The Yarmouth MacGillivray’s Warbler has been hanging out since November 2nd, but its skulky nature makes it hard to photograph. The few fuzzy, out-of-focus photos I have obtained don’t do this gem justice, so I am “borrowing” these from Bill Thompson. Because he’s really, really good at this.
Rarity season continues, but I was a little more limited in my birding this week – other than a few “professional chases,” so I didn’t add to the roster of vagrants currently being seen. However, I did have some notable observations here and there over the course of the past seven days.
Sabattus Pond waterfowl on 11/7 including 341 Ruddy Ducks, 98 Green-winged Teal, 97 Lesser Scaup, 40 Greater Scaup, 6 American Wigeon, 3 Gadwalls, etc. 1 Rusty Blackbird was also present.
1 continuing MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER, Grist Mill Park, Yarmouth, 11/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group). Originally found on 11/2 by Noah Gibb and Stacey Huth, it had been present all week, and we had a great (and unusually efficient) visit with it on our birdwalk. It was the 255th all-time species encountered on our Saturday Morning Birdwalks!
Back to Grist Mill Park for the still-continuing MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER on 11/9 with my Birds on Tap Roadtrip! “Rarity Roundup” tour. We found it within seconds of our arrival on the entrance path, foraging for the second day in a row in a patch of cultivated Pink Turtlehead.
2 Fish Crows, Anniversary Park, Auburn, 11/10 (with Jeannette).
1 Rusty Blackbird and 2 Red Crossbills, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 11/12.
1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING (first of fall), over the store with American Robins, 11/12.
The deceiving very Little Egret-like Little Egret x Snowy Egret hybrid is back for another season on the Portland-Falmouth waterfront. Jeannette and I saw it for the first time this year at Tidewater Farm Preserve in Falmouth on the 14th. Details below.
My birding was limited during this period, unfortunately, especially considering a significant “overshooting” event from the most recent storm. Southern vagrants and some exceptionally early arrivals were detected. Unfortunately, we were out of town for the days in which most of the rarities were detected early this week. I did try to make up for it by finding something later in the week, but I struck out.
Overall feeder activity decreased as the snow receded, but we noticed an uptick in Purple Finches and Pine Siskins in our yard in Durham, along with the arrival of Pine Warblers at our feeders in Durham and here at the store. My other observations of note over the past nine days included:
1 LITTLE EGRET X SNOWY EGRET HYBRID, Tidewater Farm Preserve, Falmouth, 4/14 (with Jeannette). Back for another year, this very Little Egret-like individual is a tricky and misleading ID at any distance. Luckily, it was close to the point today, providing great studies. In the photo above, you can see the very long, LIEG-like plumes. Also apparent today in comparison to a nearby SNEG was the slightly longer and thinner bill and the somewhat thinner and more elegant neck, and it did appear to be a touch larger overall. However, up close, you can see the handful of wispy, SNEG-plumes on the back of the head and neck, and in most lights, the lores gave a distinctly yellowish appearance, especially near the eye.
Additional personal first-of-years this week were limited to:
1 Chipping Sparrow, feeders here at the store, 4/13.
1 Field Sparrow, our property in Durham, 4/14.
2 Pied-billed Grebes, Florida Lake, Freeport, 4/17.
Birds on Tap! Kick-off event at the Portland Beer Hub!
Thursday, April 25, 2024; 5:00 – 7:00pm – Portland Beer Hub – 320 Fore St. Portland, ME 04101- FREE!
Join Birding Guide and owner of Freeport Wild Bird Supply Derek Lovitch, and Brew’s Cruise owner Zach Poole, for an exclusive gathering at the Portland Beer Hub to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Birds on Tap! and kick off our new tour lineup.
During this casual meetup, guests will mingle with other bird and beer enthusiasts, discuss the exciting lineup of upcoming Birds on Tap tours, and can enjoy flights of bird-themed local beers (for purchase).
It’s the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of birdwatching and craft beers. For a bit of fun, be prepared for some impromptu bird trivia and birding games.
2. Feathers Over Freeport!
Saturday, April 27th at Bradbury Mountains State Park and Sunday, April 28th at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. All events free with park entry!
From birdwalks and a hawkwatch workshop to kids’ arts and crafts and a food truck, join us for two activity filled days in the 13th year of Feathers Over Freeport! A full schedule of events can be found here.
Note our regularly scheduled Saturday Morning Birdwalk meets at Bradbury on the 27th.
Presumably having wintered somewhat locally and recently set out in search of new food resources, this Gray Catbird was feasting on what was left of our Highbush Cranberry and Staghorn Sumac here at the store on 3/27.
After the snowfall, and especially ice, over the weekend of the 23rd-24th, a resurgence in feeder activity was widespread. Fox Sparrows seemed to be everywhere (I saw more driving around on the morning of the 26th than I sometimes see in an entire spring!), American Robins were being reported at feeders, and Dark-eyed Juncos and Song Sparrows were in every feeder and patch of bare ground. I think we can expect more of that this week, based on the current forecast!
