Posts in Category: birds
Aplomado Falcon!
Aplomado Falcon: Las Uvas, Panama, July 2022 — We were on our way back to the highway when Tino spotted this bird in a tree right beside the road. I was cooperative enough so we could park up and get out and walk a bit closer. It eventually flew off, only to land on a tree further down the road with it mate. I have see a few of the reintroduced population in South Texas and New Mexico, but this was a first for Central America. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/800th. Plus 1EV exposure compensation.
Lance-tailed Manakin
Lance-tailed Manakin: Las Uvas, Panama, July 2022 — Another bird we had to work for, walking long sections of dirt road and checking frequently, but well worth it when we finally got good views. All credit to Tino, my guide. We drove up and over the mountains from Canopy Lodge and down to the Pacific Wetlands. What a bird! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications and multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 4000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Rosy Thrush-Tanager
Rosy Thrush-Tanager: Canopy Lodge, Panama, July 2022 — We (or at least my guide, Tino) worked hard for this bird. We visited three locations around Canopy Lodge, and heard them each place, before fining one that would come out for a photo. Tino has more patience that I have for this kind of thing, but the wait was worth it. 🙂 Conditions were not ideal. These were taken from under an umbrella in moderate rain. Still a beautiful bird and unique among Tanagers in spending more time on the ground than in the foliage…hence the Thrush part of the name. The female, which I got a glimpse of, is orange where the male is rose red. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications and multi-frame noise reduction. Equivalent ISO 5000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Rufous Motmot
Rufous Motmot: Canopy Lodge, Panama, July 2022 — There is a pair of Rufous Motmots living on the grounds or Canopy Lodge in the foothills of Panama. This bird came closer and closer until it flew by my head at about 3 feet on its way across the whole open veranda lounge and dinning area. Sony Rx10iv at 447mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications with multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 3200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Gartered Trogon
Gartered Trogon: Canopy Tower, Panama, July 2022 — On our last morning at the Canopy Tower we, of course, gathered for coffee and birds on the observation deck and were blessed by a visit from this Gartered Trogon. Sony Rs10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Blue Cotinga
Blue Cotinga: Canopy Tower Lodge, Panama, July 2022 — There was a fairly heavy fog around the Canopy Tower yesterday morning when we climbed up top to see what was happening. I had actually gone down for breakfast when one of the lingerers came half way down the stairs to tell us there was “a very special bird.” And it was. The male Blue Cotinga. I am always surprised by how large Cotingas are. Eventually the bird came close enough for a shot even through the fog. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus 1 EV.
Pic for today: Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-bellied Hummingbird: Rainforest Discovery Center, Panama, July 2022 — I took about 300 photos of this hummer to get 3 good ones. The Rainforest Discovery Center on the Pipeline Road in Panama is an great place for hummers. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications and multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 6400 @ f4 @ 1/160. Plus .7EV.
Greeter at Canopy Tower
Red-lored Parrot, Canopy Tower, Panama, July 2022 — There were 5 Red-lored Amazon Parrots waiting to greet me when I arrived at the observation level of Canopy Tower after my flights and being picked up at the airport. Nice of them. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus 1.7EV for the backlight.
Wild Turkey Poult
Wild Turkey: Gravely Brook Road, Kennebunkport, Maine, USA, June 2022 — As I passed on my eTrike the other day, out towards Emmon’s Preserve on Gravely Brook Road in Kennebunkport, a few hen turkeys and their nursery skittered out of the ditch and headed out into a field of mixed weeds and hay. I got off the trike and got my camera out, but the poults had disappeared into the taller vegetation. I watched the hens as they wandered out into the field, and eventually this one poult stuck its head up high enough for me to see. There were at least half a dozen of them in there, but I could not see them. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/800th.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2022 — It used to be that we would get a Red-bellied Woodpecker in our yard once every few years…then, beginning maybe three years ago, a few times a summer…and now a few times a week all summer…getting on towards daily. I found an article from 2021 on the Maine Audubon site that details the range expansion of the Red-bellied Woodpecker in Maine, that started in 2004, and has gained momentum year by year since. It is very likely that this woodpecker is nesting in our neighborhood. We used to only see it on the suet…but it is now taking mealworms from the mealworm feeder we keep full for our nesting Bluebirds and their young. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 6400 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Taken through a double glazed deck door. 🙂