Point & Shoot Nature Photographer

Grey Squirrel: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2026 — It is the season when the young squirrels go just a bit crazy—chasing each other all over the neighborhood. These two were in the yard next door, just within reach of my camera. They are more enjoyable over there than they are on my deck trying to get to the mealworms. 🙂 Sony a7CR with the FE 100-400 f5.6-f8 OSS at 400mm. Cropped to around 1000mm effective field of view. My birds and wildlife mode. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Horned Grebes: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, November 2026 — The first of the winter waterfowl are arriving over the past few days. I need to find a spot where they are closer than the mouth of our local river, and in greater numbers—though there were quite a few Horned Grebes when I was down there yesterday. A couple of Red-throated Loons, and one pair of Buffleheads too. Sony a7CR with Sony FE 100-400mm f5.6-f8 OSS at 400mm. Cropped to 5mp, or about 1400mm effective field of view. My birds and wildlife mode. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

A Double-crested Cormorant taking flight. Not easy. Not graceful. But it eventually gets the job done. Early morning light (sun still just coming up). Sony a7CR with Sony 100-400 f5.6-f8 at 400mm. My birds and wildlife mode. (1/500th at ISO 800) Four sequential frames. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Another shot of nothing in particular. Almost all the maple leaves have fallen now. Only the hardy oaks are hanging on, now turned all to bright copper and brass. The light comes in low and shadows are long even at mid-day, and the sun catches in the small pines and spruce. There is a hint of mystery in the air. Sony a6700. 16–50 kit lens at 24mm equivalent. My custom landscape mode. Processed in Photomator.

Greater Yellowlegs: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2026 — It is late for Greater Yellowlegs in York County, Maine. There were at least 2 in the tidal creek a mile or more inland from the river mouth the other day. Too far for great photos, but still the autumn light was lovely. Sony a7CR with Sony FE 100-400 f5.6-F8 OSS at 400mm. Cropped to something over 1400mm effective field of view. My birds and wildlife mode. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Headlands Trail at the old Visitor’s Center. One of my favorite trees. I watch it in every season. Yes, I know that sounds a bit odd, but I do find myself watching trees. This one is right at the edge of the drop into the Merriland River, and there is something about it that always catches my eye. More so when all its leaves turn to brass. Sony a6700 with the 16–50 kit lens at 24mm equivalent. My custom landscape mode. Processed in Photomator.

Mock Oyster Mushroom: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2026 — The Mock Oyster Mushroom provides one of the rare occasions when the invisible mycelia network that produces the fruiting bodies we call mushrooms is actually visible. We see it here as the white “fur” on these mushrooms. Apparently, that frosting is part of what distinguishes Mock Oyster from true Oyster mushrooms. Sony a6700 with the old 16–50 kit lens at 58mm equivalent. NESI 5 diopter close-up lens. My tiny Viltrox Vintage folding fill flash in TTL mode with diffuser. f10 @ 1/60th. Processed in Photomator.

Mallard Duck: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2026 — Fall light, October light, makes even a common Mallard look good. Not that Mallards do not look good anytime, but the reflections in the water make this Mallard shot just a bit special. Sony a7CR with the FE 100-400 f5.6-f8 OSS at 400mm. Cropped to 17mp or about 750mm effective field of view. My birds and wildlife mode. Processed in Photomator.

Great Blue Heron: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2026 — I posted another view of this Great Blue Heron in the early light of an autumn day last week, but one good look at a heron deserves another, and this is about as close as you can get to a heron in southern Maine. Sony a7CR with the FE 100-400 f5.6-F8 OS zoom at 400mm. Cropped to about 800mm effective field of view. My birds and wildlife mode. Processed in Photomator.

Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, October 2026 — This Downy Woodpecker comes to the suet and sunflower feeders many times a day. On this day, it flew out into our big maple and framed itself against the foliage. The a7CR with the new FE 100-400 f5.6-F8 OS lens at 400mm has the reach for an eye-catching photo (cropped to 5mp or a 1400mm effective field of view). Not a field guide portrait, but a photo that might grace a wall. My birds and wildlife mode. Processed in Photomator.