Daily Archives: February 22, 2026

 This Week’s Highlights 2/14– 2/22/2026.

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While a trek to the mountains on the 15th was not nearly as fruitful (pun intended) as we hoped, Bill Thompson and I were very surprised to find a flock of White-winged Crossbills – an irruptive species that has been virtually non-existent this winter in Maine – on South Shore Road in Rangeley.

I covered a better amount of ground this past week than I have been recently, even with relatively limited time in the field. I wanted more frugivores to show for it, but I did have a nice variety of seasonal highlights. Here are my observations of note over the past 9 days.

  • 1 female “NORTHERN” COMMON EIDER (ssp BOREALIS), 1 drake Barrow’s Goldeneye, and 4 drake Greater Scaup, Winslow Park, Freeport, 2/14 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 2+ continuing FISH CROWS, Auburn Riverwalk, 2/15 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 1ST-cycle Iceland Gull, Auburn Riverwalk, 2/15 (with Bill Thompson).
  • ~20 Snow Buntings, moving between parking lots on Rte 4/2, Farmington, 2/15 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 19 (10 drakes and 9 hens) BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, Gurnet Bridge, Harpswell, 2/16 (with Jeannette). This winter’s flock, which maxxed out at 26 individuals, is the largest flock in the state since about 2006. Even though we missed the peak, this was a very impressive flock and was delightful to see!
  • 1 drake Barrow’s Goldeneye, Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth, 2/22.
  • 1 pair Barrow’s Goldeneye, Cumberland Town Landing, 2/22.
  • At least one Turkey Vulture continues along the I-295 corridor between Cumberland and Freeport as of this week. Several scattered “TV’s” elsewhere in the area suggests the first trickle of their northbound migration.
  • One adult Red-shouldered Hawk continues along Rte 136 in Durham, near the Freeport Town Line.

This Week in Irruptives.

On the 15th, Bill Thompson and I birded from Auburn to Rangeley, mostly looking for irruptives. It was not the birdiest day, and the only frugivores we encountered (despite finding plenty of fruit) were a mere 4 Cedar Waxwings in Farmington. Most of our birding was in and around Rangeley, where we caught up with a flock of 28 Evening Grosbeaks at a downtown feeder, and “dipped” on a small group of Pine Grosbeaks. However, on South Shore Road, we encountered 14 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (see photo above) and a single Redpoll. 

Elsewhere, Purple Finches were a little more widespread this week, although in lower numbers than last week. Jeannette and I had 3 Red Crossbills, including an apparent pair, at Long Reach Preserve in Harpswell on the 16th and one Redpoll flew over our property on the 22nd. Scattered Evening Grosbeaks in the area included one in our Durham yard on the 17th. Cedar Waxwings were also a little more numerous this week, although in small numbers (high count of 6 here at the store on the 18th).

Winter Feeder Birds Snapshot.

After beginning a “feeder watching blog” while stuck at home from shoulder surgery in the winter of 2023, I continue the tradition for the fourth year now, as I try to compare feeder activity between winters on our property in Durham, Maine, and then attempt to use it as a case-study for what the overall feeder bird activity is like in the area this winter. Here’s the 2026 Feeder Birds Snapshot.

Winter Feeder Bird Snapshot, 2026 Edition: Are Fewer Birds Eating More this Winter?

Upcoming Tours.

Woodcocks Gone Wild! March 28th or 29th in Durham.