Posts in Category: Kennebunk
Groundhog in a tree
Groundhog (Woodchuck): Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2025 — Not something you see every day, but I have now seen this twice this spring…once in Ohio at Magee Marsh, and now here along the Bridle Path near Route 9. I actually probably walked right by this Woodchuck in the tree, just above eye-level, right beside the path, because I was too busy looking for possible hawks higher in the trees, At any rate I would have missed it if the couple behind me had not chased me down in the parking lot as I was readying my trike to ride home, to ask it was possible they had actually seen a “beaver” in a tree. They had a phone photo and I did not have the heart to tell them it did not look exactly like a beaver to me, but I was truly thankful for the alert, and took my camera back to see if it would still be there. Google AI provided the information that tree climbing is at least a well known habit of Groundhogs, along with some speculation as to why they might do it. Predator avoidance, tender spring leaves and fruit later in the season, but the one I like best is “just for fun”…or to get a better look at their territory. This Woodchuck was not at all disturbed by my attention, and was still comfortable there in the little fork in the branches when I decided I already had way too many exposures and went back to my tike and home. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at various focal lengths for framing. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Black-bellied Plover
Black-bellied Plover: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2025 — I think this might be the first full breeding plumage Black-bellied Plover I have ever seen. I was drawn down to the tide-line on our local beach by what turned out to be a group of Bonaparte’s Gulls, but while there found a small group (6 individuals) of Black-bellied Plovers in the surf, all except this one still in their Grey Plover stage, or just beginning to molt into breeding. This one certainly stood out! In Europe they are called Grey Plover because they are seen mostly in non-breeding (winter) plumage. In North America they are called Black-bellied because we see them molting into breeding with at least the black on the belly developing, and, further north, in their full black and white plumage. This one is clearly getting an early start. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm (and cropped). Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
All about the song
Song Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2025 — It is all about the song! This avid singer was posted up on a no parking sign, singing the new day when got to our local beach. I just stepped off the trike and shot. You could even say the song lifted my camera and pressed the shutter. Just glad to be there. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed (and cropped a bit) in Photomator.
Canada Mayflower
Canada Mayflower: Wonderbrook Preserve (Kennebunk Land Trust), Kennebunk, Maine, May 2025 — The forest at Wonderbrook Preserve is carpeted with Canada Mayflower…as thick and as lush as I have ever seen. Mayflower is not as flashy as Pink Lady Slipper, which is also in boom right now, but in its own quiet way it celebrates the coming of the warmth, the bursting out of life. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 127mm (insert) and 75mm. Aperture Preferred Program with my macro modifications. Processed in Photomator. Assembled in Pixomatic.
Willets in love
Willet: York County, Maine, USA, May 2025 — I was down at the local beach one of the first sunny days we have had in southern Maine in what seems like a very long time, just in time to catch these two Willets “going at it” as they say. They were a long way down the beach from me, on my way back from looking for plovers, and these are deep crops from shots at 600mm. I think they might have been too busy to know I was there anyway. 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Least Tern
Least Tern: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2025 — I got my trike back on the road yesterday…all assembled and some minor adjustments in the morning, and out to the beach with my camera in the afternoon. I was surprised by the number of Least Terns already making themselves at home on our local beach. Last year they did not come in numbers until their original nest site at the mouth of the next river south of us failed. This year they seem ready to establish a first nest on our beach. It will take me a while to get my eye and hand in for tern flight shots…but I am happy with this for a first day effort. (The terns have probably been on the beach for a few weeks…but I have not been to a long stretch of too cool, too wet, May weather.) Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Hoover
Red Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2025 — I call him (or her) Hoover because he (or she) comes after the Raccoons have been emptying our sunflower seed feeders all over the deck, mostly on rainy days for some reason, to clean up the mess. She (or he) lets me open the deck door for an unobstructed view and photographs. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 543mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. (ISO 16500 by the way.) (And a second by the way…I am not sure, of course, if our Hoover is a individual squirrel, he or she, or if we have a whole tribe of Hoovers living the woods across the road, just waiting rainy day, “clean-up on the back deck aisle” call??)
Happiness
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2025 — I am in the section of my Costa Rica photos where I was photographing frogs and snakes, and, being Sunday, I do not want to post a photo that I know will make some of you uncomfortable…so I offer this lovey, always faithful, bluebird from our back yard. 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Cardinal
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2025 — I sometimes feel that no morning is compete without a bird photo, and since my pic for today was a frog, I will offer you this bright spring Cardinal from our back deck the other day. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Taken through a double glazed deck door and processed in PhotoQuality and Photomator.
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2025 — We have at least one bright male Pine Warbler and several duller female or young male Pines hanging around the yard the past week or so. We saw some, surprisingly, in February, briefly, but these are becoming regular. This one was out under the pine where I have a feeding station. They really like suet and mealworms. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.