Monthly Archives: May 2026

 This Week’s Highlights 5/16– 5/21/2026.

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Dan Nickerson and I enjoyed quality time with a foraging Louisiana Waterthrush at a regular location in West Poland on the 21st. We enjoyed watching its foraging technique in and out of the water.

It was another fabulous week of birding, and the season has finally (mostly) caught up with the date on the calendar. Several great nights of nocturnal migration allowed a lot of breeding birds and passage migrants to arrive, although there were few concentrations of migrants this week as most birds went overhead, unimpeded. The 19th was my best day of the spring so far, however! My observations of note over the past 6 days, before I head off to Monhegan, are as follows:

  • In addition to the usual handful of breeding locales, the recent spring overshoot event has brought quite a few more ORCHARD ORIOLES to the state than usual. I saw three this week, including at known breeding locations(*): 1 female Old Town House Park*, North Yarmouth, 5/16 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group); 1 immature male, Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, 5/17 (with Down East Adventures Spring Songbird Workshop tour group), and 1 adult male Capisic Pond Park*, Portland, 5/17 (with Down East Adventures Spring Songbird Workshop tour group).
  • 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Old Town House Park, North Yarmouth, 5/16 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 2 Yellow-throated Vireos, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/18 (with Jeannette).
  • 10+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, our property in Durham, 5/18. Unfortunately were flushing out of the woods (likely eating Amelanchier blossoms) before I could get an accurate count of the flock size. Incredibly late date.
  • Incredible day for migrants on Bailey Island in Harpswell on 5/19 (with Ian Doherty). We tallied 18 species of warblers, led by ~60 Common Yellowthroats and ~40 Yellow Warblers, at least 18 Swainson’s Thrushes (FOY), 25+ Red-eyed Vireos, 10+ Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, etc. Best day of migrant observation for me this season so far!
  • 2 American Oystercatchers, Bailey Island, 5/19 (with Ian Doherty).
  • 1 Vesper Sparrow, Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, Auburn, 5/21 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, Johnson Hill Road, West Poland, 5/21 (with Dan Nickerson).

My other personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week also included:

  • 3 Red-eyed Vireos, Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, 5/17 (with Down East Adventures Spring Songbird Workshop tour group).
  • 1 Canada Warbler, Capisic Pond Park, Portland 5/17 (with Down East Adventures Spring Songbird Workshop tour group).
  • 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/18 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Indigo Bunting, our property in Durham, 5/18.
  • 25+ Common Terns, Bailey Island, Harspwell, 5/19 (with Ian Doherty).
  • 1 Willow Flycatcher, Bailey Island, 5/19 (with Ian Doherty).
  • 4 Blackpoll Warblers, Bailey Island, 5/19 (with Ian Doherty).
  • 6 Bay-breasted Warblers, Bailey Island, 5/19 (with Ian Doherty).
  • 1 Tennessee Warbler, Bailey Island, 5/19 (with Ian Doherty).
  • 3+ Common Nighthawks, our property in Durham, 5/19.
  • 2 Alder Flycatchers, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 5/20 (with Evan Obercian).

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch has come to an end.

The 20th year of the project began on March 15th officially concluded at 5:00pm on May 15th, but Zane went up for a few hours on the 16th…and yeah, the rest of the week looked pretty decent, too. Where was this weather during the count period!? Here’s the final, Week 9 report.  

Upcoming Tours (with space available).

​June 12-14, 2026

The latest incarnation of our Bicknell’s Thrush weekend offers more chances to see the enigmatic Bicknell’s Thrush and even better boreal birding opportunities!

​With two full mornings in the area, we’ll have flexibility to offer two visits to the realm of the Bicknell’s. While Bicknell’s Thrush is the primary target, this enhanced itinerary will also give us an even better chance at other boreal species, including Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Palm and Blackpoll Warblers, and especially Philadelphia Vireo and Mourning Warbler.  By staying in Colebrook, NH we have the opportunity to look for additional boreal targets anywhere from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (the famous hotspots are only 30 minutes from Colebrook!) to the Umbagog NWR area.

 This Week’s Highlights 5/9– 5/15/2026.

