Who do you suppose it was who first looked at the patterns in the ice at the edge of puddles in winter with appreciation? Who first participated in this evidence of beauty in the world…beauty we did not create and cannot take credit for, but which still inspires us with wonder and delight? When I see something like this, I can only respond with gratitude and realize myself as one with all those others, from the beginnings of the children of this Earth until this present moment and these particular eyes, who have loved the look of ice on puddles in winter and appreciated an artistry greater and more spontaneous than ourselves. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at various focal lengths for framing. Auto with Landscape Scene mode. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FameMagic.

Down along the path through the marsh beside the river just back from its mouth on a late December afternoon. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 24mm equivalent field of view. Auto with Landscape Scene Mode. Processed in Photomator.

Canada Geese: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — I went for a little photoprowl late in the day yesterday, down along the trail through the marshes next to the river. A flock of Canada Geese came in, probably 50-60 and landed between me and river, right in front to the sun as it dipped below clouds on the horizon. They were a bit far away for photography and backlit, but as they got up into the air for short hops across the marsh I tried some flight shots. I was quite pleased with the results. This shot has almost a mystical feel to me…like a painting from the 1860s. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with birds and wildlife, flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — When the pair of Bluebirds showed up in our yard for the first time, 8 years ago now, we were, of course, delighted. Who would not be? They are such attractive, bright, interesting birds. Always up to something and easy to project human emotions on. Little did we know that we would continue to be delighted these 8 years almost every day, every season, by their presence in the neighborhood and on our back deck. We put mealworms out for them that first time 8 years ago, and according to my Amazon account, we have spent just shy of $1000 on mealworms so far, not to mention another $100 on various feeders. Today, even in a snowy, cold December, we have 5 bluebirds at the feeder…what I believe to be the two original adults, and 3 youngsters from the 2 broods of this past summer. Such a delight is priceless. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Carolina Wren: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — It might have been over 20 years ago now when I heard the first reports of Carolina Wren on the local Christmas Bird Count, from a home down by the ocean. It was another 7 or 8 years before they began to show up in our yard, and began nesting in the neighborhood, completely displacing the House Wrens we already had. And now they are with us all year, coming even in the snow. We see them once a week or so, but then we have to be looking at the right time and I suspect they are around every day, checking for spilled seed (and especially suet) on the deck when we are not looking. Sony a6700. Sigma 15-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — yet another bird tongue…this time the Eastern Bluebird. Not nearly as fleshy as the chickadee’s…more like the woodpeckers’. I am ready to put forth a theory, based on my limited observations so far, and on intuition. The more complex and melodious the song, the more supple and fleshy the tongue. I plan to continue my study to test the theory. (I could probably just submit it to AI and get the answer in a moment…but where is the fun in that?) Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Taken through double glazed windows.

Black-capped Chickadee: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — I am enjoying what has apparently turned into my “bird tongue” project. It is one thing to continue to photograph the feeder birds through the back deck door, and I will always enjoy that, but trying to catch them with their tongues out adds a bit of spice. This Chickadee is showing a tongue that looks a bit more fleshly than the woodpecker tongues. Appearances can be deceiving as they say, so I will not put much stock in that, but it certainly looks more flexible and forgiving. Perhaps it has to do with the ability to sing a melodious song. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — One more bird tongue…this time a Downy Woodpecker. Notice how much longer this tongue is, in relationship to the beak, than the tongues of the other birds I have posted. This was taken just this morning in a light snow storm, through the back deck double glazed doors. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

White-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — Maybe the start of a theme? In this shot you have another rare sighting of a bird’s tongue…this time a nuthatch. It also appears thin and sharp, not much like our soft fleshy mouthfuls, though much smaller and shorter than the tongue of the Red-bellied Woodpecker from a few days ago. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm field of view. Taken through a double-glazed deck door. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

European Starling and Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, December 2025 — One of the Kennebunk flock of Starlings has apparently attached itself to our family of Bluebirds. It is often at the feeders with them. Fortunately it is quite sensitive to my disapproval and flies off if I appear at the deck door…while the bluebirds (confident in my approval) remain. (And how’s that for anthropomorphism?) Unfortunately I cannot bring myself to welcome the starling to our little circle of bird friends…mainly because it can eat its body weight in mealworms at one sitting, not leaving any for the bluebirds and titmice, and chickadees (or the woodpeckers for that matter). Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Taken through double-glazed deck doors.