Buffleheads (female): York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — A couple of female Buffleheads take to the air over the reflections in a tidal creek. Up, up, and away. They make it look just about as hard as it must be to break free of the water and take to the air. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos and assembled in FrameMagic. -1.0 EV.
Canada Geese: Kennebunk, York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Sometimes a photo just happens, almost despite me. I was photographing an eagle in the early morning sun high in a pine tree across the river, when this flock of Canada Geese came blasting up river right past me at eye-level. The Geese were still in the shadow of my bank while the other bank was in sun and I had no time to adjust anything. I just fired off a burst in their direction and hoped for the best…and while this might not be “the best” is certainly more than I could have hoped to get. As I have said many times before, wildlife photography is mostly about being in the right place at the right time and ready. Sometimes it just happens. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife settings (-2EV for the Eagles in the sun). Processed in Photomator.
House Finch: Kennebunk, York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — The House Finch is not my favorite finch, but there is no denying that this is a handsome bird, perched up, posing in your backyard. And I do appreciate its subtle touch of color. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Common Loon: Kennebunk, York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — An uncommon view of a Common Loon from the mouth of one of our local rivers. Very aware of me there taking the photo, but not overly concerned. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Bald Eagle: Kennebunk, York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — These past few weeks I have found the Eagle on its favorite perch above the river several times in the early morning, and I have featured a couple of shots of it in the early level sun. It is much less common to see it there in the afternoon, and much more difficult to photograph it as the sun is then behind it. Still, when it is there, you have to try 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent (and cropped to at least 1600mm equivalent field of view). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Common Loon: Kennebunk, York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Common Loons always strike me as pugnacious. Tough. Ready for a fight. They are relatively efficient hunters, but still, hunting is their full time business. Much more so than the Red-throated Loons we have this time of year as well. The Red-throats seem to spend much more time on the surface??? Or maybe that is just my imagination. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Another back yard bird, and a regular at our feeders all year long. Perky, cheerful, intense little birds. Always a joy to see, and nice to catch away from the feeders. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Downy Woodpecker: Backyard, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2023 — I am still dialing in the exposure settings on my OM Systems OM-1 camera…I want to be totally confident of them by the time I leave for Costa Rica next month 🙂 This little dapper Downy Woodpecker provided practice the other day from our back deck. Such an elegant, but chipper little bird. Olympus ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. Assembled in FrameMagic.
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2023 — because I am getting ahead of myself already this month, unexpectedly since November is often a slow photo month as changing weather and hunting season keep me close to home, here is a Monday morning bonus bird. A bright male Cardinal from our back deck feeding station. Too good not to share! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 552mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — This Bald Eagle in the early morning sun deserves another shot, sitting on a favorite perch high in a tall pine over the river. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.