juvenile Red-shouldered hawk #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdsofprey #redshoulderedhawk #sonyfe200600mmgoss #clearimagezoom #sonya7iii #topazdenoiseai #niksoftwarecolorefex https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck6cSx_JOCW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Eastern Tailed-blue butterfly I fully did not expect to see any butterflies this day but was quite surprised to find this little guy flutter by me. #broksidegardens #easterntailedbluebutterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #naturephotography #sonya7iii #clearimagezoom #smartobject #niksoftwarecolorefex (at Brookside Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/CktjHjQJUFn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Eastern Yellowjacket I had just rescued it from the uncovered hummingbird feeder. While it was drying off, I was able to get a “super” macro (2:1 ratio) of it. Even with a 1/1600 shutter speed, its wings were still blurry from how fast they were flapping to expel the sugared water. #insectsofinstagram #insectphotography #macrophotography #macro #highshutterspeed #sonyfe50mmf28macro #sonya7iii #clearimagezoom #easternyellowjacket https://www.instagram.com/p/CjwoqNjjYIz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

male American goldfinch doing…. I’m not sure what He was systematically ripping this plant/flower apart. Not sure if he was eating some tasty seeds or wanted the “fluff” for a nest. Wasn’t in a position to ask. 😉 #americangoldfinch #birdsofinstagram #sonyfe200600mmgoss #clearimagezoom #naturephotography #nature #sonya7iii #patuxentresearchrefuge (at Patuxent Research Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjLwG7HpRws/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Monarch butterfly on milkweed #butterfliesofinstagram #butterfliesoftheworld #monarchbutterfly #sonyfe200600g #clearimagezoom #insectphotography #insectsofinstagram #sonya7iii #naturephotography (at Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Odenton, MD) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjK-c0JLJf2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

male Ruby-throated hummingbird Caught him in mid hover at the correct angle so that his throat was a vivid red. Score!! #birdsofinstagram #rubythroatedhummingbirdsofinstagram #rubythroatedhummingbird #sonya7iii #clearimagezoom #topazdenoiseai #niksoftwarecolorefex (at Patuxent Research Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChiLa21p1K0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Pearl Crescent butterfly The pattern really reminded me of a very ornate folding fan. Seen at the Patuxent Research Refuge #pearlcrescentbutterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #sonyphotography #clearimagezoom #sonya7iii #patuxentresearchrefuge #topazsharpenai #niksoftwarecolorefex (at Patuxent Research Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPZmqmPDRvK/?utm_medium=tumblr

A “Charm” of hummingbirds #birdsofinstagram #rubythroatedhummingbirds #patuxentresearchrefuge #sonya7iii #sonyphotography #clearimagezoom (at Patuxent Research Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTlNGKujtJk/?utm_medium=tumblr

Unknown tree bud This is essentially a 2:1 macro shot of one of the bids on an unknown, small tree. #sonyphotography #sonya7iii #sonyfe50mmf28macro #macro #clearimagezoom #nature (at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSYkIiD1h_/?igshid=15g8lwmig5vd3

Ebony jeweleing (damselfly) I currently have two males “hunting” in the ferns in front of my place. While this is a cropped in photo for social media, I did a new thing with my Sony mirrorless camera. Sony’s can do something called “Clear Image Zoom” which can increase a lens focal length up to 2X without quality loss in JPEG mode. I used my 35 mm prime lens but functionally, the final image equals a shot from a 70 mm. This - in terms of my nature photography- is a game-changer. My 24-240 mm can now act like a 40-480 mm. #naturephotography #insectsofinstagram #sonyphotography #sonya7iii #ebonyjewelwingdamselfly #clearimagezoom https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6JMK0DQPg/?igshid=1svr2r16w7t5l

Red-shouldered hawk about to launch While I was not able to get photos of it taking off in flight - wrong setting on my camera - I'm really happy with this image as I think I captured its determination to launch and the power it had in its body to make that happen. #redshoulderedhawk #birdsofinstagram #birdsofprey #sonya7iii #clearimagezoom #naturephotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CWM4cYKMKQT/?utm_medium=tumblr

Red-shouldered hawk I pulled off the road to get some kick-ass phots of this hawk. #redshoulderedhawk #naturephotography #topazdenoiseai #niksoftwarecolorefex #sonya7iii #clearimagezoom (at Butler's Orchard) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBKUwslaae/?utm_medium=tumblr

Halloween decoration (2021) One of our neighbors got off to an early start with his Halloween decorating. #halloween #halloweendecorations #creepy #skeleton #biohazard #sonya7iii #sonnartfe2835 #clearimagezoom https://www.instagram.com/p/CUtZc1qjUPh/?utm_medium=tumblr

Halloween decoration (2021) One of our neighbors got off to an early start with his Halloween decorating. #halloween #halloweendecorations #creepy #skeleton #biohazard #sonya7iii #sonnartfe2835 #clearimagezoom https://www.instagram.com/p/CUtZc1qjUPh/?utm_medium=tumblr

Three American goldfinches on a feeder Last time I went to #patuxentresearchrefuge there were a bunch of photographers with some serious lenses (500 mm, high-end class) all focused on the hummingbirds flitting about. However, they were all so hyper-focused on the hummingbirds that no one but me noticed that multiple goldfinches had shown up. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen three sharing the same feeder before. In my experience, American goldfinches have been more difficult to capture with my camera than hummingbirds as they are extremely nervous birds. When it comes to wildlife photography, you gotta pay attention to everything or else you may miss something special. I guess this goes for all photography, once you think about it. #americangoldfinch #birdsofinstagram #sonya7iii #sonyphotography #clearimagezoom (at Patuxent Research Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFRMIhF3bI/?utm_medium=tumblr

An Eastern cottontail looking around #easterncottontailrabbit #naturephotography #clearimagezoom #sonyphotography #sonya7iii https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ4tDoxDCoh/?utm_medium=tumblr