Tag Archives: migration

 This Week’s Highlights 9/25– 10/1/2026.

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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 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth, 9/26.
  • 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.

  • 2 molting juvenile STILT SANDPIPERS, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 9/30.

Upcoming Tours With Space Available:

I’ll just leave last year’s trip report right here. Don’t miss out this time!

2025 Fall Half-Day Pelagic with Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Cap’n Fish’s Cruises.

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!  

 This Week’s Highlights 9/17– 9/24/2026.

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I really like Clay-colored Sparrows, so I was happy to find this one in the
Hill’s Beach neighborhood on the 18th.

I didn’t hit too many shorebird spots during this period and coupled with the lower tallies and diversity of late September, so I’ll forgo my Shorebird High Counts this week and just mention some of the highlights here. In fact, I didn’t get out birding much beyond our property and local patches, but I didn’t have to! Therefore, my observations of note over the past 8 days included:

  • Notables in our Durham property this week included 10 species of warblers on 9/17 (including two each of Prairie and Bay-breasted); a late-ish Least Flycatcher (9/21 with Katrina Fenton and 9/22 by Jeannette); 11 species of warblers on 9/22 including 3 Tennessee Warblers; our first White-crowned Sparrow of the fall and 33 fly-over American Pipits on the 23rd; a juvenile NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on 9/24 was our 162nd Yard Bird; at least one Prairie Warbler has been present most of the week, and several Lincoln’s Sparrows were here on most days this week.
  • A productive morning in and around the Biddeford Pool environs on 9/18 produced a number of observations of note, including 1 DICKCISSEL and 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Bidd Pool neighborhood); 4-5 Red-necked Grebes, 3 American Oystercatchers, and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (Ocean Avenue/East Point); 1 American Golden-Plover and 17 Red Knots (The Pool), 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 American Oystercatchers (Hill’s Beach); 150-200 Tree Swallows swirling around; and 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (Sky Harbor Blvd).

Sandy Point Morning Flight, 9/19.

A great flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning. There were a lot of very high birds early and some very strong pulses of birds, adding to the high count of unidentified birds. I concluded the count before the flight was over to meet me Saturday Morning Birdwalk group that Jeannette had delivered to the point.

  • 6:24-8:24am (count ended with start of Birdwalk).
  • 46F, mostly clear, NW 6.3-8.1 to NNW 7.4-10.2mph
  • 434 Unidentified
  • 371 Northern Parulas
  • 186 Cedar Waxwings
  • 174 Blackpoll Warblers
  • 96 Northern Flickers
  • 38 Yellow-rumped Warblers
  • 31 American Redstarts
  • 29 Black-throated Green Warblers
  • 16 Magnolia Warblers
  • 12 Yellow Warblers
  • 11 Palm Warblers
  • 10 American Goldfinches
  • 8 Cape May Warblers
  • 8 Black-and-white Warblers
  • 8 Nashville Warblers
  • 7 Canada Geese
  • 6 Red-eyed Vireos
  • 4 Tennessee Warblers
  • 4 American Black Ducks
  • 3 American Pipits
  • 3 Swainson’s Thrushes (at least two crossed!)
  • 3 Eastern Phoebes
  • 3 Blue Jays
  • 3 Rusty Blackbirds
  • 2 Bay-breasted Warblers
  • 2 Philadelphia Vireos
  • 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
  • 2 Purple Finches
  • 2 Common Loons
  • 2 American Kestrels
  • 2 House Finches
  • 2 Dark-eyed Juncos
  • 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches
  • 1 Blackburnian Warbler
  • 1 Scarlet Tanager
  • 1 unidentified Catharus
  • 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  • 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL
  • 1 Pine Warbler
  • X Common Yellowthroats

T=1493

After I ended the “official” count, I met my the Birdwalk group in the parking lot. 18 White-throated Sparrows, 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows, and 3 Eastern Wood-Pewees were new for me on the morning, while additional migrants tallied can be seen here.

  • 1 drake Ruddy Duck (FOF) and 1 pair American Wigeon, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 9/21.
  • 3 molting juvenile STILT SANDPIPERS, 62 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper,etc, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 9/22.
  • 1 Rusty Blackbird and 3 Solitary Sandpipers, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 9/23.

Upcoming Tours With Space Available:

I’ll just leave last year’s trip report right here.

