This juvenile American Golden-Plover was one of three that Jayden Mowry and I saw in Scarborough Marsh during the rain on 9/27. It shared a similar look to all of us birders who were being drenched by the rain while not finding any mega-rarities!
For the first time in 20 years, I cancelled my Monhegan Fall Migration Weekend Tour due to ferry cancellations and forecasted weather. While the precip and the strongest winds held out through most of Saturday, it was the right call. Instead, I took full advantage of the “extra” weekend here on the mainland, including three near-full days of storm-related birding. While the storm overall was a bit of a dud, ornithologically-speaking, it did result in some decent birding and several observations of note over the past seven days, including the following:
Notables in our Durham property this week included 7 species of warblers including 2 Tennessee on 9/26; a Bay-breasted Warbler on 10/1; and daily Lincoln’s Sparrows continue.
1 Marsh Wren, Florida Lake Park, 9/26.
1 Cory’s Shearwater and 35 Northern Gannets in 1.5 hours of seawatching at Dyer Point, Cape Elizabeth, between 3:10 and 4:40 on 9/26 as the storm got crankin’
1 pair Gadwall and 1 continuing early drake Ruddy Duck, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 9/27.
4 Sandhill Cranes (3 ad and 1 juv), Mayall Road, Gray/New Gloucester, 9/27.
Jayden Mowry and I then met up for a couple of hours in the afternoon on the Eastern Road Trail in Scarborough Marsh, yielding our best birding of the day: 1 “INTERIOR” NELSON’S SPARROW with 3 Saltmarsh Sparrows, 1 “Atlantic” Nelson’s Sparrow, and 6+ unidentified “sharp-tailed” sparrows; 3 juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1+ White-rumped Sandpiper, 15 Dunlin, etc, etc. It was delightfully productive as we once again got soaked.
1 3rd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pemaquid Point; 1 Common Tern, Pemaquid Beach Park; and 94 Laughing Gulls at Fort Pemaquid, 9/28 while not relocating the Franklin’s Gull seen earlier in the day (with Jeannette).
Highlight from a delightful day of storm birding with Jeannette on 9/29 included a northbound flock of 500-600 Tree Swallows swirling through Dyer Point, Cape Elizabeth in the early morning; 1 slighty-truant Yellow Warbler at Crescent Beach State Park; a goodly 48 Pectoral Sandpipers, 4 Saltmarsh Sparrows, 1 “Atlantic” Nelson’s Sparrow, and 8 Unidentified “sharp-tailed sparrows” along Eastern Road; and more, but still no storm-driven rarities.
Sandy Point Morning Flight, 9/30:
With cloudy skies and virtually no wind, only a light flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning.
6:37-9:00am
59 F, cloudy, calm to a hint of North.
67 Unidentified
65 Blackpoll Warblers
54 Yellow-rumped Warblers
20 Northern Parulas
15 Blue Jays
10 White-throated Sparrows
7 Palm Warblers
7 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
7 Chipping Sparrows
6 Black-throated Green Warblers
4 American Robins
4 Golden-crowned Kinglets
4 Black-throated Blue Warblers
3 American Pipits
3 Tufted Titmice (all crossed after only 3 false starts)
3 Black-and-white Warblers
2 Swamp Sparrows
2 Red-eyed Vireos
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1 Rusty Blackbird
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 Merlin
1 Swainson’s Thrush
1 Northern Flicker
1 Baltimore Oriole
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Osprey
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 DICKCISSEL
1 Blue-headed Vireo
X Common Yellowthroats
Total= 296
*Family group of 4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS continue.
Join the crew of Seacoast Tours and Derek Lovitch from Freeport Wild Bird Supply on a special tour of the islands and waters of Casco Bay. We’ll explore the inner islands of Freeport, Brunswick and Harpswell as we search for eagles, migrant waterfowl, and an occasional seal basking in the sun on the ledges of hidden coves. We’ll focus on the common resident and migratory water and shoreline birds of the region while keeping an eye out for recently arrived wintering seaducks.
During our previous outings in which we became the first birding groups ever on the island, we found oodles of Yellow-rumped Warblers, other migrants, and learned about the island’s ecology. But we were also captivated by Captain Pete, who guided us through the historic fort, sharing a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating stories. Once again, we’ve been granted special permission to come ashore and scour the island here in the peak of fall migration. We’ll follow well-maintained trails through the island’s mosaic of open habitats, scrub, and young woods. These are great habitats to search for a variety of migrants, and perhaps even a rarity!
We teased out one, likely continuing Little Gull from the unseasonably small masses of Bonaparte’s Gulls in Head Harbor Passage, New Brunswick on 9/9.
Our annual “weekend” downeast followed by a three-day tour to Monhegan headlined my birding this week, along with visits to shorebirds and Sandy Point to bookend the period. Here are my copious observations of note over the past 10 days.
I wasn’t home much during this period, but a few recent highlights from our Durham property this period included a Prairie Warbler on the 15th and a Brown Thrasher on the 16th.
Sandy Point Morning Flight, 9/7.
A very good flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth Island this morning. A high flight, periods of activity at all levels – including below me, and early morning clouds combined to yield a lot of unidentified as I struggled just to keep count at times
Thanks to Bill Thompson for some instant reply additions to the tallies.
6:10-9:35am.
