Among the many ice formations I photographed on my visit to the river on a great ice day, this has to be among the most wonderfully strange. Each blade of grass generated its own ice bubble, or rather its own crystal ball, in a cooperation between crystallization (freezing layer by layer), gravity, and air pressure. It is a perfect demonstration of the natural harmony of the Living Universe. Absolutely no randomness here. No plan, obviously, but a steady purpose. A plan would not have created this strange beauty, but a purpose is capable of the highest art. All the time. What a privilege to be here to be surprised by such beauty! Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 78mm equivalent field of view. My macro modifications to Aperture preferred program (f10 for depth of field). Processed in Photomator.

Unexpectedly, yesterday was a perfect ice day along the river. Not nearly as cold as it was a few weeks ago when the river was almost completely frozen over, but just the right temperature for these delicate ice formations. I think the shore and branches are colder than the water…in other words, the air temperature has to be just right to chill solids to below freezing, but not to freeze flowing water. Then when the water encounters a solid, it freezes on, and then when the water encounters that ice, another layer freezes on, etc. So the shape grows. The little whirlpool shapes are places under the ice where the water flow is actually a tiny whirlpool, standing still against the current of the river, helped to stay in place by the ice already formed above it. Moral of the story: Don’t stand still until you freeze! Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 25 and 74mm equivalent fields of view. Auto Landscape Scene selection. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

3/18

The river runs free of ice

for the first time in months

while the marsh behind,

above the stream inlet,

is still clogged

with the wreckage…

blocks three, four feet thick

in places, piled haphazardly.

You can feel the store of cold

still in the water and the ice,

making a liar of the thermometer,

and reminding us that winter

is not done with us.

Still it is good to see

the river running free:

a promise of the spring

and warmer days to come.

———————-

Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300mm at 16mm (24mm equivalent field of view). Auto Landscape mode selection. Processed in Photomator.

Song Sparrows: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2026 — There have been a pair of Song Sparrows hanging out all winter in a local park between the river and a pond, and another pair along the berm trail through the marsh. But suddenly they are everywhere, or at least there are hundreds of them somewheres. As the snow melts and bares the ground, they seem to be moving in like the tide. Makes me happy. Gives me hope. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm. Cropped to close to 1000mm equivalent field of view. Program mode with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

American Robin: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2026 — I wrote a poem last week that featured the “first fat Robin of spring” and this is it (or one at any rate), up on our deck on a cold, snowy morning. As I pointed out in the poem, this Robin clearly spent the winter “somewhere else” where the “living was easier” since our resident Robins around town are looking a bit stressed about now. My theory is that it was not far away…particularly not “down south” (this winter it would have had to have gone very far south indeed to find easier living)…no, it was just deep in the woods (probably conifers) where there is less snow and the trees and their shelter keep the temperatures a few degrees warmer, and the bugs more active. Now that spring is coming, the balance has shifted and it has “come out” of the woods to appear on our lawns and decks. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 300mm. Cropped to about 500mm equivalent field of view, and shot through a double-glazed deck door. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Red-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2026 — Not really. One of my best buddies. Or maybe the featured best buddy of the day. All the birds (well, except for Starlings and Black-headed Cowbirds and a few other mealworm hogs who challenge my generosity) are best buddies. So this little Red-breasted Nuthatch (or several at different times) is coming to our feeders more often these days, and I have discovered that if I already have the deck door open, it will land on suet while I am in the open doorway with my camera. Even if it lands first, if I am very, very careful with the sliding door, I can get the door open and it will continue feeding. It is so full of happy intent, or looks that way to me, that I cannot help but enjoy its presence. Best buddies! Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 @ 300mm. Cropped to something like 800mm equivalent field of view. Processed in Photomator.

Lesson’s Motmot: Hotel Bouganvillea, San Juan, Costa Rica, March 2026 — Still in the “year ago” mode and still on the grounds of our first hotel in Costa Rica. Lesson’s Motmot. Motmot from the call, which you can hear from quite a distance. That racket tail is rarely still. Tick tock. Tick tock. The theory is that the flicking tail attracts the flying insects that are the majority of its diet. The racket is actually what we might call an intentional wear pattern. The feathers in the gap are just very loosely attached and fall out easily. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 400mm (cropped to about 800mm equivalent field of view). Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Rufous-backed Wren: Hotel Boganvellea, San Juan, Costa Rica, March 2025 — another year ago encounter. This Rufous-backed Wren had a nest in the cactus tree on the hotel grounds and spent half an hour at least photographing it. The next day, when I took my group back to the spot to photograph it, the tree was on its side on the ground. The roots had given away, maybe spontaneously, and maybe someone or something pushed it over, but that was the last of that wren we saw in our time there. I sincerely hope it found another nesting spot in time to nest before the season was over. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 400mm (cropped to around 650mm equivalent field of view). Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Mottled Owl: Hotel Boganveilea, San Juan, Costa Rica, March 2025 — A year ago this time, Carol and I were in Costa Rica with a Point and Shoot Nature Photography group. I never get to share all of my best shots, let alone all of my shots, from a trip to Costa Rica, so while things are quiet in Kennebunk, let’s drop back to visit this wonderful Mottled Owl. A pair have nested in a large stand of bamboo on the grounds of the hotel where we begin and end our trips…which has extensive garden landscapes. It is always special to find one peaking out between the bamboo trunks, and watch, while listening to the gentle percussion symphony the breeze plays on the bamboo. People whisper. You cannot help yourself. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 400mm, cropped to about 600mm equivalent field of view. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Red-breasted Merganser (female), Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2026 — Continuing my accidental series of both sides now images, here is a nice winter female Red-breasted Merganser from yesterday at the tidal inlet. The tide was well in and the water deep by the bridge, and there were a few birds in fairly close, so I stopped for some photos. I had never looked closely enough at a female RBM to notice the delicate tan banding on the breast. Perhaps the lighting here brings it out more. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm. Cropped to at least 800mm equivalent field of view. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.