2025 Fall Half-Day Pelagic with Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Cap’n Fish’s Cruises.

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!  

 This Week’s Highlights 9/7– 9/16/2026.

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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).
  • Sanderling: 24, Lubec Flats, Lubec, 9/8 (with Jeannette).
  • Dunlin: 1 juvenile (FOF), Wharton Point Brunswick, 9/16.
  • Least Sandpiper: 100+, Sandborn Cove, Machiasport, 9/6 (with Jeannette).
  • White-rumped Sandpiper: 1, several locations.
  • Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Lubec Bar, 9/8 and Middle River Park, Machias, 9/9 (with Jeannette).
  • Semipalmated Sandpiper: ~3,000, Sanborn Cove, Machiasport, 9/6 (with Jeannette)
  • Short-billed Dowitcher: 2, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 9/14.
  • Spotted Sandpiper: 4, Downeast Sunrise Trail Marsh, 9/6 and 9/10 (with Jeannette) and 4 Monhegan Island, 9/12 (with DownEast Adventures tour group).
  • Solitary Sandpiper: 1, several locations this week.
  • Lesser Yellowlegs: 143 (great number for the date), Walsh Preserve, 9/14.
  • Greater Yellowlegs: only 2, several locations this week.
  • RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 3, between New Harbor and Monhegan Island via the Hardy Boat ferry, 9/10 (with DownEast Adventures tour group).

Upcoming Tours With Space Available:

Boothbay Harbor ½ Day Pelagic, October 4th!

I’ll just leave last year’s trip report right here.

2025 Fall Half-Day Pelagic with Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Cap’n Fish’s Cruises.

Birds of Casco Bay.  October 6, 2026: 9:00am – 12:00pm

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.

Forts and Feathers: House Island.  October 18, 2026; 9:00am – 2:00pm​

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!  

This Week’s Highlights 8/28– 9/6/2026.

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It’s “uncommon” shorebird season, as evidenced by the scattered Baird’s Sandpipers this week. I found this one at Biddeford Pool Beach during a 21-species shorebird day on 8/30.

Fall was in the air this week, and with it, my first visit to Sandy Point of the season (finally!). It was also a great week for shorebirds, and on our property. Here are my observations of note over the past 10 days.

Highlights from our Durham property this period included 12 species of warblers (led by 5 Cape May and 4 American Redstarts, but also including 2 Bay-breasted, and 1 each of Tennessee, Prairie, and Canada!) on 8/28; 1 Philadelphia Vireo, 3 Scarlet Tanagers, and 11 species of warblers (led by 7 Cape May and 5 Common Yellowthroats but also including 1 Bay-breasted) on 9/2, 7+ Cape May Warblers on 9/5 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group), and up to 4 Cape May Warblers on all other days this week.

  • 5 1st-cycle FORSTER’S TERNS, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/30 (with Noah Gibb and Stacey Huth).
  • 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Hill’s Beach, 8/30.
  • 1 1st-cycle FORSTER’S TERN, Biddeford Pool Beach, Biddeford, 8/30.

Sandy Point Morning Flight, 8/31/2026

A moderate, but good for August, Morning Flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning, thanks to yesterday’s cold front. It must be fall because I am back at “my office!”

55F, clear, NNW 5.3-5.9mph to NW 6.2-9.2mph.

  • 195 American Redstarts
  • 116 Unidentified
  • 105 Northern Parulas
  • 24 Black-throated Green Warblers
  • 18 Yellow Warblers
  • 16 Cape May Warblers
  • 11 Black-and-white Warblers
  • 11 Cedar Waxwings
  • 9 Magnolia Warblers
  • 9 Northern Waterthrushes (*New high count).
  • 6 Tennessee Warblers
  • 6 Nashville Warblers
  • 5 Eastern Wood-Pewees
  • 4 Blackburnian Warblers
  • 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches
  • 2 Black-throated Blue Warblers
  • 2 Baltimore Orioles
  • 2 Least Flycatchers
  • 2 American Robins
  • 1 Swainson’s Thrush
  • 1 MOURNING WARBLER
  • 1 Wilson’s Warbler
  • 1 Prairie Warbler
  • 1 Bay-breasted Warbler
  • 1 Indigo Bunting
  • 1 Scarlet Tanager
  • 1 Eastern Kingbird
  • 1 Canada Warbler
  • 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
  • 1 Philadelphia Vireo
  • 1 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
  • X Common Yellowthroats
  • T=575
  • 3 Cory’s Shearwaters, etc, off of Boothbay Harbor via Cap’n Fish’s Cruises Whale Watch, 8/31. Cory’s have been relatively sparse this year, likely due to water temperatures below recent averages.
  • 5 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Reid State Park, Georgetown, 9/4.
  • 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Popham Beach State Park, Georgetown, 9/4.