52F, partly cloudy, NW 4.8-6.0, increasing, then diminishing to 3.9-5.3
541 Unidentified
448 Northern Parulas
169 American Redstarts
119 Blackpoll Warblers
51 Cedar Waxwings
46 Black-throated Green Warblers
14 Yellow Warblers
14 American Goldfinches
13 Red-eyed Vireos
11 Magnolia Warblers
10 Red-breasted Nuthatches
9 Cape May Warblers
6 Black-and-white Warblers
6 Bay-breasted Warblers
6 Nashville Warblers
5 Chipping Sparrows
5 Northern Flickers
5 Northern Waterthrushes
4 House Finch
4 Yellow-rumped Warblers
3 Black-and-white Warblers
3 Common Loons
3 Blue-headed Vireos
3 Tennessee Warblers
2 Savannah Sparrows
2 Prairie Warblers
2 Eastern Kingbirds
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 Scarlet Tanager
1 Least Flycatcher
1 Common Nighthawk
1 Purple Finch
1 Cooper’s Hawk
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Philadelphia Vireo
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Tree Swallow
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 Indigo Bunting
X Common Yellowthroat
T= 1,519
1 Monarch
2 juvenile Snowy Egrets, Downeast Sunrise Trail marsh and Middle Rover Park, Machias, 9/6-10 (with Jeannette).
4 American Pipits (FOF), Carrying Place Cove, Lubec, 9/8 (with Jeannette).
Charter with Eastport Windjammers through Head Harbor Passage, New Brunswick (with Chris Bartlett, Beth Edmonds, Dan Nickerson, Renee Patterson, Cynthia Phinney, Jeannette, et al), 9/9: 1 molting adult or 2nd winter LITTLE GULL among a mere 800-1000 total Bonaparte’s Gulls, 3 juvenile Atlantic Puffins, 1 Arctic Tern, 3 Razorbills, etc.
1 1st summer THICK-BILLED MURRE, 11 Black-legged Kittiwakes, 16 Great Cormorants, etc, afternoon whale watch with Eastport Windjammers through Head Harbor Passage (with Beth Edmonds, Dan Nickerson, Cynthia Phinney, Jeannette, et al), 9/9.
Caption: Assuming we finally had our first Common Murre of the day (they’re regular in small numbers here in the late summer), “instant reply” overturned the call on the field and provided us with a most-unexpected Thick-billed Murre!
2 adult and 1 2nd-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull and 13 Laughing Gulls, Roque Bluffs State Park, 9/10 (with Jeannette).
Some of the observations of note from my three days on Monhegan (9/10-12) with my Monhegan Island Birding Workshop with DownEast Magazine’s DownEast Adventures tour group included: 1 make BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (9/12), 1 continuing hen KING EIDER (9/12), 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (9/13); 1 DICKCISSEL (9/12), 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (9/12), 1 juvenile Cooper’s Hawk (9/11), up to 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls daily, a respectable-for-Monhegan 8 species of shorebirds over the three days, and 30+ Wilson’s Storm-Petrels on the ferry both coming and going (getting a little late). Not bad for a “slow” weekend out there!
Sandy Point Morning Flight, 9/15.
6:20-10:05.
46F, clear, NNW 5.4-6.2 to N 1.5-2.6
A great flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth Island this morning. Jayden Mowry and Bill Thompson were on the bridge with me for most of the count. Pulses of birds early and high resulted in lots of unidentified. Northerly winds resulted in lots of swirling and non-crossings, making counting migrants even more challenging! The hunting Merlin also didn’t help. A family group of 4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS on a sandbar (first spotted today by Matthew Gilbert) was my 199th species at Sandy Point!
297 Northern Parula
287 Unidentified
85 Blackpoll Warblers
45 American Redstarts
38 Black-throated Green Warblers
30 Cedar Waxwings
20 Red-eyed Vireos
19 Yellow-rumped Warblers
16 Yellow Warblers
15 Magnolia Warblers
9 Swainson’s Thrushes
7 Black-and-white Warblers
7 Northern Flickers
6 Ospreys
6 American Goldfinches
6 Nashville Warblers
5 Red-breasted Nuthatches
4 Northern Waterthrushes
4 Bay-breasted Warblers
3 Palm Warblers
3 Chestnut-sided Warblers
3 Chipping Sparrows
3 American Pipits
3 Common Loons
3 Black-throated Blue Warblers
3 Tennessee Warblers
3 Philadelphia Vireo
3 Blue Jays
2 Cape May Warblers
2 Purple Finches
2 DICKCISSELS
2 Blue-headed Vireos
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
2 Eastern Phoebes
2 Least Flycatchers
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
1 Merlin (plus 1 hunting)
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (getting late; pending review of Bill’s photo)
1 Canada Warbler
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 Downy Woodpecker (at least 4 “false starts”)
1 unidentified vireo
1 Warbling Vireo
1 Scarlet Tanager
X Common Yellowthroat
T= 956
6 Monarchs
And here are my shorebird high counts over the past 10 days, which did not include any birding south of Yarmouth, hence the reduced diversity and lower numbers for many species:
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 4, Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth, 9/15 (with Matthew Gilbert, Lewis Holmes, Jayden Mowery, and Bill Thompson). My 199th Patch Bird here! Apparently, they have been present recently fide L. Homes and B. Thompson).
Black-bellied Plover: 85, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 9/16.
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER: 1 adult (FOY), Middle River Park, Machias, 9/10 (with Jeannette) and 1 juvenile, Wharton Point, 9/16.
Killdeer: 17, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick, 9/15.
Semipalmated Plover: 100+, Middle River Preserve, Machias, 9/10 (with Jeannette).
Hudsonian Whimbrel: 2, Carrying Place Cove then the Lubec Flats, Lubec, 9/8 (with Jeannette).
Join the crew of Seacoast Tours and Derek Lovitch from Freeport Wild Bird Supply on a special tour of the islands and waters of Casco Bay. We’ll explore the inner islands of Freeport, Brunswick and Harpswell as we search for eagles, migrant waterfowl, and an occasional seal basking in the sun on the ledges of hidden coves. We’ll focus on the common resident and migratory water and shoreline birds of the region while keeping an eye out for recently arrived wintering seaducks.
