Notes from My Nest: Changes

 The Mountains of Maine 6-29-15

It is a cool, gray day here on Mere Point. Gus and I are spending a quiet weekend at home. It has been awhile since I have written and a lot has changed in the past few months. I am done with physical therapy on my shoulder. It is almost as good as new. While I still have a lingering soreness in my thigh from where I had a huge bruise and hematoma after falling through the hole in the floor, most of the other symptoms have resolved themselves over time. I must say that this injury has deeply affected my life and changed me in many ways. I did not like being dependant on others for help. I did not like feeling helpless, and having this happen really made me feel old. While I am starting to feel like myself again, I find I am more cautious and more focused on getting and staying strong and healthy. I still have one remaining health concern. Before I fell through the floor and dislocated my shoulder, and before I had surgery last Christmas, I had trouble with my knee and was on crutches for about 10 days. That problem was never dealt with, but now it is finally being addressed as my knee can be just fine, then suddenly it will lock up on me and I cannot walk. I am going for an MRI this week. Hopefully we will get some answers.

Meanwhile, my time here at Mere Point has come to an end. Our lease on this cottage is up and we have chosen to move elsewhere. While Gus would love to move back to Tucson, (and he has been relentlessly applying for jobs there) so far there is no job offer, so we find ourselves on the lookout for a new place to rent. We have to be out of here by August 7^th and as yet, we have no place to go. Hopefully something will change this week and our path will become clear.

It’s funny how when you think you are leaving a place that everything becomes sharper and clearer. I find myself focusing on the greenness of the vegetation, the coolness of the air, and the scent of the salty sea. Right now the raspberries are all in bloom and their fragrance perfumes the air here in my yard and at the boat launch. Underlying all of these smells is the fragrance of pine and the scent of new mown grass. These are the smells of New England to me, made sweeter by the thought of moving away from them again.

 Me and my siblings 6-27-15

It is no secret that I have married a gypsy boy. He likes to move around, and I have been grateful for all the places that we have been able to see and experience, but now I am ready to settle down and quit moving. I want my own house again, and Gus wants to move to Tucson for good. He has decided it is his favorite place on earth and it is where he would like to retire. All of this makes me pensive and sweetly sad as I think of leaving my family once again. Yet, there is no telling when that might happen. Either way, we have to move and there will be yet another new yard and a new yard list. In my 18 months here, I have seen 117 species of birds. This has been THE BEST YARD ever.

In yet another change, I am sad to report that the Birding is Fun blog is going into retirement for now. I have enjoyed my time as a writer for this blog and am proud of my association with it. When Robert Mortenson was at the helm it was of unparalleled quality. I was sad to see him step down and now I am even more sad to see it end. But, as the saying goes, “To everything there is a Season, and a Time for every purpose under heaven…”

Here are some scenes from where I have been birding lately:

 6-20-15 Messalonskee Boat Ramp

Gus and I stopped by here on our way to visit Dad the day before father’s Day. I was able to see 4 Black Terns flying out over the lake as well as my first ever in Maine Pied-billed Grebe! Just a short distance farther up the road I got my Purple martins for the year!

 6-26-15 The boats are back in the water at Mere Point Bay

 

 6-27-15 Mom’s backyard sanctuary in Colchester, CT

On the weekend of June 27th we travelled to Connecticut for the annual Adams Family Road Race and Mom’s 79th birthday! I did not run, of course, but took photos and counted birds! I was hoping to find a Yellow-throated vireo and I think I may have heard one, but I did not see it so I did not count it because I was not sure. I counted a total of 20 species for Lake Hayward on this day. As you can see from the photo below, Mom’s hair is finally starting to grow back in after her latest battle with breast cancer. We are all so glad that she is still here to celebrate her birthday!

 7-27-15 Mom and her kids and one grandkid and their spouses

(My oldest brother had already left by the time it occurred to us to get a family photo!)

On June 29th I drove to Franklin County to count birds. This is yet another of the under-birded counties here in Maine. It was late in the day when I arrived after dropping my daughter off at her current residence in Livermore. I drove up the road to discover a place called Pine Island in the middle of the Androscoggin River.

 6-29-15 Bridge to Pine Island

I crossed the bridge and followed a path down to the woods by the river. I saw several warblers down in that cool green place, as well as a mink that came slinking out of the undergrowth. We were both surprised to see each other and I slowly raised my camera hoping for a photo, but the small brown animal quietly turned and slipped back into the green foliage before I could focus on it! I counted 10 species on Pine Island before heading for Wilson Pond in Wilton, Maine where I counted 8 species. It was getting late by now and I only had a short time to count birds before it got dark. While I did not see a lot of birds at the lake, I did see a pair of loons and some tree swallows.

