Wow! What had been a relatively slow Rarity Season had its doors blown open by this state first Cassin’s Kingbird on Parson’s Beach Road. I observed it (and phone-scoped it) on 11/7, in the afternoon of its first of 3 days in the area.

Another week, and another First State Record for Maine! With Rarity Season in full swing, I combined a chase (or two) with some bird-finding effort, producing the following observations of note over the past seven days:

• 1 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow and 1 Great Egret, Crescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth, 11/6.
• 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, private property in Cape Elizabeth, 11/6.

• 1 CASSIN’S KINGBIRD, Parson’s Beach Road, Kennebunk, 11/7 (with Bill Thompson). Photo above. Found earlier in the day by Will Bayla, it continued through dusk. Bill and I observed it, often in mist and drizzle, between 2:30 and 3:15pm with m.obs. 1^st State Record, but I only had it on the honorable mention list on my Next 25 Birds for Maine Predictions List.

• Rarity Roundup Van Tour w/Portland Explorer on 11/8: We began with the continuing CASSIN’S KINGBIRD at Parson’s Beach Road and finished with the continuing HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Back Cove. In between, we also had 2 Great Egret’s at Parson’s Beach, 1 continuing pair of AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS along Ocean Ave in Biddeford Pool, and then found 2-3 Hermit Thrushes and a male AMERICAN REDSTART on Sheridan Street in Portland. The full trip report can be found here:

2026 Birding Tours in Portland, Maine with Portland Explorer and Freeport Wild Bird Supply !

• Sabattus Pond, 11/9 (with Jeannette):

295 Mallards
203 Lesser Scaup
158 Ruddy Ducks
104 American Black Ducks
91 Greater Scaup
75 Green-winged Teal
46 Common Mergansers
39 Canada Geese
28 Hooded Mergansers
21 Ring-necked Ducks
20 unidentified scaup
12 American Wigeon
10 Buffleheads
3 Mallard x Am Black Duck hybrids.
2 Horned Larks
1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
1 Wood Duck
1 Common Loon
1 WILSON’S SNIPE
1 Belted Kingfisher

• 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, Eastern Promenade, Portland, 11/10 (with Ian Doherty).

• 2 continuing Great Egrets, 1 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow, 1 American Kestrel, etc, Parson’s Beach Road, Kennebunk, 11/10 (with Ian Doherty).

• 1 immature White-crowned Sparrow, feeders here at the store, 11/11.