During our previous outings in which we became the first birding groups ever on the island, we found oodles of Yellow-rumped Warblers, other migrants, and learned about the island’s ecology. But we were also captivated by Captain Pete, who guided us through the historic fort, sharing a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating stories. Once again, we’ve been granted special permission to come ashore and scour the island here in the peak of fall migration. We’ll follow well-maintained trails through the island’s mosaic of open habitats, scrub, and young woods. These are great habitats to search for a variety of migrants, and perhaps even a rarity!
It’s been another great summer for Forster’s Terns, and Biddeford Pool has been the epicenter of their appearance. On the 24th, Jeannette enjoyed a photo session with several of the 4 1st-cycle birds that were present that day.
Thanks to an 18-species shorebird pseudo-Big Day on 8/24, I tallied 19 species of shorebirds this week. During that day, we may have experienced lower numbers of most shorebird species than we had hoped, but overall had an exceptional day, including a lot of “uppercase” observations of note of more than just shorebirds. That productive day fueled an excellent week of noteworthy observations for me over the past seven days:
Highlights from our Durham property this period included a fist fall female MOURNING WARBLER and 1 continuing Cape May Warbler on the 21st; 3 Common Nighthawks (FOF) at dusk on the 22nd; at least 10 Cape May Warblers and 1 Tennessee Warbler on 8/23 (with Dan Nickerson); 9 Common Nighthawks, 8/24; daily multiple Cape May Warblers continuing through week’s end.
1 continuing proposed HYBRID TRICOLORED HERON X SMALL WHITE EGRET(S), aka “Patches,” 1 DICKCISSEL (FOF), 1 American Wigeon (FOF), 3 Gadwall, etc, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
2 female Blue-winged Teal, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
4 1st-cycle FORSTER’S TERNS, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
2 continuing pairs of Red-necked Grebes and 1 continuing 1st-summer Great Cormorant, Ocean Avenue, Biddeford Pool, 8/24.
1 3rd-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/24 (with Bill Sheehan and Jeannette).
2 1st-cycle FORSTER’S TERNS, Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
1 juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (FOY), Jones Creek, Pine Point, Scarborough Marsh, 8/24 (with Jeannette). Pretty sure we were about the last birders to see one this year!
1 DICKCISSEL and 2 Roseate Terns (1 adult and 1 juvenile; very rare within Casco Bay), Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/26.
Jeannette and I observed 18 species of shorebirds on 8/24, and I only managed a single additional species all week! But here are my shorebird high counts over the past 7 days:
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 9 Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
Black-bellied Plover: 238, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/24 (with Bill Sheehan and Jeannette).
White-rumped Sandpiper: 3, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/26.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 396, Wharton Point, 8/26. (SESA counts have been dreadfully low this season, but this flock of 100% juveniles was a really good sign).
Join me for three days of birding at Maine’s famous Migration Mecca. As the summer crowds dwindle, the island becomes a birders’ paradise, with birding opportunities around every corner. This tour will spend three days sampling what the island has to offer during the peak of migration, from warblers to hawks to sparrows to the unexpected. Weather (and sometimes, lack thereof) will dictate how much we do or do not see, but every day is different out there. We’ll learn that fall warblers are rarely if ever “confusing” and why migrants – and vagrants from any direction – drop by this offshore migrant trap.
Even though 1-2 pairs of Red-necked Grebes have oversummered off of Ocean Avenue in Biddeford Pool for at least 6 years, I still get a kick out of seeing RNGR in spiffy breeding plumage, especially while wearing shorts and sandals! Not my “best” bird of the week, but definitely my best photo session.
I enjoyed some excellent birding over the eight days, from oodles of shorebirds to a State Bird! I also covered a lot of ground but had some great birding right in the backyard as well. Since I covered all of my shorebird “data points” in the last week, and with so many observations of note, I thought it was best to post now.
Highlights from our Durham property this week included a Yellow-billed Cuckoo on 8/18, 2 Cape May Warblers on 8/19, and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon on 8/20 that was our 161st property bird!
1 imm. FORSTER’S TERN, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty and Bill Thompson).
1 continuing imm. FORSTER’S TERN, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
20+ Roseate Terns, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty). Quite a few continue elsewhere around the area as well, many with juveniles in tow. High numbers for this late in the summer continue.
4 continuing adult Red-necked Grebes, Ocean Avenue, Biddeford Pool, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty). See above.
1 imm. Great Cormorant and 1 female Black Scoter, Ocean Ave, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Migrant passerines at Florida Lake Park in Freeport on 8/15 included one each of Cape May and Prairie Warblers (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
THE continuing THICK-BILLED MURRE, Western Beach as viewed from Pine Point Beach, Scarborough, 8/16 (with Birds on Tap – Shorebirds and Steins! Tour group).
1 continuing CRESTED CARACARA, Rustlewood Farm, York, 8/18 (with m.obs). Present here for at least three days, I caught up with the bird on the morning of its final (for now?) morning here. This was my 409th species in Maine, and #6 on my “My Next Birds in Maine” list thanks to the spate of regional sightings over the last few years. Due to fog and distance, my phone-scoped photos don’t quite do this Mega justice!
And here are my shorebird high counts over the past 8 days (see previous blogs for an explanation of the “data” included here), with a goodly total of 20 species:
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 4, Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/16 (with Birds on Tap – Shorebirds and Steins! Tour group).
Black-bellied Plover: 124, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Killdeer: 5, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 8/15 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
Semipalmated Plover: 345, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Piping Plover: 5, Hill’s Beach, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Ruddy Turnstone: 28, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Sanderling: 4, Hill’s Beach, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: 1 juv (FOY), Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Least Sandpiper: 40+, Pelreco Marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 8/16 (with Birds on Tap – Shorebirds and Steins! Tour group.
