Posts in Category: birds
Maine! Bluebird in the berries
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Out looking for Eagles…there were none there along the river where I look, but there was a mixed flock of small birds feeding in the berries along the edges. Nice light for the Eastern Bluebird. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent, plus a heavy crop. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Skulking Sparrow
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I have noticed that the late staying Song Sparrows this November are staying mostly on the ground and mostly deep in the brush. It is amazing what Subject Recognition, eye-tracking auto focus can do. I had to use manual focus to help the camera find the bird behind the foreground obstructions, but one it found the bird, it locked on and stayed focused on the eye as the bird foraged deep in the brush under a dense bush. You can see the out-of-focus branches in front of it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Cardinal aglow
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The early morning light on our back deck caught the Cardinal when it make one of its rare visits and I just happened to be standing the open deck door photographing feeder birds. I know this does not look quite real…but it is indeed what I saw in the moment, just the effect of the light. I have not manipulated the photo other than global adjustments to shadows and highlights and sharpening. The glow is all the sun and the bird! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. -0.3 EV to preserve highlights. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Ducks away!
Mallard: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just a short hop over the reed bed in a local pond, but the image catches the full effect of the drake Mallard flight, and all his colors. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (motion blur sharpening).
Yellowstone! Spruce Grouse
Spruce Grouse: Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Grouse are generally shy creatures of the forest, and relatively hard to find. This one was right beside the road and in no hurry to get away from us at all when we pulled up beside it. It just ambled deeper into the brush as we watched and photographed it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 30-400 Di iii. The first shot was out the window of the car at 382mm equivalent. Close! The other two shots are at 600mm from the same distance and then as it moved away from us. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Robins in the November cherries
American Robin: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Most birds wait until the ornamental cherries have frozen hard a few times to concentrate the sugars before eating them…not so the Robins. They are already at them. I hope they leave enough for the Cedar Waxwings which often frequent this tree later in the season. Such a handsome bird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Flight against the light
Ringbilled Gull: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I got down to the beach yesterday to see what was in the river mouth, hoping for a few winter ducks in close. Not much yet, but I had some fun with the gulls in flight with the sun behind them. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (a small amount of motion blur reduction).
Maine! Stand and deliver
Mallard Duck: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — While checking for Eagles on the river I watched a group of uncommonly active Mallards on the pond. There were a couple of males showing off and facing off. When this action happened the first time I switched the camera from birds and wildlife modifications to birds in flight and action modifications to be ready, and, indeed caught a couple of sequences of the drakes standing on the water. This one shows off that blue to good effect. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! November Bluebirds
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — We have had Bluebirds in our yard year around for 5 years…adding a touch of welcome color in the months were there are no flowers and few bright birds. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pine Warbler on deck
Pine Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — We always have a few Pine Warblers come through the yard, early in the spring and late in the fall. We had a female or immature a few days ago, and this nice fall male was around off and on all day yesterday. I like Pine Warblers…in part at least because they are one of the few warblers we actually see in the yard. 🙂 Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.