Tag Archives: Sabattus Pond

This Week’s Highlights 10/23 – 10/29/2025.

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I’m just a big fan of “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrows, so it was nice to spend some quality time with them this week, including these two at Kettle Cove on Monday.

Most of my birding over the past seven days was very local, especially on our property and out the store’s window. While those were both pleasantly birdy, my few days in the field were even more rewarding. Rarity season is certainly upon us, and while I didn’t chase anything that has been seen recently, I made sure to check spots on my own that could be productive at this time of year. Here are my observations of note over the last seven days.

  • I spent a lot of time birding our property in Durham this week, with the most notable sighting being a late AMERICAN REDSTART on 10/23.
  • 292 Ruddy Ducks, 131 Lesser Scaup, 124 Greater Scaup, 21 distant scaup, 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Semipalmated Plovers, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 10/23.
  • 1 Nashville Warbler, Auburn Riverwalk, 10/23.
  • 1 Nashville Warbler, garden here at the store, 10/25.
  • 1 VESPER SPARROW, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 2-3 “Ispwich” Savannah Sparrows, etc, Kettle Cove-Crescent Beach State Parks, Cape Elizabeth, 10/27.
  • 1 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow, 3 Great Egrets, etc, Back Cove, Portland, 10/27.

Our Last Tour of 2025 still has some space remaining, speaking of rarity season!

  • Birds on Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Rarity Roundup

November 9, 2025; 8:00am – 3:00pm.

Portland Explorer (formerly Maine Brews Cruise) and Freeport Wild Bird Supply are excited to continue our collaboration for six very special outings in 2025. 

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!

Early November is a fantastic time of year in Maine for vagrants – birds normally seen in far-off places.  Due to a combination of weather patterns, changing seasonal food resources, falling temperatures, and other factors – some of which are not completely understood – birds that may have ended up in Maine by “accident” begin to concentrate at the coast in “migrant traps” and “hotspots.”  In other words, this is the time of year to expect the unexpected.  

A traditional “Rarity Roundup” involves teams of birders heading out on a given day during rarity prime time, looking for species that are not supposed to be around. And in honor of that tradition, that’s exactly what we are going to do on this unique tour. We may “chase” a rarity (go to see something that has already been found, aka “twitch”) or we might choose a destination known for rare birds in an attempt to find one of our own. Or perhaps, we’ll do both!

​Anything between Portland and Kittery is fair game, and we might not even know where we will head until we are on the bus and the latest rare bird alert is received. For those who love adding a bird to your Life or State List, and/or basking in the thrill of discovery, well then this is the tour for you! In between seeing great birds, we’ll discuss the complex factors that are involved in delivering rarities to an area, and how we go about finding them.

​After about 3-4 hours of birding, depending on drive time, we will be transported to two of our great local producers to sample their offerings and learn their styles.

This Week’s (Plus) Highlights and Shorebird High Counts, 8/29 – 9/7/2025

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One of three Little Gulls encountered in Head Harbor Passage, New Brunswick via Eastport on the 2nd, this one posed nicely for us as Captain Butch adeptly drifted the stern inshore for a close approach and photo ops.  

A delightful ten days of birding, from Lubec to Biddeford, including the following observations of note:

