by Susan | Nov 30, 2024 | Backyard Birds, Family, On My Mind
Thanksgiving dawned wet and dreary in Downeast Maine. It was a quiet day filled with baking and birdwatching from the sofa. This Thanksgiving was particularly poignant for me because it was also Mom’s birthday—the second one we’ve spent without her. She...
by Susan | Jun 11, 2024 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Last year, when I was feeling particularly low and searching for a bit of joy, I splurged on a Bird Buddy. It’s a bird feeder with a solar-powered camera that captures backyard visitors. When it arrived, Paul reconfigure a pole for this little feeder. I went...
by Susan | Nov 19, 2023 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I’ve been home for a week, but yesterday was the first day I had a moment for myself. A gloomy but mild morning, I parked on the porch beneath a blanket with my book, coffee, and camera. A band of blue jays descended upon my freshly filled feeder. They dodged in...
by Susan | Oct 29, 2022 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Holy Grackle! There must have been 100 or more in the yard shortly after I filled the feeder. I now understand why they call a flock of grackles “a plague!”
by Susan | Oct 12, 2022 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Mother nature has recently provided us several days in the upper 50s and lower 60s. While not porch weather right off the mark, by late morning, I’ve been able to migrate to the porch – even if it’s with a blanket. I love my house with big windows to...
by Susan | Jun 28, 2022 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
The Broad-winged Hawk has been a frequent visitor to our yard all season long. This morning my work day started from home. Working from the porch, I heard the bird’s loud, high-pitched call. It took a few moments before I spotted him perched in a tree. I hustled...
by Susan | May 10, 2022 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Hopeful, I first put the hummingbird feeder up on May 1st. I’m not sure when they arrived, but I spotted my first hummer on Sunday – May 8th. At first, it was a lone male. Today the aerial shows began with the arrival of another male. I spent the morning...
by Susan | Jun 14, 2021 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
You likely know by now that I’m an avid, total novice, backyard bird watcher. I’ve discovered this morning that there are birds singing in my backyard I’ve never seen before. I’m often focused on the birds at my feeders (which have been put up...
by Susan | Apr 10, 2021 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I finally got around to removing the remnants of my destroyed bird feeders pole. I’m hopeful that Paul can repair my fancy feeder pole. My lovely red feeder is toast – the central part of it squashed like an accordion. Enjoying the weather, I spent the...
by Susan | Nov 11, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Only once have I spotted a Tufted Titmouse here at Downeast Thunder Farm. That made today’s activity at the feeder incredibly exciting. A Tufted Titmouse pair. I love those big eyes that seem to look in your soul. They were very skittish. Their view into the...
by Susan | Oct 17, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Grackles are beautiful with their inky iridescent feathers. I enjoy them when they are not bullies at the feeder. This guy showed off his color – and good behavior today. They always seem to visit in the fall – or at least that’s when I notice them....
by Susan | Sep 26, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
A gray autumn day brightened for a few house hours allowing me to work on the porch (under a blanket) for a bit. Somehow laboring away on my computer while outdoors makes it feel less like work. Camera at the ready I enjoyed the Chickadees zooming in and out. Happy...
by Susan | Sep 7, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I haven’t taken many bird photos this summer; the porch screens interfere with the opportunities. Yet today’s show outside had me washing the sole kitchen window in which I’d left the screen out. A couple of late summer ruby-throated hummingbirds...
by Susan | May 9, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
May 9 and the weather forecast called for snow. A polar vortex they say. I can’t imagine what my first hummingbird of the season thought of this turn of events. In this one it looks like he’s thinking WTF! My sentiments exactly.
by Susan | May 7, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
It was so beautiful yesterday that I spent my morning working on the porch. I made it through a Zoom meeting and another couple of hours of work before the sun slipped behind the clouds, chilling things down. It was absolutely lovely. No bugs. The wind chimes were...
by Susan | Apr 8, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
This morning, I spent a good fifteen minutes sitting on the floor by the French door watching a flock of Robins in the yard. I don’t recall ever seeing more than one or two visiting. This one was quite concerned about threats in the sky. They sure work hard for...
by Susan | Jun 3, 2019 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
This evening’s visitor. He’s not one of our regulars. Which makes the sighting a treat.
by Susan | May 20, 2019 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
One of my favorite events of the year is when the Hummingbirds return. It’s as clear a sign of spring as we get here in Maine. The boys returned the weekend of May 11. I saw my first little guy buzzing around the other bird feeders, so I rushed to get a nectar...
by Susan | May 18, 2019 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Today was a very “yellow” day at the bird feeder! Male Yellow-rumped warbler Female Yellow-rumped warbler A Goldfinch? Male Goldfinch Male White-throated Sparrow Male Yellow-rumped Warbler
by Susan | Apr 13, 2019 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I had some unusual visitors at the feeder today. The ducks found a break in the fence and have been exploring new territory. One look at me through the window and they waddled back through the fence to where they should be. Then this beauty showed up this afternoon...