Sandy Point Morning Flight, 9/5.

I had an abbreviated visit to My Office on Saturday Morning, but with a high flight and few birds landing, I chose not to return with the Birdwalk group. Despite NNW by morning and increasing cloud cover, a moderate flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this am thanks to a really massive flight overnight. Birds were still flying when I departed.

6:08 to 7:40

62 F, mostly cloudy, NNW 10.2-11.8 diminishing to 8.5 to 9.8mph.

  • 179 Northern Parulas
  • 161 Cedar Waxwings
  • 160 American Redstarts
  • 124 Unidentified
  • 9 Magnolia Warblers
  • 9 Black-throated Green Warblers
  • 7 American Robins
  • 5 Red-eyed Vireos
  • 4 Yellow Warblers
  • 3 Black-throated Blue Warblers
  • 3 Blackburnian Warblers
  • 2 Chipping Sparrows
  • 2 Common Loons
  • 2 DICKCISSELS (one by B. Thompson only, the second by both of us).
  • 2 American Goldfinches
  • 1 Northern Flicker
  • 1 Merlin
  • 1 American Kestrel
  • 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • 1 Bobolink
  • 1 Baltimore Oriole
  • 1 Blackpoll Warbler
  • 1 Cape May Warbler
  • 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
  • 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • 1 Eastern Kingbird
  • 1 Purple Finch
  • x Common Yellowthroat
  • T= 684
  • 1 Green Darner
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Parula
  • 3-4 continuting FORSTER’S TERNS and 3 adult Lessert Black-backed Gulls, Pine Point, Scarborough, 9/6.

Here are my shorebird high counts over the past 10 days, led by a productive 21-species of shorebird morning in and around Biddeford Pool on the 30th, for a week’s total of 23.5 species.

  • AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: 13, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/30.
  • Black-bellied Plover: 203, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/30.
  • Killdeer: 15, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick, 8/29 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • Semipalmated Plover: 129, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/30.
  • Piping Plover: 5, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/30.
  • Hudsonian Whimbrel: 8, Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg, 9/3.
  • MARBLED GODWIT: 2 juv, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/30. One bird has been present for a couple of weeks, but this second bird appears to be “new” this morning.
  • Ruddy Turnstone: 13, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/30.
  • Red Knot: 31, Hill’s Beach, 8/30 (with Noah Gibb and Stacey Huth).
  • Sanderling: 81, Reid State Park, Georgetown, 9/4.
  • BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: 1 juv, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/30.
  • Least Sandpiper: 40++, The Pool, Biddeford, 8/30.
  • White-rumped Sandpiper: 1, several locations.
  • Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Hill’s Beach, 8/30 and 1, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 9/2.
  • Semipalmated Sandpiper: 490, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/30.
  • WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 juv., Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/30
  • Short-billed Dowitcher: 45, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/30.
  • Spotted Sandpiper: 2, Great Pond, Biddeford Pool, 8/30.
  • Solitary Sandpiper: 1, multiple locations this week.
  • Lesser Yellowlegs: 189 (a new record for here!), Walsh Preserve, 9/2.
  • (Eastern) Willet: 5 (including continuing leucistic bird), Pine Point, Scarborough, 9/6.
  • (WESTERN) WILLET (FOY): 2-3, The Pool and Hill’s Beach, 8/30. Noah Gibb and Stacey Huth found two at The Pool, a short time before I found one at Hill’s Beach. The bird had departed Hill’s Beach before I encountered two at The Pool.
  • Greater Yellowlegs: 8, Walsh Preserve, 9/2.
  • RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 1, offshore of Boothbay Harbor vis Cap’n Fish’s Cruises, 8/31. One, just one, lone phalarope spinning away on a mat of seaweed.
It’s been another great week for Cape May Warblers in our yard in Durham, including this 1 (of 7!) on 9/2.

This Week’s Highlights 8/21– 8/27/2026.