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This immature male Orchard Oriole, and a female it was foraging with, that I found on Peak’s Island on the 11th are likely part of a continuing influx of “southern overshoots” that arrived after last week’s
weather pattern (see last week’s blog).


It’s hard to not have a great week of birding in the middle of May, and this week was certainly no different. Some “southern overshoots” added to the mix of migrants and new arrivals, and some rather surprising lingering winter birds as well, all making for a fun-filled week of bird watching. Here are my observations of note over the past seven days.

  • 1 continuing WESTERN CATTLE EGRET, Highland Road, Brunswick, 5/9 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 female SUMMER TANAGER, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 12 species of warblers, etc, Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, 5/10 (with Birds on Tap Roadtrip: Warblers and Wort! Tour group). Unfortunately, I whiffed on photos as we all struggled to follow her across the cemetery!
  • 16 species of warblers, led by 35 Yellow and 16 Common Yellowthroats, Peak’s Island, Portland, 5/11.
  • 6+ Red Crossbills including 2+ fledglings, Peak’s Island, 5/11.
  • 1 1st/2nd cycle Iceland Gull (getting late!), Portland Harbor, 5/11.
  • 1 SANDHILL CRANE, Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch, (the 14th of the season here, but my first from the summit this spring), 5/12.
  • 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, our property in Durham, 5/13.
  • 15 species of warblers, led by 13 Black-and-white Warblers and 11 Common Yellowthroats, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 5/14 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 52 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (with 1 Cedar Waxwing), Union Street, Brunswick, 5/14 (with Bill Thompson). Even more incredible than seeing so many Bohemians so late in May, is that we saw them on the same day we easily recorded 17 species of warblers. Not sure that will happen again for a very long time around here!
  • 16 species of warblers, led by 13 Black-and-white Warblers and 11 Ovenbirds, our property in Durham, 5/15.

My personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week also included:

  • 4 UPLAND SANDPIPERS (been present for a few weeks now, but I hadn’t made the time to visit!), Brunswick Landing, Brunswick, 5/9 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group). Bill Thompson and I had 1-2 on 5/14, with one singing from the Bowdoin Sandplain proper.
  • 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows, Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, 5/9 (with Birds on Tap Roadtrip: Warblers and Wort! Tour group).
  • 2 Wilson’s Warblers, Evergreen Cemetery, 5/9 (with Birds on Tap Roadtrip: Warblers and Wort! Tour group).
  • 2 ORCHARD ORIOLES, Peak’s Island, Portland, 5/11.
  • 1 Cape May Warbler, Peak’s Island, 5/11.
  • 1 Scarlet Tanager, Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, 5/12.
  • 1 Wood Thrush, our property in Durham, 5/13.
  • 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 5/13.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch ends today!

The 20th year of the project began on March 15th and concludes at 5:00pm today, May 15th (maybe! But tomorrow looks so good!) The quickest and clearest way to view daily reports is by clicking on the Hawkcount link contained on the website link above. Meanwhile, we will continue to post weekly summaries on the News Page of our website. Here’s the Week 8 report. I’ll post a season summary next week.

Upcoming Tours (With Space Available)

​June 12-14, 2026

The latest incarnation of our Bicknell’s Thrush weekend offers more chances to see the enigmatic Bicknell’s Thrush and even better boreal birding opportunities!

​With two full mornings in the area, we’ll have flexibility to offer two visits to the realm of the Bicknell’s. While Bicknell’s Thrush is the primary target, this enhanced itinerary will also give us an even better chance at other boreal species, including Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Palm and Blackpoll Warblers, and especially Philadelphia Vireo and Mourning Warbler.  By staying in Colebrook, NH we have the opportunity to look for additional boreal targets anywhere from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (the famous hotspots are only 30 minutes from Colebrook!) to the Umbagog NWR area.

​

 This Week’s Highlights 5/2– 5/8/2026.

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It’s May, and May means Neotropical Migrants, like this stunning Scarlet Tanager that graced the
Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch on 5/5.

