Chipmunk. Kennebunk Bridle Path

I went back to the Kennebunk Bridle Path yesterday, since I had had a good time there the day before, and walked upriver to the first bridge. It was hard going, with 2 feet of condensed snow on the path. Others who hand come before me when the snow was softer had churned it up into a very uneven surface, which is now hard, and hard walking. And there were no birds. I did hear what was most likely a Pileated Woodpecker drumming in the woods beyond the bridge. However on the ocean side of Route 9, where the birds were the day before, there were again birds. There was a large flock of Goldfinches, a few Song Sparrows, and, again, a few Eastern Bluebirds. But the real treat was my first Chipmunk of the spring. Where the cover is heaviest in the small pines along the trail, the snow was thin enough so it has melted off to bare ground now, and this Chipmunk was out and about exploring its little patch. I caught it posed out on a limb, and it sat long enough for me to work my way around so there were no twigs between. I have a series of shots testing the limits of the Nikon’s 2000mm plus zoom. The chipper was slightly backlighted, and I love the light through the ears! And the reflection of the Bridle Path in the critter’s eye.

Nikon P900 at 2000mm equivalent field of view (hand held). 1/320th @ ISO 400 @ f6.5. I am experimenting with Topaz Dejpeg. On this ISO 400 shot it provided a slight improvement, especially in background noise and texture. Final processing in Lightroom.