Daily Archives: May 29, 2026

This Week’s Highlights 5/22– 5/29/2026.

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A Mississippi Kite was discovered by a group of visiting birders from Rhode Island on Monhegan on Saturday morning. Moments later, it was seen by two other parties, and then the chase was on. I did a wind-sprint up Horn’s Hill and managed to catch a most unsatisfactory view of it as it disappeared behind trees. Unfortunately, my tour group could not relocate it in the afternoon, and it was considered a 1.5 hour-wonder. Then, on Tuesday morning, right after breakfast, I stepped out of our Trailing Yew cabin and started yelling across the lawn to Jeannette, who was looking down, photographing an (uncommon on the island) Eastern Bluebird. It then proceeded to pass right over our heads, and a few minutes later, it was even lower and closer.
This was most definitely not an unsatisfactory view!

I spent 5 of the past 8 days on Monhegan, first with a tour from Friday the 22nd through Monday the 24th, and remaining with Jeannette through the next day. I’ll have a trip report, chock full of photos, by next week, but for now, here are some of my daily highlights. We had a total of 107 species, but only 18 species of warblers. But the rarities and the overall quality of observations and experiences, really did make up for it.

5/22: Port Clyde ferry to Monhegan:

  • 10 Purple Sandpipers, Shag Ledge
  • 4 Atlantic Puffins
  • 1 1st summer Great Cormorant

5/22: Monhegan:

  • 1 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, fly-byoff of Deadman’s Cove. ~7th Island Record. My 229th Monhegan species!
  • 1 continuing LARK SPARROW
  • 2 Sora (FOY)
  • Red Crossbills, including young juveniles, were widespread all five days.
  • 1 drake Long-tailed Duck

5/23:

  • 1 MISSISSIPPI KITE (see story above).
  • 1 adult BROAD-WINGED HAWK (very rare, especially in spring out here).
  • 1 GLOSSY IBIS, fly-by at dusk (with Mik Oyler)

5/24:

  • 1 fly-by Arctic Tern (FOY)
  • 1 continuing Virginia Rail (FOY)
  • 1 continuing female Pine Warbler
  • 1 continuing hen Long-tailed Duck

5/25:

  • 1 YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (unusually easy twitch with the group, found a short while prior by M. McKnight).
  • 10 Greater Yellowlegs (first spotted from Island Inn window by Bill Thompson).
  • 1 continuing female Pine Warbler

5/26 (with Jeannette):

  • 1 presumed returning MISSISSIPPI KITE (see above).
  • 1 presumed returning BROAD-WINGED HAWK.
  • 1 Arctic Tern
  • 2-3 Olive-sided Flycatchers (FOY)
  • 3 White-winged Scoters
  • 1 1st summer Great Cormorant
  • 1 continuing female Pine Warbler

Ferry to Port Clyde:

  • 2 Atlantic Puffins

Back here in the real world, my observations of note over the past three days included:

  • 1 Saltmarsh Sparrow (FOY), Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 5/27.
  • 3 Nelson’s Sparrows (FOY), Walsh Preserve, 5/27.
  • 2 Yellow-throated Vireos, 3 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers (FOY), 14 species of warblers including 1 Louisian Waterthrush, etc, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/29.

Upcoming Tours (with space available).

Bicknell’s Thrush Weekend

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.

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