When we went to Maine on Saturday to visit Gus’ parents I went out in the yard as usual to count birds. Since they no longer put bird feeders up, except for hummingbird feeders in the summer, I never know what I will find. Some days it is slim pickings, but some days I find real gems. Little did I know that today would be one of them!
I went out the front door with binoculars and camera in hand and slowly started to circle the house. While I found the new phoebe nest under the eves, there were no phoebes to be found. I heard the call of an Ovenbird from the woods and heard the whistle of a Mourning Dove’s wings as it flew up from the ground. I spotted movement near a large birch tree and found a sapsucker. As I got 3/4 of the way around the yard I started to hear a constant trilling behind me, but what was it? I didn’t look at first because I know that if it were some sparrows in the woods I would probably never find them. But as the sound persisted I could no longer resist. I decided to try my luck and see what was making that noise.
Across the driveway from where I stood on a little knoll I saw some movement. I focused in and was delighted to find a Brown Creeper! It landed on a small tree and started to work its way up the trunk stopping to pull insects from beneath the bark as it went. I was quite far away so I decided to get closer to see if I could get a better shot.
Then I saw this! A tiny little thing with a shorter beak and tail than an adult!
I was able to get even closer, and though the tiny bird watched me warily, it never moved. I heard even more trilling from the woods and found yet anther adult and another juvenile. I suspect there was a whole family in there but I was never able to see more than two birds at a time so I am unsure of exactly how many there were. What a treat! Scholl down to see what else I saw, then click on the link to see even more birds for World Bird Wednesday!
