ToddSpace: John's Birding Page

Welcome to John's Birding Page!

I'd like to extend a personal welcome to John of Biddeford, Maine and his new birding page, part of the growing network of weather, and Earth Science related web pages on ToddSpace. The page will focus on all aspects of birding and include links to various audobon societies, bird supplies, and birding optics. If you would like to add an article to John's blog, please contact him personally, you may be able to become a contributing author! Don't forget to post comments at the bottom of each of the posts! Take it away John...  - Todd Gross

December Bird of the Month: Blue Jay

Most regions of the country have their resident "Blue Jay," but "cristata" is the species officially designated by that name. It ranges through Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and is the only Jay species in much of our area.

White patches and black-and-white barring ornament the Blue Jay's blue wings and tail, while a black necklace crosses the whitish breast. Washington Irving described it as "That noisy coxcomb, in his gay light blue coat and white underclothes," while 19th century ornithologist Charles Bendire was more fascinated by its ever-changing personality: "Cunning, inquisitive, an admirable mimic, full of mischief; in some localities extremely shy, in others exactly the reverse, it is difficult to paint him in his true colors."

Blue jays roam woodlands, parks and towns in search of a variety of foods. One study found their summer diet to contain 30 percent insects and other invertebrates, as well as some small vertebrates; the other 70 percent was made up of acorns, fruits and seeds.

The Blue Jay's nest is a bowl of twigs and dry leaves high in a tree; the three to five eggs are blue or greenish spotted with brown. They hatch after 16 to 18 days of incubation by the female and the young fledge in 17 to 21 days more. It has a piercing call...jay, jay, jay...once described by Thoreau as the "unrelenting steel-cold scream of the jay, unmelted, that never flows into a song, a sort of wintry trumpet..."

The Blue Jay is responsible for planting trees, such as oak trees. Blue jays love acorns. They take acorns and hide them so they can come back to the acorns later. However, the Blue Jays often forget where they hide them. These hidden acorns later sprout into oak trees.

Although the migration of Blue Jays is an obvious phenomenon, with thousands moving past some points along the coast, much about it remains a mystery. Some Jays are present throughout the winter in all parts of the range. Which Jays move and which stay put? Although young Jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, many adults do migrate. Some individual Jays may migrate south in one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year.

Many people dislike the Blue Jay because it is known to eat the eggs and nestling's of other birds. However, in an extensive study of Blue Jay feeding habits, only 1% of Jays had evidence of eggs or birds in their stomachs. Most of the diet was composed of insects and nuts.

The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. It has been suggested that these calls provide information to other Jays that a hawk is around, or that they are used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.

This link represents the Blue Jay call.

Birding gift ideas

It’s that time of the year again. What can you get a birder for Christmas?

Try thinking in broader terms when searching for a gift for a birder. Everything from a feeder to binoculars and scopes will make a birder happy. Guide books, specific species books and ID guides will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

If your birding friend lives in Massachusetts, how about The Massachusetts Atlas and Gazetteer. Another favorite is A Birder's Guide to Eastern Massachusetts.

Does someone you know have the dreaded squirrel problem? Get them a baffle or a squirrel-proof feeder. A lot of feeders have metal seed ports to keep squirrels from chewing holes in the feeder.

From birdsong identifiers to specialty seed, there’s a wide range of gift ideas for your birding friends and family members.

Let’s hear some of your gift ideas. Simply reply by clicking the “Comments” link at the end of this article.

Happy birding!

November Bird of the Month: Dark-Eyed Junco

The Dark-eyed Junco, also known as the Snow Bird, is the best-known species of Junco, a genus of small American Sparrows.

Adults are generally gray on top with a white belly. The white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight. The bill is usually pinkish. The males tend to have darker, more conspicuous markings than the female. Juveniles often have pale streaks and may even be mistaken for a Vesper Sparrow until they acquire adult plumage at 2 to 3 months. There is a regional variation:

The Slate-colored Junco has a dark slate-gray head, breast and upper parts. Females are brownish gray. It is found in North America in taiga forests from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to the Appalachian Mountains, wintering further south; it is relatively common in its range.

Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed forest areas throughout North America. They usually nest in a cup shaped depression on the ground, well hidden by vegetation or other material, although they are sometimes found in the lower branches of a shrub or tree. The nests have an outer diameter of about 3.9 inches and are lined with fine grasses and hair.

Normally two broods of 4 eggs are laid during the breeding season. They are incubated by the female for 12 to 13 days. The slightly glossy egg shells are grayish or pale bluish-white in color and heavily spotted (sometimes splotched) with various shades of brown, purple or gray. The spotting is concentrated at the large end of the egg. The young leave the nest within 11 to 14 days of hatching.

Northern birds migrate further south; many populations are permanent residents or altitudinal migrants. In winter, juncos are familiar in and around towns.

These birds forage on the ground. In winter, they often forage in flocks that may comprise several races. They mainly eat insects and seeds. However the bird will sometimes eat its own droppings.

The following is the song of the Dark-Eyed Junco.

Squirrels and Blue Jays

My feeders were quite busy today, but not with a lot of birds. Squirrels!

Two of them have been trying to raid the feeders for the past few weeks. This fella decided to help himself to the woodpecker feeder.

I watched as the squirrel would scurry to the ground and hide a seed under a leaf, tamp down the leaf with his little paws, and head back for more.

