The Birds in Grammie G’s Yard

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak on the deck 6-10-14

June 10, 2014: Long before Chris Rohrer arrived for Our Big New England Birding Adventure I went to meet and visit a fellow blogger over in Androscoggin County, Maine. I had known Grace from her blog, Grammie’s Ramblings for a few years. Having lived in Androscoggin County before myself, I knew it was an under-birded locale and I always encouraged her in her eBirding. Grace is now one of the top two eBirders in that county! The information she supplies to eBird is invaluable in my opinion since so few people eBird there. I was looking forward to meeting this legendary eBirder and seeing her yard birds!

I walked past fragrant honeysuckle in bloom on my way to the car.

In twenty minutes I was at her house. Or…it would have been 20 minutes if I hadn’t stopped to buy donuts at Tim Horton’s In Topsham! I don’t think Grace had any complaints about that! She put on a pot of coffee and we sat down at her table to chat. And of course, we started talking about birds! Right near the table was a sliding glass door that opened onto her deck. Across the deck she had a wire strung, and from that wire dangled numerous bird feeders. Purple Finches and woodpeckers clung to the feeders. Swallows swooped through the yard. Grace and I watched birds, sipped coffee, and munched on Boston Cream donuts! Yum! While we were chatting about all the birds we were seeing, one of us asked if the other had seen any cuckoos. I was just telling her about seeing the Black-billed cuckoo in my yard when Grace suddenly got up to look out a different window. She called me over to take a look. Right now Grace only has her camera to use, but I had both camera and binoculars. I quickly stood up to look out the window and focused on the arbor in her backyard.

Was it a bird…or a stick?

Looks like a bird to me…

Oh My goodness! it was a Black-billed Cuckoo!

While I had seen the Black-billed cuckoo before, it was a Life Bird for Grace!

It was also a new Yard Bird and a new species in Androscoggin county. For me, this is my first ever photo of one, even though I have seen them a few times before! What a great way to start off the day!

Of course, I could not resist taking another photo of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak! Most of these pictures were shot through the windows of her house. I am amazed at how they came out, since I have had a terrible time photographing through my own wavy windows!

Yes, there is a bird in there somewhere!

It was a lovely cool and gray day.

Then a pair of wild turkey wandered into her yard with courtship on their minds!

 

When a bird shows you its heart you have to take a shot!

Yes, this is the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak again!

Then Grace asked me about seeing an American Tree Sparrow that was still hanging around her yard. Tree sparrows are suppose to be far up in Canada right now breeding in the boreal forest, so what was one still doing here? Finally the bird in question showed up.

First I saw this…

…then this…

Do you know what species of sparrow this is?

It’s not a Tree Sparrow…

 It’s a Field Sparrow!

While both Tree Sparrows and Field Sparrows have a rusty cap like a Chipping sparrow, the Tree Sparrow has a central breast spot and a bi-colored bill. That means it’s top mandible is dark while the lower mandible is lighter. This sparrow has a pinkish bill and no breast spot. Both species have an un-streaked breast. Field Sparrows belong here in summer. American Tree Sparrows belong here in winter. I believe this was a Life Bird for Grace as well! I know is was a new yard bird for her! it was also my first Field Sparrow in Maine and my First of the Year for this species! If you look at the Maine bar charts for this species you will discover they are not found in too many locations. Grace has one of the only records in Androscoggin County! While there are many fields down near the coast where I live, I have yet to see or hear a field sparrow in my neck of the woods! And believe me, i have looked and listened for them!

Of course, it is nesting time and we did see these sweet Eastern Phoebe chicks in their snug nest under the eaves of her garage! We passed them as we went out to take a walk along her county road.

We spotted a fledgling catbird in a hedgerow alongside the road.

 

Across the street a chestnut-sided warbler belted out its spring song!

It sang that it was pleased to met us!

(Some people say the Chestnut-sided warbler’s song sounds like: “Pleased, pleased, pleased to meetcha!”)

In the same area we found a male Common Yellowthroat.

As we walked back up the street I heard and saw a ruckus overhead!

A Red-tailed Hawk was mobbed by some smaller birds, and then a Broad-winged hawk joined the fray before flying off!

I was having such a great time and we were seeing so many birds that I stayed far longer than intended. Thank you so much Grace for having me over to visit. I was so Pleased to Meet You! Hopefully was can do coffee and birds again?

