I Investigate Bradbury Mountain

 The View from the top of Bradbury Mountain 6-14-15

Bradbury Mountain is a well known birding Hotspot in Maine where birders gather in spring to watch the raptor migration. I was not able to go earlier this year due to my dislocated shoulder, but by June I was well enough to venture out on my own. I followed the back roads down through Freeport and into Durham, where the park is located. After paying the entrance fee, I found a place to park and followed the sign to the trail.

There are two ways to get to the top of the mountain. One is a slow but gradual climb to the peak, while the other is a short but steep climb. Since it was already getting late and I tend to be impatient, I chose the short but steep route. I mean, how hard could it be?

The trail started out wide and easy.

 

But soon became steep and narrow!

 

After clambering over roots and rocks…

 

I emerged to see this! Bradbury Summit!

 

And then this happened!

 

Turkey Vultures!

 

 

 

I saw several vultures, but only photographed one.

While I was taking in the view, I kept hearing some sort of birding singing. What was that bird? I knew I should recognize the song but I was unsure…and then I spotted it!

Dark-eyed Junco!

I don’t often hear them sing in winter when they are at my feeders.

After checking each other out, it was time for me to head down the mountain.

This time I was taking the scenic route. After all, it really didn’t take me long to get up here! Besides, I am like Alice in Wonderland, and my curiosity always gets the best of me! However, I was careful not to nibble on any mushrooms!

That dark opening is the path into the woods.

On the way down I did find a few woodpecker holes, but no woodpeckers!

Notes: I originally wrote about this trip back in June using only my cell phone photos. I have used a couple of those to fill in the gaps between my Nikon D90 photos which I have posted here now.

Links:

• New Places to Bird-the original post
• Bradbury Mountain is an eBird Hotspot
• My eBird Checklist for 6-14-15

Mere Point Yard Birds in Two Seasons

 Junco and Cardinal in snow 1-4-2015

Winter Birding in my yard is often viewed through through windows.

The waters of Maquoit Bay have long ago frozen over for good.

 

House Finches still fill my treetops.

 

Occasionally I still see a female Purple Finch or two.

 

White-throated sparrows were everywhere in Autumn,

but gradually their numbers dwindled. I now only see one occasionally.

Juvenile Cedar Waxwings were as thick as autumn leaves on October 24, 2014, but their numbers have dwindled as well. The most I have seen recently is five birds, but I know they will return. I had two adult birds in the yard today.

Last November I had this juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk in the yard.

 

By December 1st we had some of our first snow and our last Red-winged Blackbirds!

The White-breasted nuthatches are here year round!

 

And the crows like to hang out in the Sentinel Tree by the driveway!

 

It took me awhile to get use to feeding meal worms to the birds. I hate the look and smell of them, but the chickadees and titmice love them, so I hold my breath and fill the feeders with a canning jar funnel so I don’t have to touch them! Occasionally I see the nuthatches eating them as well. In this cold winter with such deep snow, the birds really need the protein!

Black-capped Chickadee at one of my feeders 12-21-14

 

Mourning Doves in the treetops 12-21-14

 

Female Hairy Woodpecker on apple tree by driveway 12-21-14

 

I moved the meal worm feeder and the finch feeder to this location by the driveway for the winter. I remembered that last year it was hard to get to the feeders on the side of the house and I knew I would not be able to shovel a path to that location this year. This proved to be a wise decision, for little did I know then how deep the snow would get this winter.

In summer I hung a hummingbird feeder here, but with the approach of winter, I exchanged the nectar feeder for a finch feeder. This feeder is located right out my back door across the driveway in an easy access location.

I was thrilled when the Common Redpolls showed up in January!

 

But so did the woodland hunter, who stalked the forest like a ghost.

 

The birds fed on berries in the thickets, like this Happy Hermit Thrush 1-18-15

But the Cardinal was wiser and more wary.

 

By January 21 we had just a bit of snow and a few Common Redpolls.

The grass was still visible and it was still easy to get around the yard.

January 25 it was still easy to get in and out of the driveway!

But then the snows came.

And the bitter cold.

The snow started to pile up! 1-28-15

 

It got deeper and deeper 1-31-15

 

Soon I had to move the finch feeder from the hook to the bush by the edge of the driveway. I could not climb over the snow bank, and the bird bath disappeared into the ever deepening snow! The snow took its toll on everyone, and hunger made the birds even more desperate and more bold.

So it was not surprising that during a snow storm I looked out the window to see a young Cooper’s Hawk dining beneath my feeder. I know this is the way of the wild but I was a bit sad that it ate my Happy Hermit Thrush! The Hermit Thrush’s hunger made it careless. The Cooper Hawk’s hunger helped it to hunt. Hunger drove them both to this end result. It is the way of Nature.

We had even more snow on this past Sunday, but it didn’t last long.

It was my birthday, so Gus took me out for breakfast and birding along the coast of Maine. We stopped at the Wild Birds Unlimited of Portland, where I spent the gift card a friend gave me for my birthday. Gus chipped in a few bucks as well and I was able to buy everything I wanted! I was so thrilled. After birding Biddeford Pool for the very first time (a future post), we drove home in sunshine and warm temps.