A few chipmunks have been keeping the seed cleaned up under the feeders, and it has been a chore shooing away pigeons.

These pictures were taken from the stairway window, which leads to the second floor of our home.

Blue Jays have been stuffing their bills with peanuts and sunflower seed. I have noticed at least 10 different Jays in our backyard at one time. They are very aggressive toward other birds, but the cardinals will have none of it. I saw a female Cardinal chase away 2 Blue Jays from the platform feeder. The male Cardinal sat nearby on a branch during all this, and then joined her when the Jays were gone.

Winter is near. Birds are fattening themselves up for the shorter days, the bitter cold, the howling wind and the blanket of snow that covers the land.

Please don't forget our feathered friends this winter!

Happy birding!

Islesboro, Maine: Bald Eagle

Birding in Maine during the fall season has its strong points, some of these being the crystal blue skies and cooler temperatures. And most important of all, bug activity is very low!

Species of birds are coming and going and squirrels and chipmunks are storing food for the long winter ahead.

This Columbus Day weekend was no exception. Mornings were frosty and the days were just cool enough for a light jacket.

We departed early Saturday morning for Lincolnville to take the ferry to Islesboro. Fog rose from rivers and inlets due to the October chill over the warmer waters, making one wonder what was lurking in the autumn mist.

We arrived at the ferry terminal in Lincolnville and drove aboard the ferry at 7:50 a.m. There was no more room, so I thought, but the crew had us work our car around until they could squeeze one more in.

The 20 minute ride across Penobscot Bay was uneventful, as the waters were nearly smooth, with a light northwest breeze.

Upon arriving on the island, we drove north, admiring the beauty of the spruce trees, inlets, coves and bays.

Our first stop was along the narrowest part of the island, with a cove on the west side, and the bay to the east.

We disembarked from our car, and immediately heard and seen sparrows flying in and around the triple spruce trees along the road.

This is the spot I photographed the Savannah Sparrow. At the time, I had an idea as to what this species of sparrow was, but was not quite sure, hence I ask for proper identification. Again, I would like to express my thanks to those of you who helped in the identification of this species of sparrow.

The sparrows would take flight from a small meadow, and visit the spruce trees, but trying to photograph them was a chore.

I shot 24 pictures to get two good enough for identification purposes! These fellas would not sit still long enough, and if they did, they were deep in the spruce bows.

I was set-up with a good sturdy tripod, so when one finally came into view, I started firing off shots like there were no tomorrow.

I thanked the little fella and we continued on our way.

One point of note: not many waterfowl were encountered on this trip, as was the lack of shorebirds. We did manage to see a few Double-Crested Cormorants and some unidentifiable Shearwaters. Hawks were plenty, but the height at which they flew made identification somewhat a challenge.

We continued to drive around the island in a clock-wise fashion, my wife hoping to catch a glimpse of John Travolta who has a summer home on the island. (We saw neither him nor Kirstie Alley who also has a summer home here.)

On the east side of the island, just a half a mile north of the fire department, we saw a gentleman along the road taking a picture of something in a spruce tree. I asked what he saw and he proclaimed a Bald Eagle was there.

I retrieved my camera and tripod and set-up on a dirt lane about 150 feet from the spruce tree the eagle was perched on.

What was unbelievable was that this eagle did not seem to mind the commotion going on around it. Cars going by, a few people stopping with the oohing and ahhing and the distant hammering of an unseen carpenter.

The eagle sat there perched on the spruce for just over an hour looking around, preening, being harrassed, at a distance, by a Red-Tailed Hawk, and he even let out a sneeze that I just missed capturing on my camcorder. And as luck would have it, I missed his departure. I was taking the camcorder off of the tripod and replacing it with my camera.

You can view the Windows WMV format video of the Bald Eagle in the Birding In Maine Photo Gallery. I have other videos of this eagle that I will upload in the next several days.

I recommend Islesboro as a day trip for those who want to get away from it all for the day or maybe do some leaf peeping. I plan to return in the spring, during migration, which I am sure will be a hot spot.

The rest of our trip was mostly uneventful. We caught the ferry back to the mainland and went to Rockland to walk the breakwater and visit the lighthouse which sits at its end.

I will post larger versions of the pictures in this post in the Birding In Maine Photo Gallery in the next few days.

Happy birding!

UPDATE: Larger versions of the eagle pictures in this post are now available in the Birding In Maine Photo Gallery. The direct link is here: Raptors

Preparing for winter bird feeding

Winter can be a difficult time for birds in New England. Days are short, windy and cold and nights are long and even colder. The abundant vegetation of summer and fall has withered or been consumed and most insects are dead or dormant.

If you don't already have a backyard feeder now is the perfect time to set one up. It will make your feathered friends lives easier and yours more enjoyable as you observe their beauty and antics.

What To Feed Them

Most songbirds feed on insects and spiders during the spring and summer months. However, in the fall and winter non-migratory songbirds must shift their diets to fruits and seeds to survive.
 
Black-oil Sunflower: Different birds prefer different types of seeds, but the seeds that attract the greatest variety of species are black-oil sunflower. These seeds are nutritious and high in fat plus their small size and thin shells make them easy for small birds to eat.

Thistle or Niger Seeds: Thistle seeds are a delicacy for goldfinches, siskins and redpolls. It is best to offer these seeds in a special thistle feeder which has tiny ports that prevent the seeds from spilling out.

