Mark R. Courtney

@mrcourtney

Software developer, photographer, sometimes writer. Best when wandering in nature. Photos by me unless otherwise noted. Prints available at or by contacting me. My photo puzzle app:

213 Folgt461 Follower70 Posts

Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir mrcourtney.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Jul 25

Overly dramatic calla lily #Flowers #BloomScrolling

Photograph from the side of a green and white calla lily. Its top edge ripples right and left before curving up and away to a far tip.

Photograph from above of a green and white calla lily. The edges flows up around the center before curving far off to the side, meeting and then separating again until they run out to eventually join at a tip.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Jul 25

The garden showing off this morning: lilies, daylily, and hydrangea #Flowers #BloomScrolling

Photograph of a lily with deep pink petals curving up and back and a spray of long stamens dangling down. It’s backed by rising stems of bright green leaves and a weathered wooden fence.

Photograph of bright white lilies with stamens spreading out from the center. One lily faces the camera and the other faces off to the side, both illuminated by bright morning sun.

Closeup photograph of a deep red daylily with a yellow throat behind a cluster of stamens rising straight up.

Closeup photograph of a hydrangea bloom cluster with tiny, subtle blue flowers ringed by larger, showier flowers with four white petals and blue centers.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Jun 20

Chipmunk on a stone wall #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography

Photograph of a chipmunk sitting upright atop a dark stone wall with tall field grass looming up behind it.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Jun 20

New young wild turkey ruffians on the scene #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Birds #BirdPhotography #Photography

Photograph of two young wild turkeys, just starting to become more feathery than fuzzy, standing on a log in the woods and surveying the scene from on high.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Jun 13

Photogenic birds encountered while out exploring this week: cedar waxwing, great egret, and turkey vulture. Plus a young, fluffy cardinal visiting our house. #Birds #Birding #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph of a sleek cedar waxwing perched on a tree branch. It looks to the side to show off its stylish, back-swept crest, and its body is beige with touches of dark gray wings and tail and a rakish black mask around its eyes.

Photograph of a pure white egret with its long neck curved out over shallow blue water. It has just snatched up a snack in its pointed beak, and a short trail of water arcs down to the site of its strike.

Photograph of a deep brown, red-faced turkey vulture atop a utility pole. Its head is cocked to the side as it eyes and assesses the photographer.

Photograph of a super fluffy, rich red cardinal -- presumably a fresh youngster -- perched on the edge of a house rain gutter. It paused here briefly to figure out its next step into the wider world.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 30

Peony stages #BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography

Photograph of a peony bud with large, light pink petals packed in a ball and starting to open just enough at the tips to reveal ruffled, white petals inside.

Photograph of a peony flower halfway open with larger, pink-blushed petals encircling ruffled, white petals and a few red highlights tucked within.

Photograph of an open peony flower with light pink, larger petals cupping a mass of ruffled, chaotic, white petals.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 29

Nothing to see here but us strawberries #BackyardWildlife

Photograph of a brown rabbit sitting between strawberry plants in a planter box. It's got dirt on its nose from digging in the box.

Photograph of a brown rabbit peering up from among the jagged, rounded leaves of strawberry plants in a planter box on a deck.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 27

Got to watch this osprey make a few dives at the water before success on the third try #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifeWednesday #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph of an osprey gliding against the blue sky. The raptor's white and brown wings are spread wide and its eyes are focused on the water below.

Photograph of an osprey with wings angled as it speeds toward the water, its talons spread out behind.

Photograph of an osprey with wings tucked against its body and open talons reaching forward as it nears its target in the water.

