Hydnellum peckii, or Bleeding Tooth fungus: Kennebunk, Maine, USA. You just never know what you will find in the Southern Maine forest (or any forest for that matter). This strange-looking mushroom gets its common names from the drops of amber to red liquid that emerge from the fruiting body. It is not always this lumpy. It is also called “strawberries and cream” and “Devil’s Tooth,” although “Dracula’s Tooth” might be more fitting. I am pretty sure I have never seen it before, and I certainly have never photographed it. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 72mm equivalent field of view. Aperture with macro modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Another photo of nothing in particular—or everything in particular. Sony a7CR with Viltrox 14mm f/4. My custom landscape modifications to the Neutral Creative Look. Processed and color-graded in Photomator.

Orange Coral Fungi: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2026 — It has been several years since the fruiting bodies of the Coral Fungus have appeared in the little patch of forest along the Bridal Path near home. I have checked each year, many times. The last time they emerged, it was a spectacular bloom. There were large masses of it all through the forest. I was delighted to find this small bunch along the trail this year, and it makes me hopeful for a full display again. We will see. I will be checking regularly. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 103mm equivalent field of view. Aperture mode with macro modifications. f/18 @ 1/30th from my little carbon fiber tripod. Processed in Photomator.

Hunt’s Bumblebee: Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2026 — In the gardens at Randall Davey, I met a visiting bee lady from the upper Midwest who was in western bee heaven, and who was eager to give me a lesson on the varieties of bees we were observing in the garden plants. I was happy to let her. Most were Western Honeybees, of course, but there were at least three other varieties, including this striking male Hunt’s with its bright orange muff. She was really excited about the Hunt’s. I became more so as she talked. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 500mm equivalent field of view crop. Program with insect modifications. Processed in Photomator.

New Mexico Whiptail Lizard: Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2026 — another lizard from the same little park down the street from our Santa Fe family’s home. The New Mexico Whiptail is a hybrid species—originally two separate species of whiptail. The offspring had, oddly enough, two different chromosomes, one from each parent species, so that they can reproduce without a mate. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Western Fence Lizard: Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2026 — Showing the seldom seen blue throat patch (or at least the blue throat patch which I have seldom seen). Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 600mm equivalent. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Rufous Hummingbird; Randell Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico. July 2026 — Another hummer from Randell Davey Audubon Center—the most numerous and aggressive of the 4 species common there. A male Rufous will hang out sometimes many yards away from the feeder and then come swooping in when any other hummingbird presumes to come in for a snack. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 600-800mm equivalent field of view crop. Processed in Photomator.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Randell Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2026 — While the Santa Fe Kid was playing on the climbing structure and having a blast, grandpa was attempting to photograph hummingbirds and having a blast. This Broad-tail was feeding a fledgling around these flowers, so it was faithful all morning. The adobe wall behind it makes for a nice contrast. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 600mm effective field of view crop. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

We went to Randall Davey Audubon Center in the hills above Santa Fe yesterday. The Santa Fe Kid enjoyed the huge wood and rope play structure—for hours—while grandpa photographed hummingbirds and bugs and regular birds—and the deer that come by to graze the tender grasses. That is the Santa Fe Kid’s mom, of course, first up on the play structure with the Kid, and then trying to retrieve the Kid from a runaway when her school friend had to leave. That is when the deer decided to visit. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Auto mode for the play structure. Bird and wildlife modifications for the deer. Processed in Photomator.

The Santa Fe Kid is a climber. Confident and bold. And she is familiar with all the climbing options at the local park. It is all a grandpa can do to keep up (and that is with grandma to help). Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Auto. Processed in Photomator.