~~~Birding With My Daughter~~~

My daughter got back from her trip,and my stay with the "Handsome Soccer Player" came to an end.

Before heading back to my home, my daughter and I spent a day birding some of her favorite spots. 

One of which was a small park next to the Saco River, and what a great spot it was. 

We both got a "lifer" with the " Northern Rough Winged Swallow".  At first we wasn't sure when they made a couple of passes by us, and disappeared.

Then I spotted them again, and my daughter who has a longer lens on her camera got some shot's that made the ID a sure thing.  Whoa-woo!!!

A few other quick stops then it was a 2 mile hike at Saco Heath Preserve.

Very interesting read !

 The trail starts out like this with some early spring wild flowers along the way.

"Sessile Bellwort"

"White Trailing Arbutus"

As you beginning to get into the wet boggy area it becomes a boardwalk done with 

composite decking boards.

The "Hobblebush" (Viburnum lantanoides)  was in bloom .

Believe me I don't think I would step of the boardwalk. 

Probably would sink into the deep wet peat to your knees "quickly"!!

This goes on and on, makes a loop, then walking back the same way.

Swamp Blueberry blossoms where in bloom all over.

 Bumble Bees where real busy!! 

It was a unusually hot day for the beginning of May, and the haze on the heath is 

visible here in this shot of my daughter. 

We both got sunburns. "Yikes"

We could hear birds all over, and managed to get a count of 16 species.

Photo's of them..well that was just about impossible!   

On our way back into the shaded area ..whew! 

We stopped to listen and look into the tree tops for the bird that was singing, and I think the 

Tufted Tit Mouse was wondering too as he sat on the branch above me. :}

"Teaberry Plant"

Commonly know as Winterberry ,and Checkerberry.

I would like to come back here at another time to see what is going on.

 Especially would love to see the Pitcher plants, and of course Birds!

~~~June!!!..what happen to May~~~

Wow, first day of June how did that happen!!!
The month of May is one of my favorite months, but it always passes way to quickly.

May started of with a week away from home, with a "Handsome Soccer Player"!!!
I love this guy !!
Oh,... and he calls me Grammie :}

That Handsome Grandson of mine is going to be 14 years old this month. He is  5 ft. 9 inches tall and will start high school in the Fall.
Talk about time passing quickly !!

There he is !!!!

"Oh yes" I forgot to mention he can fly too"!! ;}

I got to go to one of his games while I was there.

The reason for the time with my Grandson was that my daughter had a work related 

trip to Florida.

After making sure he was ready for school, and on the bus I had the day to fill, so 

I did some walking in the country type neighborhood .

I was able to see my first of the Spring migrating Black and White Warbler on one of my walks.

They are quick, and lucky for me the trees where not leaved out yet!

Coming in for a landing!!

Lands, and goes into a head stand!

Gives me a pose !

Also saw my first blooming wild flowering tree there.

"Wild Plum Tree"

May is a great Spring month with so much beauty!

"Just goes to fast".

