Birds around the yard

Not much birding was done during the last week and a half. We learned that Sharon’s mother was in grave condition in a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania. We immediately left for Erie and arrived on March 19th. After a battle with a bad heart, diabetes and other health problems, she passed away peacefully on March 21st. We returned home on the 26th.

This post is dedicated in memory of Phyllis Sulzycki.

This weekend, we observed and photographed birds that visited our yard here in Bath, Maine. The high point was the close flybys of a 2nd Year Bald Eagle, 3rd Year Bald Eagle and an Adult Bald Eagle today. Ducks and Geese fleeing from the river was the only warning that these Eagles were around.

An influx of Fox and Song Sparrows arrived this weekend.  Singing from the bushes and scratching around under the feeders, I estimated 25 Sparrows. Quite a few American Robins also stopped by, with a vigorous flock of approx. 50 taking a few minutes to look for food on the small patches of yard not covered by snow. I could not believe my eyes as I watched a Robin pull a worm from the ground. I figured with the ground still frozen solid, worms would not be anywhere near the surface, but I was proved wrong.

Sharon and I got good looks at a Northern Shrike, Ring-Necked Duck, Red-Tailed Hawk and a Great Blue Heron today. Other birds visiting the feeders were Nuthatches, Titmice, Gold Finches, Chickadees, Brown Creepers, Blue Jays, Cardinals and that dastardly squirrel.

Last night, White-Tailed Deer came through our yard, flipped the large covered platform feeder and ate every bit of seed. They also knocked around one of our hanging feeders and helped themselves to what fell to the ground.

The Kennebec River continues to be a hot spot for hundreds of Ducks and Geese. American Wigeons, Pintails, Mallards, Black Ducks, Green-Winged Teals, Canada Geese and Ring-Necked Ducks are present every day. It is comical to watch them waddle on the mud flats during low tide.

The following are photos of birds viewed in and from our yard. Comments and criticisms are always welcomed!

Happy birding!

Technorati Tags: birding, birds, Maine, Bald Eagle, photos

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Under the weather

For the last week, I have been suffering with a bout of influenza that I would not wish on my worse enemy. After my temperature reached 103F, my wife made me visit the emergency room. X-Rays also showed that I had bronchitis. The doc gave me some antibiotics, and today, after loosing nearly 12 pounds of weight, I am slowly getting my strength back and am able to eat with some regularity.

Birding was non-existent for me during this period of time. Today, while yet another winter storm blankets Maine with snow, I was able to do some birdwatching from my living room window. The ice is finally breaking up on the Fiddler’s Reach section of the Kennebec River.

Quite a few waterfowl were added to my yard list today, as they dabbled along the shore line of my yard. You may view the entire list to date here. 30 species grace our list as of today! The beautiful drake Wood Duck made me feel much better after such a dreary week.

I have a new camera on order, which should be arriving next week. The new Canon 40D promises to be a very good camera for bird photography. I can’t wait to start snapping pictures again and get out of the confines of my house.

 Happy birding!

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American Robins in Auburn

I found this video on YouTube showing a flock of Robins in a crabapple tree just after a snowstorm in Auburn, Maine.

Unfortunately, I can not find out who the author is to give proper credit. If this is your video, please let me know.

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Bald Eagle with nesting material

We were really excited this morning to see an adult Bald Eagle carrying a large branch just yards from our home. We were near the bridge at Winnegance Lake, and the Eagle was traveling towards our home. This fella was obviously gathering nesting materials.

Not more than a few hours later, an Adult Bald Eagle (possibly the same one?) cruised over our back yard twice in the span of about an hour. I am hoping that there will be a family of Eagles nearby this summer, as I am sure the nest making is happening nearby.

I have a picture of the Eagle carrying the branch and will post it and other birds tomorrow evening.

In the mean time, I have started a page solely dedicated to the bird species recorded in our yard for 2008. It may be accessed under the menu heading 2008 Bath, Maine Yard Bird List at the top of every page. Suffice to say, the Bald Eagle is at the top of our list! The list will be updated when new species are encountered in our yard.

Happy birding!

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