Posts in Category: Pond
Maine! Ducks away!
Mallard: York County, Maine, USA, November 2024 — Just a short hop over the reed bed in a local pond, but the image catches the full effect of the drake Mallard flight, and all his colors. Sony a6700 with E70-350G at 525mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Luminar Neo (motion blur sharpening).
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.
Maine! Fall ducks
Mallards: York County, Maine, USA, October 2024 — Mallards on the fall reflections in a small pond. Just because. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Hoping to get lucky
Moose: Floating Island Lake, Yellowstone National Park, September 2024 — It is rutting season in Yellowstone, and this bull moose was in close attendance on the calf and cow we found feeding at the edge of the reeds in Floating Island Lake…I am told that it is a rare sight to see a bull “guarding” a cow with a calf the way his was, but I think maybe he was just hoping to get “lucky”. He seems to have romance on his mind in this shot. The cow may be somewhat reluctant as she still has this spring’s calf with her, but if he catches her in just the right 12 hour period when she is receptive, he might have a chance. He does seem determined. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Yellowstone! Cow and Calf up to their necks
Moose: In our first early morning encounter with the moose family at Floating Island Lake in Yellowstone National Park, both the cow and calf were in the water, walking (or swimming in the case of the calf) along the edge of the reeds, feeding below waterline on the wilted vegetation. With the warm direct sun, and the reflections in the pond, it was a sight to see and a treat to photograph. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Making ripples
Northern Water Snake: Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains Nature Conservancy, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2024 — I saw the Water Snake swimming along the shore of the pond and got off a series of frames. I like the ripples in this one, and the light…and the sense of power that it somehow captures. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Spotted Spreadwings
I stopped at the drainage ponds at Southern Maine Medical Center here in Kennebunk Maine to see if there were any Odonata around. This has not been a very abundant summer for dragons or damsels, but I found several mating pairs of Spotted Spreadwings in the reeds and brush around the pond. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Eastern Calligrapher
Eastern Calligrapher: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2024 — This is another tiny bug…it was a good day for them yesterday at Roger’s Pond. There were lots of these tiny (just about 1/4 inch) hover flies working the (invasive) Purple Loosestrife. This is the only shot I got with the wings open. I was debating making this a Pic for Today, but when I looked it up and saw the name I could no longer resist. Calligrapher! I wonder if it is called that because of the pattern on the back or because it draws letters in the air as it hovers around flowers? Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 115mm equivalent (the macro range on the Tamron, so this about half life size depending on what you are viewing it on…more than life size on anything larger than a phone. 🙂 Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Tiny Dragons
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2024 — Among my favorite dragonflies, the diminutive Eastern Amberwing, is only the size of large bumblebee. They are not all that common in Southern Maine, but there are usually a few at Roger’s Pond this time of year. I think this is a male, due to the solid amber wings, and, indeed, if so I only saw males at the pond yesterday. The females may have been further out among the lily pads. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Fall day
Beautiful fall day in southern Maine. Kennebunk Bridle Path. OM Systems OMD EM5Mkiii with 12-45mm zoom at 24mm equivalent. HDR Scene Mode. Processed in Pixelmator Pro.