Baltimore Oriole 6-10-14

Birds seen in Grace’s Yard on June 10, 2014

1. Wild Turkey
2. Mourning Dove
3. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
4. Black-billed cuckoo
5. Red-bellied Sapsucker
6. Downy Woodpecker
7. Hairy Woodpecker
8. Eastern Phoebe
9. American Crow
10. Blue Jay
11. Tree Swallow
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. Tufted Titmouse
14. White-breasted Nuthatch
15. American Robin
16. Eastern Bluebird
17. Northern Mockingbird
18. Gray Catbird
19. European Starling
20. Common Yellowthroat
21. Chestnut-sided Warbler
22. Yellow-rumped Warbler
23. Chipping Sparrow
24. Field Sparrow
25. Song Sparrow
26. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
27. Northern Cardinal
28. Red-winged Blackbird
29. Common Grackle
30. Brown-headed Cowbird
31. Baltimore Oriole
32. Purple Finch
33. American Goldfinch-we also saw these additional species in her neighborhood:
34. Turkey Vulture
35. Red-tailed Hawk
36. Broad-winged Hawk
37. Northern Flicker
38. American Kestrel
39. House Finch
40. Rock Pigeon
41. Cedar Waxwing
42. Yellow Warbler

Check out her blog at Grammie’s Ramblings

Birding with KaHolly

 Sisters Karen and Hollis 5-9-14

May 9, 2014: One of the benefits of blogging is getting to know and sometimes getting to meet other bloggers. I have known Karen, a.k.a. “KaHolly,” through her blog since 2010 or longer. We talked about meeting each other when I lived in Andover, but it just never worked out. Now this year as Karen made her way from Texas to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia we were finally able to make that happen. Arrangements were made for us to meet at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine. Karen has a brother-in-law named Don Smith who is a very good birder and eBirder. Don’s job keeps him quite busy, but, like me, he loves to bird and he was missing it. None of us knew each other and so we all wondered how good the other birder would be, of if we would get along or even like each other. But, life is short and I like to bird, so what the heck, I gave it a chance. Plus, I had the chance of finding new places to bird and maybe, just maybe, I would find a Life Bird!

 Double-crested Cormorant

The air was cool and damp with gray skies threatening rain when I met Karen, Hollis and Don at the entrance to Greenwood Cemetery. Being new around here, I am still getting to know the good birding spots. After introductions and hugs we all got back into our cars and I followed them to the birding spot. We drove past gravestones tall, thick and strong, stones arranged in rows, each one its own story of a life lived and now gone. If their spirits can see us now, I wonder what they are thinking about all these crazy birders walking around their graves! For I quickly discovered that we are not the only ones tromping around looking for birds. Car are parked all over the place and people with binoculars, cameras, and big lenses were everywhere! Don was out of the car and down the path before I knew he was gone. I had to get my gear on, and with the morning’s chill, I still needed gloves to keep my hands warm. Karen, Hollis and I followed a path alongside a small pond. A double-crested cormorant relaxed on the trunk of a fallen tree. Overhead, the woodland trees seemed to drip with warblers. They were everywhere!

Even in the misty gray light the throat of a Blackburnian Warbler seems to glow!

Northern Parulas called from the woods. Palm Warblers hopped about from branch to branch. Black-throated Green warblers sang their, “zee, zee, zoo, zee” song, or, as Karen liked to say, they called out, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5!” I soon learned that Hollis knows all about the forest flora and she pointed out various flowers and plants to us as we walked down the trail. As we walked and chatted I felt an easy grace with these two women. I felt that I had once again found others who share my love of nature and understand her voice. Not only do they understand it, they need it for their own inner healing and sanity.

 Solitary Sandpiper

As we round the tip of the pond and everyone is looking up in the treetops for birds I suddenly notice the rippling of the water as a small bird wades through the shallow depths. It is a Solitary Sandpiper and I point it out to the others, including Don. They seem surprised and pleased to not only see the bird, but impressed that I know what it is. Warbler after warbler flits about us and I try to photograph them when I can. The light is low, the sky is gray, and the birds really do flit around. They are rarely motionless or posing for the camera. Hungry from their long journey and with may more miles to fly, they are gobbling up every insect they can find with little thought for us mere humans below.

 Palm Warbler

 

 Black-and-white Warbler

 

Besides all the warblers we did find this cute little Least Flycatcher high on a twig!

 

 Tufted Titmouse

Though I have seen them all winter in my yard, I am always happy to see a Tufted Titmouse! Karen and Hollis lead me down another path through the woods where we find Trout Lilies. Of course, I had to ask Hollis what they are called. I know my birds better than my woodland flowers. By now Karen and Don have gone ahead and Hollis and I are having a lively  and interesting chat!

 Trout Lilies

Suddenly I find a wood sprite walking on a log!

It matters not her age, she is still a child of the woods!

 

Hollis told me the name of this flower, but I do not remember it!

(Update 6-19-14: It’s a Fly Honeysuckle. Thanks Karen!)

