Monthly Archives: March 2025

Recent Highlights, 3/22-3/28/2025.

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This adult Red-shouldered Hawk didn’t look very pleased about the snowfall on Monday as it
hunted voles in our yard in Durham.

As is often the case in March, waterfowl and new arrivals dominated my observations of note over the past seven days.

  • 6 Lesser Scaup with ~600 Greater Scaup, 400-450 American Black Ducks, 200-250 White-winged Scoters, 2 American Wigeon, 1 Ring-necked Duck, etc, Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, 3/22 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • Fox Sparrows at our feeders in Durham peaked at an impressive 5 on 3/24.
  • 1 Rusty Blackbird, 6 Horned Larks, 1 pair Northern Pintails, etc, North River Road, Auburn, 3/25.
  • 4 SANDHILL CRANES (FOY), Upper Street, Turner, 3/25.
  • 1 imm. American Goshawk (FOY), Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch, 3/25.
  • 1 Rusty Blackbird, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 3/26.
  • 1 “EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL (FOY) and 2 Wilson’s Snipe (FOY), Mouth of the Abby, Bowdoinham, 3/27 (With Bill Thompson; photos).
  • 1 “EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL, Green Point WMA, Dresden, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson; photos).
  • 1 first-cycle Iceland Gull, Front Street Boat Launch, Bath, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 8 Fish Crows, Bath Landfill, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 Snowy Egret (FOY), Wharton Point, Brunswick, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).
  • Total of at least 31 Bald Eagles around Merrymeeting Bay on 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

The Week 1 report can be found here.

Upcoming Tours:

  • NO BIRDWALK, Saturday 3/28 due to the winter storm.
  • Woodcocks Gone Wild scheduled for TOMORROW, Saturday, March 29th has been postponed due to the weather until Saturday, April 5th. Call for waitlist.

Recent Highlights, 3/15-3/21/2025.

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It wasn’t a very photogenic week, but I did snap this phone-scoped shot of a Bald Eagle feasting on a Red-breasted Merganser through the fog off Eastern Road on the 20th.

Spring made only slow progress this week, but some early migrants and other new arrivals, along with a few seasonal highlights were among my observations of note over the past seven days:

  • Our overwintering Fox Sparrow at home in Durham was joined by a second on the 15th. 1-2 continued through the week’s end. Meanwhile, the overwintering Fox Sparrow here at the store continued through 3/16. With more migrants moving around now, I’ll forgo further Fox Sparrow reports. But it was quite nice to have birds overwinter at both of our feeding stations this year – a first for us at either location.
  • 3 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES (1 pair and 1 female), Winslow Park, Freeport, 3/15 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 5 Wood Ducks (FOS), Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 3/16.
  • 2 American Woodcocks (FOY), our property in Durham, 3/16.
  • 1 pair Gadwall, 14 Northern Pintail (FOS), 10 American Wigeon, 75 Green-winged Teal, etc, Mouth of the Abby, Bowdoinham, 3/18 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Northern Saw-Whet Owl (FOY), our property in Durham, 3/19. Yard Bird #155!
  • 2 Savannah Sparrows (FOS), 34 Lesser Scaup, 3 Northern Pintails, etc, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 3/20.
  • 14 Gadwall, Pelreco marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 3/20.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

The 19th season of the Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch started last weekend. Free and open to the public, we welcomed Zane Baker back for his 7th season as Official Counter. 9-5 every day, weather permitting. The first week was highlighted by a great first day and two Black Vulture sightings.

Daily counts will be posted here and weekly summaries will be posted here.

Upcoming Tours:

Woodcocks Gone Wild: Saturday, March 29th. Call for waitlist.

Recent highlights, 3/1-3/14/2025.

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Don’t panic – this wasn’t in Maine!  But it was my bird photo highlight over the past two weeks. This Boreal Owl was spotted a short distance north of Duluth along the famous North Shore Road on the first day of a visit there with friends on March 1st. I don’t usually chase birds out of state, but this winter has been incredible for Boreal (and Great Gray) Owls and we just couldn’t resist any longer!  Photos from this, and other recent trips, are currently being posted regularly to the store’s Facebook page.

After a quick last-minute trip to Duluth, Minnesota for a birding weekend with friends (Boreal and Great Gray Owls!), Jeannette and I did our usual pre-hawkwatch long weekend and used it to visit friends in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Green Jay fix and other Lower Rio Grande specialties!). In between and thereafter, it’s been mostly catching up at the store and life, but in some free moments, I had a few observations of note, including the vanguard of spring migration.

  • Our overwintering Fox Sparrow here at the store continued through week’s end, although it has become much more sporadic at the feeders.  
  • Our Fox Sparrow at home in Durham continues as well, often singing in the morning.
  • 1 Red-winged Blackbird (FOS), our feeders in Durham on 3/5. Increased to 3 on the 6th. 20-25 by the 12th, etc.
  • 1 Common Grackle (FOY), our feeders in Durham, 3/12.
  • 3 Brown-headed Cowbirds (FOY), our feeders in Durham, 3/12.
  • There was a nice little arrival of Song Sparrows to the area on the morning of the 12th.
  • 1 probable CACKLING GOOSE, Rte 136, Durham, 3/12. Among 600+ Canadas, I had to reposition for a better and confirming view and shortly thereafter all geese were flushed by an eagle. Subsequent searches failed to relocate the suspect bird.  
  • 4 Fish Crows (FOY), Anniversary Park, Auburn, 3/13.
  • 1 Killdeer (FOY), Thornhurst Farm, North Yarmouth, 3/13.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

The 19th season of the Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch starts tomorrow! Free and open to the public, we welcome Zane Baker back for his 7th season as Official Counter. 9-5 every day, weather permitting.

Daily counts will be posted here and weekly summaries will be posted here.

Upcoming Tours:

  1. Woodcocks Gone Wild: Saturday, March 29th. One space remains; call for waitlist.