Posts in Category: backyard photo-blind
Maine spring edition: Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2022 — Chipping Sparrows are a dime a dozen in our yard from April until early October, and I have thousands of photos of them (well hundreds at least) but occasionally one poses just so, in such good light, that another image is irresistible. This is from my back-yard photo blind in the lovely light of late afternoon. Sony Rx10iv at 575mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Maine spring edition: What color is a bluebird?
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2022 — As I sit in my backyard photo blind I can see this male Eastern Bluebird busy feeding chicks in the next box two yards over, going back and forth between our yard and theirs. They have nested in the little box on that fence since we first began seeing them in the neighborhood 4 or 5 years ago. We now have them coming for meal-worms at our feeders year around. This one posed under the pines in the late day horizontal sun for a great look at the actual color of a male at his brightest. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Maine spring edition: Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2020 —
4/3
When Pine Warblers are the only
warblers you have to work with,
as it is here in Southern Maine
around about the first of May,
then you’d better believe we work
those Pine Warblers for all their worth.
It is true. Pine Warblers are our only warblers here in southern Maine in early spring…still waiting on even the Yellow-rumps to show. But we do get to really appreciate the Pines as a result. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent from my backyard photo blind. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/800th. Gotta love that late-day horizontal light.
Maine spring edition: Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2022 — Of course we have had Downy Woodpeckers all winter, coming to the suet and sunflower seeds on the deck…but there is nothing like a shot that was not taken through thermal-pane double glazing 🙂 From my back-yard photo blind in late afternoon light, with the sun just about on the horizon behind me. Sony Rx10iv at 580mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/640th.
Maine spring edition: Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (female): Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2022 — This is clearly a Red-winged Blackbird, and I am pretty sure it is a female, and not a first-year male, because I see no patch at all on the shoulder. The eyebrow is a bit bold for a female, but still. What really surprised me is the feet…take a close look at those feet. I have added a heavy crop from another photo to show the detail. Now there is foot made for wrapping around cat-tail reeds. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Maine Spring edition: White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2022 — I still have lots of Costa Rican birds and wildlife to share but spring in southern Maine is definitely happening right now…so this is a special edition of Pic for today. Yesterday at dawn the first White-throated Sparrow scouts arrived out under our backyard pines, and by late afternoon the leaf litter under the pines was host to at least two dozen White-throated Sparrows. I say at least, because I have no idea if this was a coherent flock or individual birds from a stream passing through. There is nothing more “perky” than a White-throated Sparrow in fresh spring plumage. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Purple Finches
Purple Finch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I got out the photo blind for the first time this spring yesterday, as we are getting enough action to make it worth my time. I am thinking this at least a potential pair of Purple Finches. It is hard to tell if the “female” is actually a female or just (just?) an first year male…I see a hint of wash under the chin…if it stays around I will keep my eye on this bird. The male is unmistakable…and this one was in display mode…not full mating display with the fluttering wings…but he certainly wanted to be noticed. Note the erect crest and the puffed out chin…as well as the aggressive posture. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 320 and 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Lincoln Sparrow v.2021
Lincoln’s Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — you have to be alert or lucky…or even better, alert AND lucky…to catch a Lincoln’s Sparrow passing through Kennebunk on its way north. The past two springs we have had a few (only one this year) for a few days. And, of course, they are not easy to photograph as they are “skulkers”…always low in the brush and half buried in leaves. Still, it is fun to try! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent from my backyard photo blind. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 800, 250, 250, 640, and 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Purple Finch. Superzoom.
Purple Finch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Nikon B700. I bought a back-up camera last week…and a camera smaller and lighter for taking on my trike when I don’t want to pack my Sony Rx10iv. I found that, while it is very hard to find from US dealers, there seems to a flow of “used, like new” Nikon Coolpix B700s coming out of Japan via Ebay. The B700 was the last upgrade Nikon made to their 60x zoom bridge camera. Basically a P610 with the sensor upgraded to 20mp, and 4K video added. I owned the P610, but gave it away when I got my Sonys. I kept the P900, but that is too big for a back-up camera. I don’t know what I was thinking 🙂 Anyway, I am putting the B700 through its paces, exploring its strengths and limitations. The image quality will never match the Rx10iv, but the longer zoom is nice to have (1400mm equivalent vs 600mm on the Sony). This is a full frame shot in not great light from yesterday afternoon. I really enjoy Purple Finches. 🙂 Nikon B700 at 1440mm equivalent. Shutter mode at 1/500th. Auto everything else. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. One thing I miss from the Sony already is the ability to pre-set a higher minimum shutter speed in Program without resorting to a fixed shutter speed in Shutter 🙁 But then all cameras have their limits.
fledgling Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird fledgling: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — It is hard to believe that it is that time of year, but I saw our pair of Eastern Bluebirds feeding fledglings on our deck and at the feeding station out by my photo blind yesterday already. Bluebirds do at least two broods a year, so this is their first nest…they fledged two. The fledglings will often “park” themselves near our feeders while the adults go out to forage, and the adults do take mealworms from the feeders when they return, even if they have other food for the young. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.