 

Everything was in its new and tender stage back at the beginning of May.

After spending almost two hours at Evergreen Cemetery we counted 23 species before moving on to Capasic Pond.  And orchard oriole had been spotted there and we were hoping to see it for ourselves. I had only seen this species twice before and never in Maine, so I was eager to see one here! When we parked the car some of the first birds we saw were various Blackbirds. Then, we found yet another Palm Warbler.

 Palm Warbler in a Fir Tree

Farther down the trail I found this little empid who has yet to be identified!

 Unknown empid at Capisic Pond 5-9-14

We met others who had seen the orchard oriole but as yet, we had not seen it. We walked the trail along the pond and wetlands to its end, then turned back. As we neared the beginning of the trail, suddenly we saw it! There on the ground was the orchard oriole! and nearby on a low bush was its mate! However, this was the first day my camera started acting up and my lens would not focus! I tired and tried again, and finally got a shot that shows its darker rust colored body and the full black hood and back of this smaller oriole.

 Orchard Oriole at Capisic Pond 5-9-14

Not to be outdone, the Baltimore Oriole soon put in an appearance as well!

Notice the brighter and more extensive orange of the Baltimore Oriole!

However, not to be outdone, a chestnut-sided warbler soon caught our attention in the underbrush! I quickly learned his song of, “pleased, pleased, pleased to meet-you,” and now here it in my own yard every day!

 

 Chestnut-sided Warbler at Capasic Pond in Portland, Maine 5-9-2014

We spent and hour and 20 minutes at Capasic pond and saw 28 species of birds. Now, under threatening skies we drove to the Scarborough Marsh. While I knew it was an eBird Hotspot, I had never been here yet and I was quite eager to see it and find out where to park and where to bird. Plus, there was the potential for a new Life Bird for me, and a rare one at that; a Northern Wheatear! It’s so unusual that I didn’t even know what it looks like! I had to look it up! The skies are now a cold and threatening gray as we park our cars and add more layers of clothing and coats! A stiff wind is blowing in off the ocean and right through our bones, I swear! I follow Don, Karen and Hollis across a bridge and down a sort of dike between the open bay and the marsh. We soon come to a spot where various birders are gathered with spotting scopes and cameras gazing out at this:

Can you find the bird in here?

It’s there I promise you, but this is what we were faced with. Most people could only find the bird when it flew and alighted again. It is the color of that dried grass and so small and far away.

 Close-up of the Northern Wheatear, Life Bird Number 469!

Though it was cold and the bird quite far away I did get a good look through someone’s scope and I was quite excited to add it to my Life List! Beside the Wheatear, we did see a few other species.

 Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

 

 Savannah Sparrow

 

 Tree Swallows (We did see a few Barn Swallows as well)

 

 Wading Willet

We saw several of these and they were my first Willets in Maine!

I had such a good time with Karen, Hollis and her husband, Don. I do hope I will get to go birding with them again. I fell like I met some kindred spirits on  this day.

Helpful Links:

• KaHolly (Karen’s Blog)
• Jiggity Jig (Karen’s Post about this day)
• Explore Evergreen Cemetery
• Explore Capisic Pond
• Explore Scarborough Marsh

Yellowlegs at the edge of the marsh.

Morning Notes: The Day Before Thanksgiving

There’s a pink blush to the cloudy skies as I wake up this morning. A light wind is blowing and the overall effect is quite dramatic. It makes me want to run and toss my head like a wild pony! It makes me feel wild.

It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I have come downstairs early to start getting ready for the holiday. There is so much to be done: floors to wash and pies to bake, but first I am taking a few minutes for myself to think and to write. I miss writing. It is what I love most. So often I get caught up in the birding and the photography and I feel like I have left some of the writing behind, so please bear with me as I take a few moments to express myself!

I am a person who likes to feel connected. I have found it difficult lately to keep up with all my birding adventures. Chris Rohrer and the birds keep me on my toes! Because of this I can see that my blog has taken a different turn as it has become impossible for me to post these adventures as they happen. Things are out of sequence and that just bugs me, but I have had to let it go in favor of attending to the things that are most important, like spending time with my husband or my grandson, and counting the birds!

Yes, I count the birds on a daily basis at my house. I have now come to believe that this is the most important birding thing that I do. While racing around the state to see birds is fun (and I am not about to give it up!) It’s the daily bird count that I do that matters most. I also count the birds I see along familiar routes I drive and at my local grocery stores and shopping malls. With more and more people getting into eBird, there are plenty of people eBirding the favorite birding haunts. But dozens of checklists coming in from Sweetwater or Madera Canyon does not a complete picture make. While these locals are the bright and shining threads of a tapestry of birds, the birds at your local park, your school yard, or in your neighborhood and backyard are what fill in the blanks and make up the complete picture of bird populations. Having this complete picture is what eBird is all about. So while you are cleaning your house today or baking pies, take a few glances out the window at your feathered friends and be thankful that you have them. Then write down the time you started watching the birds, record the species you saw and the number of each species, then write down how much time you spent overall watching the birds (even if you stopped for an hour or two and then came back to it) and submit that info to eBird. It’s just that easy!

