Tag Archives: maine

Bird brains.

 

First let’s deal with the peckers.

Because we all know not paying attention to peckers makes them crazy.

 

 

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This is a hairy woodpecker.

 

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Why hairy?

Your guess is as good as mine.

 

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He loves the peanut nugget feeder and is an expert at extracting them.

 

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There.

Now you can say you’ve had a hairy pecker wink at you.

 

 

This is a downy woodpecker.

 

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Why downy?

Your guess is as good as mine.

 

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To be honest, he looks more like a Storm Trooper from Star Wars to me.

 

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Then we have a pair of Mallard ducks who visit daily.

 

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The female strolls around under the bird feeder collecting scraps….

 

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While the drake plops down and takes a load off.

That’s one chill duck.

 

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Big Tom turkey?

 

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Yes, we have one of those too.

 

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And finally, a Baltimore Oriole getting his junk food Jones satisfied with some grape jelly.

It would be nice if he didn’t poo all over the feeder…. but hey.

Who am I to judge?

 

Pandemic chuckle.

 

Since the viral apocalypse…. all the town offices in Maine are closed, as is the Department of Motor Vehicles.

While you can renew things online, buying a new or used car means a title transfer and paperwork that must be done in person.

In the meantime, we’ve been told to keep the bill of sale in our glove boxes and make up a temporary plate stating the Covid 19 crisis.

I think this guy nailed it.

 

Random critters.

 

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Squirrels have to be brave to cross the wide treeless open that is the bird feeder area of our backyard.

 

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So we rarely see more than one grey.

 

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Until there’s something worth having that is.

 

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These little sparrows adore the boxwood shrubs.

 

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And the woodchuck?

Still feeding, still fat…

 

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And now?

Winking and waving as well.

This last pic looks like a little inter species communication is happening.

 

Although aside from the deer saying “Please don’t poop on me.” I’m not sure what they have to talk about.

It was one of those days when you just want to freeze time.

 

The weather was perfect.

 

 

75 degrees with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze.

 

 

We’d spent the day mowing and trimming and weeding….

 

 

And everything looked perfect.

 

 

Lilacs were cut for vases and perfumed the air with the scent of a long awaited spring.

 

 

And we ended the day with adult beverages on the big barn porch…. where the only thing to worry about was walking back inside for refills.

Life is good.

I love my town….

 

And their slightly off balance Facebook page.

 

 

 

Not off hand, no.

But I hope he finds one. Pigless is a terrible thing to be.

 

 

 

This picture of our local sheriff’s truck was posted by a resident.

Because really, who needs blue lights when you have a chicken?

 

 

 

 

This post was met with the incredulity and the scathing derision it deserved . Reveal your fiddlehead location? To a stranger!!

Mainers have been killed for less.

Fiddleheads are a precious ($15-$20 per pound) and extremely fleeting commodity in the spring. Locals protect their secret gathering spots like they do their virgin daughters. Personally I can’t stand the slimy things…

 

 

 

But Mainers go berserk for them.

And speaking of barely edible food, some well meaning townie posted this:

 

 

 

Now really, if I’m not going to eat the delicate unfurled leaves of a fern?

You can damn sure bet I’m not baking helicopter seed pods that look like bugs.

Damn.

Critter cam.

 

Alright, that’s a lie.

It’s just me snapping shots from the window. But that’s not a snappy title… so get over it.

 

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Our fox is coming every night now.

 

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And sometimes he/she brings a friend.

 

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They’re such beautiful creatures.

 

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And wonderful at keeping the mouse population under control.

 

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As you can see from the bird feeders, it’s Baltimore Oriole time.

 

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They’re gorgeous, but quick.

 

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And catching a good shot is rare.

 

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We put out oranges and grape jelly, which they adore.

 

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Of course, so does everyone else.

A raccoon comes in at midnight and strips the jelly…

 

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And this hairy woodpecker makes short work of the oranges.

 

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Our resident chucker is still here.

 

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Enjoying apples.

 

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And salad scraps.

Life is good in my little corner of the world.