Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I need to remember it is hawk migration time here in Southern Maine. This hawk came up off the roadside as I rode up on it on my eBike, with something largish in its talons, and I tracked it in flight (not easy, or perhaps even safe, to do while riding a bike) until it landed in a tree overhanging the road ahead of me. I carefully parked my bike before I could actually see the spot where it landed, got my camera out and walked ahead, peering up into the branches. And there it was. Now that I have the photos for reference, I can see that the prey was a snake of some kind. Red-tailed is the default hawk in Southern Maine, but I am pretty sure (and both of my ai photo recognition programs agree) that this an immature Broad-winged Hawk…which makes it a migrant passing through. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
One more mushroom
Mushrooms will happen! It is amazing (to me) how powerful they are…pushing up through a layer of matted leaves…and not just a little pointy thing like a plant shoot…no, a whole platter lifting a big chunk of the forest floor. 🙂 At Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells Maine. Sony Rx10iv at about 290mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
More mushrooms…
One of the things I like about mushrooms is the variety of shapes and colors and forms. This cluster of small mushrooms, probably in a symbiotic relationship with the tree, is a case in point. Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Headquarters trail, Wells, Maine. Sony Rx10iv at 211mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Mushroom time…
Of course there are mushrooms all summer, but September seems to be an abundant month for them in the woods of Southern Maine. These are bursting out along the trail at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Wells, Maine. The biggest one is just smaller than a dinner plate, and as you can see from the second photo, they are massive mushrooms. There will be lots more as the leaves begin to turn in a few weeks. Sony Rx10iv at
135mm equivalent ISO 800 @ f4 @ 1/320th
47mm equivalent ISO 200 @ f3.2 @ 1/100th
Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Titmouse acrobatics
Tufted Titmouse, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I like the pose here…lots of tension but also lots of grace. Birds get into the strangest positions. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Greater Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — It is Yellowlegs season here on the southern Maine coast. Neither Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs breed here, but we see them in fair numbers coming north and going south, spring and fall. And, of course, I am always happy to see them. These were at the mouth of Back Creek where it comes into the Mousam River behind the dunes. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Getting close to tom…
Wild Turkey, Wells, Maine, USA — I find the shattered glass structure of the turkey’s feathers fascinating. And then the range of textures, from the hair like chest beard to the glossy regularity of the shoulder feathers…the subtle iridescent highlights playing over the rich brown of the body…all set against the improbable skin of the head…it makes quite a study. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
The humble Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Either I don’t remember correctly, or we have a lot more, and a lot more regular, Mourning Doves in our yard this year. They are here every day, foraging under the feeders, both below the deck and under the trees. They are, in a subtle way, a very pretty bird…I also don’t think I had ever really looked at one until this spring, and I have come to appreciate them more and more. Sony Rx10iv at 432mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Turkey time all over
Wild Turkey, Wells, Maine, USA — I don’t ever remember seeing so many turkeys as we are seeing this year. There are several large flocks that are out and about daily between my home at the south edge of Kennebunk and the north edge of Wells. And they seem particularly fearless this year…foraging in yards and along side the road…not paying much attention to passing humans. I stopped for three of these birds I saw on one side of the road, and then just stood and waited for the rest of the flock to come to me and cross the road close enough to where I was standing so that I could not get the whole turkey in a 600mm frame. Of course they are big turkeys…all big Toms in this particular flock. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Pickerel Frog
Pickerel Frog, Old Falls on the Mousam River, Lyman, Maine — I went looking for a bridge to play my low whistle under (for the acoustics, just for fun), and while at Old Falls on the Mousam River, I, of course, went for a walk down the river looking for dragonflies and birds. Not may of either around, but there were little Pickerel Frogs all over the place. Beautiful little creatures, with their rich colors and interesting patterns, and great light. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.