Snowy Pines | Click for larger view

We awoke to another snowfall this morning, bringing our season total to just shy of 70″. Running a little behind compared to this time last year, I am sure we will make it up with a snowstorm predicted for this Sunday.

I bundled up and went out just after daybreak to clean snow from our feeders and fill them with fresh bird seed.

While walking under our maple tree, the birds that were present were spooked by what I thought was my movement. Most of the birds visiting our yard mostly tolerate me as I putter around the yard. Chickadees and Nuthatches usually land in the feeder while I am filling it.

Shrugging it off, I continued to fill the feeders. As I walked back up the hill toward the house, I saw movement in the maple tree. Not 10 feet above where I stood, sat a Red-tailed Hawk. It had no concern what-so-ever with me standing almost directly beneath it. I had no camera, and I thought if I tried to go toward the house I might spook it.

Mourning Dove | Click for larger view

As I hoped that my wife might be looking out the window, I talked to the Hawk. “Mr. Hawk”, I said, “why do you have to come here and scare off the birds on such a cold morning?” The Hawk turned its head and looked at me.

“I know that you are probably hungry, but I love the birds that visit this yard. Maybe you can go on down the road and find a Starling.” The Hawk does a wing stretch, turns for a look towards the cove and flew off, all the while I can hear its mighty wings carrying  it off.

WOW! What a treat to be so close to a Raptor. And what was really exciting was that it did not seem disturbed by my presence. Being that close and hearing those wings as it took off will be a sound that I won’t soon forget.

When I returned back inside to the warmth of our home, Sharon was in the basement tending to the dryer and had no idea what had happened outside. I told her of my encounter and we came back upstairs so I could show her where the Hawk had been. Looking out the picture window, I pointed to where a Mourning Dove was perched… the exact same spot where the Hawk had been not five minutes before.

Red-breasted Nuthatch | Click for larger view

Interacting with nature is such a treat for me. When birds do not flee because of my presence, or land so close that I could touch them, it brings a smile to my face. It’s like a mutual trust between me and the birds.

I once had a Ruby-throated Hummingbird land on the rim of my glasses while I was filling a feeder with nectar. I immediately froze, thinking that I might spook the little bird. The Hummingbird then flew to the cover of the feeder and then back to my glasses. He was wanting me to get the feeder filled, which I did while he sat there. I moved ever so slowly, replaced the top and hung the feeder back up. It then flew to the feeder and had a long drink.

There are so many stories to tell, but I would like to hear from you. What is your most memorable moment with a bird or birds? You can either post about it on your site and leave a link in our comments, or drop us a comment about your experience.

As promised yesterday, I have another video. This clip shows a White-breasted Nuthatch working its way up a tree.

Dimension: 520×420 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | File Size: 16.1mb
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Streaming Video of White-breasted Nuthatch | ©2009 birdingmaine.com

Today, I joined the North American Bird Phenology Program (NABPP). You can read more about it over at John Trapps’ site Birds Etcetera. Thanks for the info John!

 Happy birding!

©2010 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. Favorite Life Birds 2000-2009

Eastern Phoebe

©2010 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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Doubling Point Lighthouse | Click for larger view

It has been a long, cold and snowy winter so far here in Maine. I love the snow, but I am ready for the sights, sounds and smells of spring.

I long for the view seen on the left, the Doubling Point Lighthouse as seen from our back yard in the spring. At the present time, our cove is choked with ice, and Arrowsic Island looks like a wintry landscape postcard scene.

After a while, I tire of the cold and gray days, the incessant howl of the wind and the layers upon layers of snow. When will I be able to open the windows and bring in some fresh air and hear the birds singing? Possibly when May comes around, or maybe a day or two in April when the winds are not blowing in from the sea.

I leave you with the reasons why I am so excited for Spring to come to Maine. The beautiful birds that grace our spring landscape.

Eastern Phoebe | Click for larger view

Nashville Warbler | Click for larger view

Northern Flicker | Click for larger view

Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Click for larger view

Snowy Egret | Click for larger view

White-throated Sparrow | Click for larger view

Happy birding!

©2010 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

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Some of you have asked me, “what camera equipment do you have?” Others want to know what camera settings I use when photographing birds. Do I use a tripod, or do I freehand the shots? What kind of post-processing do you do?

While I can answer most of these questions, camera settings depend on lighting, your subject and other factors. My best advice would be to practice. Experiment with various settings on your camera and get a good book that goes into detail in digital photography.

Canon 40D with 100-400mm L IS lens | Click for larger view

My equipment is shown on the left. You may think that this looks like a strange  apparatus for taking pictures of birds. Let me tell you, I would be lost with out this rig!

Here is the run down on the parts of this contraption:

Links are included to the respective manufacturers

• Canon40D 10.1 megapixel camera
• Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens
• BushHawk Shoulder Mount

I use the BushHawk to help steady the camera/lens combo. Although the lens is image stabilized, the shoulder mount helps with making things even more steady while taking the picture. The red button on the front of the mount is the focus/shutter button. I shoot in the manual mode, making my own settings. I also have a camo cover for the lens which covers the white areas of the barrel.

I use this rig when out in the field birdwatching. If I will be in a blind, or at a location where the bird action is in a limited area (such as the Osprey at Damariscotta), I will use a tripod. I most always wear camouflage.

My work-flow for post-processing is done with Photoshop CS3. I shoot my photos in the RAW format. The RAW file format is digital photography’s equivalent of a negative in film photography: it contains untouched, “raw” pixel information straight from the digital camera’s sensor.

Work-flow:

• Crop
• Adjust Curves/Levels if needed
• Noise Reduction
• Sharpening
• Save in low resolution for web use

I am by no mean a professional photographer. There is plenty of room for improvement in my techniques. Each time I go out and photograph the beautiful birds that God has placed before us, I try new and different ways to capture their beauty.

Here are links to a few books that I have used to get me started:

• The Art of Bird Photography by Art Morris
• Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
• The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Digital Photographyby David Tipling
• Photographing Wild Birdsby Chris Gomersall

As you may have noticed, the blog roll widget no longer sits in the sidebar on the right side of this page. There were too many links, making the page long and cumbersome.

You will notice in the menu bar at the top of the page that I have a link to a page that now holds the blog roll. Simply click “Birding Links” to see all of the links to my birding friends out there in the blogosphere.

Happy birding!

©2010 Birding in Maine. All Rights Reserved.

Related posts:

1. Protecting online images from thieves
2. School’s out, birding is back
3. BPW: The Blueberry Bandit