These birds were spotted at various time and places as Blackthumb Bob was "out and about."

Blue Grosbeak Bird ID:  A-Bird 32 Blackthumb Bob says: Saw this (or similar bird) sitting on a wire along side a road. Came back with my son and camera. He took the top photo and I took the bottom one. Photo taken along county road in Shelby County Tennessee. We stood on a bridge over a creek and shot these images. Based on the brown bars, habitat, and behavior, we concluded this bird to be a Blue Grosbeak. Photo taken 7-1-00 John J. Collins, from rec.birds confirms: Yep, it's a Blue Grosbeak all right.

In July, 2000, my wife and I spent a week in Maine and New Hampshire. Needless to say, I shot a few new birds for the collection. Here they are....

 

	Double-Crested Cormorant Bird ID:  A-Bird 33 Blackthumb Bob says: When I first say this bird, it was in flight and reminded me of a black Canada Goose. I was told they were Cormoants. Photos taken July, 2000 in southern Maine.
	In this photo, you can see a large group (colony?) of them away from the crowd on a small rocky island at the Nubble Lighthouse.
	This image shows the "wing drying" pose after a dive. Based on range and behavior, etc. this is a Double-crested Cormorant.

Great Black-backed Gull Bird ID:  A-Bird 34 Blackthumb Bob says: This is a gull. I knew that when I got to Maine. One look in Stokes Field Guide and it was obvious that it was a Great Black-backed Gull (or "Blackback" as the illfated skipper in The Perfect Storm calls them). Photo taken July, 2000 in southern Maine.

Herring Gull Bird ID:  A-Bird 35 Blackthumb Bob says: This is also gull. Size, location and markings suggested Herring Gull. Photo taken July, 2000 in southern Maine.

Ringbilled Gull Bird ID:  A-Bird 36 Blackthumb Bob says: Here are a group of images of gulls that I could not identify. Photos taken July, 2000 in southern Maine. Smaller than Herring Gulls (foreground, second picture) this bird (highlighted) looked like a ring billed bull to me. However, according to Stokes, they should not be in Maine at the time of this photo. There were very many of these gulls -- they did not seem to be out of place. I thought they may be juvenile Herring Gulls, but the markings were not consistant. The last image shows a failry good look at the head and bill. Blackthumb Bob also says: This last picture is a juvenile gull. Again, it looks like a Ring-billed Gull to me. Photo taken July, 2000 in southern Maine. Sherri (from rec.birds) states: Yes, they are Ring-billed Gulls. I don't have the Stokes handy, but Ring-bills do occur in souther Maine at this time of year.

Osprey Bird ID:  A-Bird 37 Blackthumb Bob says: Eating at a restaurant called "The Osprey" this bird was pretty easy to identify... Photos taken July, 2000 in southern Maine.

Cliff Swallow Bird ID:  A-Bird 38 Blackthumb Bob says: Perhaps one of the worst pictures I have ever offerd here, but I KNOW it is a swallow. Because of the brown spot on the rump in flight, I decided this was a Cliff Swallow. However, the nest looks more like how Stokes describes a Barn Swallow, but is placed more like they describe a Cliff Swallow.

Green Heron Bird ID:  A-Bird 39 Blackthumb Bob says: This is a Green Heron. I took the photo at Chickasaw State park in west Tennessee on August 1, 2000.