Tag Archives: bird watching

Did you know American bitterns are surprisingly strong swimmers?

American bittern

I stopped at a small marsh in Springfield Friday morning. I’d seen Canada geese there and wanted to take a few photos. An acquaintance was there and we talked a few minutes about other birds she’d seen. I sat down to watch the geese, two of them, hoping that if I stayed still for a […]

Politics, Hunting, and Sunrise on Democrat Ridge

Surise on Democrat Ridge

The television was spewing hateful political ads and bad news when Steve turned it on this morning. I wasn’t long in turning it off. Facebook wasn’t much better. I’m sick to death of all this trash talk. It seems like there’s no getting away from hate and discontent in today’s connected world, and Tuesday can’t […]

The soaking wet broad-winged hawk

The rain isn’t giving us a break over here in northern Washington County and I don’t do well with being housebound. “Want to go for a ride,” I asked Steve and Taylor. We rode out to Loon Bay on the St. Croix. I hoped to see moose but we didn’t. We stopped along the way […]

Canada Geese in Magurrewock Marsh

A pair of Canada geese in Maggurewock Marsh, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Baring, Maine.

I spent six weeks on limited activity after having surgery in February. No ice fishing, only a little snowshoeing in no more than a few inches of fluffy snow, and certainly no snowmobiling. A girl gets fidgety when she can’t do much. I’m making up for lost time as much as possible these days. Maggurewock […]

The Eagles of Maggurewock Marsh

The American Bald eagles of Magurrewock Marsh in Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Baring can be seen in their nesting area on Rt 1 nearly year round. When I stopped to take these photos on March 21 or 22 neither were on the nest. I pushed the lens to its max on a gray day […]

A ruffed grouse budding on a late afternoon

I’ve been watching for the grouse, curious about how well they’ve managed this winter. Now and then I get a glimpse of one when I’m walking in the woods. Last year’s wet spring during nesting time drowned a lot of nests and chicks. I’ve seen the snow roosts left behind after nights spent in the […]

Life in the Woods: Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are a wonderful sight…most of the time. When one is perched high in a tree and glancing at my ducks and chickens I get a bit concerned. Our English shepherd spent a couple of hours in the pen with the birds this afternoon to keep them safe.

There’s finally some action at the bird feeders!

Finally! After months of not having the usual winter birds at the feeding stations the snow buntings appeared yesterday. When I see them they’re up the road in the huge field or in a clearing on Democrat Ridge. As I understand it, they prefer open space to forest. A flash of white caught my eye […]

Red-breasted nuthatches are energetic birds

The red-breasted nuthatches (Sitta canadensis) are among the busiest birds coming to my feeders, matched only by the black-capped chickadees. They’re 4.5″ of non-stop energy. Like the chickadees, they have a short neck and round head. Their wings and back are blue-gray. They sport a black cap on the heads and black mask-like stripe along […]

Downy Woodpeckers

Male downy woodpecker

“Hey,” Taylor said, seemingly to nobody. We were the only people home and the dogs were asleep. “Hey,” she said again. “Hey, you can’t do that,” this time said as she walked toward a dining room window. Just outside the window are three seed feeders, a ball of suet and an energy bar for the […]

Canada Jays and Their Bad Reputation

Canada jay, Gray Jay, Whiskey Jack, camp robber, lumberjack, meat bird, gorby

The Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is one of my favorite birds. They’re entertaining when I’m sitting in a tree stand while hunting or when walking through the woods. They’ll fly up from behind, land ten feet ahead of me, wait until I pass, chatter at me, and fly up from behind again. They’re amusing themselves […]

Book Review: Maine’s Favorite Birds

Jeffrey V. Wells and Allison Childs Wells Illustrated by Evan Barbour Publication Date: May 1, 2012 Paperback, $15, ISBN 978-0-88448-336-6 6 x 9, 72 pages, 100+ color paintings Maine’s Favorite Birds by Jeffrey V. Wells and Allison Child Wells was written as a guide for beginner and intermediate birders as well those who are advanced. […]