Tag Archives: Barrow’s Goldeneye

This (Two) Week’s Highlights 12/20– 1/2/2026.

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This Rufous Hummingbird graced a Bath yard for almost two months. The story below.

Life in retail during the holiday season, followed by a trip to the Motherland of New Jersey for Christmas resulted in limited Maine birding for me over the past two weeks. However, a couple of good days in the field here in Maine produced several observations of note:

  • Recent ice and more snow resulted in a nice little surge of Dark-eyed Juncos and American Goldfinches into our Durham yard. A male Purple Finch on ½ was the first I have seen locally in at least a month, and a Northern Flicker dropped in on 12/30.
  • 1 continuing drake Green-winged Teal and 1+ Fish Crow, Auburn Riverwalk, 12/23.
  • 2 drake and one hen BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, Bernard Lowne Peace Bridge, Auburn-Lewiston, 12/30 (with Kelley Sharp)
  • 3 Fish Crows and 1 1st-cycle Iceland Gull, Auburn Riverwalk, Auburn, 12/30 (with Kelley Sharp).
  • 1 pair American Wigeon, Rockland waterfront, 1/1 (with Jeannette).

Rufous Hummingbird in Bath, 10/31-12/26, 2025.

A Rufous Hummingbird arrived in a Bath yard on Halloween. And she stayed until the 26th of December! These birds are just incredible! Unfortunately, it was not in a yard that was conducive to visitation, so we had to keep the sighting under wraps. I really am sincerely sorry about that, but the homeowner’s rights and the bird’s welfare will always be put first and foremost with us. But it was well photographed, well studied, and well monitored. Here’s the story, identification particulars, and more.

BELATED: A Rufous Hummingbird in Bath (posted 12/29/25)

Massive Robin Roost in New Jersey!

We only had one morning for birding after visiting family, and we chose to spend it with an estimated 100,000 American Robins!

It was awesome and I hope these videos do it a modicum of justice! This was in Oldwick, NJ, discovered by Evan Obercian (yup, a birding friend of mine since high school who also now lives in Maine!) around 2021 (although he heard of a former roost not far away before this one). This was the largest gathering he has seen, at least around Christmastime. We just enjoyed the show, but he recently made the estimate (based on counting sample minutes and extrapolating). There were also about 1,000 European Starlings – look for a couple of dense flocks exiting the leaning bamboo during the videos. A few hundred Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were also present (mostly exited before sunrise in the first video), and Jeannette and I picked out a single Hermit Thrush. 3 Cooper’s Hawks and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were present, but they too seemed to be overwhelmed by the masses!

The videos can be seen here:

New Year Predictions Blog!

I know you are waiting with bated breath, but I’ll publish this soon. Of course, when I am delayed in getting it posted, something really rare shows up! So keep you eyes open!

This Week’s Highlights 12/13– 12/19/2025.

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These tarrying drake Green-winged Teal were snoozing in the Mallard flock along the Auburn Riverwalk on the 16th (above) and at Mill Creek Cove in South Portland on the 18th (below).  I don’t like to disturb birds, so I have lots of sleeping duck photos! I enjoy the calmness of it, and one can really take in the intricacies of the rest of the plumage that way.

A frigid start to the week yielded to a warming trend by week’s end. Will we see a “stirring of the pot” with the warm-up and upcoming storm system? My observations of note from the past seven days included concentrating waterfowl and a brutal, but productive day on the Southern York County CBC. Here are the highlights:

  • 1 drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (first of season locally), Broad Cove Preserve, Cumberland, 12/13 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • Southern York County CBC, 12/15: Moody Sector with Jeannette:

2,168 individuals of 54 species, led by 440 Mallards, 272 Canada Geese, and 258 European Starlings. Landbirds – especially resident “yard birds” – and oceanfront waterbirds were insanely low, even given challenges of a bitter cold day with strong winds. Almost all landbirds besides starlings, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, and Song Sparrow were very low for us. Exceptions include a very high count of 23 Yellow-rumped Warblers (Ogunquit Beach dunes) and a total of 28 Horned Larks. Nonetheless, our roster of notable birds was above recent average, with highlights including:

_2_ ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (been a long time for us in this territory! Only 2nd time there was been more than on on this CBC!) one dark morph (probable immature) and 1 light morph immature, both seen soaring and hunting late in the afternoon from the north end of the Footbridge parking lot. Dark-morph spotted around 2:30pm, and seen again at about 3:30pm when the light morph appeared. We lost the dark morph, but the light bird eventually glided overhead and disappeared over the treeline, heading south.