White-rumped Sandpiper: 1, Hill’s Beach, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty) and 1 Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/16 (with Birds on Tap – Shorebirds and Steins! Tour group).
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 296, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty). Still a low single-location high count for this time of year.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 52, The Pool, Biddeford, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty)
Spotted Sandpiper: 6, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/14 (with Ian Doherty).
Solitary Sandpiper: 6-7, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 8/15 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 8, First Chance Whale Watch, Kennebunk, 8/19 (with Ian Doherty and Bill Thompson).
RED PHALAROPE: 1, First Chance Whale Watch, 8/19 (with Ian Doherty and Bill Thompson).
Bill Thompson and I joined Ian Doherty on a First Chance Whale Watch out of Kennebunkport on the 19th, and enjoyed a great day of sea life. In addition to the phalaropes mentioned above, we tallied 297 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, including this one, 6 Great Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Terns, 8 Northern Gannets, 1 most-cooperative Humpback Whale, 1-2 Minke Whales, and 2 Blue Sharks.
The last of the locally-breeding Roseate Terns have been been putting on quite a show around Pine Point, including this one that still showed a mostly all-black bill.
Jeannette and I returned from our summer vacation on the 3rd, and with shorebird migration in full swing, so I went right back to work, both personally and professionally! Here are my observations of note over the past 10 days:
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher has been present in our Durham yard since 8/8.
3 Gadwall, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/4.
1 Louisiana Waterthrush, River Winds Farm and Estate (Private), Saco, 8/5.
1 juvenile Little Blue Heron, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
3 continuing FORSTER’S TERNS, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
1 continuing THICK-BILLED MURRE, Ferry/Western Beach, Scarborough, 8/10 (with Jeannette). Present since 7/18, this first summer bird is in heavy wing molt, but otherwise appears healthy, actively diving, and surviving just fine. Please, just give it some room! We have been monitoring its health in consultation with Avian Haven, but even though it is well south of normal summertime range and it’s standing on the beach, it appears absolutely fine. Murres cannot take off from flat land, plus it’s in heavy molt, so perceptions of it being “sick” are just well-intentioned misunderstanding. It is being monitored, however!
(as viewed across the river from the Pine Point Jetty)
Prior to our trip, I had a couple of notable observations in the two days after my last post before we departed :
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo (FOY, finally) and 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Old Town House Park, 7/25 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
Highlights from my 7/26 “Whale Watch and Puffin Combo” birder’s special tour with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor included: 206 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, 16 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 3-4 RED PHALAROPES (upon photo review), a mere one Great Shearwater, 1 Northern Gannet, and of course all three terns and a great Atlantic Puffin show (especially for the date) at Eastern Egg Rock.
And here are my shorebird high counts over the past 10 days (see previous blog for an explanation of the “data” included here):
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 8, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
Black-bellied Plover: 64, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/7.
Killdeer: 7, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 8/12.
Semipalmated Plover: 125, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
Piping Plover: 3 each at Biddeford Pool Beach and Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
Hudsonian Whimbrel: 1 each at The Pool and Jones Creek, Scarborough Marsh, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
Ruddy Turnstone: 16 Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 125, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group). Very low high count for the season as I was unable to visit the best locations at the perfect tides this week.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 85, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
Spotted Sandpiper: 6, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
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!
The original BoT Roadtrip! Way back in 2015, our most popular tour returns to Scarborough Marsh at prime time for a good variety of migrant shorebirds. We’ll learn how to identify our common species, and search for the rare. Up to 20 species of shorebirds are possible! We’ll practice identifying our “peeps” (Least, Semipalmated, and White-rumped Sandpipers) and attempt to tease out a rare Western or even a Baird’s among the masses. We’ll look for local breeding American Oystercatchers and Willets, while searching for migrants such as Red Knots on their way from the high Arctic to the southern tip of Argentina.
Juvenile Little Blue Heron, Scarborough Marsh, 8/10.
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:
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 unreasonably confiding American Woodcock kindly posed for pictures as it foraged along the side of the road during our Saturday Morning Birdwalk on the 28th. “My bird” was not nearly as cooperative during our Woodcocks Gone Wild program the following night.
Despite the often less than spring-like weather, spring migration made slow but steady progress this week. Here are my observations of note over the past seven days:
400+ Scaup off of the Maquoit Bay Conservation Land in Brunswick were mostly too far to sort through, but a single drake Lesser was among about 30 close Greaters on 3/28 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
450 Greater (mostly) with some Lesser Scaup, Ferry/Western Beaches, Scarborough, 3/29.
2 American Oystercatchers (FOY) with about 25 Purple Sandpipers, Ferry Beach, Scarborough, 3/29. I don’t think I have ever seen these two species standing next to each other! (with Maine Conservation Voters birdwalk group).
These phone-scoped photos don’t really do the scene justice!
4-6 American Woodcocks, private property in Durham, 3/29 during our annual “Woodcocks Gone Wild!” tour. 4 were displaying all evening, but our close bird seemed to be occupied elsewhere. Only some folks saw it in flight once, or it or another bird zipping by, as he never came into his platform this evening, much to the dismay of everyone present – especially me!
My other personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week included:
5 Piping Plovers, Scarborough Beach State Park, 3/29 (with Maine Conservation Voters birdwalk group).
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. Here’s the Week 2 report.
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.
Seasonal hotspots. Local expertise. Small-group experiences.
For the 12th season, Portland Explorer and Freeport Wild Bird Supply are teaming up to offer Maine’s most unique guided birding tours — combining peak birding hotspots, expert instruction, comfortable transportation, and in select outings, visits to some of our favorite local breweries.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder, just getting started, or traveling with someone whose main interest might be craft beer until they become a avid birder, these relaxed and educational outings offer something special.
This blog will be updated with trip reports after each tour, so check back in to see what you missed and to sign up for upcoming outings!
