Posts in Category: action
Maine! Greater Stopover
Greater Yellowlegs: York County Maine, USA, August 2024 — We only see the Yellowlegs during migration in Maine…mostly in the late summer and fall when they are on their way south from the Canadian nesting grounds. We see way more Greater than Lessor for some reason. In my experience, they like the marshes along the tidal rivers well behind the dunes. This is my first of the season. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-75 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Hummer at the fuchsia
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (immature male): York County, Maine, USA, August 2024 — The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are coming back south down the coast and we have, as I noted a few days ago, a young male that is attempting to dominate the feeder. At the beginning of the summer we hung a fuchsia plant next to the feeder, on the advice of a friend who gets lots of hummers visiting the flowers. We have watched all summer, and this new young male is the first to do so on a regular basis. These images are early morning shots, on a cloudy day, so the light was less than optimal, especially for the high shutter speeds I wanted for the hummer, but still. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Animal/bird subject detection auto focus. ISO 12,800. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Feed me!
Least Tern: York County Maine, USA, August 2024 — The Least Tern chicks are fully fledged and have been flying around the beach for weeks, but they aren’t hunting on their own yet. They gather in little pods to wait for mom or dad to bring them a Sand Eel or Rock Gunnel, all calling out softy until an adult appears and then really squawking. It can’t be long now before the adults leave them to their own devices. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Animal/bird subject recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Walk this way
Snowy Egret: York County, Maine, USA, August 2024 — We have a lot of smoke from the wildfires to the west of us in the air right now, and it makes everything sort of soft…at least when photographing (not to mention making it a bit hard to breathe). It does not seem to be bothering the birds, though it is hard to tell. This Snowy Egret was in the marsh quite close to the path. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Animal/bird recognition auto focus. Highlight metering mode. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Frumpy Egret
Great Egret: York County Maine, USA, August 2024 — This was just a passing mood…the Egret was in fine form…it just had a moment of frump, such as comes to us all in the course of a day in the marsh. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VDX zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Animal/Bird detection auto focus. Highlight metering. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Loosestrife Honey
Western Honey Bee: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2024 — Loosestrife Honey sounds like a good brand name…if not for Loosestrife being so aggressively invasive here in Maine. The Honey Bees seem to enjoy it, but look how dark that pollen sack is! Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 115mm equivalent from about 5 inches. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Great flyby
Great Egret: York County Maine, USA, August 2024 — One of the great things about bird and wildlife photography is that you just never know what is going to happen. It was such a slow morning yesterday that I was doing macros of fungi in the forest, just to keep myself busy (and, honestly, because I enjoy photographing mushrooms) but when I stepped back out onto the marsh trail what should come flying by but this Great Egret…close too. It made one loop coming down river past me, and then disappeared way up river. This one has it all. The bird. The feather detail. the sun light highlighting the head and beak, the extension of the wings, the cloud mottled blue sky behind! Not expecting that. But so glad to be there when it happened and ready with my camera. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. ISO 200 @ f6.3 +.3EV @ 1/2000th. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Showing off for the lady
Double-crested Cormorant: York County Maine, August 2024 — It was that kind of day yesterday. The air fresh washed from a day of storms, clear blue sky, everything crisp and clear, and the Cormorants were in the mood to show off. Evidently the male who makes the biggest splash gets the female…or that seems to be what the males were thinking yesterday. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! The Waxwing Test
Cedar Waxwing: York County Maine, USA, August 2024 — Cedar Waxwings are, in my opinion, one of our most beautiful birds here in Maine. I don’t see them often. They come in quickly as a small flock to cherry pick (and I do realize that might be taken as a pun) the ripe fruit from any tree or bush, and then, just as quickly they are gone…off to another tree or bush with fruit ready…maybe a mile away. I was in the right place at the right time yesterday when half a dozen Cedar Waxwings raided a couple of bushes either side of the trail I was standing on. They are super active and fast, and their ultra-fine plumage and crayon bright wax wing and tail tips, as well as the large black eye in the black mask, make them beautiful, but also difficult to photograph well. They make an excellent test for any camera and lens combo. The Sony a6700 and Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom pass with flying colors. The camera rarely missed focus even when the birds would not sit still, and I am really pleased with the way the feather detail and colors are rendered. Sharp, but still realistic. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! hens and poults.
Wild Turkeys: York County, Maine, USA, July 2024 — before I forget. Walking down a trail through the marsh along the river I looked up to see this small flock of hens and poults ahead of me, confined by the brush on either side, but in no hurry. They eventually reached an opening at the end of a small footbridge and wandered off into the marsh. Still taking their time. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Animal/bird recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.