1 KILLDEER, Ogunquit River Marsh from Bourne Ave

2 hen and 1 drake NORTHERN PINTAIL, Ogunquit Rivermouth

2+ Red Crossbills, flying over Bourne Ave.

1 Savannah Sparrow, Furbish Ave.

13 Sanderlings, Ogunquit Beach.

  • 2+ Fish Crows, Anniversary Park, Auburn, and 2-3 along Auburn Riverwalk, 12/16 (see last week’s Highlights for a FICR discussion).
  • 1 drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL, Auburn Riverwalk, 12/16. Photo above.
  • 16 Snow Buntings, North River Road (in parking lot next to boat launch), Auburn, 12/16.
  • 1 Swamp Sparrow, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 12/17
  • 1 Evening Grosbeak, here at the store, 12/17.
  • 2 drake GADWALLS, 1 continuing pair Green-winged Teal, and 1 1st-cycle Iceland Gull, Mill Creek Cove, South Portland, 12/18 (photos above and below).

This hen Green-winged Teal, her plumage no less detailed and intricate than the male’s, was also dozing at Mill Creek Cove on the 18th. She woke up and took a swim though!

Recent Highlights, 3/15-3/21/2025.

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It wasn’t a very photogenic week, but I did snap this phone-scoped shot of a Bald Eagle feasting on a Red-breasted Merganser through the fog off Eastern Road on the 20th.

Spring made only slow progress this week, but some early migrants and other new arrivals, along with a few seasonal highlights were among my observations of note over the past seven days:

  • Our overwintering Fox Sparrow at home in Durham was joined by a second on the 15th. 1-2 continued through the week’s end. Meanwhile, the overwintering Fox Sparrow here at the store continued through 3/16. With more migrants moving around now, I’ll forgo further Fox Sparrow reports. But it was quite nice to have birds overwinter at both of our feeding stations this year – a first for us at either location.
  • 3 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES (1 pair and 1 female), Winslow Park, Freeport, 3/15 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 5 Wood Ducks (FOS), Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 3/16.
  • 2 American Woodcocks (FOY), our property in Durham, 3/16.
  • 1 pair Gadwall, 14 Northern Pintail (FOS), 10 American Wigeon, 75 Green-winged Teal, etc, Mouth of the Abby, Bowdoinham, 3/18 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Northern Saw-Whet Owl (FOY), our property in Durham, 3/19. Yard Bird #155!
  • 2 Savannah Sparrows (FOS), 34 Lesser Scaup, 3 Northern Pintails, etc, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 3/20.
  • 14 Gadwall, Pelreco marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 3/20.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

The 19th season of the Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch started last weekend. Free and open to the public, we welcomed Zane Baker back for his 7th season as Official Counter. 9-5 every day, weather permitting. The first week was highlighted by a great first day and two Black Vulture sightings.

Daily counts will be posted here and weekly summaries will be posted here.

Upcoming Tours:

Woodcocks Gone Wild: Saturday, March 29th. Call for waitlist.

This Week’s Highlights, 2/22 – 2/28/2025

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These three female Greater Scaup appeared with the Mallard flock off of the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge between Lewiston and Auburn last week, and continued through the 25th

I had an excellent week of late-winter birding this week, with a nice mix of overwintering birds and some new, spring-like arrivals. Towards week’s end, birdsong from our resident species increased dramatically, and winter concentrations of waterfowl are beginning to disperse. But – at the risk of sounding a little corny – I have to say, showing people their first ever Harlequin Duck is always a winter highlight for me! It was also nice to have a tour run, and not postponed or cancelled due to weather. My observations of note over the past seven days included the following:

