, fully aware but not, apparently, much bothered. She actually let me come right up the mowed edge of meadow, maybe 30 yards away. After taking way too many photos, I disappeared back around the house, and she went on grazing there behind the milkweed until she had her full. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Grasspink Orchid
Grasspink Orchid (or Tuberous Grasspink): Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA, July 2025 — I rode my trike down to Laudholm Farms yesterday to see if the Grasspinks were in bloom in the remnant bog on the lower trail. The bog is quickly being overtaken by sapling maples, ferns, and other brush, but there are still a few grasspinks. They are always a challenge to photograph since they are so 3 dimensional…there is no single plane of focus that shows them in all their glory. These were growing within inches of the boardwalk, but so low I had to sit down cross legged. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 108mm equivalent. Aperture program at f11 for depth of field. Processed in Photomator.
Ready or not!
Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2025 — If you walk by the areas where the Least Terns are nesting on the beach, this is going to happen. Even if you are well away from the protective strings that set off the nesting area from the rest of the beach. I am not sure, but I suspect the Terns actually enjoy buzzing humans as though we were gulls or foxes…I think they know we are not after their eggs, but they really enjoy seeing us duck and flinch. Besides, I was sitting on my stool with no treat to them at all. But what do I know? Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.