Today's image is an artistic rendition of a common grackle seen outside my window. This beautiful bird gets a bad reputation for its less than melodic call and its aggressive behavior at bird feeders. At a distance, it appears black or dark brown with a purple head, but it really is quite striking when viewed up close. The iridescent feathers on males range from green and blue to purple, but can only be observed when they are in the light. Females lack the showy colors and are typically black or brown with a purple neck and head.

These noisy birds often flock to feeders in the spring and can be seen flocking in trees, generally early in the morning. Although they are not a song bird and don't typically sing a soothing song, they reportedly have the ability to mimic the calls of other birds.

When grackles descend on your feeders or take up residence in nearby trees, rest assured that spring is in the air.

Just sharing a little Christmas love. May your day be filled with beauty and the magic of the season.

You are cordially invited to explore the world within the glass. The only limits are your imagination and your willingness to believe in magic.

This hairy woodpecker is one of the few birds visiting my feeders this winter. I typically have hoards of birds devouring the food faster than I can keep up, but late this summer they all seemed to disappear. I thought it was because of abundant nuts and berries in the wild, but I a beginning to rethink that theory.

I have a pair of hairy woodpeckers, at least one male downy woodpecker, a couple of blue jays and an occasional chickadee visiting the feeders regularly. Other than that nothing seems to be interested in visiting.

I hope it changes soon as I really miss my feathered friends.

Today's photo is a male ruby throated hummingbird fluffing up his feathers while preening to clean and straighten his feathers. He does this to remove dust, debris and parasites and to keep all the feathers pointing in the right direction. This makes him more aerodynamic and makes flying easier.

Sometimes birds fluff up their feathers to keep warm. Fluffing the feathers traps air between the layers of feathers insulating their body from the cold.

This photo been digitally edited for an illustration in a storybook.

There is something about the first snow of the year that brings a little excitement to an otherwise boring fall. It isn't like we are ready for full-blown winter, yet — but blanketing a browning landscape with white is always an uplifting moment for me.

These photos are from my front deck on November 8, 2019.  While the snow on the trees has melted, we still have a light coating on the lawn. The weather forecast promises another inch or two of snow on Monday and Tuesday, which means we may have started the official winter season here in Maine. I don't expect much snow until well into December, but it is possible the snow is here to stay until spring.

It's that time of year again when Maine is set ablaze with color as fall foliage dominates the landscape and becomes the focal point of photos. 

A loon appears to enjoy the view.

Water reflections double the beauty of fall foliage.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell where the trees end and the water begins.

Purple asters add color to the landscape and provide food for hungry bees.

Today's image is delicate cosmos in the early morning light. These flowers are still in bloom here in Maine even though it is nearly October. Each morning I watch them sway in the breeze and secretly hope they will survive another day before the frost ultimately does them in.

These airy flowers lend themselves well to a variety of editing techniques. I love the shades of pink and the ferny foliage.

Today's photo is a pair of ruby throated hummingbirds investigating a vase of wildflowers. I would be remiss if I did not tell you that this is a composite. All the parts of the image are from my own photos, but the hummingbirds have been placed in the image. 

I suspect this is the case with many of the spectacular photos you see online — or even in print — except the photographer/artist chooses not to reveal that truth. I'm not sure how I feel about that. On one hand it seems dishonest, but on the other hand the photographer/artist typically does not make a claim to the authenticity of the photo. It is simply inferred by the viewer.

With the host of tools available for editing digital photos today, I'm not sure where to draw the line anymore. Filters and presets can dramatically alter the appearance of a photo. Adding a radiant glow, softening the lines on the face in portrait photography or removing haze and other distractions in photos is widely accepted, as is using specialized lenses that create special effects. 

Why then does it feel deceitful to create a beautiful image from multiple photos without disclosing it?

What do you think? 

Fall is a great time for capturing images of insects. The cooler morning temperatures mean that insects are more lethargic and easier to photograph. These cold blooded creatures need the warmth of the sun for energy and can often be spotted perched on flowers in the morning sun. They may also be spotted under or on foliage. To get the best shots, aim for early morning when the rays of the sunlight highlight them, but before they have had time to become lively from the heat of the sun.

Bees and flying insects can often be found inside flowers where they have spent the night. I often discover bees under the leaves (or flowers) on coneflowers in the early morning. As an added plus, you just might capture insects covered in dew.

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