Peanut Butter or Suet: You can attract insect-eating birds such as Chickadees, woodpeckers and nuthatches to your yard by offering peanut butter or suet. Peanut butter and suet are both excellent high energy foods.
   
Fruit: Thrushes, Mockingbirds, catbirds and waxwings will come to a feeder which offers fruit. Try dried fruits such as raisin and fresh sliced fruit on a platform feeder or plate.

Tips For Winter Feeding

Keep some extra feeders for use in bad weather. It will not only give birds more places to eat it will cut down on your trips outside to refill the feeder.

Make sure the seed is kept dry. Hopper and tube feeders will protect seed from wet weather and platform feeders should be swept of any snow.

Scatter seed in underbrush and sheltered places. Some birds prefer to feed in thicket and brambles so be sure to scatter seed in hedges, bushes and along wooded areas or even under your deck.

Use high energy food such as suet and peanut butter.

Use your old Christmas tree for shelter and as a windbreak near your feeder.

Prepare your birdhouses for winter roosting. Make sure the houses are clean and then use three to four inches of clean dry meadow grass or wood shavings. Then plug the air vent holes with removable weather stripping.

Keep your feeders clean. Take advantage of good weather to clean and disinfect your feeders.  Use one part bleach to nine parts hot water. 

Offer a fresh source of water and consider the use of a birdbath heater. If you do not have a birdbath heater, keep the water ice-free if at all possible. Empty the birdbath in the evening and fill again in the morning. NEVER use chemicals such as antifreeze to keep the water from freezing!

October Bird of the Month: Downy Woodpecker

Description : The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker of North America. It has black and white plumage, with white in the middle of the back, and also on the breast and belly, where white becomes grayish.

Wings are black with white spots. Tail is black, with white outer feathers, and sometimes barred with black.

The head is black, and we can see a white stripe above and below eyes. It has whitish feathers above the bill, black cheeks, and thin black mustache extending to the neck and upper sides of breast.

The male has a small red patch on the rear crown.
Bill is thick, short, black and chisel-shaped, but smaller than other woodpeckers. Eyes are dark. Legs and feet are pale Grey.

The female lacks the red patch on the head. She has a black patch. The juvenile male has a red forehead, but lacks a red patch on its rear crown. The juvenile female is similar, but lacks any red.

Voice: Downy Woodpeckers have a wide variety of sounds. During aggressive behavior, it utters "pik", introducing rattle calls. Young birds utter short "wad" and "chirp" calls, and also a longer note, the squeak. We can also hear scolding, squeak, screech and distress calls. Downy Woodpeckers also use drumming, a non vocal sound, to communicate. Here is a sample of the Downy Woodpecker call.

Habitat: The Downy Woodpecker lives in woodlands, deciduous forests in riparian areas. It is common in orchards, parks and urban areas.

Geographic Range: The Downy Woodpecker is found throughout North America. They are year round residents, except along the New England Coast where some populations are partially migratory.

Behavior: The Downy Woodpecker uses body postures to communicate, such as combination of bill pointing and waving, flicking wings, raising crest, wings and tail spreading, head turning  and swinging.

Drumming is used to establish territory, to attract a mate, and to communicate between them.
When feeding, the Downy Woodpecker gleans insects from tree trunks, shrubs and large weeds. It also probes into crevices, or excavates holes into wood to find food. Downy Woodpeckers are acrobatic foragers. They can hang upside down to feed.

It is a solitary diurnal bird, but sometimes, it forages in loose flocks. The male defends a territory against other males, and female against females. When an intruder comes into the territory, the Downy Woodpecker will perform a threat display, such as flicking wings, or a fan-tailed display, with erected crest, and trying to drive the intruder away, holding their bill high. It may attack the intruder, grappling with them in mid-air.

Downy Woodpeckers are monogamous. Once a pair is formed, they forage together until incubation begins. It is a form of mate guarding. They mate together for more than one breeding season.
To protect themselves from predators, Downy Woodpeckers flatten themselves against the tree bark, remaining motionless. It may also dodge a raptor, by darting behind  a tree branch, or winding their way around a branch to avoid the hawk.

Reproduction-nesting : The Downy Woodpecker's nest is excavated by both male and female, in a dead climb, or a living or dead tree. This work lasts between one and three weeks. The nest is lined only with wood chips, and the opening is concealed with mosses and lichens.

The female lays 3 to 8 white glossy eggs. Incubation lasts about 12 days, shared by both parents. Male incubates at night, and alternately with female during the day. Chicks hatch altricial, but they grow very quickly. They are brooded during the first four days after hatching, and both adults feed them. Young fledge at about 18 to 21 days of age. Parents feed them for at least three weeks more, and protect them against predators. The young reach their sexual maturity at one year. This species produces one single clutch per year.

Food habits: The Downy Woodpecker is omnivorous. It feeds mainly on insects (beetles, ants, bugs and caterpillars), but also arthropods, fruits, seeds and sap. It also consumes spiders and suet from feeders.

September Bird of the Month: American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch
Size: 4.5 - 5"
Range: Winters in much of the United States
Nest: Open nest on an upright fork of branch
Eggs per clutch:  4 to 5
Food: Seeds

Description

The American Goldfinch is smaller than a sparrow. The breeding male is known for its bright yellow color. The male also has a black forehead, white bottom and black wings with white edges. The female and male in the winter are duller than the breeding male.

