Bleeding Hearts

Sorry I have been away for so long. 

I have been busy on Etsy.  Still learning the in's and out's and it's alot of fun.  I've been watching my stats and they are looking good.  I have more fans on Facebook and follower on Twitter.  Since I have joined Etsy.  I have had sales already too which I am very pleased with.

Trying to keep up with the garden, but with all the rain we have been having here in Maine, it has been difficult to keep up.  I will be heading out this weekend and I will spray down with bug spray as the blackflies are out and biting viciously.

I love seeing all the flowers that are coming back.  Can't wait to start photographing them. 

The beautiful birds are coming back too.  As a matter of fact, I have now 3 bird houses and as of now 2 will be occupied by the Tree Swallows and the third is the Eastern Bluebird.  I'm still not sure who is going to end up at which house.  The American Goldfinches are back and sounding beautiful as are the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and the Cowbirds.  The Hummingbirds are back as of a few days ago and of course the Sparrow family whose beautiful songs I love to hear in the morning and all day long.

For those who have been following, update on my dog Ben.  So far he is doing well.  I thank God for him every night.

I'll try harder to post more.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Happy Mother's Day! 

And a Happy Mother's Day to the Moms who have animal for kids.

Tricolored Heron

 

While visiting Florida back in 2010 we stopped at the Black Point Wildlife Drive Refuge, which is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  This Tricolored Heron was one of many many birds we saw on our trip.

And while I am on the topic of birds....I am thrilled to have seen my  Eastern Bluebird pair returning last night checking out the birdhouses.  I hope this year to get some better photos.

In a Daze!

The past few weeks have been really crazy!  Between 3 farmers markets, baking cookies, getting ready for photography shows, yard work, office work, social media, meetings, making travel plans for the end of this month and getting ready for a visit from my sister and my nieces (who I haven't seen in over 5 years) I am slightly overwhelmed!  And I don't even have kids, but I do have dogs and a cat.  I have been trying real hard to organize my time so I can do it all and still have me time.  I am trying to stay 1 step ahead, but it isn't working.  So what am I to do?  Stop....breathe and start again.....slowly.  It can all be done, I just have to figure out how.

 



Okay so I grab the camera and go shooting!  That will help clear my head.  I have been practicing my landscapes.  I took this photo Saturday and I love it!  What do you think of it?

 I also wanted to update you on my backyard birds.  Bird activity has been kinda quiet.  Yesterday I did notice the Eastern Bluebird is back checking out the other birdhouse.  As I had mentioned previously the Tree Swallows have moved into one of the houses (eastern exposure) and they for a long time would chase away any birds that might be interested in the other birdhouse, but yesterday the Eastern Bluebird was back hanging around the house all day and part of today.  The Tree Swallows just watch the Eastern Bluebird as he/she became comfortable in the house.  So the possibility of having a Tree Swallow and Eastern Bluebird fledglings are good.  But as always time will tell.  Hopefully I can get better shots of both birds. 




Well please hang with me as I try to get organized and get back on track.

Have a great day!

A Visiting Nuthatch



The White-Breasted Nuthatch has been a frequent visitor at the feeder.  He or she would fly in get a sunflower seed and take off again.  Rarely stays around very long.  Fun little bird to watch.



The Tree Swallows have been around and have decided to use both of the birdhouses.  Which doesn't seem quite fair, but what to do.  I did notice the Eastern Bluebird was back and was chased away by the Tree Swallows, so I guess there is not chance of the Eastern Bluebird moving into the other birdhouse.  Apparently from what I have read about the Tree Swallaws is that they are very territorial and will chase off other Swallows and birds.  I guess I put the houses to close together.  Live and learn.  I guess I will have to make some changes for next year.  I have been able to get quite close to the Swallows.  So when the rain decides to end I will be spending some time out there photographing them.

Other frequent visitors are the Mourning Doves.  Love having these birds around!  Their cooing is so calming to me.


The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak both male and females have been back to the feeder.  It was nice to see them back.

The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are still around and eating up the sugar water we made for them.  I have seen 1 male and 3 females and most of the time they don't share the feeder.  Not really sure why.

The Cowbird who have been hanging around the Tree Swallow birdhouses.  I'm wondering if they will lay some eggs in their nest for the Swallows to raise.  That could be interesting!  

 The usual Sparrows and Goldfinches have been around as well as a pair of Cat birds.

I will try to get some new photos in next week.



All about the Birds!









Last week it had been a bit rainy and there wasn't much activity around the birdhouses.  On the days that were nice I did notice the Tree Swallows where again house hunting.  I did notice also that there maybe some furniture moving (nesting materials), but I'm still not sure we have a sale pending.  I did see a Eastern Bluebird at our open house.  Only saw the Eastern Bluebird the one day, hasn't been back since.
I haven't seen any activity from our Eastern Phoebe.









 

I've  had several male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at the feeder.  Which lead me to realize that I have had 2 female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks that have been feeding at the feeder for the past week or so.  They looked alittle like Sparrows, but are larger.  When I looked up the male Grosbeak that is when I concluded that I had the females.  I have had several visits from the female and male Evening Grosbeaks.  Very exciting and I am trying to get some good photos to post.  I am learning quickly to be patience and wait for them to hop off the feeder to the porch long enough to click off a few shots.  I'm hoping on my next post I will have some photos for  you.




Last week I had mentioned about how the Cowbird and the Sparrow and who will benefit from the other.  Well the Cowbird will benefit from the Sparrow.  See the Cowbird lays her eggs in the Sparrows nest and the Sparrows raise the Cowbirds young as if it were their own.  The Cowbird does nothing.  The Cowbird does this to many other species of birds.  Kinda not fair uh.  This is the first year I have seen this.  I see the Cowbird pair hanging out with the Sparrows near their nest.  I know from previous years that the Sparrows have several nesting during the year.  So it will be interesting to see if the Cowbirds will do the same and keep those nice Sparrows very busy.  The Cowbirds have been difficult to photograph.  I hope next weeks post I will have some.