A few weeks ago, I was quite excited to discover my first common redpolls (Acanthis flammea) in the backyard. A flock of about 25-30 of these beautiful birds had perched on one of the bent birch trees that was damaged from a previous ice storm that we experienced this season. Before I knew it, as […]
Birds
This category contains all my blog posts about birds and birding. In my posts, I discuss how to attract birds to your yard, the many different species of backyard birds, bird photography, and more.
Love is in the Air
Here in Maine, the black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are displaying early courting behavior. February, after all, is the month of love. In recent weeks, I have noticed a change in the behavior of these birds. For example, the males are now starting to sing. Females are more likely to mate with males that have won […]
The Birds Enjoying a Sunny Day After the Big Snowstorm
We had our first big snowstorm of the year a couple of days ago. The day before it snowed, we received a bit of rain and then the temperatures had fallen well below freezing. The ice has allowed for the snow to remain on the tree branches, allowing for beautiful winter photography. Perhaps this hasn’t […]
The Brilliant Blue Jay
The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is one of the most common resident birds and visitors at bird feeders here in New England. Have you ever wondered what these common songbirds symbolize? After doing a bit of research, I have discovered that these birds symbolize curiosity, communication, and intelligence. I also discovered that blue jays also […]
October in Maine: What Types of Birds Can I Expect to See?
Many of our migratory species of birds have left Maine for the winter. We have seen many species of resident and varying-distance migratory birds making their way back to the area. October is also a wonderful month to observe migratory birds on their journeys back to their winter destinations. This fall has been especially wonderful […]
The Black-capped Chickadees Have Returned
The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), is a common sight in the woods and at backyard feeders here throughout the state of Maine. Even though the black-capped chickadee is a non-migratory bird, I have found that they do leave the property and feeders for a short time during the late summer. These birds will leave around […]
Photographing Maine Wild Turkeys
The weather here in Maine has been around the mid-50s to 60s and we have even experienced a few enjoyable nights in the 30s. The humidity hasn’t left us though and this past Wednesday was especially hot and humid. We had a bit of rain the day before and it felt as though summer had […]
Photographing Common Yellowthroats During Fall Migration
Late August through October is a perfect time to observe new birds as they migrate to their winter homes. A couple of days ago, I spotted a pair of common yellowthroats in one of the front gardens and was able to take a few photographs. I believe this male is pretty young, as his black […]
How to Tell the Difference Between the Female Purple Finch and Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Whether out in the field or at feeders, it can be quite difficult to tell the difference between the female purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus) and female rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). The purple finch is often mistaken for the rose-breasted grosbeak. Perhaps this is due to their sharing similar coloring as they do not share the […]
Spotting a Broad-winged Hawk in the Front Yard
A few mornings ago, I was drawing back the curtains in the kitchen window and I discovered something was out of place. I suppose when you do the same thing everyday, you just notice these things. Anyway, I looked a little closer and I spotted a juvenile broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) in the front yard. […]