Maine! Monday bonus

Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2023 — because I am getting ahead of myself already this month, unexpectedly since November is often a slow photo month as changing weather and hunting season keep me close to home, here is a Monday morning bonus bird. A bright male Cardinal from our back deck feeding station. Too good not to share! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 552mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Early Eagle

Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — This Bald Eagle in the early morning sun deserves another shot, sitting on a favorite perch high in a tall pine over the river. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Bufflehead chase

Bufflehead: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — I have only seen a few Buffleheads this year so far. This “chase” behavior is common between males, at least at this time of year when I see them at the mouth of our tidal rivers. I assume it is some kind of dominance display, but then, I do not know the rules of the game, and cannot declare winners and losers. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent (they were really too far away). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Maine! Show-off!

Mallard Duck: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Far up one of our tidal rivers in a quiet backwater there lives a small flock of Mallards. Mallards are so common that we hardly look at them anymore, but they are worth looking at. Take this pair on the mossy log. Dig those orange feet and the iridescent kelley green. They were attractive enough, and then the male decided to really show off. He was not taking flight. Just stretching his wings. She did not seem to be impressed. 🙂 OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Common Loon

Common Loon: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Another common winter bird at river mouths in southern Maine. The blocky head and basic black and white plumage, along with the battle cruiser vibe, make the Common Loon pretty unmistakable. They hunt the little crabs of our tidal rivers. They don’t stay on the surface long and remain submerged for up to 30 seconds, and they can come up pretty far from where they dived, so they can be frustrating to photograph. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Hoodies in action

Hooded Merganser: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — This little pod of Hooded Mergansers, two of which, the males, you saw yesterday, were navigating the tidal creek behind the dunes. I happened to have the camera up when they started their run up into the air and into the reflections of the autumn oaks. Wonderful little ducks! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. Assembled in FrameMagic.

Maine! Hooded Mergansers

Hooded Merganser: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — The winter ducks are coming in. Yesterday I posted a Red-throated Loon from the mouth of one of our rivers, and today we feature these two male Hooded Mergansers. They had one female with them. Hoodies are generally seen in pairs or small flocks and prefer still waters, like those of this tidal creek. OM-Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! Red-throated Loon

Red-throated Loon: York county, Maine, USA, November 2023 — The Red-throated Loons are in along the coast and up our tidal rivers. We don’t ever see their red-throats here in Maine as they loose their breeding plumage before they head south from their tundra and taiga lakes and far north coastal breeding grounds. The population along the Maine coast seems to vary year to year. At least some years I tend to see a lot of them, and some years hardly any at all. It could be a matter of where they are feeding, or it could just be a matter of where and when I am looking. This year I have already seen quite a few at the mouths of the rivers. If a Common Loon is a big double decker passenger jet, the Red-throated Loon is a small compact commuter jet…and, indeed, the Red-throated is distinguished among loons for its “short runway” on takeoff…which allows it to nest and feed on much smaller ponds than the Common Loon. OM-Systems OM1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Maine! early light Eagle

Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, November 2023 — Yesterday I was out early, dropping my wife off at church, so I swung by our local Eagle spot to see if I might find a bird. I say Eagle spot…some years a pair hangs out there all winter, and one year they even had a young bird with them…and then some years you do not see one at all. This might be a good year. This adult bird was catching the morning rays and warming up for the day high up in a big pine on their favorite perch. Not as close as I would like, but we take what we can get. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. -1.0 EV to maintain detail on that white head. 🙂 Processed in Photomator. Cropped considerably.

Maine! Chickadee in the wild

Black-capped Chickadee: York County, Maine, USA, October 2023 — It is somehow aways more satisfying to catch a Chickadee out in the field or forest, away from our feeders. This bird was a member of a mixed feeding flock in an old orchard and, typical of chickadees, worked his way closer and closer to me as I watched. The only issue was finding a more or less clear line of sight through the brambles for a photo. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.