"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.