Listen to a recording of an American Goldfinch: American Goldfinch call

Feeding

Seeds are the main diet of the American Goldfinch. These birds are attracted to thistle and hulled sunflower seeds and can be spotted at the feeders year round. During fall and winter, American Goldfinches will feed in flocks.

Habitat

Goldfinches are believed to be year round residents of most of North America. Seasonal movement of flocks, from ten to several hundred goldfinches, occur in the spring and fall.   American Goldfinches can be found living in areas with weedy grasslands or thickets with nearby trees.

Nesting

During the winter, American Goldfinches have only two calls. When spring arrives new songs can be heard. These new songs are signs of courtship taking place. Once summer arrives, finches begin to feed in small groups.

American Goldfinches mate late in summer, near the time of nest building. The female goldfinch collects materials for the nest and constructs it herself. Once the nest is complete the pair will leave the area for a couple of days. The pair will return to the nest anywhere between a few days to a few weeks later, so that the female can start laying the eggs.

Eggs are laid, one per day, until the clutch is complete. Usually five eggs are in a clutch. Incubations starts after the laying of the second or third egg. Incubation of the eggs is done only by the female and lasts approximately 11 to 15 days. The female will spend 95% of her time on the nest. During this time, the male will make regular visits to the nest to feed the female.

The nestlings are quiet in the nest for the first week after hatching. They are also silent when the parents arrive with food. They become more active the second week and call out when the parents arrive. When the young birds leave the  nest, they are still fed by the male. The fledglings have a call that helps the male locate them for feeding. When the birds become independent, they no longer give this call.

Bird Watching: Granite Point

This mornings bird watching trip to Granite Point was spectacular! Many flocks of birds were in the air, including Canada Geese, Double-Crested Cormorants, Tree Swallows, Snowy Egrets, Blue Heron and many unidentifiable ducks.

The weather was cool, with a light breeze and crystal blue skies. I seemed to be the only one birding the area, although a few residents of the point were out and about for their morning walk.

At the end of the Granite Point Road, it was peaceful. A unknown woodpecker could be heard rapping a tree in the distance. Eiders were feeding in the low tide. Chickadees and Song Sparrows sang and flitted around. Snowy Egrets and Cormorants fed in the river, occasionally taking flight for better feeding grounds.

A huge flock of Canada Geese soared into the marsh to feed, numbering perhaps in the hundreds. Noisily they drifted to a landing, as more and more continued to fly overhead.

Quite a few Cedar Waxwings were feeding in the berry bushes along the road, as others preened in the early morning sun. A battle ensued and the acrobatic maneuvers of these beautiful birds had me in awe. Neither of the birds seemed to be the winner of the battle, although one seemed to favor a wing while sitting on a power line. I watched him for several minutes, and then he took flight and seemed to be just fine.

The following pictures are some of the sights I have seen this morning in the tranquility of Granite Point.

Cormorants take flight from a river.

A flock of Canada Geese arrives at Granite Point.

Close-up of Canada Geese in flight over Granite Point.

Canada Geese come in for a landing to feed at Granite Point.

A Butterfly warms itself in the early morning sun.

A bird feeder has activity on Granite Point.

European Starlings preening on a power line.

That’s it for now. Happy birding!

Big night for migration

With a cold front sweeping through the northeast US yesterday and a north wind to help birds along, last night was a big night for migrating birds.

Woodcreeper.com has a great article along with radar images of last nights migration. According to David A. La Puma, last nights migration broke-up just south of New Jersey because of thunderstorms and precipitation from approaching Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Locally, I witnessed approx. 20 Hawks of unknown type fly over our home early this morning. Tuesday afternoon, 11 Bluebirds stopped over in my yard here in Biddeford. Four of them had a drink from the birdbath, and the others rested in a tree.

I was suprised the bluebirds stopped here in Biddeford, although I do live towards the edge of town. I managed to photograph one of the bluebirds, before they fled the scene.

Maybe I am wrong, but I would assume at this time of year the Bluebird would be beginning to molt, losing some of the vivid blue of its feathers. But not this fella! I did do some post-processing in Photoshop CS2 for sharpening and cropping.

The time of the year for migration is here and has been for a few weeks. This mornings low here in Biddeford was a very cool 45 F. with inland areas reporting even lower temps. Sanford and Fryburg reported a low of 39 F. this morning!

This morning, I am venturing to Granite Point for a little birding. Will report on the trip when I get back.

Happy birding!

Birding Granite Point

Migration continues full swing in Southern Maine. My wife and I birded Granite Point Saturday and Sunday morning and witnessed hundreds of birds of all types making their way to their wintering grounds.

Hundreds of Egrets, both Great and Snowy, were in large groups flying over the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge on Granite Point Road near Biddeford Pool, Maine. Also seen were Great Blue Herons, Double-Crested Cormorants, and unidentifiable ducks in large flocks making way to milder climates.

Saturday morning was foggy with visibility fair. Noted was the absence of Tree and Barn Swallows.

A bush with many berries along Granite Point Road held many birds eating their breakfast. Noted was Cedar Waxwings, Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Black Capped Chickadees and this Downy Woodpecker, having a snack of ants.

A few Snowy Egrets flew to and fro, along with the sighting of a Great Blue Heron.

Double-Breasted Cormorants and Eiders were numerous along the small bay at Granite Point.

