Posts in Category: Kennebunk
Maine! Head and shoulders
American Robin: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — If I sit very still in my camp chair, the Robins, most common of yard birds here in Southern Maine, will come right up to me. These two shots are at 1600mm equivalent, using the digital tele-converter in the OM Systems OM-1Mkii with the M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom, so I was not as close as it looks. Still, pretty close for a wild bird. Late afternoon light picks out every feather detail. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Most Purple!
Purple Finch: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — Even though I am skipping over many memorable photos from the extended neighborhood here in Southern Maine from the last few days (and weeks), I feel it is only fair to celebrate the most purple of Purple Finches who came and posed so nicely in the late day, last of the sun, in the backyard, just before supper time. I have been waiting for the male Purples to arrive, and for an opportunity to photograph them away from the feeders. Only fair to share. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 1600mm equivalent (using the 2x digital tele-converter in the camera body). Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos. (And no, this is not an exaggeration. In the soft sun of early evening in the spring, the Purple Finches, or at least this Purple Finch, do (does) look that purple 🙂
Maine! Song Sparrow again
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — Except for the Chipping Sparrow, of which there are thousands in Southern Maine, our most common Sparrow of spring and early summer just might be the Song Sparrow. They are certainly among the most visible, probably because they are so often drawing attention to themselves with their songs. We get them in our yard occasionally, but I know of several pairs on established territories just right in my area, and you are likely to hear and see them most anywhere you go. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine Landscape
A young maple undercut by this spring’s storm tides even 5 miles inland along the Mousam, but still in full flower. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 12-45 Pro. Program mode with in-camera HDR. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Carolina Song
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — There is nothing quite like the song of the Carolina Wren. It is certainly enough to pierce any amount of lingering gloom, and let the sunshine in. This one was singing around the yard the other day, possibly looking for a nesting site. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Carolina on my mind
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I thought for a while that a pair of Carolina Wrens were going to build a nest under our back deck, but apparently not. They are around most days at least a few times for mealworms, and are often singing from the maples above the house or from the peaks of the shed roofs next door on both sides. Such a cheerful, busy little bird. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm plus the digital tel-converter for a 1600mm equivalent field of view. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Close encounter of the Red Squirrel kind
Red Squirrel: Back deck, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2024 — As I have mentioned before, this Red Squirrel does not live in our yard. I suspect it actually lives in the forest along the railroad tracks several suburban lots away, but it comes to visit occasionally, to see what it can find on our back deck under the bird feeders. It is particularly fond of whatever mealworm fragments the birds have left behind. It has been, in past, quite shy, but this week it appeared quickly and then disappeared over the edge of the deck while I was watching, so I went to get my camera and went out to see if it was still in the yard. As I stood on the deck I saw it creep back up under the railings at one corner, not 3 feet from where I was standing. But instead of running off, it came up on the deck, then onto the rail to challenge me. I was clearly in the way of what it wanted to do, and it was having none of that. It was certainly not intimidated by me and my camera at all. I had to step back and zoom out to get it in frame. Lots of tail whipping and feet stamping going on, and if looks could kill. I took a lot of photos. It eventually came even closer, almost between my feet, too close for the zoom even at the widest end, and I slipped back inside so it could have the run of the deck and find its mealworm bits. Close encounters of the Red Squirrel kind. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 200-400mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications (no need to switch to animal mode for squirrels). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! 8 Cardinals
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am getting way ahead of myself with Maine bird photos, as the season turns to spring and we are getting more activity, and maybe because I am out more. 🙂 This is actually probably only 3 cardinals, with repeated shots of three birds in the course of a week found far enough apart in York County to be, likely, 3 individuals. There were 2 males at one location, but I only got shots of one. Two of these shots are from our backyard. As with bluebirds, I am seeing more cardinals this spring here in southern Maine than I can remember seeing in the past. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Pine at last
Pine Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am skipping over lots of good photos and good birds to being you this breaking news bird from the backyard. We have been seeing the Pine Warbler for a few days now, but these are the first photos of this year. It came to deck early in the morning, but then I did not see it all day long (and I looked). It only returned to the yard as the light was failing and as we were sitting down to dinner. I went out and stood on the deck and it continued to come in for mealworms and to pose nicely in the branches above. It was not much bothered byu me, but after enough shots I went back in so it could feel totally save about stealing our mealworms. One of my favorite warblers, and not just because it is generally the first one in the yard in the spring, and one of the few we actually get in the yard at any time. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! Are you looking at me!
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — Another from the series of shots of the Red-tailed Hawk circling me the other day. He was definitely aware of me as much as I was aware of him. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Photo Quality.