Monthly Archives: March 2021
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — As I have mentioned, the Song Sparrow is one of the first migrant passerines to arrive back in Southern Maine as spring comes on…about the same time as some of the larger non-passerines…the Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks. Many of our common feeder birds winter over these days. I saw my first Song Sparrows last week, though I have not heard one singing yet. They come in under my backyard photo blind feeders to clean up after the other birds. This one posed nicely, up off the ground for a change, before moving on. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Nuthatch at the feeder(s)
White-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I never get tired of watching the White-breasted Nuthatches at our feeders. When photographing them, the better trick is catching when they are not at a feeder. They tend to fly in for a quick raid and they fly off, quite far, before dealing with their spoils. Still, I will take my Nuthatches any way they are willing. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Vertical: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/1000th, Facing: ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Horizontal: ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Pugilant Squirrel
Grey Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Great light, engaging squirrel…what could go wrong? I was in my backyard photo blind (a chair blind I put out when I need it, and take down when I don’t), and the squirrel was certainly aware I was in there. He or she was not threatened enough to do more than aggressively posture…but posture he or she did. 🙂 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.
Ma Cardinal
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — The female Cardinal is much bolder than the male, and will feed under the feeders when I am in the blind. I hope, of course, that over the summer the male will become more confiding as well, but we will have to see about that. He was pretty stand-offish all last breeding season. As it happens, the female is just as striking in her own way. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Redbird
Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — There is a pair of Cardinals nesting a few houses over, and they visit our yard at some point most days, to see what they can pick up under the feeders by my backyard photo blind. The female is often right under the feeders, but most days the male is more elusive, keeping the female in sight but not coming in close himself. These are heavy crops taken from a good distance. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Song sparrow courting…
Song Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Spring is in the air and the Song Sparrows, newly arrived from the south, are courting. This male was doing the fledgling begging dance for his prospective mate. I shot a burst, but by the time I remembered the video button he was, of course, done. His feathers vibrated like the wings of a hummingbird. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 125 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
First Song Sparrow of the season
Song Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — As I was walking. by one of the brush piles along the edge of our lot the other day I caught a sparrowish bird out of the corner of my eye. I could not pin it down, but it looked like a possible Song Sparrow…if so, my first of the year. We never had Song Sparrows in our yard until last spring and summer, when I started putting out mixed bird seed in the feeding station by my backyard blind. Once they found us, we had a few each day…mostly following the Purple Finches who would come to the feeder and throw lots of seed out as they looked for just the right seed. The Sparrows would forage on the ground under the feeders. Song Sparrows are generally one of the first migrant song birds I see in fields and marshes so it is no surprise that they would be the nesting resident to show up in our yard. We have a couple of them now…and this one posed nicely outside my blind. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Comparison: Downy vs. Woody
Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers (Hairy on top): Kennebunk, Maine, USA — The size difference between Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers seems to be particularly pronounced here in Maine, and perhaps in New England in general. It is not that our Downys are small…it is that our Hairys are huge. This set of shots of male Hairys and Downys, taken from the same position in my blind with the same lens, on the same suet cage, show the difference well, and draw attention especially to the beaks. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Seen side by side like this, there is no mistaking the difference. Seen one at a time, and in less “controlled” conditions, it can still be a challenge. 🙂 Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Assembled in FrameMagic. ISO 125 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Dark-eyed Junco, Slated Colored
Dark-eyed Junco, Slate-colored variety, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Dark, broody, almost raining day in the backyard photo blind, but a very cooperative Dark-eyed Junco. We used to get several varieties in New Mexico when I lived there, but just mostly the one here in New England. This is a typical Slate-colored. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Molting Gold
American Goldfinch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — Following up on the post of a still very dull Goldfinch from a few days ago, here is a male going through the change to breeding plumage. It will be a month or more before we see males in full breeding. Last spring when I was in the blind every day I got to see the whole process. This one, however, appears to be on the fast track. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 125 @ f4 @ 1/500th.