Day 18.110: Duo: wren

We’ve had two Carolina wrens hanging out around our feeder and brush pile in recent days. If they are nesting nearby, we haven’t seen any real evidence of it. 

Day 18.109: Broad-winged hawks

The broad-winged hawks seem to have moved back into the neighborhood. Someone from the family has seen them each day and we've had several more significant encounters.

Yesterday, we heard the distinctive whistle but when I looked out, instead of seeing a compact hawk fly out of the trees, it was this rather larger raptor:

Turkey vulture

But soon we saw both the broad-winged hawks too. It wasn't really clear if the vultures and hawks were interacting in any way - maybe it was just a coincidence.

Broad-winged hawk in flight and sitting on the nest in the crook of a tall pine tree

This evening, we saw the two hawks being mobbed by a crow so not all the neighbors are as happy they are here as we are. 

Day 18.108: The other end of the day

I think we can safely say that most of our visits to the cemetery in the last year have been at 7 in the morning for our weekly nature walks. At times that meant gathering just before dawn, at other times it wasn’t even close. We visit at other times of course, but today’s visit was a brief one as the sun was going down. The daffodils are probably at their peak right now. 

Day 18.107: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #522

Exile #2 writes...

It’s been a thoroughly rainy weekend. We managed to dash out briefly during a short gap in the fairly solid rain but otherwise we stayed indoors. It was slightly frustrating knowing the daffodils and blossoms are starting to make everything look very pretty. Still, we got some jobs done, including cleaning the bird feeder.

This caused some consternation, especially for our resident mourning doves, who are still a bit hit-and-miss when it comes to making a successful landing on it. I looked up from my scrubbing at some point to see this.

It had landed at least but was looking around in what seemed to be total confusion and bafflement. Eventually, it gave up and flew away but you’ll be pleased to know it’s been back and found everything in its right place again.

Day 18.106: Quick outing

It rained pretty much all day, but we managed to get out while it was eased-off a little down to Camp Ellis and Goosefare Brook to see what we could see. 

At Camp Ellis:

White-winged scoter

Double-crested cormorant 

American herring gulls

Common loon in breeding finery

Rock pigeon 

Red-breasted mergansers

Up river a little way was this huge raft. I wasn’t sure even a photo would reveal what they were but…

it turned out they were more double-crested cormorants 

Buffleheads

American black duck

And at Goosefare Brook:

Great egret

Snowy egret

One of two crows mobbing a red-tailed hawk

They didn’t bother it for long

Day 18.105: Maine by air

Made it home by air. Also took a photo over Maine that wasn’t just of the tops of the clouds (unlike Wednesday). 

We came in over land this time. 

Day 18.104: Back in the neighborhood

…not me - I’m still in Wisconsin for work, but our neighbors who moved in last spring are back. I took these photos of one of them doing some home improvements a few days ago and Exile #2 reported hearing some distinctive vocalizations yesterday. 

Broad-winged hawk

…bringing a new stick to the nest. We watched this behavior several times

Then off in search of another one

Up on the nest we watched the bird moving the sticks around 

Day 18.103: Wordless Wednesday: Travel

Day 18.102: Other birds at Gilsland

Brown-headed cowbird

White-breasted nuthatch

Red-breasted mergansers

Osprey

Red-breasted merganser 

Common eider

Bufflehead

Common loon

Double-crested cormorants

Osprey - hovering

Common loon

Song sparrow bathing

Song sparrow

Brown creeper

Northern flicker

Osprey

Northern flicker

Red-winged blackbird

Song sparrow