It’s May, and things are happening whether the weather wants it to or not! But finally, the migratory floodgates opened, with huge overnight flights Monday into Tuesday and Wednesday into Thursday. It’s on! The flood of new arrivals those days got things back closer to schedule, until the second half of the week, when progress slowed down once again. The warm weather ushered in by an extensive southwesterly flow all of the way down to the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic Bight from Monday night into Wednesday ushered in a wave of “southern overshoots’ around the state. Here, for example, is the wind map from mid-day on Wednesday, showing the extensive southwesterly flow originating way down in the Gulf of Mexico.

I didn’t try to chase any of the reports but was certainly monitoring my feeders and local patches with extra vigilance! Not surprisingly then, most of my observations of note over the past seven days were of the FOY variety.

  • 10 Lesser Scaup, 1 Blue-winged Teal, 10 Lesser Yellowlegs, etc, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 5/4 (with Jayden Mowry).
  • 10 species of warbler (FOY, finally), led by only 15-20 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 5+ Black-and-white Warblers, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 5/5.
  • 66 Lesser Yellowlegs, etc, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 5/7.

My extensive (finally!) list personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week also included:

  • 6 SANDHILL CRANES, over I-295 at Exit 22, Freeport, 5/2 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 Spotted Sandpiper, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 5/2 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 Gray Catbird, feeders here at the store, 5/2.
  • 1 American Pipit, flying over our Durham property, 5/3.
  • 1 White-crowned Sparrow, feeders here at the store, 5/3.
  • 1 Northern Parula (finally! Quite late), Hinckley Park, South Portland, 5/4
  • 1 Solitary Sandpiper, Hinckley Park, 5/4.
  • 1 Nashville Warbler, Hinckley Park, 5/4.
  • 11 Vesper Sparrows, Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, 5/4.
  • 2 Prairie Warblers, Kennebunk Plains, 5/4.
  • 2 Marsh Wrens, Sanford Lagoons, Sanford, 5/4.
  • 2 Yellow Warblers, Sanford Lagoons, 5/4.
  • 1 Green Heron, Sanford Lagoons, 5/4.
  • 2 Bank Swallows, Pelreco Marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 5/4 (with Jayden Mowry).
  • 1 LITTLE BLUE HERON, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 5/4 (with Jayden Mowry).
  • 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, our feeders in Durham, 5/4.
  • 1 Baltimore Oriole, our feeders in Durham, 5/5.
  • 2 Northern Waterthrushes, Florida Lake Park, 5/5.
  • 2 Black-throated Green Warblers, Florida Lake Park, 5/5.
  • 1 Chimney Swift, Florida Lake Park, 5/5.
  • 3 Common Yellowthroats, Florida Lake Park, 5/5.
  • 1 Ovenbird, Florida Lake Park, 5/5.
  • 1 Magnolia Warbler, Florida Lake Park, 5/5.
  • 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Hidden Pond Preserve, Freeport, 5/5.
  • 1 Eastern Kingbird, Hidden Pond Preserve, 5/5.
  • 1 House Wren, Runaround Pond Road, Durham, 5/5.
  • 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler, Runaround Pond Preserve, Durham, 5/5.
  • 3 Least Sandpipers, Florida Lake Park, 5/6.
  • 3 Least Flycatchers, Old Town Hose Park, North Yarmouth, 5/7.
  • 4 Eastern Warbling Vireos, Old Town House Park, 5/7.
  • 5 Bobolinks, Old Town House Park, 5/7.
  • 1 American Redstart, Old Town House Park, 5/7.
  • 1 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, Old Town House Park, 5/7.
  • 1 Great-crested Flycatcher, our property in Durham, 5/7.
  • 3 Veeries, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/8.
  • 5 Black-throated Blue Warblers, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/8.
  • 1 Blackburnian Warbler, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/8.
Vesper Sparrows are “in” at the Kennebunk Plains.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch.

The 20th year of the project began on March 15th and will conclude on May 15th. The quickest and clearest way to view daily reports is by clicking on the Hawkcount link contained on the website link above. Meanwhile, we will continue to post weekly summaries on the News Page of our website. Here’s the Week 7 report.

Upcoming Tours (with space available).

Birds On Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Warblers and Wort -THIS SUNDAY, SPACE AVAILABLE!

May 10, 2026; 8:00am – 2:00pm

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!