The 2026 Birds on Tap – Roadtrip Series!
Our collaboration with Portland Explorer (formerly The Maine Brew Bus) enters its 12th season, with three exciting itineraries. These unique, relaxed birding and beer-ing adventures that you have come to love combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with approachable opportunities to sample the delicious creations of some of our favorite Maine breweries. These events are a perfect introduction to birding and/or craft beer, and a great opportunity to enjoy our favorite pastimes with significant others, friends, and family that have interest in one topic, while your interest is primarily in the other (for now!). Educational, enjoyable, and eye-opening you won’t want to miss out our unique Birds on Tap series, including a brand new outing for 2026.
The three tours are as follows. After completion, tour reports will be posted here so this blog is your one-stop shopping for tour reports and upcoming itineraries.
Birds on Tap -Roadtrip: Hawks and Hops! (Sunday, April 26th)
Originally scheduled for the prior week, we decided to postpone the tour. In doing so, we avoided a full day of rain and dense fog, and instead only complained about being overdressed in the bright sun and surging warmth. That was a win. And the birds cooperated for us today as well!
The delayed progression of the season and resultant slowed progress for many songbirds produced a rather quiet walk in the woods, although we had some good practice with the songs of Pine Warbler vs Chipping Sparrow, learned the songs and calls of several resident species, and watched a pair of Broad-winged Hawks moving through the woods and vocalizing repeatedly.
Taking the gentle one-mile Northern Loop Trail also gave us some time for some tree identification and made sure we weren’t too out of breath for our arrival at the summit. While we were talking about raptors during our walk, we now focused on the hawkwatch project, first at the count board with season numbers and averages, and then at the summit watch site, covering some of the science behind the project.
SONY DSC
It’s always a risk to offer a hawkwatch “workshop” since we can’t guarantee there will be birds in the air to talk about! But the weather was sure conducive to a flight today, and before long, we had hawks in the air. In just over an hour at the summit, we had workshop-worthy views of a variety of species both near and far. Low and close Sharp-shinned Hawk vs Cooper’s Hawk. A distant Broad-winged Hawk mobbing the much larger and a stronger Red-tailed Hawk. Close Turkey Vultures, several views of Bald Eagles from different altitudes and angles, and a stunning view of a low and close Northern Harrier. It was really a perfect sample of watch hawkwatching, and hawkcounting, is all about, and just as we were about to leave, a special treat: a lone Bohemian Waxwing dropped in and landed next to the summit, affording long close looks of this fantastic bird.
If it wasn’t for the temptation of beer, we may not have departed, but the draw of Maine Beer Company was too strong. We sipped a refreshing and clean Spring, their seasonal Kolsch-style ale while we split into two groups to get an overview of their impressive brewhouse. Next up was Lunch, their flagship West Coast IPA with its bright citrus notes and perfect balance with sweet tropical fruit and a slight resinous/pine dankness. It deserves all the awards and accolades bestowed upon it. And finally, a Nitro pour of Mean Old Tom was served, and we enjoyed a switch to roasty, nutty, coffee, and chocolate notes and talked about why that nitrogen makes this beer taste different (and in our opinions, much better!).
A short distance down the road, we then visited Goodfire Brewing. Goodfire has such a range of beer styles, all executed so well, that instead of the usual flight of samples, we enjoyed two half-pours of our own choice. Some of us, like myself, chose what we had not had from this underrated brewery. Others, quite a few who were brand new to Goodfire, often started with Prime, their thick and luscious New England IPA bursting with fruit juice flavors. Everything from an Italian Pilsner to a fruited sour to the brand new “Sierra Missed,” (a lager with lemongrass and lime leaf) were enjoyed by all. Meanwhile, we continued the discussion of birds, beer and beer brewing, and touched on many other topics of the modern world.
Birds On Tap℠ – Warblers and Wort (Sunday, May 10, 2026).
Chestnut-sided Warbler was a crowd-pleaser today.
This annual favorite usually visits both Evergreen Cemetery and Capisic Pond Park in Portland. It’s a good sign that we never made it to Capisic!
We arrived at Evergreen to find the main entrance unexpectedly closed. We relocated to a side entrance and began birding. Well, that worked out swimmingly! We soon stopped dead in our tracks with a group of busy Gray Catbirds, two stunning male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a cooperative Chestnut-sided Warbler. Then, while enjoying a Great-crested Flycatcher, we spotted an intriguing tanager. Following her across the cemetery, we finally had good views, and sure enough, we had indeed found a very rare Summer Tanager! Her bog, pale horn-colored bill, and light yellow-green body with virtually no contrast between the yellow-green wings and the rest of the upperparts finally yielded a conclusive identification before she launched up and away, heading for a far tree line. I had completely whiffed on photos – but if you want to see the branch she was on, I have a perfect photo of that!
The rare bird excitement subsiding, we finally made it to the pond, where we spent the next two and a half hours, not feeling the motivation to head anywhere else. Several pockets of warbler activity produced a total of 12 species, with just fantastic views of most of them, including American Redstart, Magnolia, Northern Parula, and our first two Wilson’s Warblers of the year. Newly arrived Lincoln’s Sparrows were noted, a small group of Ruby-crowned Kinglets were enjoyed, we heard an uncommon Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and we became familiar with the incredible camouflage of a Solitary Sandpiper. Ospreys with fish, Belted Kingfishers, and much more were seen well and thoroughly enjoyed. While it wasn’t the day legends our made of in spring migration, the diversity was good, and the consistently good views of many species were most welcome.
