Jiggity Jig

 

Home again, home again,

jiggity jig.....

 

After 6 long weeks on the road,

I've finally landed in my favorite spot

and can sit tight for the next 6 months!

 

While only able to spend 2 full days in Maine,

I had the most delightful time birding and meeting a new/old friend,

birding extraordinaire and author of Kathie's Birds.

I was able to link her up with my brother-in-law and sister

for future birding adventures,

and introduce her to some of the birding hotspots of Maine.

 

 

 

Here she is with my little sister, The Fern Lady,

striking the all to familiar 'Geeky Birder' pose!

I'm sure she had Warblers' Neck

at the close of this fine, but cold, day.

 

And again, with my BIL

 

scanning the yet still wintery marsh,

hoping something new will fly in

before we make our way back.

 

On this day, we spotted a Northern Wheatear,

an arctic species that doesn't visit this far south very often,

 

as you can see from this species distribution map.

Birders from near and far have been stopping by the marsh

for a look at this beauty.

 

I have no pictures of the wheatear, and here is why...

 

she's a little brown bird somewhere out there,

best gazed upon through a scope,

 

as Kathie is doing here.

She had a much fancier camera and if I know her,

she was able to capture a beautiful image

of Mrs. Wheatear!

I hope she shares with me!

 

I haven't finished compiling my list,

but so far, between birding in TX, Mass., and Maine,

I've added 11 new birds to my life list.

 

Just between you, me, and the lamp post, I don't want to add

too many new birds 

too quickly,

because it is such a joy when you do,

and since you can only count them once,

I'd like to play it out as long as I can!

As of today, I have 327 different species of birds on my life list.

 

I'm sure I'll show you more,

later.

 

Thanks, Kathie, for joining us for a very special day

of welcoming the warblers to Maine!!

It was such a pleasure meeting you after all these years of blogging.

 

Now that I'm home, I'll be trading my binoculars

for my sewing machine.  6 weeks is a long stretch to go without sewing!!

 

Have a happy day!

~karen