6-29-15 Sunset on Wilson Pond in Wilton, Maine

 

6-30-15 Back at home, a raccoon has been hanging around the yard!

 

 7-2-15 The South End of Brunswick Landing airfield.

I counted 23 species in 1 1/2 hours while driving 4.4 miles through Brunswick Landing on this day. There have been a lot of changes to the Landing since I moved here 18 months ago with new businesses going in and lots of construction going on. One of my favorite areas to bird is down in back where the old army bunkers are, but it has been gated off and one can no longer drive down there. I believe you can still hike in, but it is a bit of a walk with lots of black flies and mosquitoes and with my knee being the way it is, I have not attempted it.

 

 7-3-15 Blueberries on Bowdoin Island Mill in Topsham, Maine.

Gus and I went here for breakfast yesterday. It was so nice that we sat outside and of course, I counted birds while we ate! There were song sparrows and yellow warblers singing in the trees and bushes while chimney swifts twittered overhead. Afterwards I walked over to the river’s edge where I saw dozens of herring gulls, three Great Blue Herons, and a Bald Eagle! I counted 10 species in the 45 minutes we were here.

 7-3-15 Bricks and roses under a bright blue sky on Bowdoin Mill Island

Then, we stopped by Wharton Point on our way home.

 7-3-15 High Tide at Wharton Point

The Song Sparrows and Bobolinks were singing up a symphony here!

 7-3-14 Horseshoe crabs were too busy mating to notice the birds!

So, Happy Fourth of July everyone!

We can only wait and see what the Future holds!

But for now…I think I’ll take a nap!

7-4-15 Kitty Bliss

New Places to Bird

 View from the summit of Bradbury Mountain State Park in Maine

Getting and staying healthy is a full time job. Ever since I dislocated my shoulder in January I have spent more time at the doctor’s and the Physical Therapist than I care to think about. At times I got discouraged and felt twenty years older, but things are looking up now and my physical therapy is nearing an end. In the meantime, my daughter needed surgery on her elbow and since she had it done with the same orthopedic group as I did, she also has the same physical therapist. So twice a week she comes over for her physical therapy and we spend time together. My husband has also had trouble with his big toe on his right foot that has required some continual medical care. As I have to go to those appointments as well, I have had little time left for blogging lately. Still, I have managed to squeeze some birding time in, and lately I have been motivated to try some new locations. So, last Sunday while Gus was home resting, I decided to take a hike on Bradbury Mountain in Durham, Maine.

Bradbury Mountain 6-14-15

Bradbury Mountain is a well know birding Hotspot for watching migrating raptors. While spring migration is over, I thought I would still check it out and see what I could see. It took me about 30 minutes to get there, and I paid my $3 and parked. I immediately spotted an Eastern Phoebe when it flew off its nest under the eaves of the nearby outhouse. I could hear an ovenbird calling loudly from the woods, as well as a Black-throated Green Warbler. After eating my snack under a shower of drifting pine needles, I was ready to head up the mountain.

I chose the short 2/10 of a mile Summit Trail which, while shorter, is a steeper climb. But I figured it was better to be heading uphill than downhill on a steep ascent. As soon as I entered the woods, I could hear other warblers. Tall pines rose around me and granite ledges protruded everywhere. It was a dry and breezy day, so there were few to no mosquitoes or black flies, a real bonus at this time of year.

I stopped a few times along the ascent to admire my surroundings and catch my breath. It has been too long since I have been out hiking!

Going Up!

 

Leafy Roof

 

 Almost there!

 

Roots on the route to the top!

 

As I gained the summit a turkey vulture came soaring over the rocky crest just above me head. It was followed by one after another until I counted 7 in all. I gazed at the view around me, then tried to locate a bird I heard singing. It sounded somewhat like a pine warbler, and somewhat like a chipping sparrow and also like a Dark-eyed junco. I finally found the bird singing from a high twig on a pine tree. It was, indeed, a Dark-eyed Junco with pink bill raised in song!

I had to cross this rock to get to the North Loop Trail, a gradual 1 mile descent to the parking lot.

After wandering around the massive granite crest, I sought out the Northern Loop Trail for a gradual mile long descent back to the parking lot. For most of this walk I was alone on the trail, save for a father I met hiking with his three young children, and two people on mountain bikes. It was mostly quiet but I did find a Red-eyed vireo along this trail, and I heard a wood thrush call.

 View from the North Bluff

 

All along the way I found evidence of woodpecker activity, but I never saw any. I only saw 12 species of birds on this hike, but it was nice to be in the Maine woods enjoying nature once again.

 The Weeping Woodpecker Tree

 More Woodpecker Holes

 

 Woodpecker Dining table!

