Maine Landscape
Batson River, Emmon’s Preserve, Kennebunkport Land Trust. Spring spate. Shutter mode with LiveND. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 12-45 Pro zoom at 24mm equivalent. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Song Sparrow again
Song Sparrow: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — Except for the Chipping Sparrow, of which there are thousands in Southern Maine, our most common Sparrow of spring and early summer just might be the Song Sparrow. They are certainly among the most visible, probably because they are so often drawing attention to themselves with their songs. We get them in our yard occasionally, but I know of several pairs on established territories just right in my area, and you are likely to hear and see them most anywhere you go. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Uncommon Gallinule
Common Gallinule: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Special light on these two Common Gallinules. The sun was still low enough in the sky to have a touch of warmth, and it was Florida light anyway, so, special. And the reflections help. I still struggle to remember that these are not Moorhens. 🙂 OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine Landscape
A young maple undercut by this spring’s storm tides even 5 miles inland along the Mousam, but still in full flower. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 12-45 Pro. Program mode with in-camera HDR. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Carolina Song
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — There is nothing quite like the song of the Carolina Wren. It is certainly enough to pierce any amount of lingering gloom, and let the sunshine in. This one was singing around the yard the other day, possibly looking for a nesting site. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Early morning flower-piercer
Slaty Flower-piercer: Savegre Mountain Hotel and Spa, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Coming to the end of my Costa Rica photos from my trip last December. This is Slaty Flower-piercer from the gardens at Sevegre on the way to breakfast on our last day on the mountain. Flower-piercers make a hole a the base of the flower to draw out the nectar. That is what that specially adapted beak is all about. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Carolina on my mind
Carolina Wren: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I thought for a while that a pair of Carolina Wrens were going to build a nest under our back deck, but apparently not. They are around most days at least a few times for mealworms, and are often singing from the maples above the house or from the peaks of the shed roofs next door on both sides. Such a cheerful, busy little bird. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm plus the digital tel-converter for a 1600mm equivalent field of view. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Umbrella wings
Reddish Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Again with the umbrella fishing Reddish Egrets along Blackpoint Drive. Wings up and out to make a shadow on the water through which they can see the fish. Their success rate is not high which keeps them at it all day long. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS at 656 and 800mm equivalents. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! Close encounter of the Red Squirrel kind
Red Squirrel: Back deck, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2024 — As I have mentioned before, this Red Squirrel does not live in our yard. I suspect it actually lives in the forest along the railroad tracks several suburban lots away, but it comes to visit occasionally, to see what it can find on our back deck under the bird feeders. It is particularly fond of whatever mealworm fragments the birds have left behind. It has been, in past, quite shy, but this week it appeared quickly and then disappeared over the edge of the deck while I was watching, so I went to get my camera and went out to see if it was still in the yard. As I stood on the deck I saw it creep back up under the railings at one corner, not 3 feet from where I was standing. But instead of running off, it came up on the deck, then onto the rail to challenge me. I was clearly in the way of what it wanted to do, and it was having none of that. It was certainly not intimidated by me and my camera at all. I had to step back and zoom out to get it in frame. Lots of tail whipping and feet stamping going on, and if looks could kill. I took a lot of photos. It eventually came even closer, almost between my feet, too close for the zoom even at the widest end, and I slipped back inside so it could have the run of the deck and find its mealworm bits. Close encounters of the Red Squirrel kind. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 200-400mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications (no need to switch to animal mode for squirrels). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! 8 Cardinals
Northern Cardinal: York County, Maine, USA, April 2024 — I am getting way ahead of myself with Maine bird photos, as the season turns to spring and we are getting more activity, and maybe because I am out more. 🙂 This is actually probably only 3 cardinals, with repeated shots of three birds in the course of a week found far enough apart in York County to be, likely, 3 individuals. There were 2 males at one location, but I only got shots of one. Two of these shots are from our backyard. As with bluebirds, I am seeing more cardinals this spring here in southern Maine than I can remember seeing in the past. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.