Steven Thomas Photography

Steven Thomas Photography Spending time in nature, capturing images of all the beauty it has to offer.
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Mayfly Swarm Millions of the aquatic mayfly nymphs have hatched, matured and are now emerging from the river bottom to b...
08/05/2026

Mayfly Swarm

Millions of the aquatic mayfly nymphs have hatched, matured and are now emerging from the river bottom to breed. This happens every year, but this is the first time I have been able to truly capture a photo of the astonishing numbers that are here this time of year. After breaking the surface they will only live for a couple days, but will mate and lay eggs before they die.
Whats really matters is that, in order for this to take place, there has to be clean water with low pollution, otherwise the nymphs wouldn't be able to grow in the river sediment below the surface. This is a true sign of the health of this river, so those of you that still believe the Susquehanna river is dangerously polluted are sadly mistaken, and this photo stands as proof. As hard as it was to be out there amongst the swarm, I am very glad I'm able to show it to you.
I will try to keep posting each day, but I am busier than I know how to handle so bear with me while I try to push through my project list. I appreciate all of you for following this page.
Image captured on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

One Day at a Time This male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is showing true Monday morning vibes. He was actually cleaning, sharp...
08/03/2026

One Day at a Time

This male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is showing true Monday morning vibes. He was actually cleaning, sharpening his beak(feaking), and I was lucky to catch him in this position. However, it does accurately describe how I'm feeling this morning.
I'm right in the middle of building a brand new house for my amazing mom, have resumed roof tear off/truss repair at the river house, trying to manage three docks in a high river situation, running boat tours, catching up on a back log of welding projects for Waterman Conservation, all while trying to stay current with my wildlife photography. All will get done, but it does get overwhelming, and this photo just seems to hit this morning. I am so grateful for the healing powers of nature as it is where I find peace, and the strength to push forward, one day at a time.
Image captured along the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

Shades of Purple and Blue Catching this Great Blue Heron, just as it left the brilliant purple blooms of the Blue Vervai...
08/01/2026

Shades of Purple and Blue

Catching this Great Blue Heron, just as it left the brilliant purple blooms of the Blue Vervain plants, was a very pleasant surprise. I love how the colors change as each season progresses here on the river. Right now we are seeing long stretches of these purple flowers along the banks, a photographers dream.
Prints are available of all of my photos. Send me a message for details!
I want to say thank you to those of you that have purchased prints lately, I appreciate your well needed support!
Image captured on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

Perch Chasing Young bald eagles will often chase each other, stealing a perch from one another. This playful display of ...
07/31/2026

Perch Chasing

Young bald eagles will often chase each other, stealing a perch from one another. This playful display of dominance helps them mature into strong, independent predators. In order to survive they must have the ability to secure their own territory and it all starts now. It also helps them learn how to quickly maneuver when under attack, something they will have to deal with throughout their lives. To witness these exchanges is a remarkable experience, and seeing the triplets confidence grow day by day shows me that they are well on their way to becoming fierce hunters.
Image captured from the Waterman Conservation Education Center tour boat on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
We took this weekend off to perform some maintenance, but a full weekend of tours will resume for August 7th, 8th, and 9th!
Go to watermancenter.org/events to see the events calendar and purchase tickets. Grab your camera, and we'll see you on the river!
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

Another brilliant example of nature's beauty.The most common of the warblers around here is the Northern Yellow. I don't...
07/30/2026

Another brilliant example of nature's beauty.

The most common of the warblers around here is the Northern Yellow. I don't make the time to find them like I used to, so seeing this female come in so close to the house convinced me to sneak out there and grab a few photos. Such a stunning shade of yellow. As you can see in this photo, they don't sit still for long. Isn't she pretty?
Image captured along the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

A Sweet Pea kind of MorningThis morning's example of natural beauty is a Northern Azure butterfly perched on a Broad-lea...
07/30/2026

A Sweet Pea kind of Morning

This morning's example of natural beauty is a Northern Azure butterfly perched on a Broad-leaved Sweet Pea plant. The contrasting colors drew me in for a closer look. This tiny butterfly is no bigger than a nickel to give you perspective. Until this morning I had no idea this butterfly existed.
All I had to do was head outside and walk for a while, and I found many examples of nature's stunning colors, in all shapes and sizes. I urge you all to do the same. Get out there and learn about whats close to you, regardless of where you are. You'll be glad you did.
Image captured along the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

CooperHe's the unsung hero of this bald eagle family, and deserves some credit. I don't post photos of him very often be...
07/29/2026

Cooper

He's the unsung hero of this bald eagle family, and deserves some credit. I don't post photos of him very often because I rarely get the opportunity to photograph him. He stays out of sight for the most part, but is always ready when the next challenge arises. A fierce hunter with the ability to bring meals on demand, and whenever needed, he handles intruders with swift accuracy. So tonight's post is in support of Cooper, the alpha of this territory. This photo shows him strutting up a downed tree yesterday on the shore of Hiawatha Island. As usual, he didn't stay long, but it's always a thrill to see him up close. A very intimidating eagle that's for sure.
Image captured yesterday on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

07/28/2026

A short clip of one of the young bald eagles that have recently fledged the nest. It has been just over four months(seventeen weeks since) they hatched out of their eggs. All three are thriving and it has been a joy to watch them as they figure things out each day. You can hear it's siblings calling out in the background.
Keep in mind that I took this with a long lens, hand held, on a boat that was bobbing up and down.
Video captured on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

The Return of the Osprey Living smack dab in the middle of bald eagle territory comes with some sacrifices. Other raptor...
07/28/2026

The Return of the Osprey

Living smack dab in the middle of bald eagle territory comes with some sacrifices. Other raptors, such as Osprey, aren't allowed in this stretch of river due to the heightened security during the nesting season. Whenever other raptors do wander into the area, one of the adult eagles, (Cooper or Mary), are quick to attack, escorting them away from their nesting territory. However, once the young eagles have fledged the nest, things begin to change, and the restrictions are lifted somewhat. So every year in late July, early August, I begin to see more and more variation in raptor sightings. This is an amazing time of year to live here, as the action along the river ramps up. Seeing this Osprey was a recent highlight for sure, and with any luck I will get to observe, and photograph them as they dive for fish.
Image captured on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

Young Eagle Secures It's Own MealSeeing one of the triplets fly in with a squirrel put a big smile on my face. It wasn't...
07/27/2026

Young Eagle Secures It's Own Meal

Seeing one of the triplets fly in with a squirrel put a big smile on my face. It wasn't that it was a squirrel, rather that this one is hunting for himself. Out of the three, this one is smaller, making me think it's a male, which would make sense. Cooper is an exceptional hunter, and you know what they say about the apple.
Please refrain from commenting in regards to feeling bad for the squirrel, as I really don't care. This is a huge success for this young eagle, and the local squirrel population can spare a few to help them survive.
Image captured on the Susquehanna River here in Owego, NY.
Get outdoors, and as always, thanks for coming along!

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