Otherwise, it was a fairly quiet Saturday morning, which may be due to the fog and our late arrival to the area.

Sunday morning brought much more activity. The weather was cool and mostly cloudy, but without the fog. We arrived just after sunrise.

Our first sighting was this Belted Kingfisher, who sat on a power line just outside of good photography range, next to the grassy parking area along Granite Point Road.

The bird watched one of the pannes below, and suddenly, dove into the water for food but came back up empty handed. (or should I say empty billed!)

When the Kingfisher hit the water, it sounded as if someone had dropped a large rock into it. Graceful this fella was not.

He flew back upon the wire, watching and waiting, but soon decided to check elsewhere as he took flight. These birds never fail to amaze me. How, while in flight, they will hover above a prospective feeding area and then dive straight into the water for a fish. Not as graceful as say a Least Tern, but fun to watch never-the-less.

My wife and I met a fellow birder named Bob. (visit his site, he has spectacular pictures!)We talked for an hour about our birding adventures at Granite Point. My wife spied several deer near the pumping station, so out came the spotting scope.

A doe and 3 young ones were feeding. After several minutes, 2 more young ones came from across the marsh to join the buffet. As the newcomers approached, the others began a game of tag. Running around chasing each other, it reminded me of puppies playing. At one point, a Great Blue Heron was among the activity, although he did not participate. After playing for awhile, dogs began to bark, and the deer retreated to the relative safety of the woods.

Many flocks of birds, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, were in flight over the marsh. A large flock of Tree Swallows were present, more than likely stopping over from Downeast Maine, feeding to gain strength for their long migration.

Just before leaving the area, we sat in our car looking sea-ward at the end of Granite Point Road.

A Catbird landed on a rock within 20 feet of us. I began talking to him, taking pictures as I did so. It was comical as the Catbird would cock his head and look at me like, “What is this guy saying to me”? He would then disappear, only to return again. I was thinking that just like a feline cat, curiosity was in this bird also. Here are a few pictures of this beautiful bird.

We saw several American Goldfinches, who were molting, loosing their bright yellow plumage to be replaced with their much duller winter plumage.

All in all, it was a decent birding weekend. This Cedar Waxwing was in the berry bushed mentioned earlier in this article.

As a side note, I have ordered the Cannon Rebel XT DSLR camera. Although it is on backorder, I expect it to be shipped around the beginning of the month. I am anxious to put it to use, as with the zoom lenses that I already have along with the spotting scope, I should be able to post some spectacular pictures.

Happy birding!

Western Reef Heron or Southern Little Egret

There seems to be some debate as to whether the rare visitor to the Maine and New Hampshire coasts this week is a Western Reef Heron or a dark morph Southern Little Egret.

A very interesting article can be read at Lillian and Don Stokes site concerning the debate as to what this bird may be.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Plum Island, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Finally a little time to post about our trip to Plum Island, Massachusetts on August 12th. Have been very busy at work as of late, working 12-13 hour days.

Those of you who live in Massachusetts and New Hampshire should be on the look-out along coastal waters for a very rare visitor to the USA. A Western Reef Heron has been hanging around the islands just off Kittery Point, Maine (in Maine waters) this weekend. The above link also has some great pictures! It is only a matter of time before this rare visitor moves along on his migration. This sighting is only the second or third time this species has been sighted in the USA!

Now on to the Plum Island trip...

Just after sunrise on Saturday August 12th, we arrived at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, Massachusetts.

The weather was spectacular! Clear skies, light winds and cool temperatures greeted us.

After passing through the gate to the refuge, imagine our surprise when we encountered hundreds of Tree Swallows on the road. What they were doing or why they were there is still a mystery to us, but I surmise that maybe they were warming themselves in the early morning sunlight, as the morning was very cool. I estimated that between 500 and 600 Tree Swallows were on the ground and in the air in this area.

All throughout the day, Tree Swallows were everywhere, hundreds of them flying here and there.

The tree swallow is a diurnal migrant and birds often congregate in large flocks during the early evening to share nocturnal roosts usually located in dense woody and emergent vegetation.

Flocking behavior along the outer coast of Massachusetts is a well-documented phenomenon with some flocks estimated in the hundreds of thousands as birds gather to exploit ripening bayberry and insect swarms.

Tree swallows are able to return to their breeding grounds earlier than other swallow species due to their ability to subsist on fruit. In New England, tree swallows arrive on territories in early April.

Just after the main road turns to gravels, we spotted some deer in the high grass. As I was setting up to get some pictures, we heard a commotion on the hill west of us. Three Broad-Winged Hawks were flying around at each other. As one would land in the field, the other two would dive-bomb it. We watched this activity for quite some time before they settled down, after which they sat in the field to preen.

I tried to get some footage with my camcorder, but the action was just a little to far away. Watching through the binoculars was excellent! (If only I had my scope!)

Our next stop was the Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area.

As we were walking the trail to the observation tower, we spied a fledgling Mockingbird.

He allowed a few photos to be taken along with some video, and then we were on our way.

Fledgling Mockingbird

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 3.75 mb  Length: 42 sec.

When we arrived at the observation tower, the pond below the tower was a flurry of activity. Canada Geese, Cormorants, Egrets and Herons were feeding. We even watched as a Snowy Egret tried to chase away a Double-Crested Cormorant as seen in this next video.

