The Biggest Week in American Birding: Black and white inside out
Black and White Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2024 — One of the issues for this year’s Biggest Week in American Birding is that the trees are fully leafed out. The Apple along the boardwalk that is normally in full boom, or some years, just coming into bloom, is totally past bloom and the flowers are all gone. The leafy trees make warbler photography particularly difficult as there is almost always something between you and the bird. It makes me very thankful for the bird detection, bird’s eye tracking auto focus, which, at least some of time, gets miraculous shots right through foreground obstructions. This is a case in point…where the bird was almost totally obstructed and yet the OM-1Mkii pulled it off, giving me a rare shot of Black and White Warbler in major preening motion, almost turned inside out. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
The Biggest Week in American Birding: Chestnut-sided
Chestnut-sided Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2024 — It is a nice sunny day on the boardwalk this morning and I am sure the warblers are hopping. Unfortunately I came down with what might be a case of food poisoning last night so I am sticking close to the hotel room. The Chestnut-sided Warbler is one of the friendliest of warblers on the boardwalk, often approaching within feet of birders. This is pretty much a full frame shot at 800mm equivalent. The tricky part is, of course, keeping the bird in frame when it is that close. The only way is just shoot a lot of frames! OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
The Biggest Week in American Birding, Day 1 Warblers
Northern Waterthrush, Palm Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — There were way more people at Magee Marsh today than there were warblers. It happens. Still not a bad haul for my first day, 2024, at the Marsh. I saw one more species that I did not get a good photo of…a Common Yellowthroat, and I was only there for a few hours, in the morning when it was somewhat cloudy and dark. Other warblers were undoubtedly seen, especially as evening came on, but after getting up at 2:30 AM to catch my airplane, I was done by early afternoon. I also saw three snakes and maybe a dozen other passerine species. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Parula
Northern Parula: York County, Maine, USA, May 2024 — I went out to fill the feeders one last time before my trip to Ohio and the Biggest Week in American Birding, just as it started to rain, as it turns out. Not well planned that. But as I was out under the pines at the edge of yard, what should pop in but a Northern Parula. It took me a moment to work out what it was. I think it is maybe only the 2nd Northern Parula I have seen in Maine, certainly the first I have seen in many years, though I know they come through here and nest further north, and, of course, I see lots of them in Ohio, and will probably see lots next week. It worked its way up the berry brambles, picking leaf buds, probably for the insects inside, until it was only 3 feet from me. Of course I did not have a camera with me, not even my phone. I finished up what I was doing and went inside to get my camera, knowing full well that it would not be there when I got back…but I was gifted with the same bird in the same bushes, or, more likely a second bird following the same migration path as the other, and making use of the same resources. Such a treat! And good practice for next week. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator. (I am posting this tonight as I will be in the air tomorrow when I would normally post. 🙂
Maine! Streeetttccchhh
Piping Plover: York County, Maine, USA, May 2024 — It is Piping Plover season again on southern Maine beaches, and I remind you (and myself) again to give them their space. Usual disclaimers here. I was further away than it looks from the photo and well outside the roped off nesting area. I do not approach the birds. Sometime they approach me, but when they do I do not move. Just another stump on the beach, me (although a stump with a camera). Occasionally they stretch. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Limpkin and company
Limpkin and Glossy Ibis: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, USA, January 2024 — The Limpkin one of the birds folks go to Orlando Wetlands to see. A strange bird with a very specialized diet of snails (primarily the Apple Snail where it has not been forced out by invasive species…but fortunately the Limpkin does not turn its nose up at the invasive snails either). They are solitary birds. Its chance companion here is a Glossy Ibis, busy preening. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 454mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Ruby in the sun
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: York County, Maine, USA, May 2024 — After my rainy day encounter with supplemental light, I tried for hummers in the full sun yesterday. They presented their own challenge…and the gorget is never as deep ruby as it is in subdued light…but still very ruby. Next I will try increasing my minimum shutter speed from 1/2000th to 1/4000th to unblur the wings…though I like the blurred wing effect on hummers. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 584 and 652mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Spoonbills at Orlando Wetlands
Roseate Spoonbills, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, January 2024 — Still early and overcast, but the Spoonbills were flying from the night roost to wherever they intended to start the feeding day. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Ruby Thursday
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: York County, Maine, USA, May 2024 — The neighbors had seen a hummingbird at their house so I got out and disinfected our hummingbird feeder. We had a couple of nice spring days with no sight of the hummer, and then it clouded over and rained for a day. I saw the hummer a couple of times and went out and stood and then sat on the back deck in the drizzle to wait. After an hour I gave up. That was Wednesday. Yesterday, after the rain stopped, I saw it come twice within 30 minutes so I got my camp stool and coat and hat and went out again to sit and wait. It came several times in the next hour and I managed a burst of shots each time. It was still very heavy overcast so I mounted my new Ulanzi Video Rechargeable Flashlight on the camera for supplemental light. It is a lot like any rechargeable led flashlight but is specifically made for photography and has a very even, high intensity beam, three color temperatures, and a tripod mounting hole. I have a little adapter for the hot shoe of the camera and it seems to work very well. Between the subdued natural and the supplemental light (set to cool daylight temperature) it certainly lit up the gorget on this male Ruby-throat, and shows off exactly where the bird gets its name. (I would guess this is 90% natural light at least. I could not actually see the flashlight beam, but I do think it made some difference.) OM System OM-1Mkii with the M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 436mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications (with give me 1/2000th at ISO 8000). Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Black
Black Vulture: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, January 2024 — The Black Vultures were a bit overly familiar at Orlando Wetlands. They come and sit on the railings and gates of the new boardwalk and challenge your passage. It the end they always give way, but it is not always apparent that they will. It does make for some interesting portrait opportunities though. 🙂 OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Still very early in the morning with the sun not far above the horizon and still hidden by clouds. Processed in Photomator and Apple Photos.