  • Migrant highlights from our property in Durham included 2 Prairie Warblers on 8/31 and 13 species of warblers including 2-3 Bay-breasted on 9/1.
  • 6 SANDHILL CRANES, 1+ Red Crossbill, 3 Prairie Warblers, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 8/31.
  • 2 continuing COMMON GALLINULES, Essex Marsh, Bangor, 9/1 (with Jeannette).
  • Red Crossbills: scattered 1’s and 2’s throughout coastal Washington County, 9/1-4 (with Jeannette, et al).
  • 1 Snowy Egret with 1 Great Egret, Downeast Sunrise Trail Marsh, Machias, 9/1.
  • 1 continuing juvenile FORSTER’S TERN and 3 LITTLE GULLS, 1 Common Murre, high number of Artic Terns, etc, Head Harbor Passage via Eastport Windjammers, Eastport, 9/2 (with Beth Edmonds, Dan Nickerson, Renee Patterson, Cynthia Phinney, Jeannette, et al).
I was pretty excited to pull out this long-staying juvenile Forster’s Tern as it was a new bird
for New Brunswick (and Canada!) for me!
  • 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 White-winged Scoters, etc, Lubec Bar and Flats, 9/3 (with Beth Edmonds, Dan Nickerson, Cynthia Phinney, and Jeannette).
  • 1 Spruce Grouse and 25 nearshore Razorbills, Great Wass Island, Jonesport, 9/4 (with Jeannette).
  • An great count of 6 FORSTER’S TERNS foraging together in The Pool from the Hill’s Beach side, 9/7.
  • 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 9/7.
  • 1 adult and 1 2nd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull, Biddeford Pool Beach, 9/7.

Recent forays yielded a decent 21 species of shorebirds this period, with my high counts over these past 10 days being the following. With the progressing season and other priorities and destinations, this will be my last shorebird high count report for the year.

  • American Oystercatcher: 5, Hill’s Beach, Biddeford, 9/7.
  • Black-bellied Plover: 179, The Pool, Biddeford, 9/7.
  • AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: 2, Winding Brook Turf Farm, Lyman, 9/7, plus singles at: Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 9/5 and Hill’s Beach, 9/7.
  • Killdeer: 13, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick, 9/7.
  • Semipalmated Plover: 138, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 9/5.
  • Piping Plover: 8, Hill’s Beach, 9/7.
  • Whimbrel: 4, The Pool, Biddeford, 9/7.
  • Ruddy Turnstone: 15, Biddeford Pool Beach, Biddeford, 9/7.
  • Red Knot: 2 juveniles, The Pool, 9/7.
  • Sanderling: 112, Biddeford Pool Beach, 9/7.
  • Least Sandpiper: 125, Lubec Bar and Flats, 9/3 (with Beth Edmonds, Dan Nickerson, Cynthia Phinney, and Jeannette).
  • White-rumped Sandpiper: 26, Biddeford Pool Beach, 9/7.
  • Pectoral Sandpiper: 3, Eastern Road Trail, 9/5.
  • Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1800-2000, Biddeford Pool Beach, 9/7 with an honorable mention of 1500, Lubec Bar and Flats, 9/3 (with Brandon Baldwin, Shenna Bellows, Beth Edmonds, Dan Nickerson, Cynthia Phinney, and Jeannette).
  • WESTERN SANDPIPER: 1 juv, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 9/5.
  • Short-billed Dowitcher: 14, The Pool, 9/7.
  • Spotted Sandpiper: 8, Sabattus Pond, 8/31.
  • Solitary Sandpiper: 1, multiple locations this week.
  • Lesser Yellowlegs: 21, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 9/6 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • “WESTERN” WILLET: 2 juveniles, The Pool, 9/7.
  • Greater Yellowlegs: 28, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 9/6 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

 This Week’s Highlights, 3/29-4/4/2025.

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This Rusty Blackbird singing up a storm at Florida Lake Park on 4/2 has likely been present here since way back when I first saw it on 2/26! I don’t stop at Florida Lake very often this early in the season, but every time I have, he’s been in the same corner, often singing, making me think it’s the same individual.
Even now, it’s on the early side for Rusties.

