The Hummer Boys Are Back!

The Hummer Boys Are Back!

Hopeful, I first put the hummingbird feeder up on May 1st. I’m not sure when they arrived, but I spotted my first hummer on Sunday – May 8th. At first, it was a lone male. Today the aerial shows began with the arrival of another male. I spent the morning...
Nesting Season

Nesting Season

There’s something about this time of year that drives me into nesting mode. Maybe it’s the cold that has driven me indoors – or because it’s a season of new beginnings. Regardless the reason, I’ve spent the last few days cleaning,...
Busy Before the Storm

Busy Before the Storm

This morning dawned a brisk -22 degrees outside. Despite the frigid weather, it was a work day. It seems as if everyone is busy before the storm. Paul and I have been taking turns raking snow off the roof. My arms and shoulders are aching for a hot bath. I thought it...
A Charm of Goldfinches

A Charm of Goldfinches

Until the other day, I had never seen more than just a pair of goldfinches at my feeder. Last week a flock of these lovely little birds came to visit. Facebook friends helped to identify them as non-breeding goldfinches. I’m not certain if they’re males or...
A Band of Blue Jays

A Band of Blue Jays

My bird feeders were three-quarters full when I left in the morning. By afternoon, I was surprised to see that they were all but empty. Then I spied a band of blue jays – four in all that descended upon the yard. Now I understand who’s raiding the bird...
Startled by a Pileated Woodpecker

Startled by a Pileated Woodpecker

As I walked out the door this morning, arms overflowing with handbag, coffee, water bottle, lunch, day planner, and camera over my shoulder (yes, I could use a tote), a large black bird swooped out of the fir tree and flew straight at me. I think he was as startled as...
Foggy Silhouette

Foggy Silhouette

The last few days here have been “pea soup” foggy – clouds so low and thick that you could feel them as you walk through. While traveling along the blueberry barrens I was struck by the stark beauty of this cedar waxwing’s silhouette as he...
Return of the Eastern Phoebes

Return of the Eastern Phoebes

Increased activity by the Eastern Phoebes out back told me they were likely nesting under the tractor lean-to again. Each time I went out to take a peak, the adult flew off. Since I was in camera mode yesterday I took another look and found a nest full of baby...
A Hover of Hummingbirds

A Hover of Hummingbirds

Did you know a flock of hummingbirds is called a hover? Or a bouquet, a glittering, a shimmer, or a tune of hummingbirds? Regardless of the term, it looked like a hummingbird convention at the feeder last evening. They were zooming around so fast it’s pure luck...
Misguided Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Misguided Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

For the last week, I’ve been waking to the sound of “ra-ta-ta-ta-tat” coming from outside. Initially, I thought this was the sound of the metal flu on the furnace moving in the wind. This morning, a work-from-home day, the sound was really loud from...
Love My Birthday Gift

Love My Birthday Gift

Twelve years ago, Paul made this bird feeder for me. It traveled with us to Maine and stands in the garden outside my kitchen window. It’s one of the best gifts he’s ever given me. Today I had quite a variety of visitors at the kitchen feeder. When my...
Peace and Tranquility is Fleeting

Peace and Tranquility is Fleeting

Thursday afternoon was spectacular. I carved out an hour at the end of the day to enjoy the view from my Adirondack chair. The yard teeming with birds flying every which way provided plenty of entertainment. A couple of pair of goldfinches dominated the bird feeder...
In Search of Bald Eagles

In Search of Bald Eagles

Recently, a friend shared beautiful pictures of bald eagles that she took along the Narraguagus River. I confess, I was a little envious. I’d driven past this stretch of the river many times without a single sighting. So the last couple of weeks I took special...
Misplaced Grackle Finds a Friend

Misplaced Grackle Finds a Friend

After watching our Misplaced Grackle for weeks, recently another Grackle arrived on the scene. He/she is shy, retreating to the safety of the fir tree when I appear to take pictures. I’m happy to know my grackle is not alone! Funny how I project human emotions...
What’s Wrong With This Picture?

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Mother nature often surprises me. Following a day of torrential rain, the ice we’ve been plagued with since before Christmas melted overnight. This is the view of the duck pond from the porch today. This was the view just a few days ago, my birches looking so...
Suspended Animation

Suspended Animation

This visitor had me keep Paul and Hannah waiting as we were trying to get out the door today to go shopping. It’s that addiction thing. I followed the woodpecker (Downy? Hairy?) from the kitchen to the living room scrambling to get the camera focused correctly....
I Think I’m Addicted

I Think I’m Addicted

I think I’m addicted to photographing birds. Paul and Hannah had a bird theme going for my Christmas gifts. I received four new feeders and a Birds of Maine field guide the other day. Paul helped me hang three of the feeders. One we’ve simply tucked into...
Chickadees On Ice

Chickadees On Ice

When I ventured outdoors this morning, I couldn’t help but admire the chickadees as they flitted in and out of the icy branches. Here in Maine, the are my most faithful visitors. The freezing rain started up again as I admired the view from my porch. Here, my...