Snow Bunting, Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area, W. Kennebunk ME

We had amazing skies yesterday afternoon and of course I went looking for a venue to feature them. They were coming in from the west, so after a few shots from the beach looking inland, I headed out to the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area…one of the few places in forested Southern Maine where you have a decent horizon in all directions. The Kennebunk Plains are a remnant sand plain habitat, traditionally kept open by wildfire, and now managed with fire for several endangered and marginal species in New England and southern Maine. Black Racer snake, Northern Blazing Star (wildflower), Upland Sandpiper, Wood Lily, etc. Not to mention the abundant wild blueberries (not endangered but rare in Southern Maine), or the occasional amazing skies.

I was back in the car, actually backing out, and the first drops of rain were falling when a flutter on the ground between me and the edge of the parking lot caught my eye. I stopped and rolled down the window, then went for my camera. At first I thought it might be a Longspur of one variety or another but I soon realized that it was a Female Snow Bunting. I can’t not say for sure, but I think it might be a life bird for me…and certainly a first in Maine. It was all by itself, and I had the impression that it was running ahead of the storm. It was certainly feeding frantically along the edge of the grass.

This is a 4 panel collage of the bird so you can get a good look. Nikon P900 at 2000mm equivalent field of view. 1/400th @ ISO 400 @ f6.5. Processed in Lightroom and assembled in Coolage.