Day 19.167: Hawk watch

The broad-winged hawks have hung around again this spring. They didn’t nest in the same spot they used the last two years but they have been staying nearby - presumably nesting in a different tree in the same patch of trees behind our house. 

Mostly we’ve been hearing them calling but we’ve had a few sightings. Today I took the opportunity to get a few photo looking almost straight up from the deck. 

Day 19.166: Birds at Great Pond and in the woods

Here are some of the birds we saw on Father’s Day (before and after our time on the beach) at Great Pond and in the woods nearby. 

Black-crowned night heron

House finch

Northern yellow warbler (skulking)

Black-crowned night heron 

Snowy egret

Glossy ibis

Glossy ibis, mallard, black-crowned night heron

Day 19.165: Other sights at the beach

Still recapping our visit to South Point beach on Sunday. Here are some more sights:

After more than a decade here, I shouldn’t be surprised to see sparrows and crows and the like on the beach but somehow I still am. Sunday’s example were these house sparrows

We watch the piping plover successfully sending them away and one of the chicks even joined in

Semi-palmated plover

There were lots of terns hunting just off the beach

As usual, I couldn’t resist getting some photos of their dives

Eyes fixed on its prey even at this moment

Success

Jellyfish washed up on the sand

Day 19.164: More beach babies

The eiders also had their babies at (or technically just off) the beach:

Day 19.163: Beach babies

Exile #2 and I were not the only parents with our babies at the beach yesterday evening. Here - for example - are the piping plovers:

 

Day 19.162: Exile #2's Sunday Column #556

Exile #2 writes...

This has historically always been one of the busiest weekends of the year. Exile #3’s dance school usually has their dance show this weekend, often involving Exile #3. For probably a decade, however, it has also involved Exile #1, who films, edits, and reproduces videos of the show. Exile #3’s birthday is usually on or around dance show day, too, and to cap it all off, Father’s Day usually rounds off the weekend.

This year was not too different. Exile #1 filmed the show. Exile #3 went to watch and cheer on the dancers, we celebrated Exile #3 on Saturday evening, and today we celebrated Exile #1, mostly by letting him have a very rare lie in, and the opportunity to choose an evening outing. He chose Biddeford Pool and, although we had had a rainy, thundery afternoon, this evening was absolutely perfect.

Day 19.161: Birthday!

I had a very busy day today. The most important part was celebrating Exile #3’s birthday which waited until the end of the day. Happy birthday Exile #3!