Ebony Jewelwing, Baston River, Emmon’s Preserve, Kennebunkport Maine

There were a few more Ebony Jewelwings yesterday along the Baston River rapids and falls in Emmon’s Preserve (Kennebunkport Land Conservancy). Still not as plentiful as some years. This is a seldom seen pose, both for being so close to the water and having the open wings. This male Jewelwing was contesting this stretch of rapid with several other males, and seemed to think that sitting in the middle of it on a bit of exposed rock would seal his ownership. I am not sure the other males were impressed. 🙂

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. -.3EV. 1/160th @ f4 @ ISO 320. Processed in Polarr.

Wood Lilies, Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area, Kennebunk Maine

Lily clusters are more rare than single Wood Lilies out on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area, but clusters exist and I have found a few this year. This cluster of 5 lilies is, however, the most I have seen together. I believe it is at least two plants. 

Sony Rx10iii at 197mm equivalent. Program with Program Shift for greater depth of field. 1/320th @ f6.3 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr. 

Halloween Pennant, Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area, Kennebunk Maine

While this should be a common bug in Southern Maine, I actually see very few of them…so I am always happy to find one. Halloween Pennant. Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Wildlife Management Area, Kennebunk Maine.

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. -.3 EV. Processed in Polarr.

It is Wood Lily season out on the 
Kennebunk Plains and the lilies are 
in bloom. I went yesterday and, as 
usual, completely over-indulged. 
I came back with 100s of images, 
sorted down to maybe 20, but oh 
such lilies, such a feast for the eye, 
such a wonderful smorgasboard 
of orange and red and purple, 
standing among ferns and tall plains 
grasses like stars in the sky, how can 
I be expected to restrain myself? 

This is one of those images…a particularly orange pair with dark spots…just one of several variations on the Plains this year.

Sony RX10III at about 90mm equivalent. Program with Program Shift to f9 for greater depth of field. Processed in Polarr.

Red-eyed Treefrogs, the Lodge at Pico Bonito, Honduras

Dropping back to an unshared image from our last trip to Honduras in April. Red-eyed Treefrogs near the frog pool above the Lodge at Pico Bonito. We went out after supper with flashlights to see what we could see. Tracked an owl, but did not see it. Saw all kinds of wonderful moths on the moth sheet. And, around the pool, these wonderful treefrogs. These two are getting cozy. 🙂

Taken in the light of a flashlight. Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Anti-motion Blur mode. Processed in Polarr. 

Eastern Amberwing, UMass, Amherst MA

In mid-afternoon yesterday I could not stand another minute in the concrete dungeon at the UMass Hotel where I was working the ZEISS booth at the New England Council of Camera Clubs convention, so I abandoned my post and took a walk around campus. They have a little pond in the center of campus and I found quiet a few dragonflies that at not yet out in Southern Maine. There were Eastern Amberwings in great numbers. It is rare if I see more than a few all summer around home, so that was a treat. I found females sitting fairly easily but thought I was going to have to be happy with a flight shot of the male…but then, around the far side of the pond, I found the male sitting as well.  These little guys are not much bigger than a large bumble bee…one of the smaller dragons. 

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Polarr. For the flight shot, I switched to a larger center spot focus and continuous focus.

Roseate Spoonbill, St. Augustine Alligator Farm wild bird rookery, Florida

Since I can not get out for new pics this weekend, we will drop back to my April trip to St. Augustine, Florida and the St. Augustine Alligator Farm wild bird rookery for this shot of a Roseate Spoonbill gathering nest materials. This Palm litter was clearly more than the bird could handle, and eventually it dropped it and went in search of something smaller. It did however give us a real show as it attempted to tame the banner in the wind from its tree-top perch. 🙂 Gotta love the pink!

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. -.3 EV. Processed in Polarr. 

Fledgling Eastern Bluebird, the yard, Kennebunk Maine

The fledgling Eastern Bluebirds are camera shy (people shy) and this is the best shot I have managed. If you open the screen sliding door they are off like a shot…so I went out the front door and snuck around the house in my sock feet…and still only got this close before the bird was away. 🙂

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent (cropped to 1200mm equivalent). Program mode. Processed in Polarr. 

Tufted Titmouse, the yard, Kennebunk Maine

As I have mentioned before, we are putting dried mealworms out for the pair (now family with two fledglings) of Bluebirds that are coming to our yard. I was not aware of just how many birds would consider them a treat. We have seen Titmice, of course, but also Nuthatches, Chickadees, and Downy Woodpeckers at the mealworm cage. This Tufted Titmouse is obviously enjoying a mealworm. 

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. -.7 EV. Processed in Polarr. 

White-breasted Nuthatch, the yard, Kennebunk Maine

I put out the thistle sock feeder for Goldfinches, of course, but they don’t pay much attention to it. Mostly it is the woodpeckers and nuthatches that have time for the tiny thistle seeds…at least in our yard. For the nuthatches it is, of course, all about the beak…specifically designed for handling just such small meats. In this image you get an idea of just how precision a tool that beak is 🙂 I like the classic nuthatch pose as well. And, of course, taken at less than 10 feet, you have to admire the feather detail. This is the adult…most probably a parent to the immature I posted yesterday.

Sony Rx10iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode. 1/250th @ ISO 100 @f4. Processed in Polarr.