Feeding Time: From the Hellcat Observation Tower

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 6.39 mb  Length: 1:13

Many ducks were seen throughout the refuge, including Blue and Green Winged Teals, Pintails, Mallards and Black ducks. Most were feeding in the many pannes of the marsh, others were busy preening. This next video clip shows a few ducks in one of the pannes, cruising around looking for food.

Ducks Cruising the Pond

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 6.67 mb  Length: 1:16

As we were leaving the Hellcat area, another mockingbird, this time an adult, posed long enough for a few photos.

The songs of 36 other species were recognized from the recording of one mockingbird in Massachusetts.

Birds in the western part of the species' range have less musical songs and are less imitative. Mockingbirds are strongly territorial and, like a number of other birds, will attack their reflection in a window, hubcap, or mirror, at times with such vigor that they injure or kill themselves. At mating time, the male Northern Mockingbird becomes increasingly exuberant, flashing his wings as he flies up in an aerial display, or singing while flying from one song post to another.

Many Mockingbirds were seen on this journey, including this one who flew straight at the camera!

it is not a pin sharp picture, but you get the idea. Surprised me when I viewed the photo the first time!

When my wife and I visited Wild Birds Unlimited in Portland, Maine a few weeks ago, we witnessed first hand the many sounds a mockingbird can imitate.

The bird we saw did every bird sound my wife did, and then countinued with a car alarm sound. It was simply amazing to watch this Mockingbird imitate the sounds my wife made. I love watching them in-flight, flashing the tell-tale white bullseye patches under their wings. At times they can be friendly, allowing you to appraoch within a reasonable distance.

Our trip ended with a stroll along the beach on Plum Island. We saw many Plovers and Sandpipers. Black-Backed Gulls were also plentiful. My wife found a few sand dollars while roaming the beach.

The time had come to leave with the rewards of watching many species of birds doing what they do best. Leaving us in awe at the amazing beauty and complexity of nature.

Birding is what we do, what we live for, it is never a dull moment! What some may think as a day wasted birding when only a few common species are seen, we take it in stride when this happens to us. We are grateful to be able to get out and about, seeing, feeling and experiencing nature in all her glory!

Happy birding!

Testing Video

Just a test of the video function of this blog.

Fledgling Mockingbird

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 3.75 mb  Length: 42 sec.

Would appreciate some feedback on this video, such as how it looks, ease of use, etc. Just comment in this article.

Spotting Scope

When you step into a deal, you can do it big time like my wife and I did yesterday at Rivers Camera in Dover, New Hampshire.

After visiting Plum Island, Massachusetts for some birding, (more on this trip in another article soon to come) we decided to head to Rivers Camera to see the Celestron Ultima 80ED spotting scope in action. We have been wanting to see this scope after reading many wonderful reviews, but had trouble finding a dealer. After searching the internet for a dealer that didn’t require driving too far, we came across the Rivers Camera shop.

This place is a birders and astronomers dream come true! Binoculars, telescopes and spotting scopes galore. There are many different brands and styles to choose from, many of them high quality glass.

To make a long story short, the shop had many Meade and Celestron spotting scopes in stock that were ordered by customers, but never picked up. So, they decided to have a sidewalk sale, available in store only. (Sorry, internet orders do not apply.)

This great spotting scope that retailed for the great price of $499.99, was now 40% off! Final cost: $299.99! They have a few more left in stock, so if you would like this scope, don’t tarry too long, when the stock is sold out, the sale is over.

This scope in the reviews that I read, put it up there with the high quality optics such as the Swarovski spotting scopes. In side by side comparisons, it performed just as well as the higher end optics, with very subtle differences.

We used it in the field this morning at the Scarborough Marsh, and the sharpness, clarity and colors seen in the birds we viewed took our breath away!

I did purchase a connector to attach my digital camera to the scope, but got the wrong one. So later today, we will return to Rivers Camera to exchange it for the correct size. Look for some great pictures coming soon, because digiscoping is coming to ToddSpace: John's Birding Page and Birding In Maine!

Going to Plum Island, Ma.

Hello fellow birders!

My wife and I are making a trip down to Plum Island, Massachusetts Friday morning for some birding. Maybe we will see some of you out there, if so, be sure to say hello!

I will post a report of our trip sometime this weekend.

Meanwhile, over at Birding In Maine, I have some new videos posted.

Other than that, it has been work, work, work! Will be good to have a three day weekend.

Happy birding!

Video of Sandpipers

For those interested, I have a video that I shot on my Birding In Maine site that shows quite a few sandpipers feeding in a marsh at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge near Biddeford Pool, Maine.

The video opens in a new window and is approx. 1:07 minutes long and is 5.81 mb in size. The format is Windows wmv.

More videos will be forthcoming as time permits, including Great Blue Herons, An Eider with chicks, a few Greater Yellow Legs and much more as I shoot video in the future.

Thanks and happy birding!

Remember our feathered friends during the heat wave

With temperatures forecasted to be at or near the triple digits, please remember to have a supply of fresh water for the birds.

Now is a good time to clean out your birdbaths, removing algae and debris. (This should be done every few days regardless of the weather.) If possible, try to place your birdbath where shade will be during the hottest part of the day.

If you do not have a birdbath, you can make one cheaply. Purchase a large plastic flower pot drip saucer. I would suggest one with a diameter of at least 12". Level an area in your yard somewhere where shade will be during the hottest part of the day. Place the plastic saucer on the leveled area and fill with fresh cool water, not more than 3" deep. I suggest changing the water daily!

