Monthly Archives: February 2024
Maine! Show-off
Red-breasted Merganser: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — There have been female or immature Red-breasted Mergansers in the tidal creek near the mouth of our local river since the beginning of winter, but this might be the first male I have seen, and he was putting on a good show for the female that was with him. Such a handsome bird! OM Systems OM-1Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom. First two Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Third Program mode with my custom birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Florida! the business end
Great Blue Heron: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — A Great Blue Heron posing for a close up portrait along Blackpoint Drive. The bird was only a few yards from the roadside, and busy with its hunting. It had its spot. It was there almost every time I went around the Drive. OM Sysems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Rim light Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — I am testing a new camera body with my 100-400mm zoom so I have spending a lot of time in the backyard shooting Bluebirds and Chickadees. Most shots I crop close to access the sharpness of the image…but I really like this partially back-lighted image for the feelings it evokes. This is one for framing. OM Systems OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Framed in FrameMagic.
Costa Rica! Hybrid incoming
Hybrid Scarlet and Great Green Macaw: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — One of the results of the dominance of the male Great Green Macaw in the flock of Scarets, this hybrid bird was coming in fast and just swerved at the last moment to avoid a collision. Right place at the right time! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 200mm equivalent. (This bird was close!) Program mode with my custom birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! White bird in the sun
Snowy Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Always a challenge…a white bird in the sun. You want to catch the feather detail. The OM-1 handles it very well. And who could resist the pose? This Snowy Egret was sitting up only a few yards from the road. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! two Macaws
Scarlet and Great Green Macaws: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Two, not of a kind, but closely related. This is a sight you don’t often see. These are both free flying birds that have settled at the Macaw Ranch and are habituated to human proximity. This is in the gardens outside the ranch house. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 300mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Great Green Macaw Portrait.
Great Green Macaw: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — And here is the man himself…the Great Green Macaw that has attached himself to the flock of mostly Scarlet Macaws at Macaw Ranch. Posing nicely. Certainly the closest shot I have of this endangered bird. Efforts are, as I mentioned in a previous post, in progress to reintroduce the Great Green Macaw to its traditional range in the lowlands of Costa Rica…but researchers have discovered that success is limited by the available habitat and food sources. The country as it is, simply can only support so many Great Green Macaws. To increase the population will require habitat restoration, not just bringing in more birds. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 300mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! A Pelican Squad
American White Pelican: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — My first days at Merritt Island during the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival I saw the Pelicans in the air several times, but never found the flock at rest and feeding. Eventually they settled down near enough to Blackpoint Drive and the main refuge road so I got some photos on the water. This is from my first day, and is just one squad of a large platoon going over. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Merganser action
Red-breasted Mergansers: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — a little Red-breasted Merganser action from the tidal creek near us. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Costa Rica! Great Green
Great Green Macaw: Macaw Ranch, Sarapiqui Valley, Costa Rica, December 2023 — There is at least one full adult male Great Green Macaw that has attached itself to the free flying flock of Macaws at the Macaw Ranch…but his influence is all out of proportion. He appears to be the dominant male in the flock, as many of the younger birds are obvious hybrids. Again, mixed feelings. I am not sure this degree of hybridization is good for either species…and a lot of effort has gone into the attempt to restore Great Greens to their previous habitat in Costa Rica. Still, to see one in flight, coming on at eye-level was a real treat. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 300mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.