Daily Archives: February 22, 2024
Maine! Stand and deliver!
Common Loon: York County, Maine, USA, February 2024 — This is a common behavior for Common Loons. This one did it 3 times while I was watching and the 3rd time I was ready for him. It is a whole production with the bird rising slowly out of the water and extending its wings several times before settling back. I am not sure what purpose it serves. It does not appear to be any kind of display, as this bird was all alone in the creek. Unless it was just practicing. I suspect though it has more to do with shaking the water out of the wings, or warming itself between dives. 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.
Florida! Tricolor
Tricolored Heron: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — There are a two ways you can go on foot from the rest stop parking half way around Blackpoint Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island…or maybe I should say two ends of the big loop trail. You can go straight out, and a long way round, or you can walk out to the observation tower and back. I have only done the whole loop once, and was in some fear I might never get back, so I generally just walk out to the tower. I did not go to the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival during Covid, of course, and they only got rekindled this year, but there was a Tricolored Heron sitting just exactly were I saw and photographed one sitting, just this side of the tower, 4 years ago. Maybe the same heron? 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.