Posts in Category: Laudholm Farm
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — I rode my trike down to Laudholm Farms to check on the bog orchids and was delighted to find that the resident Cedar Waxwings are back and showing along the trails again. This one was evidently an outlier of a large flock that was active where I have seen them before, below the old orchard on either edge of the Maple Swamp. Nikon B700 at 1440mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Bobolink
Bobolink: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — I am certain Bobolinks must nest in other fields in Southern Maine, but I find them every year in the big meadow on the crest of the hill at Laudholm Farms. This year they are down over the brow of the hill, rather in the reduced flat to left of the trail were I generally see them…but they are there. Difficult light the afternoon I found them, but still a great bird. Nikon B700 at 1440mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Grass Pink Orchid
Grass Pink Orchid: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — The Tuberous Grass Pink Orchid is, according to my bit of morning research, among the most wide spread of its genus…occurring in both wet bogs and moist prairies across most of south east Canada and the north eastern US. I found these in the tiny remnant bog that is preserved at the Wells Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms here in Wells. Both Grass Pink and Rose Pagonia grow there…though the Rose Pagonia seems to be fewer and fewer year to year. The Grass Pink is doing well…and there are many blooms this season. It is a beautiful flower…only about 2 inches across, but growing in clusters on single stems above the moss. As you see, the orchid hangs “upside down” due to the twist in the stem. Nikon B700, telephoto macro at 1440mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Cedar Waxwing: Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — I dug back into the archives for this Valentine’s Day shot of two Cedar Waxwings courting. Seems appropriate. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv.
Starlings
Starling: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — We don’t have many Starlings here in southern Maine. The only place I see them with any consistency is around the buildings at Laudholm Farms. These two were feeding with a big flock of Robins when I was there last. You can see that the Starling is actually quite beautiful in the right light, and maybe in the small numbers we have here. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f6.3 and f5.6 @ 1/1000th.
Over the shoulder Robin
American Robin: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — a classic “over the shoulder” pose on this Robin at Laudholm Farms. This was the day I encountered a feeding flock of over 100 Robins, dealing with an intrusive hawk. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/640th.
Salt Ice
Just to prove that my interest in natural ice formations goes beyond “swirly ice” (see last week’s post), here is a shot of the unique ice that forms where salt and fresh water mix in a tidal river. I have heard this called “rotten ice” but it deserves a better name, and “salt ice” works for me. 🙂 Little River at Laudholm Farms. Sony Rx10iv at about 300mm equivalent. Program mode with auto HDR. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Nominal exposure: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/1000th.
All business…
Pine Grosbeak, Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — another shot from my session with the Pine Grosbeaks among the fallen apples at Laudholm Farms. This shot shows off that specialized beak. Pine Grosbeaks feed on a variety of smaller seeds. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/640.
them apples!
Pine Grosbeak: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — As I mentioned yesterday, I finally found some Pine Grosbeaks near home, to satisfy my finch irruption cravings. They were busy filling their apple seed cravings in the abundance of wind-fall apples under the trees at Laudholm Farms. They spent a lot of time tossing the apples. It was entertaining to watch, to say the least. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th, 1/800th, and 1/1000th.
Pine Grosbeak!
Pine Grosbeak: Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — I will admit to being the tinniest bit jealous of all the folks in Maine who have had Pine Grosbeaks in their yards this winter. It is an irruption year for northern finches in general, and Grosbeaks in particular, including the Pine, but as far as I know they have not gotten as far south as Kennebunk. But then I found 6 birds, all young or female (it is impossible to tell which without a hand’s on examination), feeding on fallen apples under the trees by the education building at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms. The reserve is just south of the Kennebunk town line, less than 5 miles from my house. They have temporarily detoured the main hiking trail right under the trees, and the birds were so busy with the winter dried apples that they paid no attention to passing hikers, or photographers. I had forgotten how big Pine Grosbeaks are…almost the size of a Robin…but definitely a finch. The massive bill is suited for anything from pine nuts to thistle seed, and they were definitely digging something in the shriveled apples…not maybe the apple flesh itself as they were doing a lot of tossing…they may have been after the seeds. Anyway, I have a lot of photos of immature or female Pine Grosbeaks now. I am still jealous of those who have had males…but, actually, I have only seen a few photos of males from Maine this year. I am definitely keeping my eyes out. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/800th.