by Susan | Oct 1, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
As I walked out the door this morning, arms overflowing with handbag, coffee, water bottle, lunch, day planner, and camera over my shoulder (yes, I could use a tote), a large black bird swooped out of the fir tree and flew straight at me. I think he was as startled as...
by Susan | Jul 1, 2014 | Backyard Birds
The big spruce tree by the pond has been alive with the song of purple finches. Their song, so pretty and loud that they were impossible to miss. A repetitive “cheeping” sound convinced me there was a nest of of babies, but a search with the zoom lens...
by Susan | Jun 19, 2014 | Backyard Birds
It’s been three days since I noticed this year’s round of Phoebes nesting under the lean-to. This morning I took another peek to see how the babies were fairing. There are at least four tucked into that little nest. Aren’t they adorable?...
by Susan | Jun 17, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Increased activity by the Eastern Phoebes out back told me they were likely nesting under the tractor lean-to again. Each time I went out to take a peak, the adult flew off. Since I was in camera mode yesterday I took another look and found a nest full of baby...
by Susan | May 23, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Did you know a flock of hummingbirds is called a hover? Or a bouquet, a glittering, a shimmer, or a tune of hummingbirds? Regardless of the term, it looked like a hummingbird convention at the feeder last evening. They were zooming around so fast it’s pure luck...
by Susan | May 17, 2014 | Backyard Birds
Our ruby-throated hummingbirds have a history of returning to Downeast Thunder Farm on May 11 of each year. A friend once told me this was “the day” and sure enough, she’s been right in all the years I’ve been keeping track of their arrival....
by Susan | May 16, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
For the last week, I’ve been waking to the sound of “ra-ta-ta-ta-tat” coming from outside. Initially, I thought this was the sound of the metal flu on the furnace moving in the wind. This morning, a work-from-home day, the sound was really loud from...
by Susan | May 11, 2014 | Backyard Birds
Twelve years ago, Paul made this bird feeder for me. It traveled with us to Maine and stands in the garden outside my kitchen window. It’s one of the best gifts he’s ever given me. Today I had quite a variety of visitors at the kitchen feeder. When my...
by Susan | May 5, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I spied these goldfinches out the kitchen window this afternoon – the first I’ve seen this year. They were kind enough to stick around until I found my camera. A little sunshine on a rainy afternoon!
by Susan | Mar 12, 2014 | Backyard Birds
Recently, a friend shared beautiful pictures of bald eagles that she took along the Narraguagus River. I confess, I was a little envious. I’d driven past this stretch of the river many times without a single sighting. So the last couple of weeks I took special...
by Susan | Mar 4, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Chickadees in flight. A beautiful sight from the kitchen window.
by Susan | Jan 28, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
After watching our Misplaced Grackle for weeks, recently another Grackle arrived on the scene. He/she is shy, retreating to the safety of the fir tree when I appear to take pictures. I’m happy to know my grackle is not alone! Funny how I project human emotions...
by Susan | Jan 9, 2014 | Backyard Birds
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site allaboutbirds.org is my go to place when trying to figure out who is visiting my yard. Just yesterday, they released Merlin, a bird identification app for smart phones. Since I receive an iPhone for Christmas (my phones have all...
by Susan | Jan 7, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Mother nature often surprises me. Following a day of torrential rain, the ice we’ve been plagued with since before Christmas melted overnight. This is the view of the duck pond from the porch today. This was the view just a few days ago, my birches looking so...
by Susan | Dec 31, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
After having a week off and then working yesterday, I opted to play hookey today. It was extremely cold, the roads were icy, and frankly, I just wasn’t ready to get back into the swing of things just yet. On this last day of 2013 I puttered both inside and...
by Susan | Dec 28, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
This visitor had me keep Paul and Hannah waiting as we were trying to get out the door today to go shopping. It’s that addiction thing. I followed the woodpecker (Downy? Hairy?) from the kitchen to the living room scrambling to get the camera focused correctly....
by Susan | Dec 21, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
It started this morning when I ventured outside to fill the bird feeders – in my jammies and muck boots, nonetheless. I made quite the picture. You can do that when you live in the woods. At first there was just one. And then two. And three. Before I knew...
by Susan | Oct 7, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Within moments of filling the the bird feeder yesterday, the Chickadees came calling. They must have their own form of social media because the word spread fast!
by Susan | Jul 17, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I’ve had my eye on this nest of Eastern Phoebes in the lean-to outside my office. This morning, I noticed a flurry of activity out the window and saw a tiny little Phoebe perched on the edge of a folding chair. He’d made it the eight feet from down from...
by Susan | Jun 19, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
This little Mourning Dove look so happy frolicking in the garden bird bath.