A few stones places in the middle of the plastic saucer will give smaller birds a place to perch, as they do not like the deeper water.

Try to stay away from glazed crock-type flower pot drip saucers. They are slippery and birds can slip and injure themselves or fall in the water and possibly drown. The plastic saucers has enough of a rough surface for birds to safely perch.

There is nothing like watching birds drink and/or bathe in a birdbath, no mater what type you have!

Try to stay cool and safe, and as always.... Happy Birding!!!!

Sunday Morning Birding

A clear blue sky and a beautiful sunrise greeted us this morning at the Rachael Carson Wildlife Refuge near Biddeford Pool, Maine.

Activity among the Great and Snowy Egrets, Blue Herons, and Double-Crested Cormorants was heavy.

Flights and landings persisted continuously at a pool in the marsh most of the morning. Egret fledglings could be seen feeding with the adults and a lone Blue Heron fledgling was seen away from the group.

The Double-Crested Cormorants fed along side all the others, at times spreading their wings looking like the pre-historic creatures that they are.

Cedar Waxwings were also prevalent. I was blessed to have gotten a picture of one in all its glory! Be sure to check out our Birding Gallery for a much larger picture than the one posted here.

As you can see near the bottom of the picture, berries are ripe, and they were being eaten by the Cedar Waxwings. Groups of 5-7 birds would land in an area and eat the berries.

As we watched, a lone Cedar Waxwing landed atop a bush. Even with our close proximity to it, it allowed me to get off several shots from my camera.

This shot is as is, except for some cropping I did for the article. No post-processing was done!

If all birds allowed this close of an approach, I would be one happy birder! But most birds don't allow this close of an encounter. For that reason, we have decided to purchase a spotting scope. (Something I wish we would have done along time ago!)

We have decided on the Celestron 80mm Ultima ED Spotting Scope. This scope will allow us to get close and personal with wildlife of all kinds, and it allows the attachment of a digital camera with an optional fitting. We expect to receive the scope sometime around the middle of August, and hopefully have some pictures using this outfit posted to the Birding Gallery during fall migration.

I am always amazed at how birds can blend in with their surroundings.

This picture of a Semi-Palmated Plover was taken on a small rocky beach at the refuge. I waited patiently for this small bird to get into some light colored sand so I could find him through my camera. When the a group of them were in the stones and rocks, they were nearly impossible to find through the view finder!

I love watching these birds along the surf of a beach, running away from the waves and then following the waves back to find food washed ashore before the next wave comes crashing in. All told, approx. 30 Semi-Palmated Plovers were seen on the beach.

At the end of our Sunday morning journey, we found ourselves taking a walk on Ocean Avenue in Biddeford Pool.

While walking back to the car, we heard a sharp chipping sound and looked around for the culprit.

Directly in front of us, on a big rock among the sea roses, was a chipmunk trying to hide from us.

I snapped several pictures as my wife talked to it. The chipmonk just sat there as if he thought that he was invisible, not moving at all. After we had passed several yards behind it, he finally deserted the rock and skittered across the street, more than likely looking for a spot away from the human intruders.

All told, much wildlife was seen this morning. Even a doe and a fawn out in the marsh.

Many species of butterflies were seen at the marsh along with the complimentary mosquitoes, deer flies and green heads.

Here is my listing of birds and wildlife seen this morning:

• Black Duck w/chicks
• Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret
• Least Tern
• Tree Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Willet w/chicks
• Semi-Palmated Plover
• Double-Crested Cormorant
• Song Sparrow
• House Finch
• Purple Finch
• Cedar Waxwing
• Kingbird
• Deer: doe w/fawn
• Chipmunk

That's it for now. Be safe and happy birding!

Bird of the Month: Brown Thrasher

The Bird of the Month for August 2006 is the Brown Thrasher.

The Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is a species of thrasher, part of a family of New World birds (Mimidae) that includes New World catbirds and mockingbirds.

Brown Thrashers are mimics, meaning they mimic the calls of other birds.

The Brown Thrasher is, as the name suggests, mostly brown or reddish-brown above, with a white breast and throat streaked with brown, and two white bars on each wing. It has a long tail, and its beak is also relatively large and somewhat curved. Adults average about 11.5 inches in length.

It is difficult to see all this however, as the bird is a shy type that prefers thickets and heavy brush, often searching for food in dry leaves on the ground. In fact, it is more likely to be heard than seen, not only because of the rattling of leaves, but also because of its call, a sharp lip-smacking type sound. This bird is omnivorous, eating insects, berries, nuts and seeds, as well as earthworms, snails and sometimes lizards.

Its breeding range includes the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a partial migrant, with northern birds wintering in the southern USA, where it occurs throughout the year.

The female lays 3 to 5 eggs in a twiggy nest lined with grass. The nest is built in a dense shrub or low in a tree. Both parents incubate and feed the young. These birds raise two or three broods in a year. The male sings a series of short repeated melodious phrases from an open perch to defend his territory and is also very aggressive in defending the nest.

Although this bird is widespread and still common, it has declined in numbers in some areas due to loss of suitable habitat.

The Brown Thrasher is the official state bird of Georgia, and the inspiration for the name of Atlanta's National Hockey League team, the Atlanta Thrashers.

Here is a link to the Brown Thrasher song.

