Monthly Archives: September 2021

Downy at the sunflower seeds…

Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — until this year, I had not noticed the Downy Woodpeckers at the feeders, other than the suet feeders, enough to realize that they are regular seed eaters. When I mentioned that discovery this spring, others assured me that “their downies” ate seed all the time, so I guess it was just me (or possibly “my downies”). It is still a treat to see them at the sunflowers. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent in only fair light. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos and assembled in FrameMagic. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Fresh Frog!

American Bullfrog: Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains Preserve, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — I always have to look up the difference between the Bull and Green Frog, as we have both here, often in the same pond. This one is a Bullfrog since it lacks the dorsal ridges of the Green. I could not resist taking the photo as it sat so nicely on the bit of sand right at my feet at the edge of the pond. 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.

Chickadee in low light

Black-capped Chickadee: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — While photographing the Red-breasted Nuthatch the other morning early, I could not resist this Chickadee using the same feeder. Nothing so bold as a chickadee. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 6400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe: Wells Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — The Phoebes are faithful in Southern Maine. They arrive early in spring, and leave late in fall, and they are abundant and very present most places you might go all summer. There are certainly numbers of them along the lower trails at Laudholm Farms. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr, Pixelmator Pro Photo (ML Super Resolution) and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/640th.

Amazing Mushrooms…

It continues to be an amazing year for mushrooms and fungi. These are from the past few days on the Kennebunk Plains and our front yard. Using Google Lens, the top left might be Tiger’s Eye, no idea on the top right, then next down might be Dyer’s Polypore, left bottom is probably a Russula, next to the right might be False Death Cap, and the last one is probably another Russula. But I would not trust any mushroom ID I made, even with the help of Google Lens 🙂 I just enjoy the forms and textures and colors. Sony Rx10iv, mostly at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. Assembled in FrameMagic.

Starting Fall early…

This is the other little pond along Rt. 9 between Brown Street and the Wells town line. This one is right on the road. I have photos of it in all seasons, but fall is by far the most colorful. This pond is so exposed, and the water’s so cold, that you have to watch it closely. The leaves here are done turning and off the trees when the leaves further inland are just thinking about color. iPhone SE with Sirui 18mm ultrawide lens. Apple Camera app with Smart HDR engaged. Processed in Apple Photos.

Fall’s first touch…tentative

Autumn is happening! There are two cold water ponds along Rt. 9 between Brown Street and the Wells town line, and fall falls first long the edges of those ponds where the cold air gathers overnight. Add an interesting sky for the first real landscape of autumn. In another week or week and a half this will be a solid blaze of color. (Watch this space.) iPhone SE with Sirui 18mm ultra-wide lens. Apple Camera app with Smart HDR engaged. Processed in Apple Photos.

Tumbling down at Emmon’s Preserve

As I have mentioned before, the Batson River tumbles down over a short run of ledges at Emmon’s Preserve in Kennebunkport…there is not always enough water to make it interesting, but recent tropical storms and tropical storm remnants have made the ledges merry! I am not a fan of the whole silky water effect thing, when it is overdone, but I do like a bit of blur. Sony Rx10iv at 34mm equivalent. Program with HDR. Program shift for a slow shutter speed and Exposure Compensation to hold the highlights. Nominal exposure: ISO 100 @ f16 @ 1/6th. -1.7 EV. Hand held.

Fall coming on…

Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA — Early signs of fall. The leaves have begun to change over the past 3 days and I can see autumn coming…feel it too in the mornings. Sony Rx10iv at 567mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 800 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Red-breasted Nuthatch visit

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Kennebunk, Maine, USA — The Red-breasted Nuthatches come rarely enough to our feeders that I count each visit as something special…even when they come, as this one did, well past the hour for decent photography. It is getting dark early these late September days. A shot like this strains the abilities of the Sony Rx10iv. 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 5000 @ f4 @ 1/500th. I am eagerly awaiting Topaz DeNoise for the iPad…but they are taking their own sweet time with it. 🙂