novissima imagines

April 2025

Worlds best fly catcher

While I have two expanding phoebe families in my garage I tend to thing that they would much rather have the years past reeds to perch on and hunt flies.

Juvie

While most of the eagles were perched in a tree for the entirety of my visit a select few did display their young markings while in flight. This eagle is probably a 2+year juvenile.

A photo ain’t but 1,000 tries

I was down at the dam in Benton, Maine -- my usual eagle-watching spot -- but today I held company with the cormorant. Since it is breeding season, its bright orange throat patch really stands out against its turquoise eyes.

Your chances are pretty slim

Most of the eagles tend to stay across the Sabasticook river — this one was 300 feet away; staring at me as if to say… “I am not going to amuse you and catch a fish.” 

Never to disappoint

The osprey have zero fear of us humans nor fear of any eagle for that matter. I’ve learned their hunting/strike flight pattern and knew this one had found a most tasty alewife for breakfast. 

eleve

When you come across a new bird species you have never photographed, it is called a "lifer". The ring-necked duck — a “lifer” thriving in this lacustrine habitat.

Standing silent

The sandpiper can be heard hundreds of feet away — they never stop making sounds while in flight, they also fly at around 50 mph which is why I tend to wait for one to land close by. This male played on the rocks for a half hour, never paying me any mind.

I’ll show you how it’s done

I know this is a female, only because I saw it next to its partner. Females tend to be a fair bit larger than the males. Not for the ducks sake, but I was so hoping the eagle was going to grab one of the ducks in the distance. … next time.

how many peckers have pecked?

At the Messalonskee boat launch, this hairy woodpecker could have cared less that I was taking its glamour shot. He was great company.

fly catcher

This eastern phoebe, perched on a dead reed on Messalonskee Lake, was watching the gerridae - contemplating which one would satisfy its hunger. 

fly catcher

This eastern phoebe, perched on a dead reed on Messalonskee Lake, was watching the gerridae - contemplating which one would satisfy its hunger. 

two roans make a right?

A keen eye is necessary to view the sandhill cranes on “Messo” lake. They typically feed maybe 200 yards off shore — how excited was I to witness these two passing by with their almost seven foot wingspan.

big gulp

This “gulp” of double-crested cormorants were all jockeying for the rights to the local ladies while perched on this grouping of rocks in the Kennebec river - left over from the logging days.

fireworks

A little artsy image — it is a dandelion with an oil painting filter. It was fun to process.

A photo ain’t but 1,000 tries

On the Kennebec river sat this common grackle, veiled in a slight fog on this moody rainy morning. I see noting but a fantastical creature - never has the word common been used to describe their coloring.

victory

I had only ever heard the swamp sparrow until an early morning visit to “Messo” lake. While this one was perched on a branch - attempting to do a split - most were foraging on the muddy shore of the lake.