Be safe and happy birding!

Great Egret vs. Snake

Going birdwatching on a day so foggy that you can barely see 50 feet, usually is not very productive, but this morning had a surprise in store for us not more than 20 feet away!

While enjoying our Saturday morning coffee and birdwatching ritual at the Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge near Biddeford Pool, Maine, my wife and I were about to call it quits because visibility was terrible at best.

Fog had set in overnight, and it was being stubborn and not burning off. Visibility was less than fifty feet at best. Binoculars were useless in the thick pea soup.

Just as I was beginning to back out of a spot I had parked in, my wife saw a Great Egret step over a small rise in the marsh not more than 20 feet in front of us.

The Egret was stabbing its long bill into something, not in the water, but in the grass.

Suddenly, the Egret rose with a snake in its mouth! I could not identify the type of snake because of fog, but I can assure you it was at least 3 feet long!

These pictures are proof… NEVER leave home without your camera! Although these images are fuzzy at best because of fog, I still was able to capture images that you just don’t see too often in life.

The battle between Egret and snake lasted approx 5 minutes. At times, the snake tried to escape by wrapping itself around the head and bill of the egret. The snake would then fall to the ground, but the Egret was quicker!

I don’t want to spare any details, so if you are squeamish, skip this paragraph! As the Egret tried to swallow the snake, the snake would crawl back out, fall to the ground, only to be picked up again and again.

But as all good things must end, the Egret finally swallowed the snake whole! You could see the bulge in the Egrets throat as it struggle to swallow 3 feet of snake!

In this picture, you can see the bulge in its neck! This was after the Great Egret took a drink of water to wash it down.

Nature at work! We love seeing things as they are meant to be. Who knows, maybe the next time the snake will win.

Those who know me can relate to this, I still thought there was more I should have done… like why didn’t I have the camcorder in the car!

I can guarantee you this, video will be forthcoming of things like this in the future. Just like the popular commercial says, “Don’t leave home without it!”

Be safe and happy birding folks!

Gold Finch Closeup

My wife and I were early risers this morning, venturing out to a marsh in the Rachael Carson Wildlife Preserve in Biddeford, Maine with our morning coffee. (This marsh is our so-called quiet spot.)

The rising sun and a light breeze off the sea made a perfect morning for bird watching, and a cool respite from the impending heat forecasted later this afternoon.

We heard a gold finch call in the distance and my wife called back to it. (She does superb gold finch calls!) A few seconds later, a male gold finch landed directly in front of us, not more than 10 feet away on a spray of wild millet.

I commenced to take photos of this beautiful bird like there was no tomorrow! As you can see in this photo, the gold finch has landed on a fence post and is nibbling on a piece of millet looking as if he is standing "at ease" military style!

The gold finch hung around for approx. 3 minutes and then was gone, bringing a smile to our faces and waking us up more than the coffee could ever do! It just goes to show that if you practice your birding calls, you never know what suprise will come so close to you, that you can practically reach out and touch it.

Copyright Notice

As many of you have seen, I have been placing a copyright brand onto the pictures that I publish on this site and over at Birding In Maine. Also included into the file itself, is copyright information such as owner, date taken, etc, which cannot be seen except with special software.

The reason for this is that I have been finding pictures that I have taken being used on other sites on the net that do not have permission to do so. Some of my pictures are being used and being claimed as someone elses.

My photos may be used on the net with my permission as long as a proper citation is included with the photo. You may download the photos without my permission and use on your personal computer for things such as bird identification, etc. as long as the copyright info is not altered.

I don't like doing this, but I have to protect my rights as a publisher. Please bear with the photos as I work on the copyright brand to make it so it's not so intrusive.

Birding Hoyt Neck

The late afternoon of the July 4th holiday featured many fledglings in the Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge on Hoyt Neck, Maine. Cedar Waxwings were everywhere it seemed, feeding their young and chasing off other birds who got too close.

These lovely birds allowed many photographs to be taken as long as the waning light of the sun allowed.

The beautiful Cedar Waxwing can be seen in most of the U.S. and southern Canada. It stands about 7” high. They sport a black mask, have a brown crest and shoulders, and a bright yellow-tipped tail and pale yellow belly. Adult birds have a small red spot on their wings.

Another bird seen frequently on our trips to the marsh is the Eastern Kingbird.

The Eastern Kingbird commonly perches on fences and on telephone wires, where, in typical flycatcher fashion, it placidly awaits the passing of an insect, which, with superb deftness, it captures on the wing. Many kinds of birds have white outer tail feathers, but the Eastern Kingbird is almost unique among passerines in having a broad white band across the end of the tail. Otherwise it is blackish above and white below, with a concealed orange crown patch that is not seen except when the bird is in hand.

As luck would have it, we came across a Willet with four chicks. It is comical to watch the chicks stumble around looking for food. The mother Willet keeps an eye out from a distance, ready to strike at any predator that gets close.

Willets are very territorial and will aggressively defend their nesting and feeding territory. The willet is a very noisy bird and will call out with a pill-will-willet pill-will-willet when disturbed. It will fly overhead and and continue calling out until the threat goes away. It often perches on bushes, trees, fenceposts, or rocks.

There is much more to report, but that will come later, as we are about to embark on yet another birding trip.

What makes it all worth while is the beauty and complexity of nature herself, as seen in this photo of sunset over the marsh.