Birds seen at Bradbury Mountain State Park 6-14-14

1. Turkey Vulture
2. Eastern Phoebe
3. Red-eyed Vireo
4. Barn Swallow
5. Black-capped Chickadee
6. White-breasted Nuthatch
7. Wood Thrush
8. Ovenbird
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Black-throated Green Warbler
11. Dark-eyed Junco

Protocol: 1.2 miles/1.47 hours

The North End Launch Facility 6-17-15

So, this morning I had to take my husband to work after dropping his car at the dealer to have an oil change. Since I was in Bath, I decided to bird a few locations there, since he would need me to pick him up and take him back to his car as soon as it was done. I tried one of my local favorite spots, The North End Launch Facility, but it was pretty quiet with just the usual gulls, osprey and Bald Eagles being seen.

Thorne Head Preserve 6-17-15

From there I drove to a new spot the waitress at the café in town told me about. I had seen it on the eBird Hotspot Map, but was unsure of how to get to it, or where to park. It turns out you drive west on High street to the very end where it turns into a dirt road until you come to a parking lot. I parked my car, donned my gear and headed off into the woods. While there was a trail map posted on the sign at the edge of the parking lot, there were no distances listed for the various trails, so I had no idea if it was a quarter mile of 3 miles to the end of the property. Still, I headed out to see how far I could go until Gus called me back.

Once again I found myself walking on pine needle duff. It made a soft cushion under my feet and the dappled light around me was soothing and serene. Ovenbirds and Black-throated Green warblers called from the woods, but I could hear other warblers as well. I took my time, walking slowly and enjoying this experience of being in the woods alone. I heard a woodpecker drumming, but could not locate the bird, so I do not know what species it was. But other warblers revealed themselves to me and I counted 6 species in all. I know there we others I could not find and I did not recognize their songs to identify that way, but it made me happy to know that I had found a good warbler spot so close to home!

 Old Bench by the small pond.

 

 Sunlight through leaves

 

 Big green leaves

 

As I neared the end of the trail I heard a bird calling loudly from the treetops. It was unlike any of the other bird songs I heard so far. I tried to focus in on the song and place it, and I came up with one of two species: either a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, or a Scarlet Tanager. After watching and listening for a few minutes I finally spotted the bird when it finally flew from one tree top to another. The red body with black wings told me I was seeing a male scarlet tanager! It was too high up in the trees for a photo op, but I sure enjoyed watching and listening to this bird for about 5 to 10 minutes. By now I could see that I was at the end of the trail. I walked the final few steps to the top where the view opened before me, framed by the limbs of Eastern white pines. I was now looking down onto the Kennebec River just after it leaves Merrymeeting Bay where five rivers all come together before flowing out to the sea.

It took me almost and hour to go about 3/10 of a mile where I came out to this overlook on the Kennebec River. In fact, the trail I followed was called The Overlook Trail! There were other trails to follow and I considered trying a different loop to get back to the parking lot, but it was at this point I received the phone call saying the car was ready. I could not believe how short the walk back to the car was, even when I did take a short detour around the small pond I passed on my way in. I now have plans to visit this location again, as I counted 22 species here. It was certainly worth the walk!

Birds seen at Thorne Head Preserve 6-17-15

1. Mallard
2. Herring Gull
3. Mourning Dove
4. Red-eyed Vireo
5. Blue Jay
6. American Crow
7. Common Raven
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Red-breasted Nuthatch
10. White-breasted Nuthatch
11. Hermit Thrush
12. Wood Thrush
13. Gray Catbird
14. Ovenbird
15. Black-and-white Warbler
16. Northern Parula
17. Pine Warbler
18. Yellow-rumped Warbler
19. Black-throated Green Warbler
20. Chipping Sparrow
21. Scarlett Tanager
22. Common Grackle

Protocol: .5 miles/1.45 hours

Links to eBird Hotspots:

• Bradbury Mountain State Park
• North End Launch Facility
• Thorne Head Preserve

Notes From My Nest: Hello Again

Mere Point Bay 4-20-15

Hello Again! I know it has been a very long time since you have heard from me. So much has been going on and my Physical Therapy takes up so much of my time. In the past three weeks my daughter has had surgery on her elbow and my son came to visit from Arizona. He brought along my grandson and they stayed with us for a week while we visited family and celebrated Xavier’s birthday. Meanwhile, the snow has finally melted and the migrating birds have started to return! I feel like a person let out of jail for it is finally warm enough and dry enough to get out and go for walks!

Family 4-22-15

In spite of being so busy, I have managed to go birding in a few places. I birded the Brunswick Town Commons on April 17^th. No one had counted birds there since I had last fall, but on this day it seems another person decided it was finally nice enough to count birds and we both submitted eBird checklists for that day! While I only counted 12 species there in the almost two hours I walked the trails, I did get to see my Lifer Red Crossbills! No, I did not get a photo because they were too quick for me. One of the birds got out in the open at the top of a small pine tree but when I raised my camera for a shot it and the other birds flew off deeper into the pine forest.

