Bill Thompson and I birded from Bowdoinham through Gardiner on Tuesday, seeking migrant waterfowl and especially Bohemian Waxwings. We hit paydirt while working the side roads in downtown Gardiner, finding a flock of 110 (with 1-2 Cedars) feeding on multiflora rose behind a parking lot on Summer Street. They were, how shall we say, cooperative. A couple of short phone videos of our experience can be seen here. Of course, the next day, 30-40 were right outside the store!
Last week I was lamenting that I have not had enough Bohemian Waxwing time this winter. Happily, that changed this week! My BOWA-laden observations of note over the past seven days included:
- 1 Fish Crow, Cumberland Town Landing, 3/21 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
- 110 Bohemian Waxwings, Summer St, Gardiner, 3/24 (with Bill Thompson; photos above).
- 30-40 Bohemian Waxwings, eating crabapples here at the store, 3/25.
- 5 Gadwall, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 3/27.
The current weather pattern has stalled the progress of spring migrants. Nonetheless, my personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week included:
- 1 AMERICAN GOSHAWK, Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch, 3/24.
- 5 Wood Ducks, private property in Durham, 3/25.
- 1 American Kestrel, Newell Brook Road, Durham, 3/26.
- 1 Ring-necked Duck, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 3/27.
- 4 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, Eastern Road Trail, 3/27.
- 3 Great Egrets, Scarborough Marsh, 3/27.
Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch is Underway!
The 20th year of the project began on March 15th. The quickest and clearest way to view daily reports is by clicking on the Hawkcount link contained here. Meanwhile, we will continue to post weekly summaries on the News Page of our website, which can be seen here.
Upcoming Tours.
April 19, 2026; 9:00am – 3:00pm
Portland Explorer (formerly Maine Brew Bus) and Freeport Wild Bird Supply are excited to continue our collaboration for 3 very special outings in 2026.
These unique, relaxed birding and beer-ing adventures that you have come to love combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with visits to sample the delicious creations of some of our favorite local breweries. These tours are a perfect introduction to birding and/or craft beer, and a great opportunity to travel with significant others, friends, and family that have interest in one topic, while your interest is primarily in the other (for now!). Seasonal birding hotspots and great local beer – a perfect combination, and we’ll even do all of the driving!
This brand-new itinerary takes us to the Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal in the peak of northbound raptor migration. Now in its 20th year, this research project by Freeport Wild Bird Supply tallies an average of 4,180 migrating birds of prey each spring from the summit!
After a gentle 1-mile climb through the woods, looking and listening for migrant and resident songbirds, we’ll arrive at the summit and join the project’s Official Counter. Derek will discuss the history and methodology of the project, as the counter points out migrating raptors. Derek will lead us through the basics of hawk identification to give us a hawkwatch primer, and then if the migration action allows, we’ll sit back and enjoy the show until it is time to depart (the walk down is a steep ¼ of a mile on a wide, well-worn trail with rocks and roots and some steps; hiking sticks are suggested if you use them). This is the only Hawkwatch Workshop program that FWBS will be offering this year, so this is a tour you won’t want to miss!
After about 3 hours of birding, we will be transported to two of our great local producers to sample their offerings and learn their styles. Our brewery destinations are subject to change, but the current plan is to visit Maine Beer Company and Goodfire Brewing.
Maine Birding Field Notes 
They are all heading back to fill our places with color and song.