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.

Photos taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon “Nifty Fifty” 50mm lens. Simply click a thumbnail for a full-sized view. ©2010 John Briggs Photography

Happy New Year 2011!!

©2012 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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Waking up to a scene like this makes everything else seem so trivial. The warm colors seem to melt away the frigid air of first morning light. The landscape is bathed in a surreal glow and the only sound heard is the ice groaning and cracking on the bay. All too soon the colors begin to wane as the sun peeks over the tree tops, begging you to embrace it before it fades away. Each sunrise is unique and each and every one is breathtakingly beautiful. I am left feeling blessed to have witnessed the beauty of Mother Nature.

Photo taken from our back yard, looking across the frozen Winnegance Bay towards Arrowsic Island.

Photo taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 50mm lens. Simply click the thumbnail for a full-sized view. ©2010 John Briggs Photography

Sunrise over Arrowsic Island, Maine - December 18th, 2010

©2012 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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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!

©2012 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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Last evening, just before the sun set, a strong cold front swept through the area. In its wake, a series of beautiful rainbows graced the landscape here on the mid coast of Maine. These rainbows had the most vivid colors that I have ever seen. And to make the natural phenomenon even more special was that they occured on our wedding anniversary.

All photos taken with a Canon 40D and a Canon Nifty Fifty lens. Simply click a thumbnail for a full-sized view.

The first double rainbow occured over Winnegance Bay during low tide.

Double Rainbow over Winnegance Bay - Bath, Maine

Shortly after the above rainbow dissipated, another double rainbow occured over the area of the town of Bath.

Double Rainbow over the area of the town of Bath, Maine

I would have loved to get a photo with a full view of the rainbows. I guess it’s time to think about getting a wide angle lense.

Skywatch Friday

©2012 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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Beautiful water lilies photographed at a private pond on Bailey Island, Maine.

Pink Water Lilies - Bailey Island, Maine | Click thumbnail for larger view.

Happy birding!

©2012 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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