American Crow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I often under-appreciate our local Crows. They are with us all year, and even on the slowest bird day you can generally find a crow somewhere in the neighborhood. And, of course, they are among the most intelligent of birds…one of the few birds with a sense of humor similar to our own…and one of the few that so obviously indulges in “play.” Watch them in the air on a blustery day and you will see what I mean. And they are, relatively speaking, good neighbors. They clean up any bite sized trash…or any shiny thing they can carry away…and help with carcass removal for the smaller mammals and other birds. If I were another bird, of a smaller species, I might not love a Crow, as they are nest predators…but as a human I can admire their sturdy beauty. There were a group of them in a yard up the street when I walked by, very busy with what appeared to be scattered popcorn, and they let me take some photos. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — As I have probably said before, any day with a Red-breasted Nuthatch in it is a good day! I only catch them at the feeders every once in while, though they likely come sometime every day. This one showed up in relatively good light for a change as well. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Hairy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — We have very large Hairy Woodpeckers here in Maine…perhaps topping out the scale of relative Hairy Woodpecker sizes, which vary regionally. They are not generally as frequent at our feeders as the smaller Downy Woodpeckers, but during very active feeding days, which we get periodically, they can be at the suet once an hour. They are more skittish than the very tame Downies, so I am always happy to get a photo of one…even like this one with the obstructing branch. The photo does give you a good impression of just how massive that beak is. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

American Goldfinch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — The numbers of Goldfinches coming to our thistle feeder is increasing daily. This is the first year we have had them in December and January. They make a change from the chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. And the bluebirds. In fact, we have good variety of winter birds this year. I would love to have the cardinals that I see occasionally in other parts of town, but I am happy with the goldfinches. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Okay, this is total projection, but I could not resist. This Titmouse looks so guilty! Caught in the act of stealing sunflower seeds on our back deck. 🙂 The bird is apparently unaware that, while I actually put the seeds on the deck for the squirrels, who have been very good recently about leaving my feeders alone, I certainly am not going to begrudge a sunflower seed for a titmouse. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.