Monthly Archives: October 2023
Maine! Odd year
It is an odd year when the oak leaves turn before the maples 🙂 This is a particulary exposed oak branch, low on sapling at the edge of the Bridle Path here in Kennebunk, Maine. OM Systems OMD EM5Mkiii with 12-45mm zoom at 24mm equivalent. In-camera HDR scene mode.
Maine! Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, October 2023 — The other, and more expected, warbler in the young birches on the sand plain was, of course, the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Yellow-rumps come early and stay late, and are undoubtedly the most common warbler in southern Maine. Though you might think they are looking up to spot danger…they are actually looking for insects on the underside of the birch leaves. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 468mm. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! Palm Warblers
Palm Warbler: York County, Maine, USA, October 2023 — I was surprised to find a large mixed flock of warbler working an isolated stand of young birch trees out in the middle of the sand plain. I expected the Yellow-rumped but I was even more surprised to find that at least half of them were Palm Warblers. I don’t see Palms in Maine all that often, and I have never seen them in such numbers. A nice treat, and I took way too many photos. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 464mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife medications. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! Red-legged Grasshopper
Red-legged Grasshopper: Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2023 — There are lots of grasshoppers out on the Kennebunk Plains…from early spring to late fall. I believe this one is a Red-legged Grasshopper, and this is a hand-held focus stacked image at 800mm equivalent with the OM Systems OM-1 and the ED 100-400mm zoom. Eight shots at different focus points, taken automatically and stacked in the camera. It is rare to find a grasshopper cooperative enough for this trick. 🙂 Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! Tuesday Landscape
Along the edge of the Kennebunk Plains…these are always among the first trees to reach full color…not quite yet, but getting there. OM Systems OMD EM5Mkiii with 12-45mm Pro zoom at 78mm equivalent. In-camera HDR scene mode. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine: Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, September 2023 — I think these will be the last of my September birds. I am more used to seeing Savannah Sparrows on the ground, so it took me a few moments to convince myself this sparrow in a tree was a Savannah, but I am pretty sure it is. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro. ISO 640 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! Monday’s landscape
A long time ago they built a road across the Little River Marsh to get to the beach and formed this pond. The road is closed to vehicles these days, and probably has not been used for anything but farm traffic for a generation or more, maybe not since horse-drawn days, but the pond remains. OM Systems OMD EM5Mkiii with 12-45mm Pro zoom at 24mm equivalent. In camera HDR. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! Mixed feeding flock
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Grey Catbird: York County, Maine, USA, September 2023 — Lots of birds are sneaking through our woodlands and thickets right now, on their way south down the coast. This small flock from last week was mainly Catbirds and Yellow-rumps, in the wet Maple forest only a few yards from the open marsh behind the dunes of the Atlantic and the Little River…but there were a few outliers…the Ruby-crowned and the Common Yellowthroat, both being very elusive in the dense understory. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro. ISO 640-1000 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! Sunday Supplement 2: Autumn’s touch
Fall is coming! This wet maple forest is right next to the marsh just inland from the sea, so it will be a while before peek foliage…but already the tallest maples are touched by fall. OM Systems OMD EM5Mkiii with 12-45mm Pro zoom at 24mm equivalent. In-camera HDR mode. Processed in Pixomator Pro.
Maine! Sunday Supplement 1: being a Great Egret
Great Egret: York County, Maine, USA, September 2023 — It is the first of October already, and I still have many photos from September to share. We seem to be getting a second helping of Egrets coming through. They are not congregating at the mouths of the rivers, so I assume whatever spawning was happening in the shallows is over. They are spread out now in our marsh pools. This one was in a somewhat accessible spot and I got as close to a Great Egret in Maine as I ever have. Florida close. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro. ISO 200 @ f7.1 @ 1/1000th.