  • The single Fox Sparrows continues here at the store, and our one at our Durham feeders reappeared in the snow on the 27th after being absent for a few days.
  • At least 2 Turkey Vultures continue in the Cumberland-Freeport corridor of I-295. Part of the local overwintering flock (up to 15 total roosting in Brunswick at the peak), the first northbound migrants of spring are now arriving. This appears to now be a year-round species along Maine’s southern coast, as birds have overwintered locally for the last three years.
  • 1 drake GADWALL, Falmouth Town Landing, Falmouth, 2/22 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 4 Brant (FOY), Dyer Point, Cape Elizabeth, 2/23 (with Birds on Tap – Roadtrip! Tour group).
  • 1 Merlin and 1 Horned Lark, Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth, 2/23 (with Birds on Tap – Roadtrip! Tour group).
  • Full trip report here.
  • 1 Northern Shrike (FOY/3rd of winter), Bridge St, Newfield, 2/24 with Jeannette).
  • 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 1 Winter Wren, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 2/24 (with Jeannette).
  • 2 continuing drake Green-winged Teal and 3 continuing female Greater Scaup, Anniversary Park – Bernard Lown Peace Bridge area, Auburn-Lewiston, 2/25 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 continuing hen AMERICAN WIGEON and 3 Barrow’s Goldeneyes (1 pair plus 1 immature male), Winslow Park, Freeport, 2/26.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

We’re only two weeks away from the start of our 19th season! Free and open to the public, we welcome Zane Baker back for his record 7th season as Official Counter. 9-5 every day, weather permitting. More information and a link to counts can be found here.

Upcoming Tours:

  1. Woodcocks Gone Wild: Saturday, March 29th.  Registration and more information is here.

This Week’s Highlights, 2/1 – 2/8/2025

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This Greater White-fronted Goose has been making the rounds in Greater Portland this winter, most recently hanging out along Shoreline Drive in Falmouth, where I stopped by to visit it on the 2nd.

It sure feels and looks like winter out there now, but there are still quite a few “lingering” species to add to our usual winter mix. Here are my observations of note over the past seven days:

  • The GRAY CATBIRD that has been at our feeders since January 2nd was last seen on February 2nd. Hopefully it has just moved on as Winterberry and other fruits in and around our property have been exhausted.
  • 1 Fox Sparrow (continuing since early December) continue at our feeders in Durham.
  • 1 Fox Sparrow (since 12/21) continues here at the store through week’s end as well.
  • 1-2 Turkey Vultures continue in the Cumberland-Freeport corridor of I-295.
  • 10 Greater Scaup, Falmouth Town Landing, 2/2.
  • 1-2 Swamp Sparrows, Tidewater Preserve, Falmouth, 2/2.
  • 1 continuing GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, Shoreline Drive, Falmouth, 2/2. Refound at this location by Lauren diBaccari and Alex Lamoreaux on 1/30.
  • 1 drake Barrow’s Goldeneye and 45 Dunlin, Back Cove, Portland, 2/7.
  • 4 Greater Scaup, Eastern Promenade, Portland, 2/7.
  • 1 drake Green-winged Teal, Mill Creek Cove, South Portland, 2/7.

Upcoming Tours

1.Winter Waterbirds Workshop with Down East Adventures: THIS SUNDAY, February 9 POSTPONED. New date TBA.

2. Gull Identification Workshop: Freeport, Saturday, February 15, 2025 (1:00-4:00pm) and Part II in Portland: Sunday, February 16, 2025 (8:00am-12:00pm).

3. Our Birds on Tap – Roadtrip “Harlequins and Hops!” scheduled FOR 2/2 was postponed due to the dangerously cold weather until Sunday, February 23rd. A handful of spaces are now open for the new date.

This Week’s Highlights, 1/28-1/31/2025

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This handsome drake Green-winged Teal was with a relatively small flock of Mallards
along the Auburn Riverwalk on the 30th.

We returned from our winter vacation late Monday night, and most of the week was spent catching up. But of course, I needed to catch up on some local birds as well. Not surprisingly, waterfowl continue to concentrate with the growth of ice cover on rivers and sheltered upper corners of the bay. Here are a few observations of note over the past 4 days.