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Our first brewery stop was Foundation Brewing Company, known for its clean, focused approach to craft beer, with a strong reputation for hop-forward ales and thoughtfully balanced lagers. Their lineup often showcases precision and consistency, with beers that highlight both modern techniques and traditional brewing fundamentals. A visit to Foundation offers an opportunity to explore how attention to detail and quality ingredients come together to create approachable yet expressive beers that reflect Portland’s thriving craft scene. Co-owner and Head of Brewing Operations John Bonney joined us for a detailed explanation of Foundation’s wide range of styles. He described his brewing philosophy, beer interests, and learned how Foundation differentiates itself. Everyone selected their own flight, so we all sampled a wide range of styles. I refreshed with a crips Riverton Flyer, tried the Coffee Burnside (Brown) for the first time, noted the difference in the newly reformulated Afterglow IPA, before sipping on the 12th Anniversary DIPA, Prototype 12, with the big juicy hop notes followed by a crisp and clean finish from the use of lager yeast.
Then, we crossed town to Rising Tide Brewing Company, a cornerstone of Portland’s craft beer community since its early growth years and home of the Birds on Tap! Origin Story. With a diverse portfolio that ranges from crisp, easy-drinking favorites to bold, hop-driven offerings and seasonal specialties, Rising Tide emphasizes accessibility and craftsmanship. Their beers often reflect a balance between innovation and tradition, making them a great representation of the evolution of Maine’s brewing culture. Here, another self-chosen flight represented the spectrum. Of course, I had to include the flagship Maine Island Trail Ale, and, to keep the Birds on Tap theme alive, the juicy Puffin Party. Once again, there was something for everyone, showcasing the range of Portland’s craft brewers. There were a couple of Ospreys over head as well.
Birds on Tap℠ – Road Trip! Shorebirds and Steins (Sunday, August 16)
The original BoT Roadtrip! Way back in 2015, our most popular tour returned to Scarborough Marsh at prime time for a good variety of migrant shorebirds. We set out to learn how to identify our common species, and search for the rare, enjoying the birds of the shore as we studied our shorebirds (sandpipers and plovers).
This time, I decided to audible and begin with a non-shorebird. But a Thick-billed Murre – rare in Maine, unheard of in summer, and unreasonably reliable – has been spending the last month in and around the Pine Point area. I decided that, given the time and the tide, we would take a walk to Pine Point Beach to hope it was there.
And it was, across the river, but easily viewed through our spotting scopes! This local celebrity was just chillin, doing its thing, and thankfully being left alone.
Then we reverted to the task at hand, focusing on shorebirds: sandpipers and plovers. From the Pine Point Co-op and nearby Jones Creek, we began with shorebird basics and then started sorting through the masses. We spotted a family group of charismatic American Oystercatchers (as per request!) and enjoyed sorting through Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers nearly at our feet. We picked out an uncommon White-rumped Sandpiper from the multitudes and looked at several other species. After some time there, we stopped at the Pelreco Marsh, getting a chance to study Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs side-by-side, and adding three other species of shorebird to our list, bringing the morning’s tally to 11 species of plovers, sandpipers, and allies.
Christian took over the guiding lead as we arrived at the new Allagash Bungalow. No one in the group had been here before, so even driving through what used to be Scarborough Downs was eye-opening! We enjoyed our well-earned samples, starting with the world-famous flagship Allagash – the “most awarded white beer in the world.” New to most was the Maine Blueberry Ale with subtle but distinct notes of wild blueberries that shine through with the use of a neutral yeast. And finally, we sampled Two Lights, one of Allagash’s most popular summer beers which uses white wine must and champagne yeast to make a light but flavorful and complex refresher.
Allagash’s growth and preeminence in the Maine craft beer industry, along with the early trials and tribulations of the now-respected-as-visionary founder, makes for revealing story of one of the most influential breweries in Maine.
Our second brewery stop was Nonesuch River Brewing, only a few minutes away. While Allagash is known for their use of different yeasts to flavor their Belgisn style beers, Nonsuch is most known for their IPAs and lagers. Therefore, it was fun to see their range as we began with Patio Garden, their hefeweizen, where the flavor is dominated by esters from the yeast, with clove spiciness and banana being very forward.
We sipped My Beer to Be, a hazy IPA dominated by the candied tropical fruit flavors of Galaxy hops as we learned about the brewing process and the history of Nonesuch. A special treat – which I always love – is when the brewers bring out the base ingredients, as it is so instructive. Today, we tried a variety of malted barley (a few grains go a long way in producing a burst of flavor in your mouth) and took some deep inhales of hops to help understand the process. Finally, we enjoyed a taster of Space Ghost, which adds a variety of New Zealand-grown hops to Galaxy for an additional burst of flavor, and a much more gentle finish (to my palette).
On the short drive home, we summarized the birding day and took in the revealing history of beer brewing in Maine thanks to Christian’s expertise. While this was the last Birds on Tap Roadtrip of 2026, we look forward to gearing up the new Fort and Feathers Series this fall, beginning with our annual trip to House Island in October!
Our collaboration with Portland Explorer (formerly The Maine Brew Bus) enters its 12th season, and our collaboration continues with a new series of joint history and birding tours. These unique, relaxed birding and history adventures combine great local birding at seasonal hotspots with educational journeys through some of our local history. Join two experts in their field on this brand new collaboration! (Sorry, no beer tastings here!)
The three tours are as follows. After completion, tour reports will be posted here so this blog is your one-stop shopping for tour reports and upcoming itineraries.
Forts and Feathers: House Island!
Sunday, October 18.
A simply divine fall day greeted us as we boarded our boat for the short ride over to this privately owned island for not one, but two, exclusive tours!
