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"The Birds of Summer"

This Double-Crested Cormorant dries his wings on a rock off Fort Point State Park, near Searsport, Maine.

Aaah, here is my favorite in town friend, the Northern Mockingbird! The bird book describes this southern fellow as "Bold & Brash". This is a very accurate description. Rowena and I have been dive-bombed, stalked and harassed as we walk about town running errands. He has disturbed the peace by the riverfront with his repetitive and constant singing, and one hopes that he has rights to these songs as none are original to the Mockingbird. When I listen to him go on and on, I can identify a variety of bird songs stolen from other birds. This particular bird did not like us resting in the park in the middle of town during one hot day. Rosie and I rested under some shrubs in the shade and I gave Rosie some water in a dish. This bird dive-bombed, "Chacked" at us over and over, and repositioned himself several times in attempt to get us to just leave the park. Eventually he flew off over the rooftops.
This is the same Northern Mockingbird as above.
And again... has found another perch from which to yell at us.
And then right over our heads. They are feisty little birds!

This is a male House Sparrow, Passer Domesticus
This is a female House Sparrow, Passer Domesticus

These little birds like to watch humans do their thing ("human watchers"!)

so they hang out at malls, parks, farms, in cities, and in the above couple's case (and their many friends), they like to hang out and beg for food at McDonald's and even dig the chicken McNuggets!

Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus

These guys hang out on the tips of trees, poles, and fences near waterways, roads and fields.

Eastern Kingbird-

These above kingbirds were hanging out in all of those area. Though they are fairly small in size (8"), they have no fear of defending their territory and attacking crows or hawks that get too close.

A large group of Seagulls gather to watch the sun setting.
Nesowadnehunk Stream, Baxter State Park, Millinocket, Maine

This is a Common Merganser and her first summer chicks! It is not a great photo (the good one was accidently deleted), but I couldn't resist putting this in the blog. It is not a bird I commonly see around.

I will need your help to identify this little guy, seen bobbing off of Point State Park in the Searsport, Maine area. This is the only picture I could take because he (or she) kept diving under. It kind of looked like a Grebe, but it was too small. Maybe a youth.

Is it a Sanderling? Calidris Alba, a member of the Sandpiper family? They are usually in groups, but this little guy was alone.

Too Many Photos Taken in July!

Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum Vulare

Not really sure what kind of flower this is. I found it in a field.

Wild Lupine Lupinus Perennis

Wild Maine Blueberry blossom!

Bluebead Lily, Yellow Clintonia Clintonia Borealis

More Photos for July from Assorted trips and walks:

Common Garter Snake... not a happy one either!

Look closely! A Seal is peering out of the water near Sandy Point near Bucksport, Maine

A fresh water snail

Yarrow Achillea Millefolium

Canada Thistle Cirsium Arvense

Orange Hawkweed Hieracium Aurantiacum

Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil Pontentilla Recta

Common Tansy Tanacetum Vulgare

Bittersweet Nightshade Solanum Dulcamara

Hedge Bindweed Calystegia (Convolvulus) Sepium

Purple Loosestrife, Water willow Decodon Verticillatus

Bunchberries

Canada Goldenrod, Meadow Goldenrod, Tall Goldenrod Solidago Canadensis

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White Lady's Slipper

Anyone know what bush these berries would grow on? Can't find it in my books.

Scenes From July

An Osprey overlooks the water by the nest of youngens.


two Osprey (2) in their nest off Sandy Point Beach


Common Milkweed


Bunchberry


Bluebead Lilly


Northern Mockingbird "Mimus Polyglottos"

The End of June

Wild Purple Lupine being visited by a bumble bee.

Rowena cools down with a swim for her frisbee on a hot, humid day

What is it??? Did someone throw confetti? What does this have to do with nature and the great outdoors??
(This is a photo of summer insects swarming around a spotlight that shines on a car dealership near the waterfront in Bangor, Maine.)

Finding Fauna on June 5th, 2007

Bird Sillouette... Red Wing?

I believe this is a Common Grackle.

Mrs. Frog seeks safety in a culvert at the Bangor City Forest.

She is a "Green Frog" or Rana Clamitans

I believe this moth is in the "Skipper" family.

A House Sparrow (which my sister informs me is not really a sparrow at all, but a European Weaver Finch import) waits for hand-outs at a hotdog stand in Hampden

A red squirrel eats a pine cone on the boardwalk at the Orono Bog

A Double-Crested Cormorant trespasses so he can dry off from his swim

A Common Garter Snake stops to pose for a photo

The Common Garter smiles for the camera