It was an up and down week of weather, to say the least, but slowly but surely spring migration was progressing. Considering fairly limited time in the field this week, I had a decent early season slate of observations of note and  personal “first-of-years” over the past seven days:

  • Fox Sparrows at our feeders in Durham peaked at a goodly 6 on 3/30. 3 continue here at the store through week’s end.
  • 3 RUDDY DUCKS (FOY), 18 Lesser Scaup, 16 Greater Scaup, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 3/31 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 1st cycle Iceland Gull, Whiskeag Trail, Bath, 4/1 (with Jeannette).
  • 1 continuing Rusty Blackbird (likely present here since 2/26; note and photo above), 1 Pied-billed Grebe (FOY), 2 Eastern Phoebes (FOY), and 1 Tree Swallow (FOY), Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 4/2.
One of two Eastern Phoebes at Florida Lake Park on the 2nd, this one seemed to be contemplating its life choices with yet another spring snowstorm on its way.
  • 2 Rusty Blackbirds, our property in Durham, 4/3.
  • 8 Double-crested Cormorants (FOY), Mailley Park, Bowdoinham, 4/3.
  • 1 drake NORTHERN SHOVELER (FOY), Mouth of the Abby, Bowdoinham, 4/3.

Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkwatch

The Week 2 report can be found here.

Upcoming Tours:

Woodcocks Gone Wild re-scheduled for TOMORROW, Saturday, April 5th has not yet been cancelled. Updates will be posted here around mid-day tomorrow. The tour is sold out.

This Week’s Highlights, 11/9 – 11/15/2024

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It might be Rarity Season, but never forget to take your time to enjoy and appreciate our common resident birds! This Red-breasted Nuthatch was on our feeders in Durham on the 15th. There are a lot more in the area this fall than last winter, perhaps due to the lack of Eastern White Pine cones, especially to our north.

Rarity Season continues to be hot. Some dedicated rarity-searching plus some casual birding, yielded the following observations of note over the past 7 days. Swinging for the fences, however, I felt like Aaron Judge in the MLB post-season: lots of strikeouts and no home runs, but at least I went down swinging.

  • 1 continuing MARBLED GODWIT, 8 Black-bellied Plovers, etc, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 11/9 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 Gray Catbird, Topsham Riverwalk, 11/9 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1-2 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 1 Gray Catbird, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, etc, Peak’s Island, 11/10.
  • 1 Fox Sparrow (first of season), our Durham property, 11/12-13.
  • 1 RED-THROATED LOON, 137 Ruddy Ducks, 22 Green-winged Teak, 17 Lesser Scaup, 3 Greater Scaup, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 11/14.
  • 20 Horned Larks, Rte 136, Durham, 11/15.
  • 1 Evening Grosbeak, Cedar Pond Road, Durham, 11/15.
  • Not surprisingly given the mild weather to date, there are a lot of half-hardies around, such as Hermit Thrushes and Swamp Sparrows which I encountered in a number of places this week. Scattered Red-winged Blackbirds and small flocks of Common Grackles continue as well as is now usual in mid-November.

Recent Highlights, 10/10- 10/16/24

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Diving ducks and fall foliage at Sabattus Pond – it’s really October now!

Pelagics, waterfowl, morning flights, and more. It was a great week of October birding! Here are my observations of note over the past seven days.

  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/10: 285 individuals of 26 species, led by 116 Yellow-rumped Warblers.
  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/11: 385 individuals of 21 species, led by 204 American Robins.
  • Full list for both here:
Sandy Point Morning Flights: September – October, 2024.
  • 1 Vesper Sparrow and 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, Wolfe’s Neck Center, Freeport, 10/11.
  • 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper with 28 Greater Yellowlegs, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 10/12 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 6 Long-tailed Ducks (first of fall), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (first of fall locally), 2 Dunlin, 2 Osprey, 12 Black-bellied Plovers, 200+ Surf Scoters, 73 Laughing and 18 Bonaparte’s Gulls, etc, Casco Bay, 10/13 (with Birds of Casco Bay boat tour group).
  • Highlights from a, uh, “challenging” half-day pelagic out of Boothbay Harbor on 10/14 included 1 Northern Fulmar and 2 Common Murres. Full trip report and some photos here:
Boothbay ½-day Pelagic Trip Report, 10/14/2024
  • 1 late Solitary Sandpiper, 226 Ruddy Ducks, 140 Lesser Scaup, 79 Greater Scaup, and 4 Buffleheads (FOF), etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 10/16.
  • Highlights from the yard this week include a dawn American Woodcock on 10/11 and 3 Rusty Blackbirds and 120+ White-throated Sparrows on 10/15.

