Monthly Archives: March 2024
Florida! Scrub Jays Underfoot
Florida Scrub Jay: Helen and Alan Cruickshank Sanctuary, Rockledge, Florida, January 2024 — When I did find the Florida Scrub Jays at the Sanctuary, they were, of course, right underfoot. Curious and gregarious, they come out to meet you from the brush, and I had them looking for bugs in the grass right at my feet. And yes, they do occasionally land on folks’ heads…they have landed on mine during previous visits…but they did not this year. Maybe the covid years and broken that habit. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Not at home, at all.
House Finch: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — The House Finch only reached Maine in the early 1970s…it was originally a bird of the Southwest, but has slowly but surely extended its range to cover most of the US (with a strange gap in the center of the continent). Our habit of feeding birds has probably encouraged that extension, as it is among the most common feeder birds wherever it lives. I still can’t convince myself it is at home here though, though it was in Maine well before I got here. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Big foot!
Large-footed Finch: Miriam’s Quetzals, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Take a look at those feet! The Large-footed Finch is aptly named (though it is not a finch at all…but a large sparrow) and a speciality of the Talamanca mountains of southern Costa Rica and Northwest Panama. Miriam’s is low for this bird. It is more commonly seen in the area on Cerro de la Muerte another 2000 feet almost straight up from Miriam’s. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 614 and 552mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Ready or not, here I come!
Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Our Bluebirds are with us pretty much year round now, with the exception of a brief period when they go further afield just after the second brood of the summer fledges. It is still fun to sit out in my ghillie poncho and camp chair and watch them under the pines. This one seemed to be ready to fly straight at me. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird: Helen and Alan Cruickshank Reserve, Rockledge, Florida, USA, January 2024 — I had a workshop to present just after noon at the convention center in Cocoa Beach on my second full day in Florida for the rejuvenated Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival, so I needed somewhere relatively close by to bird and photograph in the morning. The Helen and Alan Cruickshank Sanctuary, with its ready population of Florida Scrub Jays, was the obvious choice since it is right across the causeway from Cocoa. I got there early early as the clock was ticking and I still had to find my presentation room and get my AV set up when I got back to the convention center. My first birds were not Florida Scrub Jays…they were Mockingbirds, making fun of my early efforts. There were lots of Mockingbirds at the Sanctuary, and I saw lots before I found my first Scrub Jay. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pieces of Pileated
Pileated Woodpecker: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — I was walking one of my favorite paths along the river marsh when I heard a loud strident call and this bird came swooping out of the woods and back in at eye-level. It was big, the size of a crow or a small hawk, and it was not until I saw the flash of its white underwings as it banked around that my mind engaged and I knew it for a Pileated Woodpecker. I forget how big a bird the Pileated is. This bird, as is common with woodpeckers, played hide and seek with me for the next half hour. Mostly it stayed fairly low in the trees, always on the back side of the trunk or behind a heavy tangle of branches. A few times it actually hid behind a branch, very intentionally putting and keeping the branch between us. I would loose it as it flew from tree to tree, and then have to listen carefully to find it, if not by its call, which it gave repeatedly, or by its loud drum, which it only did once, then by the constant low chatter it seemed to be making as it worked. Talking to itself (or maybe to me). I did manage a few shots of pieces of the bird, and a few awkward portraits. Most between obtruding branders or through heavy tangles. Still it was fun. Eventually it got tired of playing with me, and flew off all the way across the wide marsh and the river. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! shades of Talamanca
Talamanca Hummingbird: Miriam’s Quetzals, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — There were probably only a few male Talamanca Hummingbirds at Miriam’s when we visited, but they were aggressively defending the feeders and their territories, so it felt like a lot of birds. I have grouped shots here of males, to show off the various shades of violet and blue that the changing light brings out. Each photo is worth a look on its own for the details. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! How to pick crabapple
Cedar Waxwings: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — I have lots of photos from my encounter with the Cedar Waxwings in town the other day. They were busy picking and eating crabapples…which are just now getting sweet enough for them. The first shot here is a study in how to pick crabapples, if you are an avid Cedar Waxwing, and the second is just celebrating success. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
Florida! Last shots
Great Egret: Blackpoint Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — These are the last two shots I took on my first full day in Florida in January, on my second loop around Blackpoint Drive. Late afternoon. The Egret was fairly close, along the road, and I could not resist. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 506mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. -0.7 EV. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Red-tail on the perch
Red-tailed Hawk: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Same dull day as yesterday’s post and same Red-tailed Hawk hunting the edge of the marsh. I got to see it on three perches before it went around the corner of the woods and further up the marsh. Again the dull light brings out the subtle colors of the plumage. OM System OM-1Mkii with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.