Page 26 - MAY2025

Page 26
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
May 2025
Community
Life on the Back Roads
By DoNNa RhoDes
exandria field, just after a big
home, a little research indicated bird family, mom and dad, land
they were Black Vultures. My storm along the seacoast. The
on my feeder. They each sat
Well, hello everyone- Spring
photos were then sent to Cornell majestic bird towered over
on a perch but didn’t feed until
is here and that means not only
the grass with drainage water
University’s Lab of Ornithology “Junior” joined them. After
are flowers beginning to bloom
where they confirmed my sight- nearby and he was definitely
a distinct nod of their heads,
and trees starting to bud, but
ing to indeed be Black Vultures, “outstanding” in the field. This
they all started to dip in to the
our beloved song birds are back!
time I got a photo!
saying they are not known to feeder. Hmmm... I never knew
Okay, so I’m no Ornitholo-
travel further than Massachu- Another I missed however,
hummingbirds said grace before
gist (bird scientist) but I am a big
setts and not a common sight was a Stellar’s Eagle. It’s a large
they ate. Magical!
fan of our feathered friends and
bird from Russia and this one,
in our state. Hmmm...a few Other not so common vis-
my life of living and driving the
months later however, I spotted and perhaps a few friends, had
itors to the mountain during
backroads have revealed some
another one up on a dirt road in travelled thousands of miles to
that time were Rose-breasted
awesome bird sightings. Bear
Maine and New Hampshire.
with me. (no- bears will come in
Grosbeaks, Canada Blue Jays
Plymouth. Who knows- maybe and more. It was a busy place!
they like it here now. Keep your a later edition)
Why? The million dollar ques-
The most fun though was a
eyes open!
First off I have to mention my
tion. However, a friend of mine,
along with a few others, spotted
5-year-old son’s vulture encoun-
Woodcock. I spotted him under
Over the years, like many a downed tree in my backyard
of you, I’ve spotted thousands ter back many years ago..
this majestic eagle right here
during a snowfall, bobbing his
of birds of all colors and sizes. When he was little he was
along the Pemigewassett and
known to play so hard outside
Smith Rivers a year or two ago.
head as he looked for food in the
I have even caught a few who Can you spot the beautiful
open grass beneath. His erratic
flew into my house. No injuries Believe me, I hunted for it, but
Pileated Woodpecker enjoying
that he would collapse, sound
movements were so comical that
yet! While I got to hold these to no avail. Yet it was good to
some winter berries along a back
asleep, in our yard. One day
road? I was so happy that I did!
while his dad and I were cut-
know we had a foreign visitor
I pulled a chair up to my patio
few captives as I headed for Photo by Donna Rhodes
door and enjoyed the show.
the door to release them, I had ting wood, he came running to
and I am keeping my eyes open
another great moment when I join us when a turkey vulture
for him or another of his kin-
Another great time was when
stop, I looked into his prehis-
swooped down to hover less
folk.
my dog Grover and I were walk-
took part in Squam Lakes Natu- toric-like eyes, then got out and
ing along the shoreline of Wel-
ral Science Center’s annual bird than 10 feet over his head.
Speaking of the Smith Riv-
gently urged his little legs along
lington State Park. We stopped
banding project. I never knew “Don’t lay down!” we yelled.
er,it was there that I was priv-
for the last 10- to 25-ft. to the
He thankfully kept running
ileged enough to find another
to chat with another dog owner,
holding a blue jay in my hands nearby pond. Whew- he was
and lo and behold, a bald eagle
could be so enchanting.
and the vulture gave up the
unusual visitor to our neighbor-
safe! Loons are one of my most
landed in a pine tree right over
hunt.
hood- the Black Turkey Vulture.
There’s so much to write favorite birds.
I was doing my daily trip
about but these are just a few Enough about an old mem-
my head. Yup- and me without
On another note, some time
of the stranger bird encounters a camera. Figures. I love close
ory though. I have had many
along the river one day when a
ago someone at the Alexandria
encounters though and I always
great sightings over more recent
gigantic black bird soared into
I’ve had over the years. In the Town Office posted a photo of
years, even though I’m sure
a tree beside me. Of course I
coming months I’ll share stories capture photos in my mind.
a Cattle Egret that had stopped
of the critters, natural beauty, Another I enjoyed but, of
many of you birders probably
stopped, grabbed my camera
to rest on the front lawn of the
course, missed a photo of, was
have seen better. But let’s try it.
and began taking photos. A
roadside art and other outdoor church. I also spotted him as I
few minutes later, another one
adventures I’ve had.
When I lived on Cardigan
an encounter with a loon on
drove by but again,I didn't have
the side of a logging road near
Mountain I had a few feeders
perched in an adjacent tree. I
Until then, keep your eyes my camera on hand. Oh well-
the family camp in Pittsburg. It
and would stand at my sink
couldn’t believe how lucky I
open and be thankful for every another photo memory.
to watch the birds come in for
was! After a while I moved on
back road adventure and nature happened to be an active log-
But- my camera was ready
ging road and I feared for his
breakfast. One summer day it
but was excited and curious as
encounter that comes your way! last summer when I spotted a
well being. I had my husband
was so fun to see my humming-
to what they were. When I got
Great White Heron in an Al-
N
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