Daily Archives: January 19, 2025
Maine! We don’t like Starlings
European Starling: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2025 — We don’t like European Starlings much here in the US…and there are lots of good reasons not to like Starlings…invasive…aggressive…noisy…messy…voracious eaters of our seed…but, seen dispassionately (and in someone else’s yard) I, at least, can not deny that they have certain elegant beauty, and when the light on them brings out the iridescence…even an opaline splendor. I actually don’t see many starlings here Southern Maine. The few hanging with the local winter flock of Robins this year are the first I have seen, or at least noticed, in several years. I would not want to see it become a trend, but I don’t mind seeing one once in a while (in someone else’s yard). Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Kings about their business
King Vulture: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Carrion is the business of vultures, of course, and the Kings are no exception. The bare head is an adaption specifically for carrion eaters to allow them to dig deep into a carcass. Of course I am not sure why the bare head has to be so brightly colored. I mean what is that bold yellow stripe in line with the spine about…or why the outrageous carbuncle…but I as not consulted on Vulture design. Good thing. Leave that to the true artist. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 375 and 600mm equivalents. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Highlight metering. Processed in Photomator.