Posts in Category: OM-1Mkii with ED100-400IS
Maine! Pieces of Pileated
Pileated Woodpecker: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — I was walking one of my favorite paths along the river marsh when I heard a loud strident call and this bird came swooping out of the woods and back in at eye-level. It was big, the size of a crow or a small hawk, and it was not until I saw the flash of its white underwings as it banked around that my mind engaged and I knew it for a Pileated Woodpecker. I forget how big a bird the Pileated is. This bird, as is common with woodpeckers, played hide and seek with me for the next half hour. Mostly it stayed fairly low in the trees, always on the back side of the trunk or behind a heavy tangle of branches. A few times it actually hid behind a branch, very intentionally putting and keeping the branch between us. I would loose it as it flew from tree to tree, and then have to listen carefully to find it, if not by its call, which it gave repeatedly, or by its loud drum, which it only did once, then by the constant low chatter it seemed to be making as it worked. Talking to itself (or maybe to me). I did manage a few shots of pieces of the bird, and a few awkward portraits. Most between obtruding branders or through heavy tangles. Still it was fun. Eventually it got tired of playing with me, and flew off all the way across the wide marsh and the river. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! How to pick crabapple
Cedar Waxwings: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — I have lots of photos from my encounter with the Cedar Waxwings in town the other day. They were busy picking and eating crabapples…which are just now getting sweet enough for them. The first shot here is a study in how to pick crabapples, if you are an avid Cedar Waxwing, and the second is just celebrating success. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! Red-tail on the perch
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Same dull day as yesterday’s post and same Red-tailed Hawk hunting the edge of the marsh. I got to see it on three perches before it went around the corner of the woods and further up the marsh. Again the dull light brings out the subtle colors of the plumage. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! Red-tailed in flight
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — You just never know what is in store when you go out with your camera. On a grey, overcast day, between rain storms, I decided to take a short hike along one of my favorite paths down through the marshes along our local river near the coast, and walked right up under this Red-tailed Hawk hunting the edge of the marsh. It was an unusually high tide and the rising water was moving a lot of moles, voles, and mice. The hawk was so intent about its business that it paid little attention to me, and I got to watch it as moved from perch to perch along the forest edge and took sorties out over the marsh. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Maine! A second helping of waxwing
Cedar Waxwing: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Apparently, if you can go by the number of images of Cedar Waxwings in Maine posted yesterday on Facebook, the Cedar Waxwing hordes have suddenly overwhelmed the state…or maybe it was just that Friday was a sunny day and the Crabapple berries are finally sweet, and the Waxwings were out everywhere. I, myself, have hundreds (well dozens) of different Waxwing poses from my two encounters on Friday. I like this one because the bird is making itself fat. Seconds later it stretched to its full length and reassumed its elegant posture. It is also one of the few shots I got where the wax on the wing is showing…if only just. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Waxwings!
Cedar Waxwing: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — I have been looking for the flock of Cedar Waxwings that generally winters in town for months now, and while I have seen a few birds here and there with the Robin flock, yesterday was my first good Waxwing encounter of the season. And not once, but twice. Being birds, and prone to flight, I cannot say for sure that I did not see the same flock in two different locations, but I do know that I had two close encounters with 8-10 feeding waxwings. This shot is from the second when a few decided to pick off the last of the red berries on a tree in a yard right by the sidewalk. Great light. Great birds. Red berries. Nice background. What more could any photographer ask? (And I only had this second encounter because I decided to treat myself to a scone before walking home.) OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Red-tail
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Out for a walk around the neighborhood between rain showers the other day, I saw this hawk come into a tall pine above a marshy area between two streets. It was a long way off still but it stayed until I worked my way closer…not close enough…this is a heavy crop from a shot at 800mm equivalent…but close enough to admire the subtle colors of the plumage in the diffuse light, and to catch it calling. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Don’t get your tail in a twist
Eastern Grey Squirrel, Mousam River Reserve, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2024 — The squirrels were very active on one of the first moderately warm days of spring, everywhere I went yesterday. And feisty…even for feisty squirrels. This one was doing the whole “You shall not pass!” thing from the Lord of the Rings…his tail whipping around behind him like Gandalf’s cloak. I took a burst of shots hoping to catch the tail in an interesting position. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pretty duck
Mallard: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Yes I know it is only a Mallard, but I like the colors, the reflections, the patterns in the water as the duck swims…and just the whole light thing going on here 🙂 Right place. Right time. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! taking the red-eye
Horned Grebe: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — We have a few wintering Horned Grebes at the mouth of our local river most days. This one came close in for its photo. The second shot is a good portrait, but I like the first shot for its dynamic tension. OM System OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.