Posts in Category: action
Maine! Flight against the light
Ringbilled Gull: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — I got down to the beach yesterday to see what was in the river mouth, hoping for a few winter ducks in close. Not much yet, but I had some fun with the gulls in flight with the sun behind them. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (a small amount of motion blur reduction).
Yellowstone! Pronghorn speedster
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — The Pronghorn is the fastest land animal in the Americas and is only outpaced by the Cheetah on the African plains…and that only by a single mile per hour, and, over a short distance. The Pronghorn can run faster and longer than any other land creature. They are built for speed. This shot was just an amble by Pronghorn standards. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (to remove motion blur).
Maine! Stand and deliver
Mallard Duck: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — While checking for Eagles on the river I watched a group of uncommonly active Mallards on the pond. There were a couple of males showing off and facing off. When this action happened the first time I switched the camera from birds and wildlife modifications to birds in flight and action modifications to be ready, and, indeed caught a couple of sequences of the drakes standing on the water. This one shows off that blue to good effect. Sony a6700 with Sony E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Marking territory
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Not a rutting behavior specifically, Pronghorn bucks are in the habit of attacking sagebrush plants with their horns…vigorously. They are actually marking the plants with scent from scent glands at the base of the horns, letting other bucks know that they have claimed this territory. It must be pretty powerful scent to stand out over the sent of the brushed sage itself. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pronghorn pawing.
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Another rutting behavior…the bucks paw the ground where the does have been walking or resting. Though “pawing” is a dog term, obviously. Pronghorns don’t have paws…so maybe hoofing the ground? Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pine Warbler on deck
Pine Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — We always have a few Pine Warblers come through the yard, early in the spring and late in the fall. We had a female or immature a few days ago, and this nice fall male was around off and on all day yesterday. I like Pine Warblers…in part at least because they are one of the few warblers we actually see in the yard. 🙂 Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Pronghorn love song
Pronghorn: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — This buck Pronghorn was in the mood for some loving, and was singing his love song and prancing around to please the ladies. Without success as far as we could see, at least while we were watching. They did not seem to pay him any mind, other than to move on when he wanted them to. This is only part of his mating behavior. More to come. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Crow attendant
American Crow: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Of course when the eagles are perching by the river they are never without their attendant crows. And not the kind of attention they really like. The crows are continuously harassing the eagles, trying to keep them moving, never letting them settle for long. Of course our eagles are used to it and pretty much ignore the crows, but that does not stop the crows from trying. This one landed right above me. Sony a6700 with E 70-350 G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Wolf at the carcass
Wolf: Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — Sorry for the “nature raw” shots if they bother you, but this is real. My wolf encounter was because wolves were coming to a carcass that was right by the road on Blacktail Plateau. Others who were there that day saw this mother with 2 pups about 200 yards down the draw from the carcass, and she was obviously carrying food back to them. While we were there, the park rangers came with a truck with a winch and hoist and removed the carcass to take it somewhere where the wolves could feed without being in such close proximity to fool hearty tourists and photographers. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Walking Wolf
Wolf: Blacktail Plateau, Yellowstone National Park, October 2024 — I already talked about this unintentional close encounter with the big female wolf in Yellowstone. These are shots as she passed by me. Full frame, uncropped at 361mm equivalent. That close. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at, as I say, 361mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.