Monthly Archives: November 2020
Titmouse in the November sun
Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Another of the faithful visitors to our feeders, the Tufted Titmouse, here seen against the backdrop of fallen leaves, and highlighted by the low November sun. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Leaves in the stream
We were up in the 70s on Saturday…a real Indian Summer. I did a bit of research on the term “Indian Summer”…to see how much cultural baggage it might carry…but its origins are hazy at best, and it seems never to have had a negative connotation. It…a warm dry spell in October or November…is called different things in different cultures. It is “old woman’s summer” in German speaking countries, “poor man’s summer” in slavic countries, “gypsy summer” in the Balkans, “little summer” in South America (where it happens in May), and “little autumn of the geese” in Gaelic. Many people name it for one of the Saints whose Saint Day falls in late fall…though the particular Saint varies by region. At any rate, I don’t feel too guilty calling it Indian Summer. To celebrate I got my ebike out and took a ride. I was arrested by this scene as I crossed the bridge over the Merriland River in Wells on my way to Laudholm Farms. Sony Rx10iv at about 135mm equivalent. Program mode with auto HDR. Nominal exposure: ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/320th. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.
Nuthatch montage
White-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Out in the backyard in this lovely November Maine light, with the sun coming across at eye-level, I caught the acrobatics of this White-breasted Nuthatch on the Bittersweet vine under the pines. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos, and assembled in FrameMagic.
Junco
Dark-eyed Junco: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Dark-eyed Junco is a complex species with several different identifiable regional forms. Though southern Maine is in the range of the White-winged Dark-eyed Junco, this appears to be the more common Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco, as I can see no white lining on the wings…or even more likely considering how pale the grey is…and inter-grade between the two. The Juncos are coming through Kennebunk from the north in numbers this week. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Downy peeking
Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — After Chickadees, the Downy Woodpecker has to me our most faithful and most frequent visitor to the feeders. They come to the suet blocks both on the deck and under the trees. This shot’s unique flavor is down to the afternoon light as the leaves are off the trees and the sun is low in the sky. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Another shot from the feeders under the trees in our back yard. Our faithful White-breasted Nuthatch who comes to both these feeders and the feeders on the deck several times each hour all day long every day. From what I can see the nest is actually in a little stand of trees several streets over…at least that is the way the bird heads when it leaves our yard, but we are a regular feeding stop. And we are happy to have the Nuthatches as neighbors. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Chickadee among the leaves
Black-capped Chickadee, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Another bird foraging among the fallen leaves in our backyard…this time a Black-capped Chickadee. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos (obtrusive twig in foreground removed with TouchRetouch). ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Red-bellied Woodpecker showing its belly
Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk Maine, USA — I had been birding for years before I got to see the red belly on a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and then to say that I was underwhelmed would only be the truth. I can think of lots of more descriptive names for this bird…unfortunately they are all already taken by other woodpeckers…which is how, I always figured, the Red-bellied Woodpecker got its name. In this shot the belly is showing as well as I have ever seen it…though I have better photos of the bird overall. For one thing it was taken through thermal glass. I have learned that if I attempt to get the deck door open for a shot…or even if I get too close to door, the Red-bellieds are off…and I don’t get my shot. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/50000th.
Titmouse in the leaves…
Tufted Titmouse: Kennebunk Maine, USA — I went out on Saturday and stood by the feeders under the trees for an hour, trying for photos of the yard birds among the fall leaves. The light was beautiful and the colors of autumn make for interesting backgrounds. This Tufted Titmouse found some spilled seed under one of the feeders. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Hairy in the fall…
Hairy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — We have a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers who visit the yard most days…not as often as the Downy woodpeckers, but at least once a day. I caught this one stripping bark off a dead limb in search of insects, against the backdrop of the autumn oaks. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Cropped considerably.