Thursday, January 1, 2015

Good-bye 2014, Hello 2015

1. rossmore eagles-kab Rossmore Road Bald Eagles 10-18-2014

Gus and I stayed up to say good-bye to 2014 and welcome in the New Year. This morning I was up early counting my first birds of 2015. I heard a crow calling before I even got out of bed on this cold January morning, but the first bird I saw was a tiny American Goldfinch clinging to the feeder. I am up to 12 species in the yard so far this morning.

2. boat launch-kab Mere Point Bay as seen from the Boat Launch 11-13-14

I finished the year with 106 species seen in my yard and 90 species seen at the Boat Launch. The last species added to my Yard List was a Surf Scoter seen on November 29th from my living room window. With the leaves off the trees I can now see down into Maquoit Bay and when the ducks come close enough to the shore I can easily identify them.

3. horned grebes-kab Horned Grebes in Mere Point Bay 11-13-2014

The last species I added to the Mere Point Boat Launch Hotspot were Horned Grebes, Long-tailed Duck, Red-tailed Hawk and a Brown Creeper. I spotted these Horned Grebes in the bay on November 13, 2014. They were far down the point and you can see the outline of Portland across Casco Bay. I took the shot while standing on the floating dock and had to greatly crop it, but you can still see their overall shape and coloration. My Yard List is higher than the boat launch, because I’ve counted birds here almost every day since we moved here in February of 2014. This is my largest Yard List ever and I look forward to adding more species in this New Year. Many of my neighbors and even my landlord have seen a barred owl around my yard, but so far it has eluded me and my bird count! I did create an eBird Patch of my yard, the boat launch, the point, and Rossmore and Mere Point Roads. The total number of species seen in this patch is 131 species of birds and the newest addition to the overall patch was a Northern Goshawk that was hanging around my yard for a few days in November, though I have not seen or heard it recently.

3a. bald eagle in yard-kab The picture of the Bald Eagles at the top of this post was taken in October when my friend, Dawn Fine was visiting me. We have no lack of Bald eagles down here on the point and I frequently see them flying over my yard! I photographed this immature Bald Eagle from my yard on November 13, 2014.

4. window view 12-29-14 cell pic Most of my world is seen from my windows as I continue to recover from abdominal surgery. All went well, but I am still a bit sore and I find I tire easily. It’s hard to remember not to bend over or pick things up. Just this morning I wanted to move a chair from on place to another. I caught myself in time just before I did it. It’s something I would do without thinking before. I am getting a bit squirrely from being house bound and I may have to have Gus take me out for a drive soon, because I need to see more birds than the 16 regular species that show up in my yard. Plus, I need to get my first count of the year in at the Boat launch! I keep reminding myself that it will not be like this forever, and so I look forward to this New Year with hope.

Happy New Year Everyone!

5. first sunsrise 2015 cell pic First Sunrise 2015

30 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Kathie! Looking forward to a great year of unknowns! My first bird of the year is a Carolina Chickadee.

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    1. Kathryn, that's great! I hope we both have grand adventures and I hope that we get to visit each other and go birding together again!

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  2. Lovely pictures and speedy healing Kathie. I would also like to wish you and Gus A Very Happy and Healthy New Year!

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    1. Denise, thank you so much! I am hoping for the "healthy" part!

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  3. Hello Kathie, I wish you a speedy recovery! You do have a nice yard list.. And I hope you get to see that Barred Owl soon..That would be a cool yard bird.. Great post. I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year!

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    1. Eileen, I saw the Barred owl the very next day farther up the road. While it's still not on my yard list, at least it is on my Maine Life List!

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  4. Step by step! I bet the Owl is out there right now waiting for you to get the New Year started. Happy New Year!

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    1. Chris, it was waiting for Gus to take me birding farther up the road! I found it the next day on Rossmore Road on my way over to Wharton Point!

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  5. Glad you are over the surgery and although. you are a bit sore, you are recovering. There will be plenty of time to find and see the Owl. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

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  6. All the best in your recovery! Happy New Year and happy bird counting. You live in a wonderful location.

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    1. Ruth, I still have so many places to explore and so many new birds to see!

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  7. Hi Kathie

    All the best with your recovery, and have a wonderful New Year.

    Regards
    Guy

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  8. Hi Kathie... A Happy New Year, and the count begins again. You will be out, and about soon, so take care of yourself. Cold morning, but I just got the bird bath heater set up my daughter got me for Christmas and the Blue Birds. and Goldfinches are liking it.

    Grace

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    1. Grace! Good morning! I hope you are counting birds over there in under counted Androscoggin county!

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  9. Happy New Year Kathie, keep safe and don't do anything silly.

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    1. Roy, I am trying to behave myself! Thank you! Gus is doing a good job of taking care of me as well.

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  10. May 2015 bring you "high numbers" both in the yard, at the pier and wherever you are counting!! Happy New Year, Kathie, Happy Birding!

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    1. Thank you Sheila! I am trying! Up to 37 species already!

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  11. Happy New Year, Kathie. It's good that you are up and about despite the limits - good birding in 2015.

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    1. Thank you Happy Wanderer! I hope to soon be wandering again myself!

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  12. Great captures! Happy New Year to you and yours!!!

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  13. I do hope you recover quickly and can get out birding properly soon! Happy new year to you and your family.

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  14. Happy 2015, Kathie. Good to hear you recovery is going well, even if it is slower than you'd like.

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    1. Well, Marvin, you know what they say...slow and steady wins the race!

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  15. Happy New Year Kathie :)
    I know you will have a wonderful birding year in 2015 and I am sure that Barred Owl will put in an appearance soon.

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    1. Celeste, right after I posted this i saw one up the road. More recently I finally saw one in my yard, but alas, no photos of that one!

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.