Photograph of an osprey with wings spread wide as it rises from the disturbed water with a fish clutched in its talons.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 24

Hungry baby cardinal #Birds #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph from above of a pair of pink, fuzz-covered baby cardinals in a nest. One has its head up, eyes still closed, and beak open wide to be fed, while its sibling is flopped and resting. I spotted the nest beside the path at eye level and peeked over to see if there were eggs and this is what I found.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 23

This horseshoe crab was not exactly well hidden when the tide was out but happily started scurrying around once the water started to roll back in. #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph looking straight down at a horseshoe crab partially buried in wetland rocks and sand so only the back half of its broad, two-sectioned shell is exposed along with its spike of a tail just visible in the rising water as the tide comes in.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 23

It's lily of the valley time in the yard. Still doing great after having to thin a bunch of it back to tend to other things in that area. #BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography

Photograph of a cluster of small, white, bell-shaped flowers on rising stems surrounded by a sea of wide, green, upright leaves.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 23

Small northern diamondback terrapin (I think) on the move #WorldTurtleDay #Wildlife

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 23

A couple of common snapping turtles and a quite young and small northern diamondback terrapin (I think) I met earlier this week at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware #WorldTurtleDay #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph of a snapping turtle, head pulled back to mostly under its thick shell, waiting for the photographer to scooch around so she can go back to digging her trailside nest.

Photograph of a grumpy looking snapping turtle staring at the camera, making sure the photographer knows this is their trail and to just move along already.

Photograph of a tiny turtle, hints of decorative swirls on its shell, scurrying across a sandy path.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 22

These mushrooms caught my eye on an otherwise drab day #Mushrooms #Fungi #FungiFriday #FungiFriends #NaturePhotography #Photography

Photograph of a cluster of large, orange-beige mushrooms growing like wavy shelves out of the bark of a dead tree trunk.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 15

Fern unfurling #Ferns #FernFriday #ForestFriday #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography

Photograph of a fern head still tightly curled up. One small lower frond on the fuzz-lined stem reaches up to brush the bottom of the still-packed spiral of fronds at the top, looking like an arm propping up a downturned head -- a bit like Rodin’s “The Thinker” with his chin resting thoughtfully upon his hand.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· May 9

Damp forest coming back to life #Moss #BloomScrolling #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography

Photograph looking down at a moss covered stone with a multitude of small, heart-shaped, green leaves growing up out of the moss.

Photograph of a small violet flower along a trail in a forest wet from the rain.

Photograph of a batch of yellow flowers rising above round leaves with the water of a small creek rippling below.

Photograph at the base of a tree where moss, small green leaves, and a tiny fern all grow together.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 26

Tulip

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 25

One of my favorite plants: A bromeliad in the conservatory at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania #BloomScrolling #Flowers

Photograph of a bromeliad with broad, powder-green leaves arching away from a central cup where a spiky, layered, pink flower rises.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 25

Found in the conservatory at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania 1 - tower of jewels 2 - agapanthus 3 - euphorbia (spurge) 4 - (uh... unknown) #BloomScrolling #Flowers

Photograph of small pink flowers interspersed with slender, curling leaves on the large conical flower stalk of a tower of jewels plant.

Photograph looking down at a mass of slender-leaved agapanthus plants with round clusters of small, purple to white, trumpet-shaped flowers. The arrangement and colors of the flowers look like little fireworks.

Photograph of bright green bracts, empty of flowers, atop a euphorbia (spurge) with hints of the slender leaves lining the stalk below.

Photograph of broad, rust-red, five-pointed leaves of a potted plant in a greenhouse.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 25

Grotto at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania

Photograph of a stone-surfaced chamber interior where a shower of water falls from a circular fixture in the ceiling into a pink-lit ring around a pile of polished rocks below. A lattice window and skylight in the ceiling fixture bring light into the chamber that is otherwise glowing with a pink hue.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 25

Wall around the fountain garden at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania

Photograph of a stone facade with squared, half-relief columns and decorative pitchers on pedestals separating three half-circle fountains built into the wall and spilling into a large pool below.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 25

Red-winged blackbird making its presence known now that spring is in full swing #Birds #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

A red-winged blackbird -- a small, dark bird with a patch of red and yellow on each shoulder -- perched horizontally on a thin, vertical reed stalk and backed by a wash of marshland beige.

A red-winged blackbird gripping a vertical reed stalk, its red-shouldered wings spread and tail feathers fanned out as it sings its marshland song.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 18

To make up for those self-promotion posts, here are glamour shots of my recently blooming agapanthus, which is cool to me since it's in a pot indoors in southern New England rather than outside in sunny California where they're everywhere. #BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography

Photograph of the top of a flower stalk where one light purple, trumpet-shaped flower is open backed by a spread of oblong yet-to-open buds, all against a dark background.

