Maine! winging it
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, June 2024 — I am still learning to photograph Terns in flight…I have a feeling that no matter how many I photograph I will always still be learning. 🙂 There are always tourists on the beach and there are always Terns in the air. I find that 600mm equivalent is the maximum I can currently handle and still occasionally get the bird in the frame. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko ED 100-400IS zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Nothing like being close: Downy edition
Downy Woodpecker: York County, Maine, USA, June 2024 — I was setting up on the back deck for some afternoon lens tests when this Downy Woodpecker flew into the perch by the suet feeder. Neither the Downys nor the Hairys have much fear of me out on the deck by now, so it was not surprising, but still, great light, and close, and the camera in my hand and set to go. Take a look at the eye! OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko ED 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird modifications. -1EV (I have my highlight alert turned on). Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Gotcha
Willet: York County, Maine, USA, June 2024 — Willet hunting along the tide line of a tidal creek. And having some success! I am testing the new M.Zuiko ED 150-600IS zoom and this shot was at the full 1200mm reach on my OM System OM-1Mkii. This is a very good lens! Program mode with my bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine: Bringing it
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, June 2024 — As I mentioned, there was lots of courting action on the beach the last time I visited. It was getting on for high tide and the terns were down along the surf line, catching and offering Rock Gunnel. Note the band on the leg of the bird in flight. The Least Terns in Maine are carefully monitored. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko ED 100-400IS zoom at 684mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Front passing
While photographing Least Terns on the beach I could not resist this shot of the warm front passing offshore. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 12-45 f4 Pro zoom at 24mm equivalent. Program mode with in-camera HDR. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! The exchange
Least Terns: York County, Maine, USA, June 2024 — Apparently a new group of Least Terns, perhaps a dozen, have moved up to our local beach for second nests. They were actively courting yesterday, with a good amount of eel offering. I even got to see one actual exchange, and maybe caught a pair mating. Not this pair. This is just the exchange. There is no way Facebook would keep the images in the right order, so I have made them into a read right and down composite. If you are viewing on a phone you may want to pinch and zoom out to see each individual frame. Right place, right time, and ready! That is the key to wildlife photography. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko ED 100-400IS zoom at 656mm equivalent (cropped to fill the frame…I was shooting terns in flight, for which I find that 600mm works better than 800, and did not get zoomed back out to 800mm for these beach shots…so, maybe, not quite ready…but the sequence only lasted a second or two, and I got the shots :). Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Maine! What that!
Grey Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2024 — When I go out to wait for hummingbirds to photograph, I put the feeder down on the rail of the deck so I can see the hummers better when they come. This Squirrel was more than a little disturbed by the change in his territory…and our deck is definitely part of his territory (at least as far as he is concerned). He just could not figure it out, and eventually turned tail and looked for easier pickings. I was ready for him if he decided it was safe to explore the hummingbird feeder. I do not want him getting a taste for sugar water. 🙂 OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko ED 100-400IS zoom at 376mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Angel unaware
Least Tern: York County, Maine, USA, June 2024 — I have the new M.Zuiko ED 150-600IS zoom for testing, so of course I had to go down to the beach and try it on Least Terns in flight. It is a big lens compared to my 100-400IS and much heavier, but it handles well. The Terns were doing their usual thing and I caught this one near the end of my visit…doing an excellent impression against a great backdrop of distant clouds of an angel. Of course this may have been the same tern (likely was if memory serves) who scored a direct guano hit on what would have been my forehead if I had not been wearing a hat…so not so angel like at that. Just doing what Terns do. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko ED 150-600IS zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Knapweed, Bumblebee, Tarnished Plant Bug
Like the title says this is a Knapweed flower head with two visitors: a bumblebee and the tiny Tarnished Plant Bug. The bee is a pollinator, the Plant Bug is a parasite. Photographed with the OM System OM-1Mkii and the M.Zuiko ED 150-600IS zoom at 300mm equivalent from not much over a foot. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Getting bigger
Piping Plover: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2024 — The Piping Plover chicks, at lest this one family, are getting bigger and their feathers are developing from pin to full plumage rapidly. This chick is about 3 weeks old now. They are fully functional at birth…capable of feeding themselves and running around to considerable distances from the nest, but now they are going all the way down across the open beach to the serf line. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko ED 150-600IS zoom at 1200mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
