A couple days ago while walking along an inlet on Woodbury Pond, we spied a couple loons swimming and diving. All of a sudden, one burst into a sprint. The bird did this for more than a quarter mile.

Springtime is approaching slowly in central Maine this year. Our usual mid-April birds are showing up only in small numbers. Even the usual locals like the robins are not showing up in the usual numbers. This downy woodpecker was in a tall, dead tree in the backyard and making noises like he was a much bigger bird with a big axe.