Downy Woodpecker (male) | Click for larger view
It is amazing what you see in your own yard if you take the time to sit and watch what is going on. This past Saturday afternoon, I sat in my favorite swivel chair with camera in hand and watched the activity for over an hour.
My first sighting was an amorous pair of Eastern Phoebes. They were attempting to mate on a small branch that would bow under their weight. After several failed attempts, they flew off in search of better accommodations.
Tree Swallows, Tufted Titmice and White-breasted Nuthatches made trips to their individual nest boxes. Eggs are present in all three nests.
Four female Purple Finches visited the thistle feeder, males no where to be found. American Goldfinches vied for space on another thistle feeder. Males, now in their bright yellow plumage, chased one another at times swirling around each other in mid air.
Pine Siskins are still visiting the feeders along with a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos. Warblers stopping by included Yellow-rumped, Black and White, Palm and Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Sparrows included White-throated and White-crowned, Savannah, Song, Chipping and Swamp. Chipmunks and Squirrels seemed to be everywhere that I looked.
It was good to sit in the yard and watch the activity around me along with the fresh air, the warm temperatures and the sunshine. The melody of all the birds around me enriched my heart and spirit. The birds seemed not to bothered by my presence as some landed not more than 5 feet from where I sat.
May is a busy month in the backyards of America. Migration is in full swing and nest building is underway. What have you been seeing in your backyard?
Enjoy the photos of the bird activity in our backyard!
Clicking a thumbnail will bring up a shadowbox with a larger view. TIP: hit f11 before clicking the tall photos to open your browser to its fullest top to bottom size to view photos in fullest size possible.
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- Savannah Sparrow
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- Pine Siskin
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- Purple Finch (female)
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- Eastern Phoebe
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- Barn Swallow
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- American Goldfinch (male)
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- Downy Woodpecker (male) | Click for larger view
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- Double-crested Cormorants
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- Chipmunk with Ladybug on its head
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{ 19 comments }
That chipmunk photo is hilarious and super cute. What a capture!
John Briggs Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Thank you PSYL!
John, great shots on all of them. I really like the Barn Swallow photo. I have never seen one sit still before. You are so lucky to have all of that in your yard.
John Briggs Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Thanks Kim!
It’s hard enough to get good photos of Tree Swallows and when I saw the Barn Swallow perched on that box, I had to try. I very slowly made my way toward the bird and stopped behind a tree and took my photos. I believe it had no idea that I was there thanks to my camo.
Wonderful photography and description! That chipmunk with the lady bug and the puffed up jaws is too much!
John Briggs Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Thanks Vickie!
That little rascal will take whole peanuts from my hand.
Great Yard Birdies John… we are parked @ my sisters in NC….great birds here!
Indigo buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Cardinals, Goldfinches, Brown headed nuthatches, red headed woodpeckers, lots of warblers coming thru. and all the other normal birds…
Dont really need to go anywhere else.
I am sure it is a wonderful time for birding in Maine now.
John Briggs Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Thank you Dawn… and Happy Birthday!!
Some of your birds will be coming this way soon. Impressive list!
All the photos are great but I have to agree about how cute that chipmunk is.
John Briggs Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Thank you Linda!
Looks like the majority loves the Chipmunk. I couldn’t believe that Lady Bug on its head!
What happened to Bird Photography Weekly? I have been trying to post my weekly bird and it looks like their site has crashed. This is one of my favorites!!
Your photos are lovely! I especially like the cormorants and the chipmunk.
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Thanks Amanda!
BPW is back up now. birdfreak had a problem with the database.
I only recently found this site and have really enjoyed the pictures and the posted sightings. I also have been enjoying spending time in my back yard. One of my favorite things to do is brush my dog and then stick the brushings in branches….
I have been waiting for the return of the orioles and have been setting out my oranges. I got all excited yesterday when my husband yelled to me that something was on one of the oranges…. turns out it was our chipmunk!
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I am glad that you found our site and thank you for taking the time to comment!
I guess the Chipmunk was having its orange juice for breakfast. Keep putting the oranges out, I am sure an Oriole will stop by soon.