Brunswick Town Commons 4-17-15

My Physical therapy is progressing well, but never as fast as I would like. I can now raise my arms above my head and out to the side, but am still having trouble getting my left arm behind my back. I don’t notice this too much until I try to tie my apron on. I am not in pain most of the time but once in awhile I feel a small twinge. At this point, it does not keep me from doing most of the things I want to and I almost feel normal, but it will be awhile until I get my strength back. We cannot work on building strength until we regain more flexibility.

Every day that I go to my Physical therapy I usually count birds in the parking lot. My physical Therapy is located next to the New Meadows River and sits on a small hill overlooking a valley and a ridge. Thus I have been able to witness firsthand the return of the Ospreys. I have seen them flying over the valley with fish and nesting material in their talons.

I have also been birding at Reid State Park, Popham Beach and Scarborough Marsh. I am so behind with all my photo processing that it could be awhile before I have pictures to show you! But the good thing is, the birds are returning!

The dock is finally back in the water on the New Meadows River 4-3015

I have had Yellow-rumped, Palm, and Pine Warblers in the yard. I have seen greater yellowlegs down at Wharton Point. Red-winged Blackbirds, common Grackles, and brown headed cowbirds have all returned, along with starlings and sparrows. I have had Savannah sparrows, song sparrows and white-throated sparrows all in my yard, along with Fox Sparrows back in March. The Woodcocks also returned in March but I did not get to see or hear them as much as I did last year as it was much colder this year. No warm, misty nights to stand in the yard and watch their displays. I did poke my head out the door a few times and hear their calls and wing beats, but it was too dark to see them and none seemed to fly right over my head like they did last year, except for one evening when I opened the door to let Gus in with a load of groceries and a bird flew right over his head in the light of the back door!

Below is a photo montage of events and places over the past month or so. I hope to get some more bird photos up here soon!

On April 9th there was still snow and I counted 36 Bohemian Waxwings in these trees on Brunswick Landing!

On April 12th I counted 17 species at Reid State Park.

One of the trails on Brunswick Town Commons 4-17-15

My footprints on a footbridge at Brunswick Town Commons

 Charlie Brown forgot his Christmas Tree 4-17-15

(seen alongside the trail on Brunswick Town Commons)

 Trail sign on Brunswick Town Commons 4-17-15

 Finally some Flowers in my yard!

 

 My precious grandson, Xavier 4-20-15

 Teaching Xavier to bird 4-20-15

 Popham Harbor 4-21-15

 The Androscoggin River at the Brookfield Recreation Area 4-24-15

(I saw my First of the Year Spotted Sandpiper at this location on this day!)

 Saying good-bye: Father and Son

 Saying Good-bye: Mother and Son

Poem I Wrote: A Seaside Goodbye to My Son

Scarborough Marsh 4-26-15

 Pine Point Beach 4-26-15

 

Gus and I took a ride to Winslow Memorial Park in Freeport on Tuesday night. While I knew it was an eBird Hotspot, I had never been there yet until this night. What a pretty place. The wind was pretty fierce, so I did not see many songbirds, but the water was full of Common Eiders!

Oh, and this is the car we were riding around in!

Gus just got the windows tinted on this day so we had to take a ride to check it out!

As we drove back into town on Pleasant Street in Brunswick there was such dramatic storm lighting that I kept snapping pictures through the windows of the car. We even saw a rainbow!

Cormorants on the Rocks at Sawyer Park in Brunswick, Maine 4-30-15

After whining about not being able to see many birds in the first part of this year, I am finally up over 100 species for the year! However, this still pales in comparison to the 126 species I saw in all of January last year before I moved away from Tucson! Here are my current stats and a comparison of species I have seen each month. You can easily see the huge spike in bird species in April and I only expect May to get even better! One of my birding goals this year is to count birds in every county in Maine. Currently I only have one state where I have counted birds in every county, and that is Connecticut. While Connecticut has only 8 counties, Maine has 16. I have counted birds in 14 of those counties. Piscataquis County and Washington County are the two I have yet to tackle. It is my mission to get to them both before this month is over!

2015 Bird Species Totals	Life	Year	Month
January	479	53	53
February	479	60	55
March	479	70	58
April	480	107	98

 

Meanwhile, the Month of April was National Poetry Writing Month and while I tried my best to write or publish a poem every day, things just got too hectic, but, if you are interested, check out my poetry blog, Kathie’s Poet Tree to see all my latest poems! Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog and saying Hello whenever you can!