Ring-billed Gulls: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — I went down to the very wintery-feeling beach yesterday, all kitted out in my new winter parka to see what I could see. There was a flock of gulls just at the point where the river reaches the sea, dancing, with their wings catching the early light against the dark sea wall. I thought I might catch something interesting, so I walked out as far as I could go to the edge of the surf parallel with the point to get a little angle on the backlight. I took a lot of shots. The constant movement of the birds was as good as meditation…a kind of prayer in motion. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm. Program mode with my wildlife in action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Volcano Hummingbird: Batsu Gardens, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, March 2025 — Another from the archives. I have so many photos that I have not shared. That’s a good thing, I think. This male Volcano Hummingbird was around the feeders at Batsu Gardens, high on the mountain above Savegre Mountain Lodge and Resort and the Savegre River valley. One of the smallest hummingbirds in the world, and very similar in size to the Scintillated with which it shares its highland habitat. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Reddish Egret: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, January 2025 — Being basically housebound while I heal from my pacemaker implant, I have been sharing a lot of back deck birds…our regular year round visitors here in November. Today I will drop back to last January for this shot of a dancing Reddish Egret from my trip to Titusville for the Space Coast Birding Festival. I will be there again this year (all things going as planned) to teach a few workshops on Point & Shoot Nature Photography. I love the way Reddish Egrets dance as they hunt. This shot also captures the intricate ripple pattern the wind has created in the water. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife in action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Eastern Bluebird: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. It seems like we have had way too many cloudy days this fall. Sunshine has been in short supply. So catching this bluebird in the mid-morning sun was a real treat. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator. And may you live lives of gratitude and generosity this coming year.

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — A few have complained recently that my Red-bellied Woodpecker shots do not show the red belly…or really, I guess, they were questioning the wisdom of calling this bird the Red-bellied Woodpecker when the red belly is rarely seen unless you have a netted bird in your hand. I can completely understand. All I can say is that it is not my fault…I did not choose the name, and I have to make a conscious effort to remember it and apply it to this bird, because even in my mind, it does not fit well. So this is not a great shot of the bird, but it does clearly show the red-belly 🙂 Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm (through a double glazed window). Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

American Goldfinch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — The understated beauty of the American Goldfinch in winter plumage is easy to overlook. We have more Goldfinches coming to the feeders this month than we have had since early summer. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — I can’t resist posting another from the series of shots of our visiting Red-bellied Woodpecker. It is such a handsome bird, and this individual is so vivid! Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Red-bellied Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — It is getting too cold out to stand in the open deck door, so I am reduced to shooting trough the double-glazing, but that also means I can get a little closer to the birds without scaring them away. Yesterday, for whatever reason, was a very busy day at the feeders. We only see the Red-bellied Woodpecker once a week or so, and then only briefly, and it was around most of the day yesterday, coming in often for sunflower seeds. I managed quite a few shots. Sony a6700. Sigma 30-300 @ 337mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Northern Cardinal: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — Perhaps because they do not come every day, or even every week, I am always delighted to see a Northern Cardinal land on our deck and hang out long enough for me to get a few shots. They are generally gone before I can get the camera, but on Sunday I already had the camera at hand when the Cardinal landed. 🙂 This was taken from my chair at the table through the double-glazed deck door. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

White-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2025 — Nuthatches are not fussy eaters. They are happy to pick up what the other birds drop on the deck, even when the sunflower seed feeder is full. Especially, as it happens, if the droppings are mealworms. This bird was reaching in under the deck rail for what he could find. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent. Program with birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.