First up was the birding, and immediately upon arrival, the number of Yellow-rumped Warblers this island hosts at this time of year became readily apparent. A Winter Wren was unexpected here and a Hermit Thrush put on a good show, as they don’t often do. Other migrants were limited to Song Sparrows, a couple of White-throated Sparrows, a single Dark-eyed Junco, and one Greater Yellowlegs. However, after hearing a couple of Pine Siskins earlier, we had a flock of 12 or so come zipping in from Cushing Island, passing over our heads and then onward towards Great Diamond Island – “visible migration” and the “morning redetermined migration” in action! Speaking of connections, we talked about the ecology and food resources offered by the island, especially the connection between the multitudes of Yellow-rumped Warblers and the island’s Northern Bayberry. Finding a rarity on the island will have to wait for another year.
Captain Pete then took over, teaching us about the island’s history before we headed inside to explore Fort Scammell. Despite this being my 4th visit to the fort, I was still dumbstruck by how pristine it is inside, and by Pete’s incredible wealth of knowledge and ability to articulate it all. Naval strategy, cannon size, and wartime life were among the topics. Seriously, forget the birding, hearing Pete is worth the trip!
We took a moment to visit with a roosting Big Brown Bat, too.
Back on the boat, we once again enjoyed a good study of plumage maturation in Common Loons, checked out Common Eiders, and were visited by this young Herring Gull who chose a unique perch and a most comical angle for study. The results are in: Herring Gulls are not ticklish, at least not through canvas.
We finished up at the dock with both Gray and Harbor Seals before heading our separate ways, already looking forward to the next visit to this special place, hidden in plain sight right in Portland Harbor.
But, wait, there’s even more!
The Rarity Roundup Van Tour 2026
Sunday, November 8.
The scene at the day’s “big twitch!”
Our final tour of the season was our newly-revamped Rarity Roundup Van Tour. Unlike previous incarnations, we didn’t have any scheduled brewery stops as part of our Birds on Tap Series, so we had complete flexibility in where we would be traveling.
As of early afternoon on the day before, I had no idea where I was going, as the only rarity stakeouts were unreasonably far. Then, the word broke that a state-first Cassin’s Kingbird was found on Parson’s Beach Road in Kennenbunk, and it was clear where our first destination was going to be.
The kingbird was seen at dawn, but by the time we arrived, it had not been seen for well over an hour. We waited patiently, then took a stroll down the road to the beach. Two late Great Egrets and a fly-over Snow Bunting were seen, and we enjoyed various waterbirds such as Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Common and Red-throated Loons, and we learned why those were not Gray Herons.
Just as we were about to start our walk back, I got a call that the kingbird was in sight and we hustled up the road to enjoy good views through a friend’s scope as we waited for it to become more visible. It did not, and after about 20 minutes, it was not in view. In fact, it was not seen for the rest of the day! Wow, we were lucky.
With a plan of “chase one/find one,” our next stop was in search of our own rarity, but the Saco Riverwalk only produced 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers and a smattering of sparrows. A couple of Biddeford Pool hotspots were fruitless (well, for bird; we had a good lesson on native fruit resources!), but a late linger pair of American Oystercatchers were soon seen along Ocean Avenue.
A growing diversity of waterbirds yielded good comparisons of Great and Double-crested Cormorants, some close Northern Gannets, and all three scoters among others. And throughout the day, van rides offered the chance to discuss topics such as migration, vagrancy, and why the heck we were driving around the state in early November.
We then “dipped” on the Back Cove Hudsonian Godwit back in Portland, but I wanted to end strong so I pulled out one of my secret rarity hotspots in the city, and it yielded 2-3 late Hermit Thrushes and this extremely late American Redstart, one of the rarest warblers to linger late in the season.
So, we finally found our (seasonal) rarity for the day, and then the word came in that the Hudsonian Godwit was back at Back Cove, so half the group caravanned over for one last “observation of note” on the day.
A state-first Cassin’s Kingbird, an increasingly rare Hudsonian Godwit, exceptionally late American Oystercatchers and an American Redstart, plus other notables such as 2 Great Egrets and 2-3 Hermit Thrushes. Not a bad list for 7 hours, and a sign that early November Rarity Season is when we expect the unexpected.
And with that, the 2026 Freeport Wild Bird Supply/Portland Explorer tour season has come to a close. Stay tuned, our 2027 schedule will be posted soon!
We were surprised to find a tarrying American Oystercatcher still hanging out on Upper Green Island (where we documented them breeding once again this summer) during our Birds of Casco Bay Boat Tour on the 6th.
My tour report from Monhegan, 9/26-9/30, including lots of rarity photos can now be viewed here. Sorry for the delay here, especially for those waiting for the trip list.
Then, my observations of note over the last seven days included the following:
Highlights from our Durham property this period included a Tennessee Warbler on 10/2, 1 Rusty Blackbird on 10/3, and 4 American Woodcocks on 10/7.
Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/1.
North to north-east winds are usually not very productive for the Morning Flight at Sandy Point, but the radar images showed a huge flight overnight, so I decided to give it a try. Good thing I did! A northwesterly component inland must have “stacked” birds up against the coast, where they were then influenced by the increasing northeasterly component offshore, producing a better than expected push across the channel. The more I observe the flight here, the more I have to learn! In the end, an unexpectedly good flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth, this morning.
6:38-10:00am
46F, Clear, N 8.2-10.4 increasing to NNE 13.3-16.9mph.
238 Cedar Waxwings
222 Yellow-rumped Warblers
73 Blue Jays
64 unidentified
39 Black-throated Green Warblers
35 Dark-eyed Juncos
34 Canada Geese
33 Northern Parulas
28 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
27 Palm Warblers
26 Savannah Sparrows
23 Blackpoll Warblers
16 White-throated Sparrow (3 may have crossed at first light)
14 Northern Flickers
12 American Robins
10 Golden-crowned Kinglets
9 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
9 Chipping Sparrows
6 Nashville Warblers
6 Rusty Blackbirds
6 American Goldfinches
5 Magnolia Warblers
3 Scarlet Tanagers
2 Common Loons
2 Ospreys
2 Cape May Warblers
2 Tufted Titmice (5+ false starts)
2 Hermit Thrushes
1 Pine Warbler
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 American Pipit
1 Baltimore Oriole
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Brown Creeper
1 Merlin
1 Blue-headed Vireo
1 Swamp Sparrow
1 Cooper’s Hawk
T= 959
2 Monarchs
Whale Watch with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor on 10/3: 15 NORTHERN FULMAR, 13 Great Shearwaters, 1 Cory’s Shearwater, 3 Red Phalaropes, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, etc.