At our feeders in Durham, some select high counts included 52 Dark-eyed Juncos on 3/25 and two Fox Sparrows 3/26 – present, 3 Purple Finches and 4 Pine Siskins on 3/31, etc. Meanwhile, at least a dozen White-throated Sparrows continue, well over our usual for the season.
Away from our yard, my observations of note over the past seven days included the following:
Red Crossbills continue to be widespread in small numbers.
30 Northern Pintail, 2 American Wigeon, 6 Green-winged Teal, etc, Mouth of the Abagadasset River, Bowdoinham, 3/26.
1 GRAY CATBIRD, yard here at the store, 3/27. Photo above.
30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, here at the store, 3/30 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
2 Red Crossbills, 1 Fish Crow, etc, South Freeport Village, 3/30 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
1 Tree Swallow (FOY), Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, 3/31.
TOURS AND EVENTS:
April 6th’s “Woodcocks Gone Wild” is currently sold out (weather date, 4/13). This year, we are requesting pre-registration for the first time, with evening-of walk-ups only if we have extra space; sorry for the inconvenience. Give us a call at the store or email us to be added to the waitlist.
April 17: 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join us for a Community Pizza Night to benefit Feathers over Freeport. Proceeds from a raffle along with 20% of all food sales from 4-8:00 p.m. will be donated to support the annual birdwatching and nature discovery weekend hosted by the Bureau of Parks and Lands. Park and event staff will host an activity & information table and be on hand to answer questions about birding, the Hawk Watch, and Feathers Over Freeport. Location: Maine Beer Company, in the Tasting Room, 525 US-1, Freeport, ME 04342.
We got underway for the 18th season on Friday, March 15th. Zane Baker, back for his record-shattering 6th season, kicked things off with two triple-digit counts in the first three days of the season.
Daily counts will be posted to Hawkcount.org and the BirdHawk listserve, while weekly summaries will be posted to the News Page of our website.
This Northern Hawk-Owl has been present for a while in Piscataquis County where it has been seen by many. Jeannette finally took a ride up to see it on the 12th, making our “weekend” out of it.
I enjoyed a great week of birding, both locally and with a trip to north-central Maine. Winter irruptives and the first migrants of spring were among my many highlights over the last seven days.
1 Hermit Thrush, North River Road, Auburn, 2/8.
1 continuing female Red-breasted Merganser, Lincoln St Waterfront Park, Lewiston, 2/8.
5 Northern Pintails (FOY), Flying Point Preserve, Georgetown, 2/9.
1 hen COMMON EIDER SSP. BOREALIS and 1 pair BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, Winslow Park, Freeport, 2/10 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
1 continuing NORTHERN HAWK-OWL and 1 Northern Shrike, Piscataquis County, 2/12 (with Jeannette). Photo above.
1 Northern Shrike, County Road, Milford, 2/13 (with Jeannette).
100+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (FOY), downtown Old Town, 2/13 (with Jeannette).
140 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and 1 NORTHERN FLICKER (great winter bird away from the coast!), Riverside Park, Veazie, 2/13. Waxwings relocated on Thompson Road where we enjoyed an immersive photo session!
1 male Red-winged Blackbird (first of spring), here at the store on 2/14. Arrived on 2/12 – one of our earliest records here.
Scattered Turkey Vultures and increasing reports of prospecting migrant flocks suggests I will forgo Turkey Vultures on the highlights list for the next 9-10 months already!
A remarkable bird for Maine, let alone in under-birded (away from Sabattus Pond anyway) Androscoggin County, I was privileged to be able to visit this Harris’s Sparrow on private property in Turner on the 13th, the day after we returned from vacation. It was most cooperative, being constantly in view for the 35 minutes I was there. Unfortunately, it was a dark and dreary morning, so my photos leave something to be desired!
A few observations of note over the past five days as I tried to squeeze in as much birding as I could before I undergo shoulder surgery included the following. Even if I missed the Livermore Falls Townsend’s Solitaire twice (darn it), it was a very productive week, headlined by my second Harris’s Sparrow in Maine (and one of my favorite sparrows, too!).
1 female Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bernard Lown Peace Bridge, Lewiston/Auburn, 1/13.
1 adult Iceland Gull, North River Road boat launch, Auburn, 1/13.
1 continuing HARRIS’S SPARROW (present since 1/11), private property in Turner, 1/13 (photo above).
1 Pine Grosbeak (first of season), Hillman Ferry Road, Livermore Falls, 1/13 (did not find the Townsend’s Solitaire that day, unfortunately).
2 drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, between Winslow Park and the Harraseekett Yacht Club, South Freeport, 1/14 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
8 Black-legged Kittiwakes, Short Sands Beach, York, 1/15 (with Down East Adventures Winter Waterbirds Workshop group).
1 adult Iceland Gull, The Nubble, York, 1/15 (with Down East Adventures Winter Waterbirds Workshop group).
