Daily Archives: April 1, 2015

Bluebird of Spring!

On April 1, 2015 by lightshedder With 0 Comments - action, animals, birds, close up, Maine, p&s 4 wildlife, Pic of the Day, wildlife

B Eastern Bluebird. Kennebunk Bridle Path

I was stalking Song Sparrows in the snow along the Kennebunk Bridle Path yesterday, in very spring like 40 degree weather, when this Eastern Bluebird blew into the tree beside me. Did I mention there was a gale blowing? The Sparrows’ feathers were all akimbo in every shot. I had seen what might have been another Bluebird blow by at a distance down the trail, so I was not totally surprised, but still, every Bluebird in Southern Maine is a treat! I was only able to grab a few shots before the wind blew the Bluebird out of the tree and on to parts unknown. Such an intense blue…especially against the warm rust breast and the grays of the winter bare tree.

Grab shots like this are one of the joys of the new Nikon P900. Focus is fast enough to basically turn and shoot. I like it.

Nikon P900 at 2000mm equivalent field of view. Program with -1/3 EV exposure compensation. 1/500th @ ISO 125 @ f6.5. Processed in Topaz Denoise and Lightroom on my Surface Pro 3 tablet.

Song Sparrow Rampant

On April 1, 2015 by lightshedder With 0 Comments - action, animals, birds, Maine, marsh, p&s 4 wildlife, Pic of the Day, spring, Uncategorized, wildlife

Song Sparrow. Kennebunk Bridle Path

We have a few Song Sparrows back early…so early that they are not yet singing. It might be that only males or only females have come in this early, but for whatever reason, they are not thinking about establishing territories or nesting yet. They are uncharacteristically skulky…staying low in the brush and mostly out of sight. In another few weeks I expect to see them singing from every exposed branch and fence post top. The birds that are in are particularly vivid as well, with very high contrast between the brown and lighter parts. This bird was along the Kennebunk Bridle Path parallel with the lower Mousam River on the ocean side of Route 9 in Kennebunk.

Nikon P900. 2000mm equivalent field of view. 1/500th @ ISO 125 @ f6.5. Processed in Lightroom on my Surface Pro 3 tablet.