Greater Yellowlegs, 11.04.2020
Cape Elizabeth, ME
©2020, Sarah Beard Buckley

"Often referred to as a “marshpiper” for its habit of wading in deeper water than other sandpipers, the Greater Yellowlegs is heftier and longer-billed than its lookalike, the Lesser Yellowlegs. Greater Yellowlegs are seen mostly during migration, as they pass between nesting grounds in the mosquito-ridden bogs of boreal Canada and wintering territories on marshes across the southern tier of the United States. With its flashy yellow legs, sturdy bill, and deliberate gait, it cuts a dashing, often solitary, figure on mudflats from coast to coast.

Seeking out the Greater Yellowlegs requires a little bit of effort and good timing. Like most shorebirds, Greater Yellowlegs frequent ephemeral mudflats and shallow marshes in spring and fall migration. Local weather is important: in drought conditions, look for them in the shallow upper arms of reservoirs and lakes where nutrient-rich mud is exposed. In wet weather, look for them in flooded fields where rain creates shallow pools. Within a given wetland, you’ll often find Greater Yellowlegs wading in deeper water than other shorebird species." All About Birds/The Cornell Lab #greateryellowlegs #shorebirdsofinstagram #migration #fallmigration #birdphotography #maine #mainelife #birdwatching #nuts_about_birds #mainebirds #marshbirds #best_bird_shots #bestbirdshots #canon100400ii #birdlife #birdfreaks #canonusa ...

I’m not much for selfies or photos of myself - probably because after a certain age it just gets harder and harder to look the way we remember. But tonight is my last night in Bermuda and that’s a small milestone since I haven’t been here for about 25 years!! It’s been so much fun spending time here over the last week and it’s felt so safe . Bermuda is one of the safest worldwide destinations in our #covidworld. I was nervous about going, but am so glad I did. And after 3 Covid negative tests I could finally relax and gain a bit of a breather, at least for a while.
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#Bermuda #travelohotographer #covidlife #mainephotographer #iphone11 #covidvacation #fiftyandfabulous #lemko #carpathorusyn ...

Red Tailed Hawk, 8.6.20
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
©2020, sarah beard buckley
"This is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got sharp eyes you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride, anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you’ll see them atop telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a vole or a rabbit, or simply waiting out cold weather before climbing a thermal updraft into the sky.
Birds are amazingly adapted for life in the air. The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the largest birds you’ll see in North America, yet even the biggest females weigh in at only about 3 pounds. A similar-sized small dog might weigh 10 times that."
The Cornell Lab/All About Birds #mainebirds #maine #redtailedhawk #hawksofinstagram #igersnewengland #bestbirdshots #birds #nuts_about_birds #birdsofinstagram #canon100400ii ...

I often plant "Verbena bonariensis or Tall Verbena" here in Maine as an annual. It blooms all summer and as you can see it's a butterfly magnet! Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and
Rose Campion in the background.

Image ©2020, sarah beard buckley #gardenlife #butterfly #maine #inmygarden #canonusa #canon100400ii #naturephotography #flowerporn #beauty #tigerswallowtail #tigerswollowtailbutterfly #verbenabonariensis #beautifulbutterfly #perennialgarden #rosecampion #mainegardens #lovemaine #mainelife #gardenphotographer #portlandmaine ...

Alyson
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#portlandme #portlandmaine #writer #portraitphotographer #flowers #sarahbeardbuckley #glamour #beauty #mainelife #lovemaine #floralbouquet #bouquet #petals #flowerphotography #makeportraits #botanical #exploretocreate ...

For Alyson
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#portlandme #portlandmaine #writer #artistportrait #sarahbeardbuckley #glamour #beauty #mainelife #covershot #lovemaine #tb #maine #igersnewengland #portraitphotographer #vintagestyle #timelessbeauty #etherialportraits #beautyandbrains ...

Sometimes we take the beauty of this place for granted, until we slowdown and look again. #maine #mainesummer #igersnewengland #portlandmaine #portlandme #lobsterman #fisherman #cascobay #coastofmaine #beauty #landscapephotography #lighthouse #exploremaine ...

Mallard Duck Mama
Cape Elizabeth, ME 6.4.2020
©2020, sarah beard buckley

Apparently this mama somehow squeezed into my fenced yard with her 8 ducklings. As I was completely oblivious to this fact, my neighbor scooted them out my gate as they were stuck. When I found them, they were quickly walking down the sidewalk towards the end of our street to our local pond. Too cute!
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#birds #maine #mainebirds #canon500 #duck #mallardduck #mainelife #portlandme #lovemaine #birdsofinstagram #ducksofinstagram #nature #shorebirds #bestbirdshots #ducklingsofinstagram #ducklings #babyducks #birdsofinstagram #ornithology ...

Willet
Scarborough, Maine 6.1.2020
©2020, sarah beard buckley "Piercing calls and distinctive wing markings make the otherwise subdued Willet one of our most conspicuous large shorebirds. Whether in mottled brown breeding plumage or gray winter colors, Willets in flight reveal a bold white and black stripe running the length of each wing. These long-legged, straight-billed shorebirds feed along beaches, mudflats, and rocky shores. Willets are common on most of our coastline—learn to recognize them and they’ll make a useful stepping-stone to identifying other shorebirds.

Migration
Short- to long-distance nocturnal migrant. Western birds leave coastal wintering grounds from March–May. Eastern birds move north starting in March, arriving on the breeding grounds April–May. Willets leave their breeding sites as early as June, among the earliest departures of any North American sandpiper." All About Birds/Cornell Labs .
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#birds #maine #mainebirds #canon500 #willet #migratorybirds #mainelife #portlandme #lovemaine #bird #birdphotography #birdsofinstagram #scarborough #maineaudubon #nature #shorebirds #bestbirdshots #best_bird_shots #audubonsociety #maineaudubon #scarboroughmarsh #bestnatureshots #birdsofinstagram #ornithology ...