Downeast trip and a hummingbird video

by John Briggs on July 17, 2008

in Bird Photographs,Birding Videos,Blog

During the 4th of July holiday weekend, we made a trip to DownEast, Maine. We spent four days relaxing at the Little River Lodge Bed and Breakfast in Cutler. (Click the blue marker on map for info on this B&B.) Fireworks, lobster boat races, a concert and other activities kept this tiny coastal community hopping most of the weekend.

A stubborn fog bank lingered just offshore the entire time we were in Cutler, keeping coastal area cool. At the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge near Calais, well inland from the coast, temperatures were sultry. Not a drop of rain fell, but dense fog did greet us the last morning we spent at the B&B.

Birding was not spectacular. Mid-Summer is not the best time of year to bird, but we did see plenty of Warblers feeding fledglings, Bald Eagles soaring and Osprey shielding young from the hot sun with their wings.

We did not go out of our way to seek birds. Mostly it was just a sight seeing tour. The Puffin cruise was out of the question for us because of the fog bank. A few hearty souls did venture out to Machias Seal Island, looking for the clown-faced bird. We plan to make reservations next summer to the famed island, which holds the largest Puffin colony on the Maine coast.

I did manage to get a few bird photos. Most of these pictures are of the beautiful scenery of the DownEast Maine coast. Enjoy!

Cedar Waxwing - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Chipmunk - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Cobscook River - Dennysville, Maine.
Common Yellowthroat - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Common Yellowthroat - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Common Yellowthroat - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine.
Common Yellowthroat - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Common Yellowthroat - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Common Yellowthroat - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine.
Cutler Harbor - Cutler, Maine. Cutler Village - Cutler, Maine. East Quoddy Lighthouse - Campobello Island, NB, Canada.
Foggy Evening - Great Wass Island, Maine. Foggy Harbor - Great Wass Island, Maine. Hare - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine.
Jasper Beach - Machiasport, Maine. Little Kennebec Bay - Jonesboro, Maine. Meddybemps Lake - Meddybemps, Maine.
Eastern Most Point in the USA - Quoddy Head State Park, Maine. Mulholland Lighthouse - Campobello Island, NB, Canada. Northern Parula - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine.
Northern Parula - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Northern Parula - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. Osprey - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine.
Osprey - Moosehorn NWR - Calais, Maine. View from Starboard, Maine. View from Starboard, Maine.
West Quoddy Lighthouse - Quoddy Head State Park, Maine. Whale Watcher - Campobello Island, NB, Canada. Whitlocks Mill Lighthouse - Whitlocks Mill, Maine.

This past weekend, I shot video of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird resting on our feeder pole. This male was tired from chasing away other males and looks as if it wants to fall asleep.

Dimension: 520×450 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | File Size: 4.61mb
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Streaming Video of Ruby-Throated Hummingbird | ©2008 birdingmaine.com

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Happy birding!

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{ 6 comments }

1 Scott July 17, 2008 at 6:01 pm

John, you never cease to amaze me! Your pictures from the down east trip are beautiful and so realistic, they nudge me into making a visit to beautiful Maine. Thank you for sharing!

2 John Briggs July 17, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Scott;

Thank you very much! I am thrilled that you like my pictures.

Please do visit Maine, we will be glad to have you.

John

3 Bob Malbon July 17, 2008 at 8:49 pm

John, All looks great! RTH vid is ok too! Bob

4 Steve Norris July 18, 2008 at 8:32 am

That Common Yellowthroat really has a mouth full of bugs, heh? Very nice series.

5 John Briggs July 18, 2008 at 2:06 pm

Bob;

Thanks for checking us out! Hoping Sunday morning is nice for shorebirds at Goose Rocks Beach.

John

6 John Briggs July 18, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Steve;

Thank you for your comments and for stopping by! The Common Yellowthroat was feeding its young, who were very hungry. This particular bird gathered several mouthfuls throughout the time I watched him.

John

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