Posts in Category: Maine
Maine! Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — I put out the blind and filled the feeders under the pines yesterday, but the birds have not found the seed yet. I did manage to get my first shot with the new Olympus OM-1 and the 400mm zoom that was not taken through a sheet of double pane glass 🙂 by opening the deck door for a half hour or so late in the day yesterday. I am happy to have it be the Red-breasted Nuthatch, one of my favorite feeder birds. The light was okay…full daylight but no sun so this is also my first shot in “normal ISO” range…normal for the OM-1 and the f6.3 lens. I am happy with the new rig so far. Still tweaking the settings for Point and Shoot nature photography, but I can already tell that I am going to like it. I will try to keep it about the birds and the wildlife and the flowers and landscapes…the wonders of creation! That is my promise to myself. And the Red-breasted Nuthatch is a good place to start. Olympus OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 1000 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! Hairy Woodpecker female
Female Hairy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — I picked up a new camera yesterday afternoon, the Olympus OM-1 and their 100-400mm zoom, and got the battery charged for some first shots after supper as the light was failing. It will take me some time to get everything set up for the true point and shoot experience with this camera, but first results are promising, and this is truly, once set up, the ultimate point and shoot camera. You can even tell it what you are photographing, and it will even find the bird (or bear, or the motorcycle) in the frame and track focus on it. It is totally amazing to watch as it puts a box around the bird and follows it through the frame, maintaining focus all the way. And all the other bits I preset on my cameras for point and shoot nature photography are all there in the menus…it is just a matter of finding them, and getting the right settings. 🙂 This shot is at ISO 12800 through the double glazed glass deck doors at 7PM. Not bad for a first attempt. Equivalent focal length 552mm. Program mode. f6.3 @ 1/800th.
Bluebird on a wet snow day…
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — One last shot from the snowy Saturday. You can see how wet this Bluebird is. They were still busy around the feeders…coming for mealworms every few moments. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Spring is coming, despite the snow!
American Goldfinch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Despite the snowfall, this American Goldfinch is definitely showing some real yellow under its chin! That means spring can not be far off. Taken at our back deck feeding station on March 4th. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4@ 1/500th.
Bluebird faithful…
Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Yesterday I shared three of our faithful feeder birds…three shots taken during our March snow storm. It would not be fair to our other faithful friends, our Bluebirds, not to give them their due. Right now we have at least 5 bluebirds coming each day for mealworms: our pair of nesting adults and 3 of last year’s young. Sometimes they are all sitting on various perches on our deck at the same time. I have, of course, way too many photos of them, but they are very photogenic. They pose and posture and are always doing something interesting. These storm photos are proof. It was wet snow and you can see the wet in their feathers. And the young bird seems totally mystified, or maybe just offended by March, that this white stuff is falling from the sky and landing on him. I mean! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Faithful trio…
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Three of our daily visitors spent most of their snowy day on our deck…or so it seemed. Despite the snow falling it was excellent light for detail. So maybe an uncommonly good look at some common birds…our faithful trio at the feeders. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500, 640, and 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, March 2023 — Another shot of our American Tree Sparrow in yet another snow storm. This bird seems to only show up at our back-deck feeding station when it is actually snowing. Maybe we should call it a “Snow Sparrow”. 🙂 It is a pretty bird actually. Not flashy, but pretty in an understated way. We are getting another 10-15 inches of snow today…so I expect to see the Tree Sparrow! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Cardinal dance
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2023 — The birds were not only active at the feeders during the end of February snow-storm, they were active around the feeders…particularly active, bouncing around, fluttering, being generally aggressive toward each other for no apparent reason…active! This female Northern Cardinal posed for a second, and then danced in place for several. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Process in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2023 — So, okay, this was taken on the last day of February, but still in February. We have a pair (at least) of doves that are regular in our yard and they came with the rest of the mixed flock many times on our snowy day. The subdued light brings out the subtle colors. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Female Northern Cardinal
Female Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, February 2023 — It snowed pretty much all day yesterday, and the birds were very active at the feeders on our back deck. A pair of Cardinals was in the neighborhood. I am not sure where they spent the winter so far, but this is our first yard sighting since fall. The male was shy as always, and only made one lightning raid on the feeders that we saw…but the female came a few times and stayed long enough for me to capture her portrait. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.