  

~~~"May"~~~"I thought it would never get here"!!!

Hard to believe 4 weeks has past since I last posted, and a lot has changed around here in the weather department in that time.
It is 82 degrees outside at the moment  :)

That blanket of snow that covered the fields next to my home has turned into a patchwork quilt of dried brown, and lush green grasses.  The lawns are greening up fast,and will have to be mowed first thing I know.
My how we forget in our desire for warm weather, that there are extra things that have to be done, like mow the lawn, yard clean up,  way better then  "SNOW"!!!

 The pond in field was ice free about 3 weeks ago and in no time the peepers where singing and the frogs where a croaking .
One of the things I love about this time of year.  I open the window in the bedroom a few inches so I can drift of to sleep to the sound.  "Awe" so soothing !!!

 "Tree Pollen"!!!  How did I forget about Poplar Trees?  The back of my property is full of them. and when that fluffy cotton stuff starts blowing in the breeze..... now I do love the fluttery soft noise the leaves make on a warm breezy day in summer but, getting the process started is not good for me!!!!!

Sneezing, runny nose, itchy watery eyes UGH!!!
I already have had a eye infection in both eyes "at the same time".  That got cleared up and, hopefully the Poplar tree pollen will be gone soon.

"Yup" for a birder this is not a good thing.  Binoculars,camera, and runny eyes don't go good together.
I have managed to get birding counts done, and have got a good start to the new year, with 4 life birds.  The Pied-billed Grebe;  Northern Pintale Duck; Northern Towhee, and a Wilson Snipe. Love it!!!
I got my ears tuned to the migrating bird calls, and try to see them through watery eyes.   It is much better the last few days though.   Pine tree pollen is next, but a break for now!!

Okay so some shot's of what is going on here .

"Poplar tree"

The culprit, of allergies.

The fuzzy cotton has gone off them now thank goodness!!

My first and favorite bloom of the Spring is the "Coltsfoot"!

Taken a break from his borrow digging for a photo pose, is the Ground Hog or,

 Wood Chuck as I have always called him.

"Goldfinch & Purple Finch" 

The fella's are all deck out in there Spring colors.

Painted Turtles are sunning at the local pond.

"Palm Warbler"

The first returning migrate warbler that I had seen.

Another just because he is such a pretty fella!

Forsythia bush with some blooms starting to pop.

Another migrate the "Savannah Sparrow" !

Hope it is a good weather week where you are !

~~~One More Bird In The Basket~~~

I have been hoping to have some sign of Spring to post by now, but I guess it will be awhile as I look out across the field next to my house with 95% still covered with snow.
It has been snowing all day "yes I said snowing"!!!  It is melting as it hits the ground, but still discouraging.
Since it's nasty outside I decided to go through photo's I have taken in the last couple of months to make a post with.  That's how I found photo's I wanted to use in my last post.

The adorable little Tufted Titmouse was one I wanted to include in birds in the basket, so I decided to use all the photo's I had of it in the basket.
These where taken back in February.

I am sure you will agree that he is just the cutest little guy!!!

~~Re~Use~Re~Purpose~~"It's For The Birds"

Last fall I was helping a friend clean out her mother's home.  I spied an item she put in a pile to go in the trash.
I said "I have an idea of a way to use this," plucked it out of the pile, and brought it home.

Literally it was for the birds!!  A three tiered hanging wire basket, originally made to hold fruit,veggies and etc. is now a suet feeder for the birds!  It has been a big hit with many suet loving birds.
Here to demonstrate are some of those feathered friends. : )

These photos are taken through the window, so far from great.

My Eastern Bluebirds where very cooperative, 

(top,and middle are females the bottom is a male) 

giving me a photo opportunity

 demonstration the whole basket. : )

"Female Eastern Bluebird in a snow storm".

"Black Capped Chickadee,on a sunny day"

"Northern Flicker"

 comfortable with his size in the bottom basket.

"The Blue Jay"

 who tends to be skid-dish even gave it a try"

There you have it, 

you never know.

  

~~~~Balancing~~Talking~~Bluebird~~~~~

I probably spend way to much time watching my feathered friends, especially when I put dialogue to there actions.   I just know I am not the only one who does this!!! : )

I love having the Eastern Bluebirds here at my feeding spot on the deck, where I feed them mealy worms all winter.    They are a group of 8 to 9 which I call my Babies.   When I open the door to feed them that's what I say"Where are the Babies", and they show up.  I don't put the mealy worms out if they don't come because it seems the European Starlings like them.  If you have them around your feeders you know what they are like!

Anyway back to the theme....

Eastern Bluebird say's~~~

"WATCH"  "I can stand on this wire with one leg."

" I just need to get a little... "BALANCE"... going here"...

"STEADY"..."STEADY"...

"TA-DA" I did it!!

"Whooop's" I lost it!!

"I can do that again"...

just need to get my.....

"BALANCE"....

"WELL" ... "I told you I could", even if it was just once!! : )