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.

This yellow-bellied sapsucker was just outside our front door the other morning. She worked the entire length of this evergreen and I managed a reasonable image despite focusing through branches and diminished light.

While the remaining ice is slowly disappearing, the seasonal return of our favorite birds has begun.

Our visit to the southern end of Cobbosseecontee Lake the other day allowed us to capture images of these ring-necked ducks, several Canada geese (see previous posts as well), mallards, and one lonely osprey at 500 feet.

On Cobbosseecontee lake during an early evening in central Maine.