Tag Archives: Red-shouldered Hawk

This Week’s Highlights 11/29 – 12/5/2025.

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This Nashville Warbler (above) was one of two still on Peak’s Island as of the 1st, and this Orange-crowned Warbler (below) was one of four or five still on the island. Orange-crowned Warblers are pretty hardy, but if the Nashvilles are still hanging on, they would be questioning their life decision this morning! Speaking of, best wishes, wherever you are, to the Virginia’s Warbler that has not been seen since the 11/29. 

Well, winter set in rather quickly this week, didn’t it? And no doubt much to the chagrin of the many vagrants, “pioneers,” and “half-hardies” that we have been enjoying recently. Despite the widespread below-zero temperatures by week’s end, I still saw four species of warblers this week. But I won’t expect that next week. Here are my observations of note over the past seven days.

  • 1 continuing MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER, Grist Mill Park, Yarmouth, 11/29 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 2 continuing NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 3 Orange-crowned Warblers (at least 2 continuing), and 1 continuing COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, but no sign of the Virginia’s, Peak’s Island, Portland, 12/1 (with Jeannette. Photos above).
  • 1 1st cycle Iceland Gull, Maine State Pier, Portland, 12/1 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Hermit Thrush, Commercial Street, Portland (near cruise ship terminal), 12/1 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 ad. Red-shouldered Hawk, Ann St, Lisbon Falls, 12/4 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 2 WILSON’S SNIPE and 4 Lesser Scaup, Lake Auburn, 12/4 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 Fish Crow, Anniversary Park, Auburn, 12/4 (with Bill Thompson). 2-4 Fish Crows have been reliable here since April, including in the past few weeks.
  • 1 Northern Flicker, our feeders in Durham, 12/4.
  • Scattered Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills continue in the area this week as well.
The Peregrine Falcon pair of Lewiston-Auburn is back to frequenting their favorite winter perches, such as this rooftop tower near the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge.
One of the pair had returned here after taking a run at a Bald Eagle.

Recent Highlights, 3/22-3/28/2025.

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This adult Red-shouldered Hawk didn’t look very pleased about the snowfall on Monday as it
hunted voles in our yard in Durham.

As is often the case in March, waterfowl and new arrivals dominated my observations of note over the past seven days.

  • 6 Lesser Scaup with ~600 Greater Scaup, 400-450 American Black Ducks, 200-250 White-winged Scoters, 2 American Wigeon, 1 Ring-necked Duck, etc, Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, 3/22 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • Fox Sparrows at our feeders in Durham peaked at an impressive 5 on 3/24.
  • 1 Rusty Blackbird, 6 Horned Larks, 1 pair Northern Pintails, etc, North River Road, Auburn, 3/25.
  • 4 SANDHILL CRANES (FOY), Upper Street, Turner, 3/25.
  • 1 imm. American Goshawk (FOY), Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch, 3/25.
  • 1 Rusty Blackbird, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 3/26.
  • 1 “EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL (FOY) and 2 Wilson’s Snipe (FOY), Mouth of the Abby, Bowdoinham, 3/27 (With Bill Thompson; photos).
  • 1 “EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL, Green Point WMA, Dresden, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson; photos).
  • 1 first-cycle Iceland Gull, Front Street Boat Launch, Bath, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 8 Fish Crows, Bath Landfill, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 Snowy Egret (FOY), Wharton Point, Brunswick, 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).
  • Total of at least 31 Bald Eagles around Merrymeeting Bay on 3/27 (with Bill Thompson).

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

The Week 1 report can be found here.

Upcoming Tours:

  • NO BIRDWALK, Saturday 3/28 due to the winter storm.
  • Woodcocks Gone Wild scheduled for TOMORROW, Saturday, March 29th has been postponed due to the weather until Saturday, April 5th. Call for waitlist.

This Week’s Highlights, 2/8 – 2/14/2025

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Present for several years at Timber Point in Biddeford, this stunning RED-SHOULDERED X RED-TAILED HAWK HYBRID is often seen soaring or in the distance, at least during my infrequent visits here. Bill Thompson and I went to look for it on the 11th, and were treated to a great show from it!

Another cold and wintery week with a continuing active weather pattern limited time in the field for me, but the feeder-watching was great. I’ll have a blog about it in the coming days. But for now, here are my observations of note over the past seven days:

  • The single Fox Sparrows continue here at the store (since 12/21) and at our feeders at home in Durham since early December. Both were frequent at the feeders this week as snow piled up.
  • At least 2 Turkey Vultures continue in the Cumberland-Freeport corridor of I-295.
  • 1 female American Wigeon, Winslow Park, Freeport, 2/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 Hermit Thrush and 8 Sanderlings, etc, Reid State Park, Georgetown, 2/10 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 Hermit Thrush, 4 Horned Larks, 1 Northern Harrier, 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 4 locally-surprisingly-rare Harlequin Ducks, Biddeford Pool, 2/11 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 continuing (for several years) RED-SHOULDERED X RED-TAILED HAWK HYBRID, Timber Point, Biddeford, 2/11 (with Bill Thompson). Photos above. This was my best photo session and quality time with the bird over the years, allowing for detailed study and extensive photographs, especially by Bill. See phone-scoped photos above. This really rare bird is quite gorgeous. The RSHA-like banded tail has an orange-red wash in the white stripes on the uppersides while the underside has as diffuse, partial RSHA pattern. The underparts have a dull orange blush and/or fine barring (strongest on the underwing) like RSHA, with a diffuse RTHA’s belly band. The head and bill size and shape seemed more RSHA-like, and the powered flight was very much like a RSHA. Such a cool bird!
  • 1 THICK-BILLED MURRE, Fortunes Rocks Beach, Biddeford, 2/11 (with Bill Thompson). His photo:

Upcoming Tours:

1. Due to the weekend’s forecast, the Gull ID Workshop has been cancelled.

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

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

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

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

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

2025 Tours

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

Upcoming Tours

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

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