We’re bringing back the “Mother’s Day Special” in 2026, with a return to Portland on one of our most popular annual itineraries. May means warbler migration, and the destination for Warblers and Wort will hit two of Maine’s most famous springtime migrant traps, Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery and nearby Capisic Pond Park. Two oases in the urban jungle, featuring water sources and a mix of various habitats, help concentrate migrant birds that found themselves in or over the city come sunrise. After migrating all night, tired travelers look for refuge: food, water, and shelter, and urban greenspaces are absolutely critical for refueling.  

Warbler diversity will rapidly be increasing, over 15 species possible by the middle of May, depending on the progression of the season. Other species, such as sparrows, raptors, and other Neotropical Migrants such as orioles and tanagers are also on the move, increasing our chances of seeing a diversity of species. If the cemetery’s apples and cherries are blooming, we may be in for quite a treat as these are absolute magnets for hungry migrants.  Meanwhile, most trees have yet to fully leaf out, making them easier to spot! 

It’s sometimes hard to leave Evergreen on a busy spring morning, but if we do, it will be for the very short trip over to Capisic Pond Park, where we’ll continue to seek migrants of all shapes and sizes.

​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 Foundation and Rising Tide Brewing Company.

 This Week’s Highlights 4/25– 5/1/2026.

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The Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch has been running below average for the season, but the Northern Harrier count has been above average. Recently, views of harriers have also been above average as well.

While it wasn’t “warm” the weather pattern was a little more conducive to migration for the first half of the week. But things are definitely behind schedule right now, and the woods remain uncomfortably quiet. That will change with a weather pattern shift, but for now, my observations of note over the past seven days included the following:

  • 1 Rusty Blackbird Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 4/25 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are getting quite late now, but there are some still around the area. This week, I had 1 at the Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch on 4/26 (with Birds on Tap Roadtrip: Hawks and Hops! tour group) and 20-25 from Rte. 136 in Auburn on the 27th.
  • 1 American Oystercatcher, East Point, Biddeford Pool, Biddeford, 4/30.
  • With warbler migration in particular continuing to be quite delayed, it wasn’t until 5/1 at Morgan Meadow WMA that I saw 5 species at one location, led by 60+ Yellow-rumped Warblers and 9 Pine Warblers.

My few personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week included:

  • 1 Cliff Swallow, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 4/25 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 3 Blue-headed Vireos, Mt Apatite Park, Auburn, 4/27.
  • 1 Black-and-white Warbler, Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch, 4/28.
  • 1 PURPLE MARTIN, Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch, 4/28.
  • 3 Laughing Gulls, East Point, Biddeford Pool, 4/30.
  • 1 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/1.
  • 1 YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (early, which is surprising since almost nothing else is!), Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/1.
  • 9 Lesser Yellowlegs, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 5/1.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch.

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 on the website link above. Meanwhile, we will continue to post weekly summaries on the News Page of our website. Here’s the Week 6 report.

Upcoming Tours (with space available).

Birds On Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Warblers and Wort

May 10, 2026; 8:00am – 2:00pm

​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!

We’re bringing back the “Mother’s Day Special” in 2026, with a return to Portland on one of our most popular annual itineraries. May means warbler migration, and the destination for Warblers and Wort will hit two of Maine’s most famous springtime migrant traps, Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery and nearby Capisic Pond Park. Two oases in the urban jungle, featuring water sources and a mix of various habitats, help concentrate migrant birds that found themselves in or over the city come sunrise. After migrating all night, tired travelers look for refuge: food, water, and shelter, and urban greenspaces are absolutely critical for refueling.  

Warbler diversity will rapidly be increasing, over 15 species possible by the middle of May, depending on the progression of the season. Other species, such as sparrows, raptors, and other Neotropical Migrants such as orioles and tanagers are also on the move, increasing our chances of seeing a diversity of species. If the cemetery’s apples and cherries are blooming, we may be in for quite a treat as these are absolute magnets for hungry migrants.  Meanwhile, most trees have yet to fully leaf out, making them easier to spot! 

​It’s sometimes hard to leave Evergreen on a busy spring morning, but if we do, it will be for the very short trip over to Capisic Pond Park, where we’ll continue to seek migrants of all shapes and sizes.

​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 Foundation and Rising Tide Brewing Company.