Birding in Maine» Wildlife

Birding in Maine 5 Year Anniversary

John Briggs — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 20:36:40 +0000

Five years ago today, on July 3rd, 2006, my first blog entry was posted on the Birding in Maine web site. At the time, I had a point and shoot camera and little knowledge of where to bird in Maine. Blogging was new to me and I was not even sure that any one would visit. The first post received a total of 4 views and no comments through the first month of its existence.

Looking at my blog stats, I’ve made 560 posts over the last five years and received 4683 comments. That’s an average of 112 posts per year or ~10 per month. I’ve posted 3111 images during that time as well. From June 2007 through today, my c-panel shows that there have been 1,233,433 unique visitors and 2,749,668 page views from folks in 54 countries (stats prior to June 2007 have been lost due to changing hosts). 60% of my traffic comes from search engines with Google being number one, 11% coming from Twitter, and 6% from Facebook. These stats over the past 5 years of blogging has more than surpassed my wildest dreams.

Writing this blog has brought so many wonderful people into my life. I’ve met people through the blog with whom I’m so happy to be able to call my friends. For those that have visited and commented, thank you for taking the time to read about Sharon and I and our adventures in the wonderful world of birding and photography. I hope you’ve found it to be informative and entertaining. Birding in Maine would be a tree falling in a forest with no one to hear if not for you, my wonderful followers, friends and readers. Thank you for visiting and for your participation!

To close out this special day, I’m including some of my favorite photos from over the last 5 years. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Some of the following photos are tall. Press your f11 key to open your browser window to its fullest extent. Then, simply click a thumbnail below for a full-sized view. ©2011 John Briggs Photography | All Rights Reserved

Happy birding!

World Bird Wednesday

Photo of the Day: American Mink

John Briggs — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:43:24 +0000

American Mink – Neovison vison

The American Mink spends most of its time in the water hunting for food. It is a good swimmer and can dive as deep as 16 feet. When a Mink feels threatened, it will spray the intruder with a foul-smelling liquid, just as a Skunk does. Unlike the skunk, the mink can’t aim its spray. When the mink is comfortable and feels safe, it makes a purring sound like a cat. The mink is very territorial and males will fight other Minks that invade their territory. The Mink marks its territory with scent.

I found this Mink scurrying across the rocks along the shore of Ice Pond on Arrowsic Island. As I photographed this animal, it must have heard the shutter on my camera. The Mink stopped and peeked over the rock at me and I captured the following photo.

American Mink - Neovison vison

Happy birding!

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Photo of the Day: Tufted Titmouse

John Briggs — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:24:34 +0000

Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor

One of my favorite backyard birds, the Tufted Titmouse never fails to bring a smile to my face when visiting our feeders. Twenty years ago, it was a rare sight to see a Tufted Titmouse in Maine. But over the last 25 years, their northward expansion has brought these beautiful birds to feeders throughout most of the state. Other species that are experiencing a northward expansion into Maine are the Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Tufted Titmice are regular visitors at winter feeders, where they prefer peanut hearts and sunflower seeds. You can also attract this bird by smearing suet or peanut butter directly onto tree trunks or branches, or by hanging a suet feeder. A favorite at our feeding stations during the winter months are large pine cones smeared with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed. We then hang the pine cones from the feeder pole arms. After we are finished with our Christmas tree, we place it in the backyard near the feeders and attach the cone-treats to the tree. The tree also provides shelter during winter storms and during the long, cold nights. After Christmas Day, most tree sellers will sell you a tree that was left over for a few dollars.

All photos taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click a thumbnail for a full-sized view.

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor

Happy birding!

Photo of the Day: Eastern Chipmunk

John Briggs — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:19:56 +0000

Winter is surely near when you see a Chipmunk, cheeks full of bird seed, scurrying across the yard and then disappearing into a hole in the ground. We have baffles on our feeding stations, but most birds throw enough seed to the ground to keep the Chipmunks happy.

The chipmunks preferred home is an intricate system of inter-connecting tunnels, 12-30 feet in length and 2 inches in diameter. This burrow system usually has one unobstructed entrance with the opening of other tunnels that lead to the surface plugged with leaves. Most tunnels are 18-36 inches deep, but a few penetrate deeper and serve as drains to minimize flooding. A chamber, 6-10 inches in diameter, contains a nest of leaves and several passageways to food storage galleries. A chipmunk may dig part of the burrow system using its forefeet and cheek pouches to loosen and transport soil, but the renovation of old root channels and existing burrows of other mammals is the primary method of burrow construction.

All photos taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click a thumbnail for a full-sized view.

Eastern Chipmunk

Happy birding!

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Great Blue Heron Trio

John Briggs — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:17:33 +0000

Fall migration continues here in Maine. Several mornings last week, we have seen “fallouts” of birds in our backyard. Friday morning brought nearly 100 Yellow-Rumped Warblers to the trees and shrubs of our yard and the adjoining property. Over the weekend, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers filled the trees and the ground.

We continue to see astounding numbers of American Goldfinch visiting our feeders. Most are juveniles and eat thistle daily by the pound. With three thistle feeders always filled with birds, they go through a 10 pound bag in less than a week. Purple Finches and Pine Siskins are beginning to show up, so we are kept on our toes keeping the feeders filled.

Shorebird numbers are beginning to wane, but species moving through Winnegance Bay do not fail to satisfy. Last Thursday, a lone Hudsonian Godwit was feeding in our cove on a mud flat during a falling tide. At the same time, 4 Greater Yellowlegs and 9 Lesser Yellowlegs were feeding on the mud flats.

Wednesday morning brought several flights of Great Blue Heron across Winnegance Bay. The largest group contained 7 birds, with others containing from 3 to 6. I managed to capture a flight of three who were flying close together and landed near the sawmill on the other side of the bay.

All photos taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click a thumbnail for a full-sized view.

Great Blue Heron in flight over Winnegance Bay, Maine

Happy birding!