Far from the winter doldrums, a productive week of birding -especially at feeders – produced the following observations of note:
- Single Fox Sparrows continued through week’s end at our feeders both at home in Durham and here at the store.
- 2 Turkey Vultures continued in the I-295 corridor between Brunswick and Cumberland into the New Year.
- We tallied 16 species of waterfowl, highlighted by an impressive-for-the-date 5 species of dabbler (inc 1 continuing GADWALL, 1 Northern Pintail, and 3 Green-winged Teals), all in Brunswick during our Saturday Morning Birdwalk on 12/28. Details and locations here.
- 1 Swamp Sparrow, Lower Mast Landing Road and 2 Northern Flickers, Tidal Brook Preserve, Freeport, 12/29 during about 3 hours of coverage for the Freeport-Brunswick CBC.
- 10 Green-winged Teal, 12 Horned Larks, etc, Webhannet Marsh, Wells, 12/31.
- 1 pair American Wigeon, MacDougal Park, Rockland, 1/1 (with Jeannette).
- 1 GRAY CATBIRD, our feeders in Durham, 1/2. A fascinating time for it to show up. Presumably, it was pioneering locally and perhaps consumed the rest of a food source (like a cluster of Winterberry) and had to wander to find sustenance. It continues through the 3rd, eating jelly, suet, and nuts. The significant tail molt might be part of the reason it’s still around.
Annual Prediction Blog Now Posted.
And finally this week, it’s that time again: my annual Predictions blog where I look back at the Mega Rarities of 2024 and make my usual Top 25 predictions for the next species to be added to Maine’s list, and my own.
Maine Birding Field Notes 