Posts in Category: back deck feeding station
Maine! Denisons under the deck
Carolina Wren: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — Yesterday we woke to six inches of snow in the yard, like most people in Southern Maine (some had more) and after clearing the drive and cleaning off the car and removing the snow from the shed roof I went looking for birds. We see these two wrens about once a week up on our back deck after the spilled meal-worm crumbs, and occasionally on the meal-worm feeder itself after a whole worm, and I know they spend considerable time under our deck, in the jumble of old flowerpots that have accumulated there. I think they actually nest a few yards over but they visit us. We see them often in the summer and I know they have been recorded on the Christmas Bird counts in Southern Maine, but this is the first winter when we have seen them regularly. I am always happy to see them. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Downy male and female
Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — We have had some bright clear January days this week, so I have been out in the backyard trying for some winter birds. The little Downy Woodpeckers are at the feeder and in the trees around the house everyday. Here we have a male and a female in similar poses. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Winter Pine
Pine Warbler: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2024 — I was surprised to see not one, but two Pine Warblers, a male and a female, in our yard over the past two days. According to the field guide range maps these guys should be in the deep south in January. So of course I did some research and found that there have been half a dozen e-bird sightings of Pine Warblers in Maine this January so far, as far north as Darmiscotta, and in the past 10 years there have been several hundred winter sightings. So not all that uncommon. I was thinking these were birds displaced by the unusual deep freeze and snow hitting the south right now…but maybe not. If any warbler can survive a Maine winter it is the chunky, seed-eating Pine. There were several reports of Pine Warblers hanging out with Bluebirds, and the ones in our yard are doing exactly that. They like the mealworms, but they are also attracted to suet and don’t seem adverse to picking up sunflower fragments the finches and nuthatches drop. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Taken through double-glazed deck doors.
Maine! Stoic
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — Into every bluebird’s life (well at least Maine bluebirds) some snow must fall, and when it does the bluebird meets it with typical bluebird stoicism. This is a first year bird so it is only his second snow, but he is wise to the ways of snow already. It comes. It goes. Just as long as the mealworm feeder is full. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Taken through a double glazed deck door. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Bluebird in the cold
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, January 2025 — We are having the same cold snap as most to the East right now, and our 5 bluebirds are doing their best to stay warm. I keep the mealworm feeder full. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Bluebird thanks
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, January 2025 — I am always thankful for Bluebirds. When there is nothing else to photograph, our bluebirds are always here and always striking poses. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Junco in the snow
Dark-eyed Junco: York County, Maine, USA, December 2024 — I am traveling this week…in Boston at the moment to catch an early flight to Costa Rica…so my posting schedule may be a bit strange…as and when I have time. This is a Dark-eyed Junco after this morning’s snowfall, looking forward seed on the rail of the deck below the feeders. Kicking up quite a bit of snow. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. (Taken through the double glazed deck door.)
Maine! Mealworm for breakfast
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, December 2024 — One of this year’s fledglings coming to the deck early for freshly put-out mealworms on a cold December morning just as the first sun brushed the deck. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Taken through the double glazed window of the deck door. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Cardinal aglow
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — The early morning light on our back deck caught the Cardinal when it make one of its rare visits and I just happened to be standing the open deck door photographing feeder birds. I know this does not look quite real…but it is indeed what I saw in the moment, just the effect of the light. I have not manipulated the photo other than global adjustments to shadows and highlights and sharpening. The glow is all the sun and the bird! Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. -0.3 EV to preserve highlights. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Bluebird in the November Maple
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just another backyard bluebird. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.