Posts in Category: OM-1Mkii with ED100-400IS
Maine! Carolina Song
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — There is nothing quite like the song of the Carolina Wren. It is certainly enough to pierce any amount of lingering gloom, and let the sunshine in. This one was singing around the yard the other day, possibly looking for a nesting site. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Carolina on my mind
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I thought for a while that a pair of Carolina Wrens were going to build a nest under our back deck, but apparently not. They are around most days at least a few times for mealworms, and are often singing from the maples above the house or from the peaks of the shed roofs next door on both sides. Such a cheerful, busy little bird. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm plus the digital tel-converter for a 1600mm equivalent field of view. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Close encounter of the Red Squirrel kind
Red Squirrel: Back deck, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2024 — As I have mentioned before, this Red Squirrel does not live in our yard. I suspect it actually lives in the forest along the railroad tracks several suburban lots away, but it comes to visit occasionally, to see what it can find on our back deck under the bird feeders. It is particularly fond of whatever mealworm fragments the birds have left behind. It has been, in past, quite shy, but this week it appeared quickly and then disappeared over the edge of the deck while I was watching, so I went to get my camera and went out to see if it was still in the yard. As I stood on the deck I saw it creep back up under the railings at one corner, not 3 feet from where I was standing. But instead of running off, it came up on the deck, then onto the rail to challenge me. I was clearly in the way of what it wanted to do, and it was having none of that. It was certainly not intimidated by me and my camera at all. I had to step back and zoom out to get it in frame. Lots of tail whipping and feet stamping going on, and if looks could kill. I took a lot of photos. It eventually came even closer, almost between my feet, too close for the zoom even at the widest end, and I slipped back inside so it could have the run of the deck and find its mealworm bits. Close encounters of the Red Squirrel kind. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 200-400mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications (no need to switch to animal mode for squirrels). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! 8 Cardinals
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am getting way ahead of myself with Maine bird photos, as the season turns to spring and we are getting more activity, and maybe because I am out more. 🙂 This is actually probably only 3 cardinals, with repeated shots of three birds in the course of a week found far enough apart in York County to be, likely, 3 individuals. There were 2 males at one location, but I only got shots of one. Two of these shots are from our backyard. As with bluebirds, I am seeing more cardinals this spring here in southern Maine than I can remember seeing in the past. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Pine at last
Pine Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am skipping over lots of good photos and good birds to being you this breaking news bird from the backyard. We have been seeing the Pine Warbler for a few days now, but these are the first photos of this year. It came to deck early in the morning, but then I did not see it all day long (and I looked). It only returned to the yard as the light was failing and as we were sitting down to dinner. I went out and stood on the deck and it continued to come in for mealworms and to pose nicely in the branches above. It was not much bothered byu me, but after enough shots I went back in so it could feel totally save about stealing our mealworms. One of my favorite warblers, and not just because it is generally the first one in the yard in the spring, and one of the few we actually get in the yard at any time. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! Are you looking at me!
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — Another from the series of shots of the Red-tailed Hawk circling me the other day. He was definitely aware of me as much as I was aware of him. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Photo Quality.
Maine! Red-tail close overhead
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA — I have seen this Red-tailed Hawk in our neighborhood three times now, enough to think it might have a nest somewhere close-by. On Google Earth our neighborhood looks like pretty much unbroken forest so it could be anywhere. This hawk was circling close overhead, and apparently circling me, so I got good looks at it…but only saw the mouse when processing the photos. I don’t know what its interest in me was. It already had its breakfast. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Photo quality.
Maine! More of that bluebird attitude
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — The male Bluebirds are getting bright and a bit feisty as breeding season starts here in Southern Maine. They are a bird that always shows a lot of attitude. This one is pretty obviously full of itself and all puffed up. OM Systems OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Song Sparrow Season
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — When the Song Sparrows return to the back side of dunes at our local beach it is a sure sign of the advancing spring. You hear their songs as soon as you get out of the car and they are not hard to track down for a portrait. This one popped up and sang right beside me as I was watching one further off the other direction. Nice bird. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pioneer
Piping Plover: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I went down to the beach yesterday specifically to check to see if there were any Piping Plovers yet. A Maine Audubon post said they were back and reminded folks to give them space, but it seemed very early to me. On a long stretch of beach with two breeding areas I found only this one Piping Plover…maybe a pioneer or a forward scout. He will find the beach much changed since the winter and spring storms, but hopefully it will not impact the breeding sites. They are not taped off yet, and indeed, with the beach so changed, it is hard to determine exactly where the plovers might nest. As always these shot were taken at 800mm equivalent and cropped in to at least 1600mm equivalent. I was not nearly as close to this bird as it looks, and I did not walk through the area where it was feeding. Give them space. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Still early morning light. Processed in Photomator.