Posts in Category: beach
Maine! By the glint in your eye
Ring-billed Gull: York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — There was a good sized flock of Ring-billed Gulls at the beach last week, working the surf line and just off-shore. They were pretty secure and very busy, so I worked my way close enough for some intimate portraits. I like the glint of sun in this one’s eye as it turned its head away from me just a bit, intent on something in the water. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Squabble on the beach
Semi-palmated Sandpipers: York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — The beach confrontations among Semi-palmated Sandpipers can get pretty vigorous, with lots of high jumps and leg action and flapping wings. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Sanderlings
Sanderlings: York County, Maine, USA, September 2024 — The first early migrant Sanderlings reached us here in Southern Maine late last week. They were only here briefly and then off further south on a favorable wind. Looking up Sanderling, it turns out this is the Sand Plowman, based on the Old English name and their habit of pushing the beak through the sand ahead of them in search of prey. If you enlarge the second image you an actually see what it is about to eat. It takes a lot of critters that size to fuel a migration. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Another face off
Semi-palmated Sandpipers: York County, Maine, USA, September 2024 — Last time I checked the beach, two days ago, all the Semi-palmated Sandpipers and Plovers were gone…headed on south on a favorable wind…and I never did figure out what these beach standoffs were all about. Interesting behavior. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. My action and flight Recorded Settings (programed to the AF-On button: 1/2500 with wide tracking, Animal/bird auto focus). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Herring on the edge
Herring Gull: York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — The contour of our local beaches was radically altered by the storms of this past winter and spring. Our local beach has developed a sharp slope at least 8 feet tall at the tide line dropping off to sand flats only exposed at low tide. This Herring Gull was resting just at the edge of the drop, overhanging the drop, and seemed quite comfortable there. Surveying its domaine. It allowed this eye-level shot without my getting down in the sand. Gulls are not my favorite birds, and Herring Gulls are not my favorite gulls, but even I have to admit this is a handsome bird. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Plover posturing
Semipalmated Plover: York County Maine, September 2024 — While the Semipalmated Sandpiper interactions this past week or so have seemed more like territorial disputes, the Semipalmated Plover interactions seem more like the kind of mock courting that goes on in the fall among many species, perhaps even forming pair bonds before the birds head south, or at least picking travel and wintering buddies. There was a lot of this tail up and flaring, head cocked action going on. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! the prize
Herring Gull (perhaps going into 1st winter plumage): York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — I am not at all sure what this young Herring Gull has fond, but it was certainly busy with it…picking it up and turning it and then repeatedly washing it a few steps into the surf. It does not look all that edible to me, but it seemed to be a prize for the gull. The gull was so busy with it that it let me get quite close. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Face-offs in the seaweed
Semi-palmated Sandpipers: York County, Maine, USA, September 2024 — a few more face-offs from Labor Day at the beach. Again, I don’t know exactly what is going on here, but it was interesting to watch. It certainly appears to be some kind of dominance game. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Labor Day at the beach
I went out looking for Sandpiper action at our local Kennebunk beach but had to stop for land/seascape. (There are some sandpipers along the surf line.) Sony a5100 with the E 10-18 f4 zoom at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Scene mode. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Sandpiper action
Semi-palmated Sandpipers: York County Maine, USA, September 2024 — I went back to the beach yesterday specifically to try to catch a few of these interactions…face-offs, tumbles in the air, and aggressive posturing…between the Semi-palmated Sandpipers as they fed up against the sea wall in the piles of seaweed. I am not certain what these interactions signify, but they are interesting to watch and a challenge to catch in a photograph. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.