As for me and my blog; don’t worry, I am not going anywhere! However, in order to keep up to date with what is going on I will be posting a few more of these Morning Notes or Notes from My Nest just so I can keep you up to date on what is happening. Morning Notes will be notes I write first thing in the morning just to let you know what is going on that morning or what is on my mind. Notes From My Nest will be more of an overview of what is happening in the backyard or in my life. Meanwhile, Artsy Fartsy Fridays will continue, as well as my regular birding adventures. I hope you like these new features. Now, it’s time to go bake some pies!

• November Days-my newest poem
• Kneaded: A Collection of Family Recipes-my newest blog
• What’s THAT in the Grass?-yesterday’s post
• Notes from My Nest 

 Sunrise in my neighborhood 11-27-13

P.S. Scroll down for yesterday’s post. More bird stories and pictures coming later today!

A Year Full of Bird Part 2

 American Kestrel at Lakeside Park 1-2-13

There’s nothing like starting out the New Year with an American Kestrel! Chris and I did a Big January together and we hit so many eBird Hotspots within the first two weeks of January! I had no idea then how many birds we would see this year.

Who doesn’t love seeing a Hepatic Tanager in Madera in winter?

A red bird against the greenery? Even here in Arizona this is Christmasy!

Madera Canyon 1-4-2013

 

I cannot forget watching the Common Black Hawks take to the sky over Tubac at Ron Morris Park 3-12-13. It was a newly discovered eBird Hotspot for us, though I had checked it out when I lived here before. It was not a hotspot then, but it certainly is now!

With all of our birding adventures we get to see some amazing scenery, like this view of Roosevelt Lake on March 18, 2013. Chris had never been here before while I had been here once with Gus. After this visit we both want to come back next year!

Herring Gull at Roosevelt Lake 3-18-13

 

Chris trying to photograph a bird in Box Canyon 3-20-13

 

I sure was glad Chris was there to help me change a flat tire after our drive through Box Canyon! That’s what friends are for!

It was Chris’ idea to bird all three canyons in Sierra Vista. I had only been to Ramsey Canyon. The other two were new to me and I am not sure that I would have gone without his encouragement! That’s what friends are for!

Black-throated Gray Warbler in Ramsey Canyon 3-23-13

 

Ladder-backed Woodpecker at Ash Canyon 3-23-13

 

Mexican Spotted Owl in Miller Canyon 3-23-13

Life Bird!

Franklin’s Gull at Willcox Lake 4-27-13

 

Painted Bunting 5-4-13

The surreal experience of birding Mt. Ord

Botteri’s Sparrow on Whitehouse Canyon Road 5-30-2013

Life Bird!

 

Semipalmated Plover 8-7-13 at Willcox Lake

But one of the best was a Blue-footed Booby seen at Patagonia Lake State Park just last month!

Life Bird 457!

Of course, when we are out birding we see lots of other animals as well.

Turtles at Agua Caliente Park 9-9-12

 

Antelope at Las Cienegas 9-16-12

 

Coati in Madera Canyon 1-4-13

 

Thanks for a great year Chris!

 

And to think it all started at Agua Caliente Park 9-9-2012!

These are but a few of the photos of our birding adventures this year. I have so many more photos and stories to go, but I wanted to celebrate this year of birding together and becoming friends. I know it has been a big change in my life and in my birding. I know one day i will slow down but since Chris is 15 years younger than me, I hope he will carry on this birding life and when I am older and grayer he will still be birding and perhaps taking me along with him, even if he has to push me in a wheel chair!

• Life’s Unexpected Surprises-Chris’ post about meeting me.
• A Year Full of Birds-all 3 posts on this subject

Chris is not the only birding buddy I have, but since he lives the closest we spend the most time together. My friends mean everything to me and I feel that finding and keeping a good friend is one of life’s greatest treasure. So here is a brief shout out to my other dear friends, Kathryn Kelley, Dawn Fine, and Celeste Troon, you know I love you too!

Birding Bloggers

• Las Aventuras
• My Mountain Green
• Celestial Ramblings
• Dawn’s Bloggy blog 
• Birding Adventures
• Brownstone Birding Blog
• My Backyard
• Roy’s Nature Logbook-a friend I would like to meet in person!