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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yellow-rumped Warblers increased significantly this week. I am certain that this stunning bird would be more people’s favorite warbler if they weren’t so darn abundant! This spiffy male was one of at least 40 at Florida Lake Park in Freeport on the 22nd.
Migration ground to a halt this week, with a more wintery weather pattern and few nights conducive to nocturnal migration. Not surprisingly, my limited observations of notes this week were mostly of a more “wintery” variety.
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue to be common and widespread this week, although they seem to be rapidly clearing out now. Nonetheless, I had 14 at Community Park in Wells on 4/19, 16 here at the store on 4/19, 15 that joined me at the Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch on 4/21.
2 Evening Grosbeaks, Meadow Road, Durham, 4/23.
My few personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week included:
1 Willet, Harbor Road, Wells, 4/19.
1 Eastern Towhee, Community Park, Wells, 4/19.
11 RUDDY DUCKS, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 4/21.
1 Eastern Meadowlark, Davis Road, Durham, 4/24 (even though they have been present here, and most other places, for several weeks now).
However, migrant numbers built up slowly but steadily this week. Some high counts included numerous widespread Savannah Sparrows in Wells and Ogunquit on 4/19; 36 Palm Warblers at the Topsham Ponds Trails on 4/21; 40+ Yellow-rumped Warblers at Florida Lake Park on 4/22; 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglets at Morgan Meadow WMA on 4/24. Meanwhile, up to 11 Yellow-rumped Warblers are now at our feeders at home in Durham.
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 5 report, including our biggest flight of the season to date.
***POSTPONED due to weather to THIS SUNDAY – April 26, 2026; 9:00am – 3:00pm. There are now a few spaces open!”***
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.
Jeannette and I had a great weekend of Bohemian Waxwing quality time, including this photo session at University of Maine – Orono’s Littlefield Garden on 4/6.
Apparently, Jeannette and I weren’t ready for spring yet, as we used a few days off to go further north, back into (on those days) winter and winter birds! Nonetheless, new arrivals are showing up regularly, and the radar on the night of 4/8-4/9 showed the first substantial migration of the season. These are my observations of note over the past 6 days.
1 Rusty Blackbird, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 4/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were the bird of the trip for Jeannette and I as we spent two nights in Bangor over our weekend. We started with 35 on Rte 9 in Lisbon on our drive north on 4/5 followed by a flock of 15-20 that flew by the window of Timber Kitchen and Bar in Bangor as we enjoyed a scrumptious brunch. On 4/6, we had 23 at the Littlefield Gardens on the University of Maine – Orono campus, a total of 30 at Saxl Park in Bangor, and then 38 at Essex Marsh. We were sad to not keep the streak alive as we worked our way back home the next day!
3 Evening Grosbeaks, Littlefield Gardens, University of Maine – Orono, 4/6 (with Jeannette).
Searched the Corrina-Newport area for the Pink-footed Goose that hadn’t been reported for a few days on 4/7 and found a mere 28 Canada Geese. Plenty of migrant waterfowl on lakes and ponds, however, the highlight of which was 533 Ring-necked Ducks, etc, on Corinna Marsh (with Jeannette).
My other personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week included:
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 4/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
1 Pied-billed Grebe, Florida Lake Park, 4/4 (with Saturday Morning 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 3 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.
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.
Bill Thompson and I birded from Bowdoinham through Gardiner on Tuesday, seeking migrant waterfowl and especially Bohemian Waxwings. We hit paydirt while working the side roads in downtown Gardiner, finding a flock of 110 (with 1-2 Cedars) feeding on multiflora rose behind a parking lot on Summer Street. They were, how shall we say, cooperative. A couple of short phone videos of our experience can be seen here.Of course, the next day, 30-40 were right outside the store!
Last week I was lamenting that I have not had enough Bohemian Waxwing time this winter. Happily, that changed this week! My BOWA-laden observations of note over the past seven days included:
1 Fish Crow, Cumberland Town Landing, 3/21 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
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.
There has been an unusual amount of Brant in and around Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth over the past week, with some counts well over 100 birds. I only tallied 59 on 3/20, but enjoyed some close studies and photo ops.
Happy to be back to “normal,” I got out a few times this week in addition to spending time at the Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch. It was nice to be birding again in the north, catching up with some winter favorites before they depart. And of course, enjoying each and every new arrival. My observations of note over the past seven days included the following:
Zane somehow managed some phone-scoped “doc-shots” of the eagle. Luckily, it was much closer when we first saw it. But even in these shots, you can see the distinct dihedral, and the relatively small head and overall shape of this magnificent bird.
1 Red Crossbill and 17 Razorbills, Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth, 3/20.
1 adult Iceland Gull and 2 Razorbills, Trundy Point, Cape Elizabeth, 3/20.
1 continuing 1st-cycle Glaucous Gull, Mill Creek Cove, South Portland, 3/20 (with Bill Thompson).
Pine Siskins arrived this week, with widespread small numbers around the area now. I tallied 28 northbound from the Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch during the morning of the 15th.
Other personal “first of years” (aka “FOYs”) this week included:
1 American Woodcock, our property in Durham, 3/13.
3 Brown-headed Cowbirds, our feeders in Durham, 3/13.
1 Killdeer, Brown’s Point Road, Bowdoinham, 3/17 (with Jeannette).
The pair of Peregrine Falcons that have been overwintering in Lewiston-Auburn for the past decade or so continue to frequent the area around the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge and Cedar Street, as here on the 10th.
I’ve been spending extended time feeder watching at home in preparation for my upcoming annual “Feeder Birds in Winter” snapshot blog. Unfortunately, we are not being frequented by as many winter finches as a lot of people are right now, but it’s been an interesting project once again. I’ll have a blog posted in the coming days. A few birding mornings elsewhere yielded some following observations of note.
1 pair Barrow’s Goldeneye, Winslow Park, Freeport, 2/13.
At least one Turkey Vulture continues along the I-295 corridor between Cumberland and Freeport as of this week.
This Week in Irruptives.
An absolutely incredible Saturday Morning Birdwalk on the 7th included a most-unexpected tally of 7 species of winter finches – which was wholly unexpected given the dearth of most finches locally! The “Winter Finch Big Day” that developed was actually a secondary goal, with the original one: 20 species of birds in Freeport, west of I-295 only (and therefore no open water) also being reached. This was an outing that will not soon be forgotten. Highlights included 8 PINE GROSBEAKS and 26 COMMON REDPOLLS at Hidden Pond Preserve in Freeport and 16 EVENING GROSBEAKS at the Old Brunswick Road/Ross Road intersection in Durham. We also had Pine Siskins at two locations, two feeders full of Purple Finches, and of course found some House Finches and American Goldfinches to pad the list. Full trip report can be seen here.
Purple Finches have increased overall this week, and Evening Grosbeaks continue to be around, but rather sporadic. One Pine Siskin flew over our Durham yard on the 12th.
Maine Birding Field Notes 