1 DICKCISSEL, garden here at the store, 10/4 (with m.obs).
Freeport Wild Bird Supply/Cap’n Fish’s Cruises ½ Day Pelagic out of Boothbay Harbor on 10/5 was incredible. Highlights included 18 Northern Fulmar, 29 Atlantic Puffins, 1 Pomarine Jaeger, 55 Great Shearwaters, 2 Razorbills, 54+ Red-necked Phalaropes, 3 Red Phalaropes, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Peregrine Falcon driving an Ovenbird into the ocean, and a playful pod of Common Dolphins. Full trip report with photos soon.
1 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Upper Green Island; photo above), 125+ Laughing Gulls, 126 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, etc, Casco Bay, 10/6, via Birds of Casco Bay boat tour with Seacoast Tours (Photo above).
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!). But this time we’re leaving the van in the garage, and hitting the water! That’s right, we’re taking a cruise, and we’re returning to the private House Island in Porland Harbor twice in 2025.
During last year’s wildly successful outing in which we became the first birding group ever on the island, we found oodles of Yellow-rumped Wabrlers, an uncommon Field Sparrow, and other migrants. But we were truly captivated by Captain Pete, who guided us through the historic fort, sharing a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating stories. The beer was pretty darn good too, as we sampled the history of Maine’s craft beer scene.
Building on that success, we’re visiting the private House Island in Portland Harbor twice in 2025. We’ve been granted special permission to come ashore and scour the island here in the peak of fall migration. We’ll follow well-maintained trails through the island’s mosaic of open habitats, scrub, and young woods. These are great habitats to search for a variety of migrants, and perhaps even a rarity!
Returning in late October, once again rarities will be on our mind. While rare birds are rare, we are still going to expect the unexpected. But more likely are regular migrants of the season such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, a variety of sparrows, and a growing diversity of waterbirds. At the very least, we’ll have resident waterbirds and several species of gulls to sort through. We are having daydreams of a rare flycatcher!
As we motor back across the harbor, we’ll continue to familiarize ourselves with some of the common waterbirds, such as Common Eiders, Common Loons, and the vanguard of our winter diving ducks while enjoying a local craft beverage produced in the city of Portland. While the exact plan is subject to change, we’ll be sure to come up with a plan to adequately celebrate our discoveries – or the one that got away!
For the last 13 summers now, hybrid herons have occurred in Scarborough Marsh, with one individual continuing this summer. Likely also present last summer, this bird is significantly darker on the neck and back than the only bird present from about 2021 to 2023, possibly suggesting yet another backcross (Gen 4?) with Tricolored Heron (especially when observed with its breeding plumes earlier in the summer). It does appear quite similar to my proposed 2nd or 3erd generation Tricolored Heron x Snowy Egret x Little Egret that was present from 2016 to at least 2020, so it could possibly by the same bird (Labeled 3A in my article Hybrid Herons of Maine from my North American Birds article in 2021, Volume 72, Number 3. At this point, I believe the hybrids are best described as “Tricolored Heron x small white Egretta species,” or, “Patches” as I dubbed it and most birders refer to it now. Whatever it is, this year’s individual cooperated for me along the Eastern Road Trail on the 26th.
It was another busy period for me, with most of my mornings spent only birding our property before work. Luckily, the yard has been fantastic as it turns out to be this time of year, with a nice variety of migrants, and lots of local breeders fattening up on our plentiful Black Cherry trees. Some of the migrants detected this week included a Prairie Warbler on 8/19, a Swainson’s Thrush on 8/20, Canada Warbler on 8/21, Cape May Warbler 8/24-25, a single Common Nighthawk at dusk on 8/26, and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER on 8/27.
Otherwise, it was a weekend trip to Bar Harbor and a shorebird little-big day on the 26th that kept me going, with the following observations of note over the past 10 days.
1 continuing COMMON GALLINULE, Essex Marsh, Bangor, 8/22 (with Bill Thompson).
The big adventure this week was the 12-hour pelagic/whale watch out of Bar Harbor with Flukes and Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co to Cashes Ledge in the Gulf of Maine. I’ll leave the complete checklist to others, but my highlights from the trip were the total of 33* Leach’s Storm-Petrels, repeated great view of a total of 15* Pomarine Jaegers, the feeding frenzy of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels (day total of 1,573*) at Ammen Ledge, and the scattered flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes.
Pomarine Jaeger (above) and Great Shearwater (below)
2 Horned Grebes (oversummering or really early?) and 2 Red Crossbills, Hollingsworth Trail, Petit Manan NWR, Steuben, 8/24 (with Bill Thompson).
2 FORSTER’S TERNS, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/26.
2-3 continuing adult RED-NECKED GREBES, Ocean Avenue, Biddeford Pool, 8/26.
1 continuing postulated TRICOLORED HERON X SMALL WHITE EGRETTA SPP, aka “Patches,” Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/26. Photo and notes above.
Fueled by a 19 shorebird species day on the 26th, I tallied 22 species of shorebirds this week, with my high counts over these past 10 days (see last week’s post for explanation) being the following:
American Oystercatcher: 7 (4 ad, 3 juv), Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/26 (with Noah Gibb and Stacey Huth).
Black-bellied Plover: 156, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/26.
Killdeer: 46, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick, 8/25.
