[Maine-birds] Bluebird in SP

            I enjoyed watching a flurry of activity in my backyard for about 15 minutes late this morning - the usual birds came in along with an extra large contingent of Common Grackles along with several female Red-winged Blackbirds. 

            My best bird of the morning was a beautiful male Eastern BB.  The first I have seen in the yard since late spring.  We  have missed the six Bluebirds that spent a lot of the late winter at our feeders.  As spring came around they were seen actively checking out my nesting boxes - I was so hopeful that a pair would set up housekeeping in one of those boxes.  Not to be!   L  Unfortunately, they were not able to compete with the House Sparrows and Tree Swallows and then finally the House Wren that eventually nested successfully in one of my three boxes.  The BB’s  just disappeared from the yard for the summer and early fall. 

            Marie in South Portland.