That has to be the tiniest ladybug I’ve ever seen! It’s a hitchiker and the chipmunk seems a little perplexed by it. “Is there something in my hair? I have this tickle just above my eyebrow . . .”
The Cormorants remind me of soldiers, all lined up and looking so serious. I still have yet to see any swallows except at Plum Island last week, where there were multitudes of them!
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Thank you Sharon!
Excellent ideas for captions on the Chipmunk! Shortly after I took the picture of the Cormorants, they flew off one by one.
We have seen a few Tree Swallows including the pair at the nest box. I still think there are waves of them yet to come. We have 4 other nest boxes for them that are empty.
Sharon Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I finally saw swallows yesterday in our area! Also my first Eastern Kingbird, one of my favorite birds! Hopefully a KB will nest near our house this year as they usually do. So fun to see them catching bugs in mid air and listening to their squeaky chatter in the process.
Hi John – just “discovered” you following your visit to my blog.
Your pictures are stunning and I will spend more time later looking through them. But the picture of the Cormorants reflected in the water has so much drama; did you ask them to pose for you
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Thank you Tricia! I am happy you discovered us!
I t would have been nice to be the “director” of the Cormorant photo, but it was natural.
Your yard is the place to be!! So many wonderful photos! Adorable one of the chipmunk w/ the ladybug! And your downy woodpecker was very handsome!
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Thank you Shelley!
John,
I’m so glad you visited because it lead me to you! Thank you! I’ve just spent some time adoring your fantastic photographs and attractive blog. We have one thing in common in that our favorite bird is that cheeky Chickadee. Great Blue Heron runner-up.
Mary
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Thank you Mary! I hope you will visit regularly as we are always out and about photographing birds.
Very nice photos and you have a great collection of back-yard birds.
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Thanks Mick!
You’re so lucky to have all those birds in your backyard. And you got another vote here for that cute chipmunk.
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Thanks Bob!
I think thChipmunk should be up for photo of the week.
I so love spending time in my backyard too John. I believe it is my favorite pastime. All your captures are indeed excellent but I must agree with the others that the chipmunk with the ladybug is exceptional
I really enjoy the “shadowbox” display. What software do you use for that? It really makes for excellent viewing of the photos.
I think I told you before how glad I am that spring has come to Maine so we can all share your birds.
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Thank you Larry!
It is wonderful that spring has come to Maine! it was a very long winter and the new species showing up nearly everyday made the wait well worth it.
The shadowbox display is a wordpress plugin. You can find it here: http://sivel.net/wordpress/shadowbox-js/
There are other plugins for Shadowbox for a large line of blog software which you can find by searching with Google.
speaking of back yard birds…. has anyone in the greater Portland area had an oriole in their yard or at a feeding station yet? I have a friend who had one feeding on fruit yesterday in West Baldwin and on the Journey North website someone report them in Eliot ME.
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Cathy;
I have had several Baltimore Orioles and a single Orchard Oriole stop by our feeders here in Bath. I don’t think there has been a full fledged migration of them just yet, but a few are coming through.
Cathy Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I put out some more fresh oranges today (Chippy is still getting his daily dose of vitamin C) and I am still hopeful about attracting them. I am wondering if the weather patterns this week are slowing them down a bit?
Wow, the chipmunk photo is amazing. How did you ever see the lady bug on its head ? Super cute
John Briggs Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Thank you Cindy!
I first spotted the Ladybug through my lens after I had taken a few photos.
John, can you see the cormorants from your back yard? I’m already envious of people with a garden, but now I just turned a deeper shade of green. *eg*
On a brighter note, I also managed to get a pic of a sitting barn swallow. Will post it soon.
Awesome pics, great lil blog too… I love to hear about others who enjoy nature as much as I do. We’ve had our farm for just over three years now and this is the first time I’ve seen Barn Swallows, they are just too cute… They never neglect to put smiles on our faces. I don’t mind if they poop a lil bit here and there, it’s a BARN anyways lol.
John,
Nice post so I featured it in my last Zen Nature Lessons: http://bit.ly/2opwG
John Briggs Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Thank you Zen! Very nice post!
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