Posts in Category: afternoon light
Maine! unexpected Savannah
Savannah Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, December 2024 — I have been seeing these sparrows skulking in the brush along a trail through the marsh back from the mouth of the river for a couple of weeks…and just assumed they were Song Sparrows since I could not get a good look, let along a photo. This week on hopped up where I could see it, and, lo and behold, it was a Savannah Sparrow. Now I assume they were Savannah all along…which is, I think, pretty late in the year for Savannah in Southern Maine. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pilot and Index Peaks in Autumn
Not quite in Yellowstone National Park, but on the boarder in Montana, Pilot and Index Peaks dominate the skyline from the east, coming down off the Beartooth Highway into Cook City. The fall foliage in the foreground marks the season. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 117mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.
Beartooth Highway: Above Timberline
The strange alpine landscape of the Beartooth Mountains just east of Yellowstone National Park, above timberline. Lots of lakes in the deep valleys. Sony a5100 with E10-18 f4 at 15mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape scene mode selection. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Bluebird in the November Maple
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just another backyard bluebird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. 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! Pair of Stares
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The Bald Eagles are coming to their perches along the river more frequently as the season progresses. I was surprised to find them there at high tide. One flew in, and then, with a lot of whinnying, the other, I am assuming her mate, joined her on the same perch for a short time, before it flew off again up river. These birds are considerably further away than they look in the photos :). Sony a6700 with E 70-350 at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Highlight metering and -0.3 EV exposure compensation to hold highlight detail. Processed in Photomator (my basic processing for highlight and shadow and sharpness, then AI upscale). I have to say I am impressed with what the little Sony zoom can do on the a6700.
Yellowstone! Pika reward
Pika: Sheepeater Cliffs, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Persistence pays off. This was our 4th visit to Sheepeater Cliffs in search of Pika…on of the smaller species of wildlife in the Park, and certainly one of the cutest. Rock Bunnies with satellite TV dish ears. We had seen Pika on one visit before, but the light was failing when we were there and they were not close…this time they were close and right out in the sun. They love the little tuffs of grass at the edge of the talus slope. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Bluebird on a November afternoon
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA — Our bluebirds are still coming throughout the day for mealworms, perhaps as active at the feeder here in the cold days of November as at any other time of year. We have four still, the adults and two of this year’s broods. This is the adult male posed in the trees above the deck in the almost horizontal light of the afternoon in Southern Maine. Sony a6700 with Sony E 70-350 G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! The Wren Test
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA — I am “test driving” the Sony E 70-350 f4.5-6.3 G OSS zoom for my Sony a6700. It is tiny compared to the Tamron I have been using, though it lacks reach on either end. These are first shots from yesterday afternoon. Of course it is the bird that counts. We have had Carolina Wrens in the yard for three years now. They don’t come every day, but they come at least once a week…and during nesting they were around much more. They like the mealworms, but prefer to pick the spills up off the deck, rather than going to feeder itself, so this is a rare catch. Such a perky little bird. Sony a6700 with Sony E 70-350 G, at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Sheepeater Creek
Sheepeater Creek flows at the base of Sheepeater Cliffs. We went there several times to try for the Pika who live in the talus at the foot of the cliffs, and each time I was captured by the beauty of meadows, the forest, the cliffs and the sky. Sony a5100 with Sony E 10-18 f4 wide zoom at 27mm equivalent. Superior Auto with Landscape Scene Mode selection. Processed in Photomator.