It was almost dusk when Gus mounted this new feeder platform on the pole for me. I had wanted one of these for a very long time but since moving this feeder to this location I had noticed the birds did not use it as much. I use to have the other bird feeders over here as well but I moved them to the side of the driveway for the winter as the yew tree I hang them from gets too weighed down with snow in winter. Once thing I  have learned from all this bird feeding is that the birds like to feed near each other. I guess it is because of that old adage, there is safety in numbers.

With the addition of the feeder platform, the birds are visiting this feeder once again! They just love it! I have had whole flocks of finches on it already, as well as Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers! However, I am guessing it will be mobbed by blackbirds when spring migration begins! And really, that is not too far away now! Just a few more weeks, right?

Are You READY FOR SOME BIRDING!

 Red-tailed Hawk above the trees in my yard 10-13-14

Current 2015 Stats	Life	Year	Month
Species Seen	479	60	55
Checklists Submitted	7531	154	70
Mere Point Cottage yard birds	111	40	28

The Fabulous Birds of Mount Lemmon

 Cordilleran Flycatcher at Palisades Visitor’s Center May 24, 2013

May 24, 2013: The heat is coming on early nowadays. I arise early as well and drive over to Celeste's house to pick her up. We are going on a birding adventure this morning but we must beat the heat if we want to see birds. It’s been a while since she has been up Mount Lemmon and she has never been up there just to bird, so off we go. By 7 AM we are standing at the Molina Vista overlook looking for birds.

At first all we find is a Rock Squirrel at Molina Vista Overlook

But then a Black-headed Grosbeak shows up.

Male Western Tanager at Molina Vista Overlook

We are both treated to wonderful views of several pairs of Western Tanagers. It is a lovely morning, still a bit cool but warming fast.  We are almost ready to head off to our next destination when something strange happens. A pick-up truck pulls into the parking area and an elderly woman yells out the window, “Are you seeing anything good?” I eagerly respond, “Yes! we just saw some Western Tanagers!” I am surprised by her response.

“Well, I don’t care about them! I’ve already got them on my list for this year.”

“Oh, well, I did hear some sort of flycatcher down in the canyon,” I reply.

“What kind,” she eagerly asks? “I’m not from around here. I need flycatchers!”

I am thinking that if she is not from around here that Western Tanagers should be wonderful! At this point she bolts from the truck and her male companion drives off to park it. I am a bit shocked by her rude behavior and the fact that she does not think Western Tanagers are wonderful. She walks towards us. She is a thin woman with disheveled looking short white hair. I am not sure if that is her style or she didn’t care to comb it when she got up. I tell her we have seen a black-headed grosbeak and some hummingbirds down the short, paved path, but she informs me that she cannot walk that far and she has no time to explain why. She just wants her flycatcher and she wants me to identify it for her. She also pumps me for information on where to find the nesting pair of Red-faced Warblers. Apparently she also needs them for her year list. I tell her I have heard they are up the road at Molina Basin. By now Celeste and I have both shot each other a look as we head back to the car. We wish her well on her hunt and we leave for Molina Basin just up the road. We want to get there before the rude woman.

Male Hooded Oriole at Molina Basin

I pull into the parking area and discover the basin is closed off except for the first parking lot. I park the car and roll down the windows because we can hear birds everywhere! We spot a male hooded oriole right off and we are both delighted! House Finches are calling, birds are flying overhead and singing from the trees. I have never been birding in this area so it is all new to me. As we are looking around suddenly Celeste points to my car. The male oriole is attacking his reflection in my side mirrors!

Celeste tells me of a time when a male red-winged Blackbird attacked the mirror of a car and got its foot stuck in-between the mirror and the edge and it was badly injured. she suggests we wrap the mirrors to protect the oriole and I agree. I open the car doors and take out my shirt and a small sweater. I toss one to Celeste and we wrap both mirrors, then lock up the car and head down the path.

Canyon Towhee at Molina Basin

I am happy to see the barricade that prevents cars from driving farther into the basin. You can still walk in, but apparently this camping area is closed for the summer and will reopen again in the fall. I am thinking that if the rude lady shows up she will not be able to go any farther than the first parking lot since she can’t walk very far. But I am soon to find out that she didn’t quite tell the truth. It’s already been a few hours since Celeste and I have been out and about. We find a shaded picnic table and decide to walk back to the car to get some drinks and snacks, then come back and sit in the shade and watch birds. On our way back to the car we see the lady’s truck. Then, shock of all shocks, she has passed the barrier and is walking our way! birds are calling all around us. She stops to ask me if I know bird calls. I tell her I don’t know many, why? Then she asks if I know that bird’s call. That one right there singing in the tree. “Oh, you mean the Bell’s Vireo,” I reply? “Yes! she exclaims triumphantly! I should have recognized that, she exclaims!”