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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 adult RED-NECKED GREBE, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 8/23 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 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).
  • Killdeer: 6, Winding Brook Turf Farm, Lyman, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Semipalmated Plover: 225, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/24 (with Bill Sheehan and Jeannette).
  • Piping Plover: 3, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 8/24 (with Bill Sheehan and Jeannette).
  • Hudsonian Whimbrel: 1, Pine Point, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Ruddy Turnstone: 28, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Sanderling: 8, Biddeford Pool Beach, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Least Sandpiper: 146, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/24 (with 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).
  • WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 juv (FOY), Pelreco Marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Short-billed Dowitcher: 48, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/24 (with Bill Sheehan and Jeannette).
  • Spotted Sandpiper: 6, Ocean Avenue, Biddeford Pool, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Solitary Sandpiper: 3, Bridge Street, Yarmouth, 8/22 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group) and Auburn Riverwalk, 8/23 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • Lesser Yellowlegs: 65, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/25.
  • (Eastern) Willet: 4, Pine Point, Scarborough Marsh, 8/24 (with Jeannette).
  • Greater Yellowlegs: 19, Walsh Preserve, 8/25.
  • RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 5, off Boothbay Harbor with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises, 8/27.

Upcoming Tours with Space:

​Monhegan Birding Workshop with Down East Magazine: September 11-13, 2026. 

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.

 This Week’s Highlights 8/13– 8/20/2026.

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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).
  • STILT SANDPIPER: 1 ad. (FOY), Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/20 (with Jeannette).
  • 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).
  • Lesser Yellowlegs: 67, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/20 (with Jeannette).
  • (Eastern) Willet: 3, Jones Creek, Scarborough Marsh, 8/16 (with Birds on Tap – Shorebirds and Steins! Tour group.
  • Greater Yellowlegs: 26, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/20 (with Jeannette).
  • 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.

 This Week’s Highlights 8/3– 8/12/2026.

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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)
  • 1 continuing TRICOLORED HERON, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/10 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 continuing “PATCHES!” the proposed TRICOLORED HERON X SMALL WHITE EGRETTA(S) HYBIRD. This seems to be the same individual present since at least 2023. Discussion and great photos from Bill Thompson can be seen here.

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).
  • Least Sandpiper: 263, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/10 (with Jeannette).
  • White-rumped Sandpiper (FOF): 1, Eastern Road Trail, 8/10 (with Jeannette).
  • Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk 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).
  • Solitary Sandpiper: 8, Florida Lake Park, 8/12.
  • Lesser Yellowegs: 174(!), Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 8/4.
  • (Eastern) Willet: 8, Pine Point, 8/9 (with Down East Magazine Shorebird Workshop tour group).
  • Greater Yellowlegs: 29, Walsh Preserve, 8/4.

Upcoming Tours (that have space):

Birds on Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Shorebirds and Steins

August 16, 2026; 9:00am – 3:00pm​

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.

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

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

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

5/22: Port Clyde ferry to Monhegan:

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

5/22: Monhegan:

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

5/23:

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

5/24:

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

5/25:

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

5/26 (with Jeannette):

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

Ferry to Port Clyde:

  • 2 Atlantic Puffins

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

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

Upcoming Tours (with space available).

Bicknell’s Thrush Weekend

June 12-14, 2026

The latest incarnation of our Bicknell’s Thrush weekend offers more chances to see the enigmatic Bicknell’s Thrush and even better boreal birding opportunities!

With two full mornings in the area, we’ll have flexibility to offer two visits to the realm of the Bicknell’s. While Bicknell’s Thrush is the primary target, this enhanced itinerary will also give us an even better chance at other boreal species, including Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Palm and Blackpoll Warblers, and especially Philadelphia Vireo and Mourning Warbler.  By staying in Colebrook, NH we have the opportunity to look for additional boreal targets anywhere from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (the famous hotspots are only 30 minutes from Colebrook!) to the Umbagog NWR area.

​

 This Week’s Highlights 4/25– 5/1/2026.

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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.
  • 9 Lesser Yellowlegs, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 5/1.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch.

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.

Upcoming Tours (with space available).

Birds On Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Warblers and Wort

May 10, 2026; 8:00am – 2:00pm

​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.

This Week’s Highlights 4/18– 4/24/2026.

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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.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch is at its Peak!

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.

Upcoming Tours.

Birds on Tap – Roadtrip: Hawks and Hops!

***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.