Posts in Category: Kennebunk
Maine! Semi-palmated Plover
Semi-palmated Plover: York County, Maine, USA — The Semi-palms are already headed south from their breeding grounds in the far arctic, and stopping to feed on our beaches here in York County. Always a cheerful sight. This one is at the edge of a tidal creek. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! Snail in flight
Herring Gull: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — It might not be about the gull…it is more about the snail that the gull is taking high up in the air, undoubtedly on its first flight, and then dropping it to the rocky verge below in hopes of cracking it open. Thus ends the snail. The first two images are overexposed slightly because I had the exposure compensation turned up in anticipation of shooting birds against the sky, and was caught on the wrong foot, so to speak, when this bird took off from the sand bar with the snail. I am still practicing my birds in flight skills with the OM Systems OM-1. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 1600 and 640 @ f6.3 @ 1/3200th.
Maine! Herring Gull catches eel
Herring Gull: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — During my birds in flight practice on Sunday morning, I managed to catch a sequence of this Herring Gull catching what appears to be an eel from the waters where a tidal creek meets our local river. Birds in flight are one thing, but a sequence like this is always special! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 1000 @ f6.3 @ 1/3200th. Plus .7 EV.
Maine! Ring-bills in flight!
Ring-billed Gull: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — I am still trying to figure out my birds-in-fight modifications to program mode on my relatively new OM Systems OM-1…so I went down to the beach and river mouth to practice on some gulls and whatever else I could find there on a Sunday morning. There were lots of gulls in flight, but I only had one close flyover. These are three frames from one burst at 5fps as the gull swept by only maybe 20 feet over me, filling the frame at 800mm equivalent. I still need a lot of practice, and I am still tweaking the settings, but getting there. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 320 @ f6.3 @ 1/3200th. Plus .7EV
Maine: Monarch Migration
The Monarchs migration has arrived in Maine. Of course we do raise a few of our own, but large numbers come down the coastline from further north this time of year. I found these in a field of clover just behind the marsh of a tidal creek near home. And there were lots out on the blueberry plains, among the fading Blazing Star flowers, when I was there yesterday. OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 250 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! Snowy Egret, shallows dancing
Snowy Egret: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — These were taken a week ago, when the congregation of Egrets at the mouth of our local river was still strong. This week, they are mostly gone on south, I think. When I went down a few days ago there was only one lonely Snowy left, hanging out with the gulls. This Snowy was quite active fishing in the shallows along edge of the sandbar. OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/800th.
Maine! Snowy Egret in flight
Snowy Egret (and Canada Geese): York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — Great Egrets outnumber Snowy Egrets by about 5 to 1 this summer on the sandbar at the mouth of one of our local rivers…but that does not mean the Snowies don’t put on a good show. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f8 @ 1/1250th. -.7EV.
Maine! Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — Still working through the photos from my afternoon with the hummingbirds on the back deck. We have more Chipping Sparrows coming to the feeders than any other bird…and indeed when I am out and about, I am amazed at the numbers of this common sparrow this year. They are everywhere and there are lots of them! This season we have adults and this year’s young going through about a 2 pounds of seed a day! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 4000 @ f6.3 @ 1/1250th.
Maine! Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — Another shot from my afternoon session with the hummingbirds on the back deck. We have had Eastern Bluebirds year-round for the past 6 years. Before than, none, but when a pair moved into a nesting box a yard over from us, they came to stay, and they have raised at lest two broods each year since. They will disappear for a week or two from time to time, but they are with us every season. I keep the mealworm feeder full just for them. Beautiful afternoon light and a very cooperative bird make for a nice portrait. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 5000 @ f6.3 @ 1/1250 (I had the shutter speed bumped up for the hummingbirds 🙂
Maine! Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch: York County, Maine, USA, August 2023 — While waiting for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird to show its gorget the other day, of course I had fun with the other birds coming to our feeding station on the back deck. This is one of a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches that have frequented our yard for many years. (I can only assume they are the same two, but I do assume that 🙂 This one is after as sunflower seed spill from the feeder above its head. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 2500 @ f6.3 @ 1/1250th.