The photo of the week was this cute and cuddly Porcupine from Stud Mill Road on 3/6.
It was another busy week of birding for me! And it was another great week of birding, with the vanguard of spring migration coupled with lots of winter specialties still around – and a lot more finches! Turkey Vulture, Red-winged Blackbird, and Common Grackle numbers were slowly increasing by week’s end. Scattered Pine Siskins are now reaching the coastal plain (from the north, west, or south?). My observations of note over the past seven days were as follows:
Starting the day with Evening Grosbeaks at our home feeders and enjoying Pine Grosbeaks everytime we carry seed out to someone’s car really isn’t too shabby.
My observations of note over the past seven days included the following:
Unusually large number of Red-throated Loons in the northwest corner of Casco Bay all week.
1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 1 Savannah Sparrow, Wolfe’s Neck Center, Freeport, 12/13.
1 RING-NECKED DUCK with about 450 mixed Lesser and Greater Scaup with about 1,000 White-winged Scoters, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 12/14.
425+ mixed Lesser and Greater Scaup, Simpson’s Point, Brunswick, 12/14.
EVENING GROSBEAK: 12 (flying over our yard in Pownal, 12/13); 2 (Verrill Road, Pownal, 12/13); after a several day absence, up to 4 were in our Pownal yard on 12/15; 1 (Verrill Road, 12/17).
Red Crossbills: 1 (Wolfe’s Neck Center, Freeport, 12/14); 4 (Cumberland Town Forest, 12/16);
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: 0
PINE GROSBEAK: 6-10 daily (in and around the yard here at the store all week); 4 (Rte 1, Brunswick, 12/14); 10 (Cumberland Town Landing, 12/16); 4 (Rte 88, Cumberland, 12/16).
Purple Finch: 0
Common Redpoll: 5 (Cumberland Town Landing, 12/16).
Pine Siskin High Count This Week: 2 (Cumberland Town Landing, 12/16).
Well this is sure not something you’ll see everyday! Here’s a vagrant BULLOCK’S ORIOLE from the Western US in front of the Maine state flag!
With only 5-9 previous records in Maine, this visitor to a Freeport backyard was definitely my headliner this week…as it was for most birders in the state!
My observations of note over the past seven days were as follows:
3 immature White-crowned Sparrows continue here at the store’s feeders through 11/11.
1 Lapland Longspur, 1 Red Crossbill, 4 American Pipits, 6 Snow Buntings, 60+ Horned Larks, Mayall Road, Gray/New Gloucester, 11/11.
1 American Pipit, fly-over here at the store, 11/11 (our 130th Yard Bird!).
1 BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, Spring Hill Lane (see previous posts on Maine Birds Google Group or the Maine Birds Facebook Group for directions), Freeport, 11/11.
1 Red Crossbill, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 11/12.
Pine Siskin High Count This Week: 14, Spring Hill Road, Freeport, 11/11.
Common Redpoll High Count This Week: 2, multiple locations.
EVENING GROSBEAK High Count This Week: 8, over the store, 11/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
Pine Siskins have really thinned out this week, but still remain common and widespread. This was one in a small group at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth on 11/1, feasting on Speckled Alder.
This weekly report has been posted on the Maine-Birds Google Group and our store’s Facebook Page for several years. I’m playing around with a new repository for these weekly reports. How does it look here? The archives are searchable at least, and it’s an easy way to encourage me to add more photos (at least one a week is my goal!).
My observations of note over the past seven days included the following:
– a few Evening Grosbeaks in and around our yard in Pownal all week.
– 1 very early BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 4 Common Redpolls, 2 American Tree Sparrows (FOF), and 3 Common Goldeneyes (FOF), Wolfe’s Neck Center, Freeport, 10/31 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
– 10 Snow Buntings (FOF), Sebago Lake State Park, 11/2 (with Jeannette).
– 1 Fox Sparrow, our yard in Pownal, 11/2.
– 300+ Horned Larks, 60+ American Pipits, 8 Snow Buntings, and 2 Lapland Longspurs (FOF), Mayall Road, Gray/New Gloucester, 11/4.
– Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 11/6:
674 Mallards
644 Ruddy Ducks
277 Common Mergansers
89 Canada Geese
75 Green-winged Teal
68 Greater Scaup
20 American Black Ducks
55 Hooded Mergansers
28 Bufflehead
8 Lesser Scaup
5 American Wigeon
4 GADWALL
2 Northern Pintails
2 Common Loons
1 Red-breasted Merganser
1 Double-crested Cormorant
1 continuing female LONG-TAILED DUCK
1 RED-NECKED GREBE
1 EVENING GROSBEAK
1 Rusty Blackbird
-Pine Siskin High Count This Week: 18+, feeders here at the store most of the week.-Scattered small numbers of Common Redpolls all week and increasing by week’s end.
Maine Birding Field Notes 