Bewick’s Wren at Molina Basin

Celeste and I get our stuff from the car and walk back to our picnic table. By now the lady who cannot walk is climbing all over the hilly and rocky path and wandering up past the picnic table we have picked out to sit at. This is a good quarter of a mile from the parking lot. We give each other a look once again and head over to sit down. That’s when rude lady comes over and tell us that this looks like the area that someone described to her as being the location of the Red-faced Warbler. Then, she des the only polite thing of the whole day. She asks if we mind if she plays a recording to draw the bird out. I look at Celeste and she looks at me. we are both hoping the other one will reply. I hem and haw. I do not like when people play recordings over and over again and get the birds all excited and they waste their energy. I do not object when people use players judicially, but I actually prefer to find the birds on my own. That is part of the fun and the challenge of birding. I ask Celeste what she thinks and she says she really doesn't like it. so, the lady walks off.  after our snacks are done we walk back to the car to leave our bottles and lunch boxes behind. The woman is still looking for her birds while her male companion is sleeping in the shade in the truck.

Funnel Web in tree at Molina Basin

Before we leave Celeste and I walk back into the basin to do more exploring. we find white-throated swifts slicing the air above us. We find canyon towhees everywhere. In a nearby tree we find a pair of nesting Bewicks wrens. We hear a flycatcher calling from behind the restrooms and walk back there to discover a pair of Western Kingbirds. We are supremely happy. In a tree behind the restrooms Celeste’s points out the web of a funnel web spider spun perfectly into a knot hole on the tree. We both stop to admire its beauty. We walk a bit further down the paved road but the air is heating up and the vegetation has diminished. We are in blazing open sun so we turn back. We have probably seen all the birds we are going to see at this location, but we did not see the Red-faced Warbler.

Magnificent Hummingbird at Palisades Visitor’s Center

It is close to noon by the time we stop at the Palisades Visitor‘s Center. Celeste has never been here before either. We grab our gear and head straight for the deck on the side of the building where there is a hummingbird feeder set up. As we walk down the ramp a Broad-billed hummingbird whistles by. We find a shady place to sit, and then we wait. Soon a male Magnificent Hummingbird makes his appearance at the feeder. Then the female flies in. In a nearby tree a Cordilleran flycatcher winks at us. We are in birding heaven!

House Wren at Palisades Visitor’s Center

Soon a sweet little House Wren shows up and shows off! I watch its antics for ten minutes or more. A Broad-billed hummingbird lands on the feeder. Celeste sees a robin on a fallen tree trunk down the slope. Then, while I am distracted by the wren or the Cordilleran, Celeste whispers to me, “Kathie! Kathie! Look! Look!” I turn my head and focus my bins on the pine tree over the deck where the hummingbird feeder hangs and there, working its way through the branches, is a Red-faced warbler! Oh, it is so pretty and I am so busy looking at it that I forget to raise my camera. when I finally come to my sense and pick it up slowly and cautiously the bird sees me and takes off! Still, we both saw it! We both saw it without using any mechanical means to draw it in. It just revealed itself to us! Life Bird for us both!

House Wren clinging to windowsill at Palisades Visitor’s Center

House Wren at Palisades Visitor’s Center

House Wren at Palisades Visitor’s Center

A Yellow-eyed Junco at Palisades Visitor’s Center digs in the grass.

By now we are both hungry, so we head up the road to the cookie cottage for some pizza. It is the Friday before the Memorial day weekend and people are already coming up the mountain. It is lovely and cool up here at only 70 degrees while down in the valley it is nearing the 100 mark. amazingly there is only one young girl working the whole restaurant and she tells us it may be awhile before our pizza is ready. No worries. we purchase tea and a giant cookie to eat while we wait. After all, Celeste is English and it is time for our tea! I must confess that I am the one who wanted the cookie though. I was starving and 25 minutes or more to wait for pizza seemed like an eternity to me at the moment! We sat outside and watched birds while drinking our tea and waiting for our pizza to arrive. A wonderful Stellar’s jay entertained us in the tall pines overhead and a yellow-eyed junco walked around our feet while we sat at our table!

Mountain Chickadee at Marshall Gulch 5-24-13

after tea and pizza we headed down through the village to Marshall Gulch. Her a little creek tumbles along the tree lined street to the forest service parking area with picnic tables strewn all along the way. Most of these we already full of picnickers enjoying the lovely day. However, with people and kids playing and listening to music it didn’t make for very good birding at first until we found the trailhead behind the restroom. there, just a short distance up the trail, we found all kinds of birds, including a Mountain chickadee, and a huge flock of pine siskins feeding on cones overhead. We also saw a Hairy woodpecker, several Cordilleran flycatchers, and we heard a Hermit Thrush singing. By now we realized it was time to head back down the mountain. But before we did, we drove all the way to the top. We didn’t see many birds up there, but we did find a cute horned toad, and the views were spectacular, though a bit hazy from all the dust!

View from the top of Mount Lemmon over the Tucson Valley

Today has been a wonderful day birding with a wonderful friend. Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis or knows me knows that I like to keep lists of all the birds I see and I get excited when I see a new bird or get a new species in anew county. I have lists of list, but they are the side pleasure. the main pleasure for me is being outside and seeing the birds. I am happy to see a Robin as much as a Red-faced Warbler. I just love the birds. And I love to count them.

•  Celestial Ramblings 
• My Backyard