Posts in Category: action
Keel-billed Toucan
Keel-billed Toucan: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, March 2025 — I have not had a close view of a Keel-billed Toucan in my past several trips to Costa Rica. Just not in the right place at the right time I guess. This one sat well out in the tall trees along the edge of Dave and Dave’s property between the house and the road. Still, a wonder to see. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Scarlet Macaws in love
Scarlet Macaw: La Vergin, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, March 2025 — Again from our roadside stop in La Vergin on the way to Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park. As I said yesterday the clouds came and went rapidly so the sky behind the birds was constantly changing. This is clearly a bonded pair and the Macaw bond is a lifetime bond. This behavior is often described as “affection” and may well be. You can see the mutual preening happening in the third photo. Whatever it is, it is a captivating display. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
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.
Lunch
Anhinga: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, USA, January 2025 — This Anhinga, a good distance ahead of us as we stopped the tour cart, was busy with a catch. It is apparently no easy task to maneuver the fish, once speared, down the throat. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent (plus a heavy crop). Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Otter!
Otter: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, January 2025 — One of my Easy Birds and Wildlife folks spotted this otter crossing the berm and the road ahead of us. We were busy with a Sandhill crane eating bugs around our feet, but we abandoned the Crane to see if we could track down the otter. And, indeed, we saw it crossing the berm 50 yards ahead of us again and got closer just as it ventured back up on the grassy bank. What a treat! They are apparently pretty common at Orlando Wetlands, but I rarely get to see one in the wild. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Farewell Costa Rica 2024
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird: Nectar and Pollen Reserve, Gaupiles, Costa Rica, December 2024 — We made a stop at the Nectar and Pollen Reserve, a small patch of hummingbird garden with some fruit feeders and covered benches for photographers and birders on the mountain coming up out of the Sarapiqui valley on the way back to San Jose and the airport. It was a slow day for birds, but the gardens are lovely and there were a few (very few) hummingbirds around. This is also the last photo I will be posting from my solo trip to Costa Rica last December. My next trip to Costa Rica starts in less than two weeks, so it is about time! Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Ah adolescence
Mantled Howler Monkey: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Showing off the vigor of youth as he scampers through the foliage of the underside of the canopy, this Howler has places to go, things to do. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 @ 600mm equivalent. Program with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Mother love
Mantled Howler Monkey: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2025. This youngster was actually pretty independent already. I saw it climbing around in the branches on its own, though never more than a few feet from mom. We humans respond to the young of most species (well, at least the mammals) in a unique and predictable way. Awwwh. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Sandhills in the sky
Sandhill Crane: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, January 2025 — Florida Sandhill Crane in the clear blue sky over Orlando Wetlands. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
In the Water Apple tree
Mantled Howler Monkey: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Eventually the troop of Howlers moved over us to the Water Apple tree at the back corner of Victor’s photo glade, just where the property slopes down to the Puerto Viejo river. Water Apples attract both birds and wildlife when they ripen. I hear mixed reports from humans as to the taste, but some apparently quite like them. The Howlers certainly did. However Howlers often seem to take a bite out of the fruit and then drop it. I am not sure what that is all about. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.