Birding in Maine» maine

Photo of the Day: Ms. Bashful

John Briggs — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:58:06 +0000

Black-capped Chickadee – Poecile atricapillus

This black-capped Chickadee did not want to cooperate with the photographer. She remained partially hidden for quite some time knowing full well that if she showed her beautiful face, it would be plastered on some web page for the whole world to see. There’s no doubt that Ms. Bashful was planning an exit strategy from the probing lenses of the birding world’s equivalent of paparazzi.

The following photos were taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click a photo below for a full-sized view.

Black-capped Chickadee

Eventually, she could not resist the temptation to move from behind her veil. She would be incapable of fleeing until she knew that her beauty was captured for the world to see.

Black-capped Chickadee

Happy birding!

Photo of the Day: Chilly Mourning Dove

John Briggs — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:15:33 +0000

Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura

Close to 40″ of snow has fallen during the month of January so far here on Winnegance Bay. Because of this, we shovel paths to our feeding stations every time it snows to make access easier and to give ground birds areas to feed.

One afternoon last week, I saw a Mourning Dove feeding in one of the cleared off feeding areas. Occasionally, it would stretch its neck to peek over the snow bank. I grabbed my camera, went to our bedroom and lowered the upper window sash, then waited for the Dove to peek up over the snow bank. When it finally did, I captured the following photo.

The following photo was taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click the photo below for a full-sized view.

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura | Click photo for larger view

Happy birding!

Snowy Day Birds

John Briggs — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:09:31 +0000

During the snowstorm Tuesday, I photographed birds taking cover in our recycled Christmas tree. The tree was removed from our home a week after Christmas and placed outside, near the feeders, giving birds a safe place to weather storms. We attached several large pine cones, smeared with peanut butter and bird seed, to the tree and it has become a very popular spot among our resident birds.

Several more snow storms are forecasted during the next week, with one on Friday and another on Tuesday. Add to this a bitter cold spell through the foreseeable future. Our birds will appreciate the food, water and cover we have for them even more during the harsh winter weather.

All photos taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click a photo below for a full-sized view. Use arrow key to cycle through photos once enlarged.

Happy birding!

Photo of the Day: Red-breasted Nuthatch

John Briggs — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:54:58 +0000

Red-breasted Nuthatch – Sitta canadensis

Also know as my little buddy.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch is my favorite bird. We have a pair wintering here at home, and along with the Chickadees, hang around the feeders when I fill them.

I took the following photo this morning, the day after a huge nor’easter raked the state of Maine with heavy snow and very high winds. Here in Bath, I recorded 16 1/2″ of snow which fell at the rate of 2″-3″ an hour during the height of the storm. Just before daylight, I shoveled a path to the feeding stations and cleaned and filled the feeders. Once the sun rose, guess who was the first bird to the feeder? My little buddy of course!

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

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis

Happy birding!

Photo of the Day: Snowy Popham Beach

John Briggs — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:03:48 +0000

The day after the “Blizzard of 2010″, I drove to Popham Beach in search of a snowy beach landscape. I made the first tracks, through drifts up to the grille of my Tucson, in the unplowed parking lot of the state park. The wind was still whipping snow and temperatures were in the upper teens.

Stairway to Popham Beach

As I walked the path 100 or so yards to the beach, I encountered drifts up to my thighs. When I arrived at the stairway that allows access to the beach, the stairs were blocked with snow drifts up to the hand rails. These stairs help protect the sand dunes and trying to go around was out of the question, and against the law.

Gulls were the only birds I could see, with most of them on the exposed sand bars between the shoreline and the distant Fox Islands. I was amazed how calm the surf was, being only a day after the huge storm passed out to sea.

The winds were still brutal, and I wanted to get some photos and get back to the warmth of my car. But I also wanted to enjoy the rare opportunity of being the only one there, because even on the coldest days, a few folks are usually on the beach for their morning walk.

After half an hour of snapping photos and enjoying the view, the cold winds began to penetrate my layers of clothing and I became chilled. It was time to head back to the comfort of my car. On the way back, I noticed a Bald Eagle perched on the top of a spruce tree on the far end of the parking lot. It watched as I entered my car, and then took off out over the dunes and out of sight. Perhaps the Eagle was looking for a place a little less exposed to the chilling winds just like I was.

Happy New Year 2011!!

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