Posts in Category: birds
Maine! We don’t like Starlings
European Starling: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — We don’t like European Starlings much here in the US…and there are lots of good reasons not to like Starlings…invasive…aggressive…noisy…messy…voracious eaters of our seed…but, seen dispassionately (and in someone else’s yard) I, at least, can not deny that they have certain elegant beauty, and when the light on them brings out the iridescence…even an opaline splendor. I actually don’t see many starlings here Southern Maine. The few hanging with the local winter flock of Robins this year are the first I have seen, or at least noticed, in several years. I would not want to see it become a trend, but I don’t mind seeing one once in a while (in someone else’s yard). Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Kings about their business
King Vulture: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Carrion is the business of vultures, of course, and the Kings are no exception. The bare head is an adaption specifically for carrion eaters to allow them to dig deep into a carcass. Of course I am not sure why the bare head has to be so brightly colored. I mean what is that bold yellow stripe in line with the spine about…or why the outrageous carbuncle…but I as not consulted on Vulture design. Good thing. Leave that to the true artist. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 375 and 600mm equivalents. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Highlight metering. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! January Song Sparrow
Sony Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — Besides the Pine Warblers hanging out with our wintering Bluebirds, there are several Song Sparrows that have neglected to go south around town. At least a few along the dunes in the beach rose, and 3 or 4 in a local park along the river. (And probably more that I don’t know about.) They seem perfectly happy and have already survived the few snow storms and the low temperatures of the past few weeks. We will see how they do when it gets really cold next week. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Kings rampant
King Vulture: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Immature and Adult. The King Vulture is the largest New World Vulture except for the Andean Condor. They can weigh up to 8 pounds and have a 6 foot wingspread. They dwarf the Black Vultures they hang out with at Mirador El Pizote. The immature that showed up while we were at the vulture blind seemed even larger than the adults, but that might just be because it lacked the distraction of the bright head and carbuncle. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 517 and 313mm equivalents. (And that, right there, tells you something about the size of these birds!) Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Playing with his food
Common Eider: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — This first winter male Eider is breaking all the rules. While he did eventually swallow the crab whole, he did it on the surface, not underwater, and he was, so it seems to me, playing with his food before he ate it…to the extent that he threw it up in the air and then re-caught it as it came back down…before it could sink. I know there must be a better explanation than play…if there isn’t we have been seriously underestimating the intelligence of Eiders (or I have anyway). Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Downy male and female
Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — We have had some bright clear January days this week, so I have been out in the backyard trying for some winter birds. The little Downy Woodpeckers are at the feeder and in the trees around the house everyday. Here we have a male and a female in similar poses. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Costa Rica! Blue-grey
Blue-grey Tanager: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Not the most colorful of the Costa Rican tanagers, but in some places the most abundant…though not at Mirador El Pizote in Boca Tapada. I only saw one at a time, and infrequently at that. Still a pretty bird. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! red legs x 3
Red-legged Honeycreeper: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Male, female, and immature male Red-legged Honeycreepers from Mirador El Pizote. The Honeycreepers are, somewhat surprisingly, tanagers, and are generally found in mixed feeding flocks around fruit feeders anywhere in lowlands Costa Rica. Spectacular little birds. A blessing and a privilege to be surrounded by them. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! blue jay, red berries
Blue Jay: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — For some reason we don’t get many Blue Jays in our yard…maybe a dozen times a year one will appear and hop up on deck for a few moments. Just down the street there is a house with feeders that has them all the time when I walk by. ??? I caught this one coming in to use a feeder tray. I like the riot of color with the reds and greens of the setting contrasting with the blues of the bird. The low January sun picks out all the detail. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Golden
Golden-hooded Tanager: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Tropical Tanagers (all tanagers for that matter) tend to be brightly colored, but the Golden-headed is certainly one of the more striking. It is not hard to see as it comes to fruit feeders with other tanagers and honeycreepers, and has range from southern Mexico down into western Peru, mostly in lowland Rainforest and along the edges. I have photographed it many times before, but Mirador El Pizote offers some of the best views I have had yet. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.