UPCOMING TOURS:

There’s still one space open on our Birds on Tap! – The Boat Trip! To House Island in Casco Bay on Sunday, October 20th. More info here, included an updated itinerary. This is going to be a really special trip!

 Recent Highlights, 3/25– 3/31/2024

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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.
  • 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, Miller Park, Lisbon, 3/26.
  • 2 RUDDY DUCKS, 21 Lesser Scaup, 6 Greater Scaup, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 3/26.
  • 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.
  • Community Pizza Night at Maine Beer Company to support Feathers Over Freeport
  • 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.

Recent Highlights, 11/26 – 12/8, 2023

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I finally went back this week, this time with Jeannette, to revisit the Spotted Towhee that I found at Kittery’s Fort Foster on 11/19. We were treated to two sessions of it feeding, both of which provided longer and better views than on the first day.

Maine’s First Confirmed Spotted Towhee at Fort Foster!

Early December is often a time with another pulse of rarities being detected as birds concentrate at fewer seasonally abundant food sources, like feeding stations, and concentrate along the coast and other migrant traps. At the very least, it’s a time for unusual “late,” “lingering,” or “pioneering” birds that brighten up a cold, gray winter’s day.  This was often the case for me in my relatively limited birding over the past two weeks, with the following observations of note:

  • 1 Gray Catbird and 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Capisic Pond Park, Portland, 11/30.
  • Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 12/1 (with Dan Nickerson):  380 distant scaup, 272 Common Mergansers, 238 Ruddy Ducks, 209 Mallards, 8 American Black Ducks, 8 Common Goldeneyes, 7 Buffleheads, 4 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 3 Common Loons, 1 Belted Kingfisher, and 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
  • 1 Chipping Sparrow, King Road, Lisbon, 12/1 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and 2 Field Sparrows, Saco Riverwalk, Saco, 12/3.
  • 1 Hermit Thrush and 1 Swamp Sparrow, Elphis Pond, Biddeford Pool, 12/3.
  • Southern York County Coast with Jeannette on 12/5:
  • 1 continuing drake NORTHERN SHOVELER, Legion Pond, Kittery.
  • 1 continuing SPOTTED TOWHEE (photo above), 2 MARSH WRENS, and 1 Swamp Sparrow, Fort Foster, Kittery.
  • 2 American Pipits and 1 Horned Lark, Seapoint Beach, Kittery.
  • 1,000+ Black Scoters, The Nubble.
  • 60 Sanderlings, Ogunquit Beach.
  • 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Auburn Riverwalk, 12/7.
  • 1 drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (first of season), 74 Lesser Scaup, and 2 Greater Scaup, Lake Auburn, Auburn, 12/7.
  • 1 Red Crossbill, over our property in Durham, 12/8.

Meanwhile, at our feeders in Durham, a nice uptick in sparrow activity including up to 14 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 continuing White-throated and 1-2 continuing Song Sparrows, with our first American Tree Sparrow arriving on 11/22 before the store, and 15 Dark-eyed Juncos, only 1 White-throated Sparrow, and a return on 12/6 of an American Tree Sparrow after the storm. 40-50 American Goldfinches and 1-2 Purple Finches continue daily, but this week, we only had Pine Siskins in the woods and not at the feeders.

Since we’ve had a mix of “the birds are back!” and “there are still no birds at my feeders” at the store recently, a wrote a new blog talking about the season and the inconsistencies we are seeing with overall feeder activity, which is posted here.

Why There Are Not (or, maybe there are now) Birds at Your Feeders, December 2023 Edition.

