Most of my birding time this week was spent driving to and from Montreal to not see a Boreal Owl on Monday and Tuesday, but away from that sojourn, my observations of note over the past seven days still included the following:
- The single Fox Sparrows continue here at the store and at our feeders at home in Durham.
- Speaking of feeder birds, last weekend, I posted a blog comparing feeder bird counts at our home in Durham to roughly the same ten-day period over the past two years. You can find that here:
- At least 2 Turkey Vultures continue in the Cumberland-Freeport corridor of I-295.
- 3+ Horned Larks, Hemand Farm, Minot, 2/17 (with Jeannette).
- The stretch of Androscoggin River in downtown Auburn and Lewiston continues to be exceptionally productive. Another uptick in waterfowl this week was evident, with at least 1500 Mallards now just downriver of the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge. There, on 2/20, Dan Nickerson and I teased out a drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL and 3 female Greater Scaup. A hen Bufflehead continues as well. Then, upriver at the Auburn Riverwalk, a second GREEN-WINGED TEAL (likely the continuing bird present since at least 1/30 and a drake WOOD DUCK, present in the area since at least 1/13 and at this location since 1/30.
- 1 Hermit Thrush, North River Road, Auburn, 2/20 (with Dan Nickerson).
Upcoming Tours:
1. Birds on Tap – Roadtrip “Harlequins and Hops!” scheduled for 2/2 was postponed until this Sunday, February 23rd. A few spaces are still open for the new date, and the weather looks great!
Maine Birding Field Notes 
A nice surprise this afternoon were the 10 (at least) TUVU soaring over our neighborhood this afternoon right near their usual seasonal roost! They must’ve just arrived because I, like you, have only been seeing the 1-2 over 295 (and occasionally over town) all winter.
Hi Karin,
There’s been a roost of over a dozen Turkey Vultures near McKeen Street in Brunswick this winter. My first guess is that the group you saw was coming or going from that roost (or moving, such as after a disturbance). I’ve also been assuming the “295 Pair” are among the birds wintering here, and then spreading out to feed. That being said, some spring migrants have definitely arrived this week, so perhaps you did have the first migrant kettle of spring!