Posts in Category: wildlife
Chipmunk into the leaves
The thing about nature is, you just never know what you might see. I have never seen a Chipmunk “eating” leaves before, but this one was picking up dry leaves and mulching then into his cheek pouches. I suspect he was not after any lingering nutrition…they were the driest of the dry leaves at his disposal…but maybe planned to use them as winter insulation for his nest??? Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Titmouse on the pump handle
Tufted Titmouse, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — The Tufted Titmice have remained active at the feeders since early this fall. We have a very distinct pair…the male being partially melanistic with a brownish, dark grey chest. The chick from this year is still hanging out with the parents. I think this might be the chick, as it was the only one that ever showed any interest in my water pump water feature. It was one of the few birds which learned to drink at the fountain. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Nuthatch again
White-breasted Nuthatch, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — We have, of course, more chickadees coming to our feeders than nuthatches, but the nuthatches are just as faithful. They are there everyday, many times a day, and always fun to watch. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Black-tipped Darner
Black-tipped Darner, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I was out photographing the foliage at a pond along Rt. 9 in Kennebunk on a misty, cloudy day when this darner flew up from the shoreline and, after hovering a while in front of the branch, landed in plain sight. Of course, I had the wrong camera with me, so I could only hope it would sill be there when I got back from getting the right camera from my ebike in the parking area. It was was 🙂 And I am pretty sure it is a Black-tipped, though Shadow is another possibility, (and given the variation in thorax and abdomen patterns, even some of the other darners are more remotely possible). I am not an expert by any means. But, I think, Black-tipped Darner. Whatever it is, it is missing the feathery cerci at the tip of its abdomen. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Wild forest chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee, Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — Okay so it is really only a standard Black-capped Chickadee, but it is not one of the tame chickadees that come to our feeder a hundred times a day. On the other hand, it paid no more attention to me there taking it’s photo out in the middle of the woods at Laudholm Farms than one of our yard birds would have, so maybe “wild” is a word that just can not be applied to any chickadee. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
A bit of Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — from my latest session in the chair blind by the feeders under the pines. Nuthatches are always such determined looking birds. This one is a bit fluffed in the chilly September weather we are having. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Broad-winged Hawk #2
Broad-winged Hawk, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — This handsome bird deserves a second look…this time the classic profile portrait. I tood the story two days ago, but it is most likely a juvenile on its first trip south from the breeding grounds. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Chickadee again
Black-capped Chickadee, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Somedays this time of year there are only Chickadees at the feeders…other days we have Titmice, Nuthatches, and Chipping Sparrows…and the Downy Woodpeckers are always around. Of course, when there are only chickadees it is only a matter of patience before one will do something interesting enough for a photograph. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I need to remember it is hawk migration time here in Southern Maine. This hawk came up off the roadside as I rode up on it on my eBike, with something largish in its talons, and I tracked it in flight (not easy, or perhaps even safe, to do while riding a bike) until it landed in a tree overhanging the road ahead of me. I carefully parked my bike before I could actually see the spot where it landed, got my camera out and walked ahead, peering up into the branches. And there it was. Now that I have the photos for reference, I can see that the prey was a snake of some kind. Red-tailed is the default hawk in Southern Maine, but I am pretty sure (and both of my ai photo recognition programs agree) that this an immature Broad-winged Hawk…which makes it a migrant passing through. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Titmouse acrobatics
Tufted Titmouse, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I like the pose here…lots of tension but also lots of grace. Birds get into the strangest positions. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.