Monthly Archives: March 2024
Florida! Handsome
Wood Stork: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — The Wood Stork is not, to my eye, beautiful…but it is certainly handsome. I will never forget my first encounter with one after a long hike in Georgia, but they are common along Blackpoint Drive these days. This one was very close to the road and totally unconcerned as I walked up for some photos. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Pretty duck
Mallard: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — Yes I know it is only a Mallard, but I like the colors, the reflections, the patterns in the water as the duck swims…and just the whole light thing going on here 🙂 Right place. Right time. 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! Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher
Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher: Savegre Mountain Lodge and Reserve, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The other “show” bird of the Talamancas Mountains has to be the Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher (after the Resplendent Quetzal of course). These are not ideal shots but they are among the first shots I managed after getting to Savegre late in the day, between my cabin and the restaurant/office/gift shop. Not actually a flycatcher, it is closely related to the Phanopepla of the US southwest. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400 IS zoom at 800 and 338mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. ISO 20,000 and 16,000 (early evening light). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! taking the red-eye
Horned Grebe: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — We have a few wintering Horned Grebes at the mouth of our local river most days. This one came close in for its photo. The second shot is a good portrait, but I like the first shot for its dynamic tension. OM System OM-1 Mkii with ED 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Cocked
Tricolored Heron: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Take out under the observation blind at the end of what used to the the WildBirdsUnlimited trail along Blackpoint Drive. That sponsorship has apparently ended, but the trail is still there and so are the birds 🙂 This Tricolored was intently hunting and only maybe 30 feet from the deck. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Goldeneye green
Common Goldeneye: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — It takes a very special light and a close shot to show the iridescent green in the Goldeneye’s head feathers. I caught it here in the first photo, and the second photo is just for the sheer exuberance of being Goldeneyed. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Golden slippers
Snowy Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, December 2023 — The Snowy Egrets like to stand on the culvert gates and watch for fish swept through by the rising or falling waters. It is one of the few times you get a good view of their legs and feet…the well known golden slippers that are often sighted as field mark of the species. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. -0.7EV. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Gggggggoood bye Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye: York County, Maine, USA, March 2024 — An grey overcast day along the coast and the Goldeneyes are busy diving for whatever they dive for. 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! Both sides now
Collared Aracari: Selva Verde Lodge and Reserve, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2023 — I began to think we were going to get through our whole time at Selva Verde without seeing an Aracari…which would have been very strange for December…but a small group finally showed up early one morning in the rain. Toucans in general were in short supply while we were there. Facebook friends tell me they are coming to feeding stations in their normal numbers now, so maybe it was just some heavy crop of fruit they like in the rainforest that was keeping them busy away from the feeders. I hope so. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Frog different
Rosenburg’s Tree Frog (?): Macaw Ranch, Sarapique, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Of course, the Red-eyed Leaf (or Tree) Frog is not the only amphibian of the Sarapique rainforest. We found this brown species in a bush near the ranch house at Macaw Ranch. Tree Frogs are very rare in the daylight. I think it might be a Rosenburg’s. OM System OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.