I didn’t get very far afield much this week, but feeder-watching, local patches, and a visit to Sabattus Pond at week’s end made up for it.  My observations of note over the past seven days included the following:

• 1 continuing LINCOLN’S SPARROW, feeders here at the store through 11/21.
• 8 American Pipits, Highland Road, Brunswick, 11/21.
• 1 Fox Sparrow, feeders here at the store, 11/21.
• 1 Turkey Vulture, over the store, 11/24.
• 100+ Horned Larks and about 40 Snow Buntings, Mayall Road, Gray/New Gloucester, 11/25.
• 1 Common Grackle, feeders here at the store, 11/25 -present.

Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 11/27:

• It was a great morning as the fog lifted and the water was dead calm. Unfortunately, a high-speed fishing boat, several duck hunting parties, and two hunting Bald Eagles made it difficult to make an accurate count as birds were flushing in different directions.
• 476 Mallards
• 301 Canada Geese
• 231 Ruddy Ducks
• 174 Common Mergansers
• 144 American Black Ducks
• 44 Greater Scaup
• 26 Hooded Mergansers
• 18 Lesser Scaup
• 8 Buffleheads
• 5 GADWALL
• 4 Green-winged Teal
• 4 Common Goldeneyes
• 3 Northern Pintails
• 2 Common Loons
• 1 drake American Wigeon
• 1 probable hen American Wigeon (very brown-headed individual found last week by P. Moynahan and N. Houlihan. Spotted off South Beach but flushed by fishing boat. Refound on west shore and distantly phone-scoped, but flushed by eagle before I could get closer. Appeared to have white bar on upperwing greater coverts to rule out Eurasian, but not conclusively viewed…other details suggestive or ambiguous. Good luck ruling out a hybrid on a hen wigeon, however!)
• 1 CACKLING GOOSE (FOY) – in distance from South Beach with large group of Canadas. Flushed by fishing boat before I could get to Riley Road to attempt phone-scoping. Very tiny bird with short neck and very short, stubby bill. Barely larger than the Mallards. Flew north, but not relocated, including searching of farm fields along eastern shore.
• 1 Belted Kingfisher

The Finch-Tastic Fall festivities continue:

• EVENING GROSBEAK: 9 continue daily at our feeders at home in Pownal; 1 (Highland Rd, 11/21); 2 (Martin’s Point Park, Sabattus, 11/27.
• Red Crossbills: 3 (Highland Road, 11/21).
• PINE GROSBEAK: 4 (Highland Road, 11/21); 3 (Yarmouth Library, 11/25).
• Purple Finch: 0
• Common Redpoll: scattered very few.
• Pine Siskin High Count This Week: 6 (our feeders in Pownal, 11/22).