Bay-breasted Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2026 — Another warbler coming through the marsh in numbers the past few days—the Bay-breasted, named for that rusty bib. The black face contrast’s nicely. The Bay-breasteds nest in the dense spruce and fir forests of the boreal belt across Canada, just dipping into the US from northern Maine to the mountains of New York State. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Magnolia Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2026 — I may have mentioned how difficult it is to photograph warblers at Magee this year. The leaves are full out. I cannot count the number of photos I have of pieces of this spectacular warbler—the Magnolia Warbler—showing through the leaves. Still, one good shot is all anyone needs, and more than anyone deserves. Such a gift. 🙂 And there is still tomorrow. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view from about 4 feet. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Chestnut-sided Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2026 — Today was a Chestnut-sided Warbler day at Magee. When they come through in numbers, there is no bird more confiding. They will work, like the Prothonotaries, within a few inches of the boardwalk rail, with a crowd of birders and photographers looking on. This is a full-frame shot, not cropped at all, at 450mm equivalent from just over 3 feet. Part of the attraction of Magee Marsh in May. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Blackburnian Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2026 — Another warbler I always look forward to seeing at Magee each May. We get them in Maine, but by the time they get to us, they are feeding in the very tops of the trees. Seeing them at and below eye level is always a treat. The leaves being full out continues to present a challenge, and this bright male was skulking deep in the brush but close to the boardwalk. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Prothonotary Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2026 — The thing you soon notice about Prothonotary Warblers, right after the eye-popping yellow of them, is that they have absolutely no fear of human beings. At Magee, where they nest every year, they come within 18 inches of your camera lens, sometimes closer. I have had them land on the boardwalk railing a few inches from my elbow. I have had them fly between my feet. The main issue when photographing them is that most telephoto lenses do not focus close enough. 🙂 My Sigma 16-300 Contemporary is the ideal lens for Prothonotaries. This shot is from about 3 feet away, and only cropped for composition, and even on a decent-sized phone screen it is going to almost life-sized. On a tablet or laptop it will be life-sized or larger. Sony a6700. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Northern Parula: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2026 — Warblers at Magee this year with the foliage full out are a wait-and-see game. Patience. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at about 800mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Piping Plover: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2026 — If you watch plovers for long, you will see one of this thing with the wing—the wing thing. I assume they are stretching the wing to settle the feathers. Only one wing at a time as they support the wing with an extended leg and foot. Like so many things in this life—it is a matter of balance. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at about 800 equivalent. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Garter Snake: Emmons’ Preserve, Kennebunkport, Maine, USA, May 2026 — I know snakes are not everyone’s favorite creature, but they have, to my eye, a beauty all their own. Not cuddly by any means, but if you admire efficiency, the snake is kind of elegant with efficiency. And it is hard to miss the intelligence in the eye. This is a relatively large Garter snake, going on 4 feet long, and rather than slither away under the leaves, it chose to freeze in place, head up and alert. I spent 10 minutes with it, and it was still in this pose when I walked on. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm and 77mm equivalent fields of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Continuing with Trout Lilies from my visit to Emmons’ Preserve in Kennebunkport, Maine, this week. I keep looking for one I could frame against water, and eventually found this one growing close to a small stream, only 18 inches wide at this point, that runs down to the river below. I tried some close-ups and then backed away to use the telephoto effect to catch some texture in the water while keeping the lily sharp. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 424mm equivalent field of view. Aperture program with macro modifications. f/22 for depth of field. The visitor (the bugs were active around the flowers) appears to be Lycidae (lace-winged beetle) of some sort (according to Google). Processed in Photomator.

Trout Lily (Adder’s Tongue, Dogtooth Violet): Emmons’ Preserve, Kennebunkport, Maine, USA, May 2026 — Trout Lily has so many names partially because each name comes from a different part of the plant. Trout comes from the pattern on the two leaves of the mature plant, which resembles the pattern on a brook trout. Adder’s Tongue comes from the shape of the immature plant’s leaves (and remember the plants take 4-7 years to mature and there are generally 99 immature plants for every one mature). Dogtooth comes from the white “tooth” on the bulb of the plant if you dig it up. However, it is definitely a lily, not a violet. (I looked it up 🙂 Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 135mm equivalent. Aperture program with macro modifications. f16 Processed in Photomator.