ISSUES and ADVOCACY:

The amazing birding and migration site – especially for fall “morning flights” – in the Mid-Coast is once again under direct threat. Birders need to help convince the state to find an alternative location for a massive new port and its infrastructure. Our most significant places of concentration for migratory birds need to be protected. Here is our Statement in Opposition to a New Port on Sears Island in Searsport.

Recent Highlights, 11/18 – 11/25, 2023

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In last week’s report, I complained about the dearth of vagrants in Maine this November, but that changed dramatically this week. Several rarities around the state included Maine’s first confirmed Spotted Towhee that I found at Fort Foster in Kittery on 11/19. A Prairie Warbler,  1-2 “Western” Palm Warblers, 1 Gray Catbird, 1 Hermit Thrush, Type 12 Red Crossbills, and 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet were also present that day.

Photos from myself and Luke Seitz, as well as observation notes and some information are all here:

Maine’s First Confirmed Spotted Towhee at Fort Foster!

My other observations of note over the past eight days included the following:

  • 1 Great Egret, Fore River from I-295S, South Portland, 11/19.
  • 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, Seapoint Beach, Kittery, 11/19.
  • 1 HOUSE WREN, 1 BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 1 Northern Flicker, and 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Bailey Island, Harpswell, 11/21 (with Jeannette).
  • Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 11/23: 415 Ruddy Ducks, 383 Common Mergansers, 256 Mallards, 168 active mixed scaup, 105 Greater Scaup, 70 American Black Ducks, 63 Hooded Mergansers, 41 Buffleheads, 5 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Common Goldeneyes, 2 continuing American Wigeon, 2 continuing KILLDEER, 2 Lesser Scaup, 1 continuing AMERICAN COOT, 1 American Pipit, etc.

Meanwhile, at our feeders in Durham, a nice uptick in sparrow activity including up to 14 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 continuing White-throated and 1-2 continuing Song Sparrows, with our first American Tree Sparrow arriving on 11/22. 30+ American Goldfinches and 1-2 Purple Finches continue daily, but this week, we only had Pine Siskins in the woods and not at the feeders.

ISSUES and ADVOCACY:

The amazing birding and migration site – especially for fall “morning flights” – in the Mid-Coast is once again under direct threat. Birders need to help convince the state to find an alternative location for a massive new port and its infrastructure. Our most significant places of concentration for migratory birds need to be protected. Here is our Statement in Opposition to a New Port on Sears Island in Searsport.

Recent Highlights, 11/4 – 11/17, 2023

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It was sure nice of this Orange-crowned Warbler to sit still long enough for photos, but it sure would have been nice if it was on the other side of that stem! Cape Elizabeth, 11/12.

After a great late October for rarities, November has been incredibly slow for vagrants in Maine so far…unlike surrounding states and provinces. While my increased birding time these past two weeks did not produce any significant rarities, either, it was good to be getting out! And in doing so, I enjoyed some very good birding recently. Here are my observations of note over the past two weeks.

