Lichen: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I have a daughter who just recently (apparently) discovered a fascination with moss—and I am assuming with the lichen too—since they so often grow together. I have had such a fascination since childhood (and I suspect she has too…we just have a way of continuously rediscovering wonder, and it surprises us every time!) Lichen are indeed fascinating. As a child I did not know, of course, that it is two separate organisms living as one: a fungus for structure and durability (and the more rigorous aspects of gathering minerals), and an alga (or cyanobacteria), which makes energy out of sunlight. The alga itself is wonderful. It is a cluster of single cells, each one of which has its DNA loose (so to speak) inside it, rather than confined to the nucleus as ours is—and as is the case in moss and all true plants. And—I just learned this this morning—some lichen are powered by cyanobacteria which also do not have their chlorophyll confined to chloroplasts, but kind of etched into the inside of the membrane of the cell. Now that is wonderful. I suspect, from the color and texture of these lichen, that we have an alga pair here, but it is impossible to know for certain without microscopic examination (and sometimes even then). Together—algae (or cyanobacteria) and fungus—they make a formidable pair, able to survive harsh conditions, and literally eat rocks. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 110mm equivalent field of view. Aperture with macro modifications. f/18 at 1/30th at ISO 3200 from my mini-tripod. Two images focus stacked for depth of field. Processed in Photomator and Pixomatic.

Jack-in-the-pulpit: Old Rachel Carson NWR headquarters. Wells, Maine, June 2026 — There seems to be just one Jack-in-the-pulpit left where I have seen many in the past, but at least there is one. The Jack-in-the-pulpit name might seem strange, unless you have seen the hooded pulpits common in European churches. It is also called Indian Turnip since the American Indians harvested it—and after careful preparation to remove the toxic calcium oxalate crystals—ate it. The Dragon’s Root name was probably given by someone who attempted to eat it raw. 🙂 Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary @ 55mm equivalent field of view. Aperture Program with macro modifications (f/14 at 1/15th second, on my mini-tripod). Processed in Photomator.

Piping Plover chick: York County, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I complained about this last year, and I will probably complain about it next year (though by now I should know that no one else cares). Plover chicks are all but impossible to focus on. Not only are they fast and pretty much in constant motion, but they are just too fuzzy—too insubstantial—for the camera’s focus to latch on to. And their eyes are only half open, so even eye-tracking fails. Still, such a wonder to watch. Once more, I did not approach this chick. I sat on my stool well away from it, and eventually, it came to me. I took my photos and waited right there until it moved off far enough so that I could stand without alarming it (or its parents). And I flatter myself to think that while I was watching the chick, no crows or gulls could get close enough to hunt it. Win-win. As they say. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 700mm equivalent crop. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Piping Plover with chick: York County, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I still have several wonders to share from my walk at Rachel Carson, but every day in June seems to bring a new wonder. I can’t keep up! I have been checking the endangered Piping Plovers on our local beach several times a week, hoping to see chicks—and yesterday was the day. There were two, probably two days old. (They were certainly not there 3 days ago when I visited last.) You can’t really miss them. The parents have a totally different sound when chicks are present—almost frantic sounding as they attempt to herd the chicks and keep them out of trouble. The chicks are full of curiosity and have no sense of danger—and they are always hungry. They will increase their body weight by a factor of 10 between hatch and fledge, generally in under 28 days. And this on a diet of insects, crustaceans, and worms mostly small enough that we can barely see them. Like their parents, if you stand still or sit down quietly they will come right up to you. I saw the adult obviously sitting over a chick—they can only take so much sun as they cannot yet regulate their own body temperature—and sat down on my stool and waited patiently to see what would happen. She was calling for the other chick, and it approached, but would not be enticed under cover. Eventually the chick under her wing got restless (or hungry again) and moved out, and I got the photo. I waited where I was on my stool until both chick and adult moved off so as not to alarm either. And though it looks like I was close, this crop is at least the equivalent of a 900mm telephoto lens—so not that close at all. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

