It started out well enough, with a sighting of a beloved yet rarely seen visitor.

 

 

This time he was across the street, walking along the edge of our neighbor’s farm.

 

 

He’s a beautiful ring necked pheasant we named Phineas.

 

 

They’re not native to Maine and can’t survive the winters, but a man up the road raises them and occasionally one or two will break free. Last year, Phineas brought his woman to our backyard. She was looking for a nesting site… but we never did see any chicks.

Later on in the day….

Saturday, May frickin‘ 9th?

 

 

We had ducks.

And snow.

 

 

This is the first time we’ve ever had mallards.

 

 

Sadly….it isn’t the first time we’ve had snow in May.

 

 

The ducks stayed quite a while, raiding the droppings from the bird feeders and the leftover deer grain.

 

 

And then a friend joined them.

 

 

A fowl day for sure.