  • 1 GRAY CATBIRD (continuing since 1/2) and 1 Fox Sparrow (continuing since early December) continue at our feeders in Durham.
  • 1 Fox Sparrow (since 12/21) continues sporadically at the feeders here at the store, but has become more regular in the latter half of this week.
  • 1 drake WOOD DUCK, Bernard Lown Peace Bridge, Lewiston/Auburn, 1/30 (likely same bird as Jeannette and I found at the North River Road Boat Launch on 1/13).
  • 1 continuing drake RING-NECKED DUCK, Bernard Lown Peace Bridge, Lewiston/Auburn, 1/30. First observed at the Lincoln Street Riverfront Park on 1/14.
  • 1 hen WOOD DUCK, Anniversary Park, Auburn, 1/30.
  • 1 drake Green-winged Teal, Auburn Riverwalk, 1/30/2025
  • The Winslow Park Barrow’s Goldeneye flock increased to 8 by 1/31 with 4 females, 3 males, and 1 immature male.
  • 1 female COMMON EIDER spp BOREALIS, Winslow Park, Freeport, 1/31.
  • Still some Turkey Vultures in the area, despite the severe cold spells.

Upcoming Tours

1. Our Birds on Tap – Roadtrip “Harlequins and Hops!” scheduled for this Sunday, 2/2 has been postponed due to the dangerous cold weather until Sunday, February 23rd.

2. Winter Waterbirds Workshop with Down East Adventures: Sunday, February 9.

3. Gull Identification Workshop: Freeport, Saturday, February 15, 2025 (1:00-4:00pm) and Part II in Portland: Sunday, February 16, 2025 (8:00am-12:00pm).

This Week’s Highlights, 1/11 to 1/17/2025

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Nothing can brighten up a cold, gray winter’s day like a drake Wood Duck! This hardy drake was toughing it out amongst the Mallards at the North River Road Boat Launch in Auburn on the 13th.

“Lingering” seasonal rarities and concentrating waterfowl with the growth of river and lake ice this week produced some great mid-January birds despite limited dedicated birding outings.

  • The Fox Sparrow continues at the store since 12/21, but has been very sporadic this week.
  • 1 GRAY CATBIRD and 1 Fox Sparrow continue at our feeders in Durham through week’s end.
  • At least two Turkey Vultures continued in the I-295 corridor between Brunswick and Cumberland, and scattered others continue in the area as well.
  • 4 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, Winslow Park, Freeport, 1/11 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 2 Swamp Sparrows, 1 Hermit Thrush, and 1 Northern Flicker, Village Crossings/Cape Elizabeth Greenbelt Trail, Cape Elizabeth, 1/12.
  • 1 drake WOOD DUCK, North River Road Boat Launch, Auburn, 1/13 (with Jeannette). Photo above.
  • 1 drake Ring-necked Duck, Lincoln Street Riverfront park, Lewiston, 1/14.
  • 2 Northern Flickers, Cedar Pond Road, Durham, 1/16.
  • 1 Rough-legged Hawk, Portland Jetport, 1/17.

Upcoming Tours

  1. Birds on Tap – Roadtrip! “Harlequins and Hops” Sunday, February 2nd: https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/birds-on-tap

2. Winter Waterbirds Workshop with Down East Adventures: Sunday, February 9: https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/downeast-adventures-tours

3. Gull Identification Workshop: Freeport, Saturday, February 15, 2025 (1:00-4:00pm) and Part II in Portland: Sunday, February 16, 2025 (8:00am-12:00pm). https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/workshops-and-programs

This Week’s Highlights, 1/4 to 1/10/2025

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This spiffy adult Red-shouldered Hawk in Freeport on the 10th was a nice finale to a pleasant
morning of birding with a friend.

Well, that was one windy and bitterly cold week, wasn’t it? Strong winds most days precluded productive birding, or at the very least, precluded motivation to do much birding!  Feeder-watching was the name of the game on many mornings for me, but despite the cold, “half-hardies” dominated the highlights for me, and for most birders around the state. Lighter winds on Saturday and Friday, relatively speaking, allowed for some much more enjoyable and productive birding.

  • Single Fox Sparrows continued through week’s end at our feeders both at home in Durham and here at the store.
  • 2 Turkey Vultures continued in the I-295 corridor between Brunswick and Cumberland into the New Year, and scattered others continue in the area.
  • There was a nice influx of American Robins into the area this week, with some large flocks arriving. Single-flock high count of 138 over the Yarmouth Town Landing on 1/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group). Keep an eye out for vagrants among them!
  • 1 GRAY CATBIRD, continued from last week at our feeders in Durham through week’s end.
  • 1 drake Barrow’s Goldeneye, Broad Cove Preserve, Cumberland, 1/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 Northern Flicker, McGraw Park, Lewiston, 1/5.
  • 1 female Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bull Rock Road Boat Launch, West Bath, 1/10 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 1 continuing female Northern Pintail, Maine Street Pump Station, Brunswick, 1/10 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 1 adult Red-shouldered Hawk, Murch Road, Freeport, 1/10 (with Dan Nickerson). Photo above.