White-tailed Deer: Rachel Carson NWR, Old Headquarters, Wells, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I came back from a short walk around the headlands trail at the old Rachel Carson MWR headquarters with just too many treasures! This young White-tailed Deer was feeding on fresh maple leaves from saplings in the undergrowth right beside the trail. The folks ahead of me walked right past it, even though at that point it was only maybe 4 feet from the trail behind the first layer of brush. It stayed there, gently feeding, while I attempted photos through the thicket, and only moved off slowly after I showed it to the folks behind me on the trail. It was a very special few moments. I don’t know why it felt so secure, but I am happy that, for the moment, it did. (Hopefully, it will be less trusting by hunting season.) Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. 86mm and 450mm equivalent fields of view. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Bird’s-foot Trefoil: Kennebunk Bridle Trail, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — One of the more interesting wildflowers of June in Southern Maine. Besides its bright yellow color, you might notice that the working parts of the flower—the stamens and stigma—are hidden inside the folded petals of the keel, along with the nectar. Only when the preferred pollinator lands in the flower, the pollinator of exactly the right size and weight, does its weight on the larger petals “open” the keel and allow access to the works. It took us generations to design a bird feeder that works on the same principle to exclude larger birds and squirrels. 🙂 And our solution is not nearly so pretty (or efficient). Notice the two keels with holes. A bit of research this morning suggests that they are most likely from tiny caterpillars feeding on the keel petals while they were still folded inside the bud. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 112mm equivalent field of view. Aperture with macro modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Barred Owl: Emmons’ Preserve, Kennebunkport Land Trust, Arundel, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I went to Emmons’ Preserve to see if there were any early River or Ebony-Jewelwings (big damselflies). None. But along the path as I went in toward the river, an owl took off from eye level, crossed the path low, and soared out into the forest, weaving through the trees. It landed way off in an all but impossible (for photography) spot. I could just see a shadow that I only suspected was an owl because I had seen it land there, but I gave it a try anyway. What do you know! The camera found it and focused. Had to be the big eyes. I have seen Barred Owls before at Emmons’, in this same area. Makes me wonder if a pair has a nesting territory there. This is a heavy crop from the full frame, enlarged considerably before processing using the AI super-resolution feature in Photomator. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at at least 1500mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications.

Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I caught these Least Terns bathing in a shallow pool in the sand back from the surf line. They would spend 7 or 8 minutes in the water preening and then hop up for the short flight to the bank of the pool where they would continue to preen until dry. Then they might hop back into the pool. Pool party tern style. (All kinds of puns in there for those who are sensitive to puns.) I sat on my little folding stool and watched them for 45 minutes—and took way too many photos of course. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. About 500mm equivalent field of view (slight crop). Program with flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Red Raspberry Slime Mold: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I always have my eye out for fungi and other interesting grows. This is not a fungus though it has similar habits. It is not a mold either, despite its name. The slime molds are colonies of amoeba-like organisms that grow and move in what is called a plasmodium: or a super cell with multiple nuclei, spread thin, mostly under the bark of rotting logs. Eventually, the plasmodium transforms into these fruiting bodies which break out to develop and release spores. How wonderful! As are the colors and forms life takes. Sony a6700 on my little tiny tripod. Sigma 16-300 contemporary at ~ 70mm equivalent field of view. Aperture mode with macro modifications (the top photo is two images stacked for depth of field). Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Lupine: Arundel, Maine, USA, June 2026 — it is Lupine season again in Southern Maine. Though many of us think of these mass displays of Large-leaf Lupine as quintessentially Maine, this plant is actually not native. It was introduced to gardens in the early 1900s or late 1800s and escaped into the wild—perhaps aided and abetted by well-meaning Mainers like Miss Rumphius in Barbara Cooney’s children’s book of that name. A display like this was rare even in the second half of the last century, and is only becoming common within the past 50 years. Still, it is a beautiful sight to see, and we will not stand on principle—have none to stand on, since we ourselves are incomers. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at 450mm equivalent field of view. Aperture program at f18 for depth of field. Processed in Photomator.