Posts in Category: Kennebunk
Carolina in the brush
Carolina Wren: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2025 — I spent another hour in my blind by the feeding station under the pine, and this time got to see our Carolina Wren pair in their natural environment. I see them on our deck at least once a day, or sitting on the clothes line, but is somehow better to see them in the leaf litter doing what they do most of the time, even if the brush gets in the way. 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Purple Finch
Purple Finch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2025 — The Purple Finches are back. We must have a dozen of them, both male and female, visiting the feeders several times a day. I am going through twice as much sunflower seed as normal. And there is nothing quite like an adult male Purple Finch in the spring. So bright. So rich. Even, or maybe, especially in the rain. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and PhotoQuality.
Male and Female Maple
Female and male Red Maple Flowers: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2025 — I was not aware until yesterday, when someone commented on my photo of Red Maple flowers, that there are male Red Maples and female Red Maples, and that the flowers are different. I have never, apparently, seen a female Red Maple tree…or at least not looked close enough for it to register. Both of the big maples in our yard are, it turns out, male, and the ones I have photographed in the neighborhood over the years have all been male. So, of course, I had to go out to find a female Red Maple yesterday. It wasn’t hard and I did not have to go far. The neighbors behind us have at least one female Red Maple in their yard. It has no low branches so the photo above is of flowers high in the tree, taken with a long zoom and cropped in to show the detail. The second photo is male flowers for comparison. Those were on a low hanging branch. A little googling around has taught me that, not only are there female and male Red Maples, but some trees have both flowers, and some trees, apparently, change gender over the years. I also was able to confirm my impression that there are more male Red Maples in a local population than females, sometimes by a ratio of 3 to 1. That makes sense, at least to me, since maples have to rely on wind-blown pollen for reproduction, and the more pollen in the air, the better chances the female tree will be fully fertilized. I am always surprised by how little I actually know about the world around me…and delighted by how much there is to learn. Female and male maples. Who knew?
Maple blossoms
Maple Blossoms: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2025 — I am always eager for the Maples in our yard and our neighborhood to blossom. The flowers often go unnoticed, and under appreciated…just a red haze in the tall maple trees. But up close they are quite beautiful. If you can find a low hanging branch, take a look. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at various focal lengths for framing. Program mode.
Hermit
Hermit Thrush: York County, Maine, USA, April 2025 — I went out looking for Trout Lily again yesterday as the temperatures climbed up into thee 70s…still only leaves were I looked, but there were quite a few Hermit Thrushes, along with a small flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, moving through the waking forest. The Thrushes were not singing, but once I saw one, I saw half a dozen more moving through at eye-level and on the ground, all within 100 yards of each other. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Crocus Spring
We had one mild, sunny spring day this week, and the Crocus buds opened for a few hours. They have been tight closed since, but they might peek out again today. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at various focal lengths for macro and framing. Aperture preferred for depth of field control (my standard macro settings). Processed in Photomator.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet: York County, Maine, USA, April 2025 — Mild sunny days have been rare as spring comes on here in Southern Maine. Yesterday inspired me to get out for a photoprowl. I went looking for Trout Lily (not even any leaves showing yet) and then along the path by the river to see what I could see. Again, not much. But I met a fellow photographer/birder on the trail who told me that there were Kinglets up ahead. Otherwise I might have turned around early, and never known what I was missing. It is kind of miracle that they were still there when I got there, and hung around just long enough for a few photos. I am pretty sure these are my first Golden-crowns for York County, though I have seen lots of Ruby-crowned. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Piping Plover
Piping Plover: York County, Maine, April 2025 — Taking a break from my coverage of the March trip to Costa Rica. I took some time on a sunny afternoon to go check the beach for Plovers. Our Piping Plovers started arriving in York County more than a week ago. Most arrive from the south in April, and the males begin to establish territories. They still, to my eye, look a bit cold and uncomfortable on the beach. It was only in the 40s yesterday, with a deep wind chill, but I saw at least a dozen individuals in a 1/4 mile stretch of beach. As always I will say that I am very careful when I photograph Plovers. They are an endangered species, clinging to very limited habitat here in Maine. In the original photo this bird is still quite small, taking up only about 3% of the frame. I use a long lens and crop in, and I never get close enough so that the birds retreat from me. Shots like this one happen when I am standing still and the plovers come toward me. And I stand there until they move away again on their own. If you see Plovers on the beach, give them their space. If you want to see them close, carry binoculars or a camera with a long lens. And please, if you walk your dog on the beach, obey the signs and use a leash. Never allow your dog to chase birds. We have been privileged to see Plover and Tern numbers grow in recent years. That is a trend we want to contiinue. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Serenity Loon
Common Loon: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2025 — I present for you this Sunday, the Serenity Loon…without a care in the world…the only ripples being those it makes itself in its peaceful passing. 🙂 What the world needs now. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Wrinkled red
Rose hips. Kennebunk, Maine, USA. February 10, 2025. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 532mm equivalent. Aperture mode at f16. Processed in Photomator and framed in LikeAFrame.