2025 Tours

Most of our tours and workshops for 2025 are now posted and accepting registration. Several others will be available by the end of next week.

Upcoming Tours

1.Winter Waterbirds Workshop with Down East Adventures: Sunday, February 9: https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/downeast-adventures-tours

2. Gull Identification Workshop: Freeport, Saturday, February 15, 2025 (1:00-4:00pm) and Part II in Portland: Sunday, February 16, 2025 (8:00am-12:00pm): https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/workshops-and-programs

This Week’s Highlights, 12/21– 12/28/2024

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With temperatures in the single digits, this Carolina Wren seemed to be questioning the concept of range expansion in Cape Elizabeth in the early morning on the 22nd.

With the final days of the holiday shopping season and a couple of days out of state for Christmas, my birding was rather limited this week. I did have several productive mornings, however with seasonal observations of note.

  • 1 Fox Sparrow appeared/re-appeared at the store’s feeders on 12/21 and continued through at least 12/23. One also returned/arrived at our feeders in Durham on 12/23.
  • Although far from rare, a Red-necked Grebe was a highlight for me during our Saturday Morning Birdwalk on 12/21 as it fed close by within the marina at the South Freeport Town Wharf, offering exceptional views.
  • While Swamp Sparrows aren’t all that rare along the south coast this time of year, 4 at Village Crossings/Cape Elizabeth Green Belt Trail on 12/22 was of note. And speaking of things that are not all that rare around here in December anymore, a Hermit Thrush and Northern Flicker were also present.
  • 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, Sebago Lake State Park, 12/23 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, Bernard Lown Peace Bridge, Auburn, 12/27.
  • 36 Horned Larks, Upper Street, Turner, 12/27.
  • Yup, still scattered Turkey Vultures around, with at least two regular in the I-295 corridor here in Freeport.

This Week’s Highlights, 11/30– 12/6/2024

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There were very few birds along the Stud Mill Road east of Old Town on the 4th, but happily, one of them was this Northern Shrike.

A wintery week produced a very wintery slate of highlights, thanks in part to our trip north on our annual last-weekend-before-store-chaos overnight in Bangor. A push of facultative migrants with the arrival of snowcover was very evident this week as well. Here are my observations of note over the past 7 days:

  • 1 adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Broad Cove Preserve, Cumberland, 11/30 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 192 Ruddy Ducks, 40 Green-winged Teal, 2 American Wigeon, 1 Northern Pintail, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Belted Kingfishers, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 12/1. A distant raft may have been scaup.
  • 1 female Red-winged Blackbirds, feeders here at the store, 12/1.
  • 1 Merlin, Wyman Road, Benton, 12/2 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Double-crested Cormorant, Shamut Dam, Benton, 12/2 (with Jeannette).
  • 1+ Lapland Longspur, 86 Horned Larks, and 24+ Snow Buntings, River Road, Benton, 12/2 (with Jeannette). Another distant flock of 75+ Snow Buntings appeared to contain several more Lapland Longspurs.
  • 1 female Greater Scaup, Sebasticook Lake, Newport, 12/2 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Barrow’s Goldeneye (FOS), Stillwater River at University of Maine-Orono, 12/2 (with Jeannette).
  • 2 Canada Jays and 2 Evening Grosbeaks, Sunkhaze NWR, 12/3 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Northern Shrike, Stud Mill Road, Penobscot County, 12/3 (with Jeannette).
  • Amazingly devoid of birds, 5 hours of birding Sunkhaze-Stud Mill (walking trails plus driving) yielded only 9 species. The only finch were the two grosbeaks, and not surprisingly, the cone crop of spruce, fir, and Eastern White Pine was non-existent. 
  • 2 female Red-winged Blackbirds, our feeders in Durham, 12/4.
  • 3 Fox Sparrows, feeders at the store on 12/3 and continued through the end of the week. Jayden had 2 on Monday the 2nd here, with the third arriving the next day.
  • 20 Snow Buntings, Hunter Road Fields, Freeport, 12/5.
  • 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Saco Riverwalk, 12/6.