  • 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 2 “Yellow” Palm Warblers, 3 Black-bellied Plovers, 42 Laughing Gulls, etc, Wolfe’s Neck Center, Freeport, 11/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).  While we are normally reticent to return to the same location two (let alone 4) weeks in a row, it has continued to be very fruitful, and the week-to-week ebbs and flows have been particularly insightful. More complete summaries are on the News page of our website.
  • 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 1 “Western” Palm Warbler, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 1 Fox Sparrow (first of fall, finally), 1 Field Sparrow, etc, etc, Bailey Island, Harpswell, 11/6 (with Jeannette).
  • Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 11/10 (with Dan Nickerson): 575 Ruddy Ducks, 290 Common Mergansers, 224 Mallards, 156 Lesser Scaup, 113 Greater Scaup, 82 American Black Ducks, 61 Buffleheads, 32 Hooded Mergansers, 24 distant scaup sp, 21 American Pipits, 15 Canada Geese, 9 Green-winged Teal, 6 Common Goldeneyes, 5 American Wigeon, 4 KILLDEER, 4 Common Loons, 2 Black Scoters, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Swamp Sparrow, etc. 
  • 1 American Tree Sparrow (First of fall), Yarmouth Town Landing, 11/11 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, Private property in Cape Elizabeth, 11/12 (with Jeannette).
  • Sabattus Pond, 11/16: 663 Ruddy Ducks, 442 Common Mergansers, 369 scaup sp, 217 Mallards, 102 Buffleheads, 92 Hooded Mergansers, 79 Greater Scaup, 14 Lesser Scaup, 14 Canada Geese, 12 American Black Ducks, 5 Common Goldeneyes, 2 American Wigeon, 1 Green-winged Teal, and 1 AMERICAN COOT.
  • 1 drake Wood Duck, North River Road, Auburn, 11/16.
  • 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 25 Snow Buntings, and 1 Black-bellied Plover, Wolfe’s Neck Center, Freeport, 11/17 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 22 Black-bellied Plovers, 91 Dunlin, etc, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 11/17 (with Dan Nickerson).
  • 2 “WESTERN” PALM WARBLERS, 1-2 Chipping Sparrows, 150+ Red-winged Blackbirds with a few Common Grackles, Pennellville Road, Brunswick, 11/17 (with Dan Nickerson).

Meanwhile, here in our Durham yard, the birdlife has become decidedly wintery. However, a few lingering/migrants of note recently included 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on 11/4, two American Woodcocks through at least 11/4, and a Winter Wren 11/13-14.

Our feeders have been quite busy again, with varying numbers of all the expected species, but the number of American Goldfinches continuing to impress, with 30-50+ visiting daily. A few Pine Siskins have been mixing in with them as well, and we’re getting the sporadic Purple Finch or two. Our Njyer and hulled sunflower feeders are being emptied daily at this point. Under the feeders, White-throated Sparrows have been quite low, with only a max of 4 recently, while Dark-eyed Juncos have slowly but steadily increased over the past week. We’re down to just a couple of Song Sparrows, however.

Here at the store, we had a Common Grackle and a late Chipping Sparrow on the 15th. but we’re not seeing nearly the diversity or activity here as we are used to at the season – no doubt an indictment of the surrounding habitat.

ISSUES and ADVOCACY:

Our Statement in Opposition to a New Port on Sears Island in Searsport.

This Week’s Highlights, 4/22-28/2023

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As is often the case with prolonged cool, wet spells in early spring, Yellow-rumped (and Pine) Warblers descended on feeders. By week’s end, at least 14 were devouring suet, nuts, mealworms, and jelly in our yard in Durham.

Migration ground nearly to a halt for most of the week with a persistent onshore flow and lots of precipitation. Wednesday and Thursday nights, however, saw some good flights of passerines, with hawks moving once again on Thursday and Friday.  My observations of note over the past seven days included:

  • 1 female Evening Grosbeak, our feeders in Durham, 4/22.
  • 21 RUDDY DUCKS (FOY), 5 Horned Grebes, 33 Lesser Scaup, 6 Greater Scaup, etc, Sabattus Pond, Sabattus, 4/23.
  • 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long Point Road, Harpswell, 4/24 (with Jeannette).

My other personal FOY’s this week also included:

  • 1 Blue-headed Vireo, Riverfront Woods Preserve, Yarmouth, 4/22 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group)
  • 2 Barn Swallows, Lisbon Falls waterfront, 4/23.
  • 1 “Eastern” Willet, Land’s End, Bailey Island, 4/24 (with Jeannette).
  • 2 Snowy Egrets, Tidewater Farm Preserve, Falmouth, 4/28.

TOURS AND EVENTS:

This weekend (April 29-30) is the 13th Annual Feathers Over Freeport that we sponsor with public and private partners at Bradbury Mountain and Wolfes Neck Woods State Parks. We have a full slate of events all day, each day once again. The entire schedule and more information can be found here. All events are free with park admission.