Posts in Category: Kennebunk
Maine! Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Another bird that I have not seen much of off our coast here in Southern Maine for many years is the Common Goldeneye. When I first moved here in the mid 90’s, if memory serves, they were relatively common near our local beach. Perhaps the recent storm brought these. There were the two males and at least one female. It is nice to catch them in good light to show off the green of head…just one of the colors it can be in changing light. OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Eared Grebe used to be a common sight at the mouths of our rivers here in Southern Maine, but this might be the first one I photographed in at least a decade. Something happened to the sea bed along our coast in a major storm going on 20 years ago, and the big flocks of Eiders, the Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, the Surf and White-winged Scoters, were pretty much gone over-night. Or maybe I just have not been looking hard enough. 🙂 Two Horned Grebes showed up after the weekend storm that also did quite a bit of damage to the sea-bed and shore line all up the coast of Southern Maine. Could be a coincidence, but maybe not. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro.
Maine! Flying Eagle again
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Another from the flight sequence of one of the two Eagles who often sit in the tall trees on the far side one of our local rivers. Right place at the right time as the bird launched out and came right by me. OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! The way winter is supposed to be
Mousam River, Kennebunk, Maine: We had winter for a few days there, but today it is raining hard, with high winds, and will reach 50 degrees. Not winter, the way it supposed to be…as far as I am concerned. The snow is still on the ground but it is a soggy mess and will probably be totally washed away by day’s end. So this will be, for the moment, my celebration of the Maine winter the way it is supposed to be. OM Systems OMD E-M5Mkiii with 12-45mm zoom. Program with in-camera HDR. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Snow birds
Eastern Bluebird: Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — Before it slips totally into long-term memory, here are a couple of mandatory bird shots from Sunday’s snow storm. Unlike many in Maine, we have had our regular birds at the feeders through the late fall and early winter, so we were not surprised to see a flurry of activity as the snow fell. The Carolina Wren has been an occasional visitor for the past year, and must be nesting in the area, and we had 7 Bluebirds at the same time around our mealworm feeder…as well as the Titmice, Gold and House finches, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and both Downy and Hariy Woodpeckers. The Red-bellied even put in a brief appearance, along with a pair of Mourning Doves. We even have one lonely Chipping Sparrow still hanging out with the mixed flock. So, yes, busy feeders. And, of course, there is nothing like a bird in the snow shot to warm the winter heart. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Snowy day bonus
Two HDR snowy landscapes from behind the dunes at our local beach, and a forest panorama (three HDR shots stitched). OM Systems OMD E-M5mkiii and the Olympus 12-45mm zoom. Program mode with HDR. Processed in Photomator and stitched in Panorama Stitcher. Assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Flying Eagle
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, January 2024 — We will pause our coverage of my December trip to Costa Rice for this local update. I went out yesterday, after finishing up clearing the drive, and resting for while, to photograph the fresh fallen snow, and check a few spots for birds. You never know if a Snowy Owl might have blown in on the storm. No owls, but our resident Eagle flew into one of its favored perches above the river while I parked the car, and sat for a few portrait shots before showing obvious signs of flight. I could not get my finger off the shutter release long enough to switch to my birds-in-flight mode…in hindsight I should have taken the half second it takes to do that when I first began to think the eagle was about to fly…but I didn’t. Next time. Still I got a few shots as the eagle passed in front of me fairly close. It is amazing how much bigger the bird looks in flight than it does sitting on a branch. OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. -0.7 EV. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! Breakfast
Common Loon: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Early in the morning, the Loon catches breakfast. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. And hopefully tomorrow’s photo will be from Costa Rica if the hotel ground have anything to offer. 🙂
Maine! Eagle off home base
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — It is rare to see our local Eagle anywhere but in the tallest pine on the far side of the river, on his favorite branch, but one day last week he settled in a autumn oak closer to the water and closer to me. Still too far for the best photography, but better! Whatever he was doing in the second shot, it was not screaming…completely silent. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400 IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! Splish splash
Canada Geese: I was photographing a small flock of Canada Geese who had spent the night at the high tide mark in one of our tidal rivers when they decided it was time to get up. Nothing has a messier take off than a flock of geese. Splish splash! And the noise! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.