Approaching Storm - July 4th, 2009 - Bath, Maine | Click photo for larger view

Possible Funnel Cloud? - July 4th, 2009 - Bath, Maine | Click photo for larger view

The morning of Independence Day started out foggy and cool in Bath, Maine. By 11:00 a.m., the sun made an appearance for the Heritage Days Parade. But by early afternoon, skies became threatening as seen in the images above. Does the second photo depict a funnel cloud? The cloud acted strange, rising up and down into the surrounding clouds. We weren’t sure and went to the basement until the storm was over, just in case.

Skywatch Friday

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Related posts:

1. Skywatch Friday: Snowy Birdhouse
2. Skywatch Friday: The Presidentials

Bluenose II docked at Maine Maritime Museum - Bath, Maine | Click photo for larger view

Get Wordless over at Wordless Wednesday.

©2010 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. Wordless Wednesday: Moose

Being in the right place at the right time makes a world of difference when bird watching.

Take this morning for example. Doing my morning ritual of filling the bird feeders, I saw a third year Bald Eagle soaring over the cove off our back yard. It was making passes within 50 yards of where I stood, so I headed back into the house to get my camera.

Returning to my vantage point, the Eagle was nowhere to be found. While thinking about making a homemade holster for my camera rig so it’s always handy and nearly ready to give up on the Eagle, I saw movement to my right. Coming from the narrows on the Winnegance Bridge side of the cove were a pair of adult Bald Eagles.

At first, the pair kept their distance, doing an in-flight courtship ritual. Diving and swirling around each other at a very high altitude, I watched in awe and silently hoped that they would get closer. Suddenly, the pair seemed to tumble earthward. I thought they had a collision! Just before crashing into the spruce trees on the other side of the cove, the pair split off. One came directly toward me, the other heading toward Doubling Point Lighthouse with American Crows on its heals.

It is very difficult to photograph a Bald Eagle screaming directly toward you. The focus is forever changing, even with AI focus tracking turned on. Suddenly the Eagle turned and I began firing away. In no time flat it was gone. I noticed my heart thumping in my chest. WOW!

As I went through the photos, The head on shots were awful. Should I have tried to change my angle? In doing this I risk spooking the bird. Maybe I better practice photographing birds coming head on. Most of my problem was that the cameras settings were set for a previous shoot that I did and in all the excitement, I didn’t make any changes. I did gather myself together enough to make adjustments when the Eagle turned.

I did a little research on the internet to found out what was going on with the pair. It seems that indeed they were falling toward earth on purpose:

Once attracted to a potential partner, the Bald Eagle may begin one of several elaborate courtship rituals called “cartwheeling.” In this magnificent display, the Eagles soar to dizzying heights, lock talons, and begin a breathtakingly death-defying plunge to the earth. Just moments before striking the ground, the eagles disengage and once again soar to the heavens. If the timing is not perfect, certain death awaits this pair of speeding bullets.

What a fantastic morning! Three Bald Eagles and a couple of decent photos to accompany the memories. If only that 600mm lens was a little more affordable, I might have photos of this ritual.

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm IS L
Handheld with BushHawk

All thumbnail photos are clickable to bring up a larger view. Enjoy!

Bald Eagle in Flight | Bath, Maine

Bald Eagle in Flight | Bath, Maine

Happy birding!

©2010 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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At first look, you may think these photos have nothing to do with birds. Where are the birds? Well folks, this is the view from one of my favorite late summer and early fall birding spots. Popham Beach State Park lies on the southern tip of the peninsula south of Bath, Maine.

The beach is very quiet after the tourist season ends. Sharon and I walk this beach looking for shorebirds, Bald Eagles and Osprey and we usually are not disappointed. Last September, we watched 6 Osprey feeding in the outgoing tide of the Morse River. Hovering above the water, the Osprey look for fish, and upon finding one, will dive and pick up the prey with their tallons.

The area is rich in history: Ft. Popham; Ft. St. George; Ft. Baldwin; Popham Colony which is the site of the first English colony (1607) in New England; The first ship  built by the English in the New World (The pinnace, named Virginia of Sagadahoc) was completed during the year of the Popham Colony and was sailed back across the Atlantic Ocean to England.

This is my first entry for Skywatch Friday. Enjoy!

View looking south from Popham Beach State Park - September 2008 | Click for larger view

September 2008 - View southeast from Popham Beach State Park - Seguin Island Lighthouse | Click for larger view

Skywatch Friday

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2-23-09 Digging out a must! | Click for a larger view

Unbelievable! Those were my very first words when my wife and I awoke to explosions at 10:30 p.m. Sunday night. Five transformers blew, starting just to our south and finishing with the one across the road from us. The flashes from these explosions lit our room like it was daylight, even though all the blinds and curtains were pulled shut.

A major snowstorm struck Maine Sunday night into early Monday. The storm started as rain Sunday evening, but soon changed to a heavy wet snow. By the time the storm ended at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning, 13″ of very heavy and wet snow had accumulated here at home. Towards the end of the storm, the temps dropped sharply, crusting the snow and making it the consistency of wall plaster. Further inland where the temperatures were much colder than here on the coast, snow totals were upwards of 24″.

I have dealt with more than three times the thirteen inches of snow we received, but this storm had a devastating impact. The snow clung to everything… trees, power lines, signs and homes, even the trunks of trees were plastered with snow due to the high winds driving it sideways. We lost power when the transformers blew, and got power restored late this afternoon. A total of 40 hours without the conveniences that we all take for granted. 140,000 Mainers were without power during and after the storm.

2-23-09 View - West (on the ridge across the road from where we live) Bath, Maine | Click for larger view

Immediately after the power went out, Sharon and I got up and began preparing. I lit the fireplace, she gathered the flashlights and candles. For those of you who have a fireplace, you know how inefficient they are. Suffice to say, I slept very little the last two days, having to feed the fireplace wood every hour and a half to keep us warm and to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Once daylight arrived, I surveyed the damage. Every tree had limbs drooping to the ground and most had broken limbs. The spruces looked beautiful, but damage was widespread. The losers of this event were the birch trees. Most were bent in half with their tops touching the ground.

Birds began showing up at our feeders, but had trouble accessing them. The snow had caked on every feeder, and removing the snow from them was a chore. I had to chip at them with a screw driver to remove enough of the snow to make them usable. Shortly after returning inside, 51 American Goldfinches and 39 Pine Siskins descended on the feeders and had a feast. I am sure they appreciated my efforts.

The sounds of chainsaws and generators filled the air. Navagating on area streets and roads was difficult and dangerous. Schools and businesses were closed. Normally, 13″ of snow does not cause much of a a problem. But with this mess it was like getting a severe ice storm. Rain, then heavy wet snow which froze nearly solid as the colder air worked in. As I write this, 48 hours after the storm began, snow still clings to the trees and power lines and 39,000 Mainers are still without power.

I need some sleep as I am exhausted. I leave with you some photos of the beautiful but devastating storm.

2-23-09 Limbs sagging under the weight of heavy snow | Click for larger view

2-23-09 Backyard view | Click for larger view

2-23-09 View - north from the backyard | Click for larger view

2-23-09 Snow laden branches | Click for larger view

2-24-09 Finally blue skies! | Click for larger view

2-24-09 View from Ft. Popham looking toward Cox Head | Click for larger view

 

Happy birding!

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