Photograph of a trumpet-shaped, light purple flower with petals flaring out at the tips, backed by unopened sibling buds that crown the top of a stem.

Photograph of light purple, trumpet-shaped blooms atop a flower stem. Four flowers are open, two on the left and two on the right, with a collection of unopened buds between them.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 18

My photographs are mostly nature and travel scenes, though other things do catch my eye. I try to do most of the work when taking a picture and steer away from too much post-processing since my aim is to retain a more natural feel to a photograph. www.markrcourtney.com

A promotional image with the text "Mark R. Courtney Photography" and website address "markrcourtney.com" surrounded by eight sample photographs. They are, clockwise from the upper left: (1) a bank of fog and moored sailboats on the water, (2) a mostly black butterfly on a rocky beach, (3) water-filled clam shells on the sand with a wave sliding in, (4) an orange California poppy covered in water drops, (5) the flowering stem of a purple wild lupine, (6) the silhouette of a slender, bare tree and rock wall backed by the rising sun, (7) a brown bird splashing in golden-lit water, and (8) coastal water gently washing around small colorful rocks.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 18

[awkward self-promotion] I have some of my photographs available as prints. You can buy them at www.markrcourtney.com or contact me there if you see something you like. Also, bringing in my software developer side, I created a puzzle app using my photos: www.puzzlingsnapshots.com

A promotional image with the text "Mark R. Courtney Photography" with the website address "markrcourtney.com" and the text "Puzzling Snapshots" with the website address "puzzlingsnapshots.com" in between six sample photographs. The photographs on the top are: (1) a rusty bolt on an old railroad track, (2) a flock of sanderling birds flying low over blue water, and (3) a black scallop shell among beach rocks. On the bottom are: (4) looking straight down at the symmetry of an agave plant, (5) vibrant orange quince flowers, and (6) a dry cliff top landscape with a canyon stretching out into the distance beyond.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 15

The tree swallows are claiming nesting boxes #WildlifeWednesday #Birds #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph of two tree swallows, small birds with shimmering blue-green backs and caps and white undersides, both on a weathered wood nesting box. One bird is on the roof, and the other is clinging to the side of the box near the entrance hole.

Photograph of a flying tree swallow with wings spread as it approaches a weathered wood nesting box. Another swallow clings to the side of the box in the shade near the entrance hole watching the approaching bird.

Photograph of a weathered wood nesting box with a tree swallow peering out of the round entrance hole. The blur of two other swallows fly nearby, wings angled as they swoop in front of and behind the box.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 14

I see it's #PortfolioDay... I'm a photographer who takes pictures as I wander around nature in southern New England and on hikes further afield when I get the chance. I sell prints of my work in-person at local art events around Rhode Island and on my website: www.markrcourtney.com #Photography

Photograph of an eastern swallowtail butterfly, dark with light-blue highlights and white spots along its wings, landed on a rock-covered beach.

Photograph of a solitary sandpiper, a brown and white shorebird, poking its dark beak into the sand of a smooth expanse of beach.

Photograph of a small spit of sandy land with water bending around it. A suspension bridge off in the distance leads across the misty scene to the land beyond with a small lighthouse nearby marking the middle of the channel.

Photograph of a rusty orange cliffside dropping off from the flat land atop it. The expanse of canyon below leads off into the distance with additional mesas looming out over it as far as the eye can see.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Apr 3

Misty, gray morning but the scilla and daffodils insist on upholding the spring feel #FlowerFriday #FlowersOnFriday #BloomScrolling #Flowers #FlowerPhotography #Photography

Photograph of small, blue flowers, star-shaped with six petals, blooming low to the ground and covered in droplets from the morning mist.

Photograph of a yellow daffodil, the ruffled cone angled slightly downward and backed by six wet petals coated by morning mist.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Dec 13

Sanderlings crowding a rock around high tide #Birds #BirdPhotography #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Photography

Photograph of a handful of sanderlings gathered closely on a seaweed-covered rock with waving water behind them. The sanderlings, with their gray and white feathers, make for a bright crown atop the dark rock.

Mark R. Courtney@mrcourtney· Dec 13

Plants in early winter mode #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography