Tag Archives: Yarmouth

 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 1/3– 1/9/2026.

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This drake Barrow’s Goldeneye was one of the foursome currently in the Androscoggin River between Auburn and Lewiston, most often in view from the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge. Jeannette paid them a visit on the 6th, where she found this one male just below the bridge.

Except for a delightful morning at Reid State Park, my birding outings were short and local, but I did enjoy catching up with local patches and their winter denizens, especially Barrow’s Goldeneyes. Here are my observations of note over the past seven days.

  • 2 drake and 2 hen Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Winslow Park, Freeport, 1/4.
  • 1 drake Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth, 1/6.
  • 1 SNOWY OWL (FOS), 9-11 Red Crossbills, 58 Red-necked Grebes, 1 Savannah Sparrow (subspecies undetermined), 26 Sanderling, etc, Reid State Park, Georgetown, 1/8.
  • 1 hen Barrow’s Goldeneye, Front Street Boat Launch, Bath, 1/8.
This is how I like my Snowy Owls…safe in the distance, backlit, poorly phone-binned, and otherwise unconcerned with my presence. Later, I spent 30 minutes observing it in the distance as it moved around, perhaps to get in position for hunting, or perhaps because it was getting too warm!

This Week in Irruptives.

American Goldfinches and Red-breasted Nuthatches remain very abundant. While a number of customers at the store have continued to report scattered small flocks of Evening Grosbeaks at feeding stations, I did not hear or see any yet again this week. In fact, my only irruptive in limited time birding was a single Pine Siskin at Florida Lake Park on the 7th, until I re-entered the Red Spruce zone at Reid State Park on the 8th. There, there were several Pine Siskins and at least 9-11 Red Crossbills – including two singing males suggestive of upcoming mid-winter breeding!

New Year Predictions Blog!

It’s once again time for my annual Predictions Blog, where I view into my crystal binoculars and attempt to forecast some of the “new” birds to grace the State of Maine – and then my own personal state list – in the coming year. I also take a look at some of the rarities that graced Maine in 2025.

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.

This Week’s Highlights 11/6 – 11/12/2025.

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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.
  • 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.

This Week’s Highlights 10/30 – 11/5/2025.

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This Orange-crowned Warbler was an “expected surprise” as we birded the Rarity Season nooks and crannies of Bailey Island in Harpswell on a Harpswell Heritage Land Trust tour this past Sunday.

What an incredible week of birding in Maine! Rarity Season is off to a roaring start, and notable birds are being reported around the state. As usual, I spent as much time as I could bird-finding. OK, I chased a little, too, because ‘tis the season! While I didn’t add to the list of Megas this week, I encountered a number of notable seasonal observations, especially “late/lingering/pioneering” migrants. Here are my observations of note over the past seven days:

  • 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 18 Pectoral Sandpipers, 18+ White-rumped Sandpipers, 12 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 Snow Buntings (first of fall), 1 American Tree Sparrow (FOF), 4 Great Egrets, etc, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 10/30.
  • 18-21 continuing RED KNOTS, 10 White-rumped Sandpipers, etc, Ferry Beach, Scarborough, 10/30.
  • 1 1st cycle Iceland Gull (first of fall), Trundy Point, Cape Elizabeth, 11/1 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs with 14 Greater Yellowlegs, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 11/1 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 Fox Sparrow (FOF), our property in Durham, 11/1-3.
  • 1 NORTHERN PARULA, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, etc, Bailey Island, Harpswell, 11/2 (with Harpswell Heritage Land Trust tour group).
  • 1 continuing MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER, Grist Mill Park, Yarmouth, 11/3 (with Jeannette and m.obs). Found on 11/2 by Noah Gibb and Stacey Huth, this western vagrant was typical for members of its genus during migration. In other words, it was wicked hard to photograph, even when it popped out into the open. Over the course of an hour, Jeannette and I enjoyed some fantastic views, but they were all fleeting, and too quick for her camera! It continues through at least today, 11/5.
  • 1 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, 11/3, Grist Mill Park, Yarmouth, 11/3. First spotted by Jeannette and I, a few people glimpsed it and then several others independently relocated it later. Interestingly, we saw it fly across the river, almost exactly where we watched the MacGillivray’s cross several hours later. Both happily, came back, suggesting birds are foraging in a wide area here, which suggests the need for patience when seeking the MACW! Two fly-over Evening Grosbeaks there as well were my FOF.
  • 18 Evening Grosbeaks and 2+ Red Crossbills, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 11/5.

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 Highlights 10/15 – 10/22/2025.

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Swamp Sparrows have been common and conspicuous on our Durham property, and elsewhere this week. I feel this, like most sparrows, is an underappreciated beauty!

My observations of note over a very productive and exciting eight days of birding included the following:

  • Highlights from our Durham property this week included near-daily American Woodcocks and Rusty Blackbirds, and a nice little arrival of more Swamp Sparrows and Purple Finches in particular on 10/21.
  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/15.

A very light flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning.

6:55-8:30 (with Bill Thompson).

48F, mostly cloudy to partly cloudy, NW 1.7-2.5mph diminishing to calm.

51 American Robins

33 Yellow-rumped Warblers

28 Dark-eyed Juncos

17 American Goldfinches

16 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

8 Eastern Bluebirds

7 White-throated Sparrows

6 Chipping Sparrows

5 Palm Warblers

4 Hermit Thrushes

4 Golden-crowned Kinglets

3 Blue-headed Vireos

3 Purple Finches

3 Swamp Sparrows

2 Pine Siskins

2 Rusty Blackbirds

2 Tufted Titmice (4 false-starts and counting)

1 Red-breasted Nuthatch

1 Blackpoll Warbler

1 White-breasted Nuthatch

1 Downy Woodpecker (2+ false-starts)

1 House Finch

1 American Pipit

1 Northern Flicker

1 Magnolia Warbler

1 unidentified

Total  = 203

  • 1 continuing CACKLING GOOSE, Thornhurst Farm, North Yarmouth, 10/15 (with Bill Thompson).
  • 1 Least Sandpiper, 1 White-rumped Sandpipers, and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 10/15 (with Bill Thompson).
  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/16.

An excellent flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning.

6:55 to 10:40am.

44F, Mostly cloudy, NW 4.3 – 9.0 increasing to 15.1 – 19.7mph with higher gusts.

2186 American Robins (*NEW RECORD! – just barely).

1776 Yellow-rumped Warblers

167 unidentified

127 Dark-eyed Juncos (One was quite likely not a Slate-colored, but my photos of it are not useful)

61 Common Grackles

48 Cedar Waxwings

43 Canada Geese

31 Chipping Sparrows

21 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

19 Rusty Blackbirds

18 White-throated Sparrows

13 Northern Flickers

11 Golden-crowned Kinglets

11 Purple Finches

9 Pine Siskins

7 Palm Warblers

4 Blue-headed Vireos

4 unidentified finches

4 Hermit Thrushes

4 Song Sparrows (crossed together at 8:29. This is only my second or third observation of SOSP engaging in Morning Flight after sunrise here; plenty more in and around the parking lot as usual)

3 Merlins

3 Common Loons

3 Turkey Vultures

2 Red-winged Blackbirds

2 White-crowned Sparrows

2 Eastern Phoebes

1 Northern Parula

1 Blackpoll Warbler

1 Brown Creeper

1 Peregrine Falcon

1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

1 Cooper’s Hawk

1 American Goldfinch

1 Red-shouldered Hawk

1 Cape May Warbler

1 Red-breasted Nuthatch

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk

1 Tennessee Warbler (from Bill Thompson’s photo review)

1 Black-throated Blue Warbler (from Bill Thompson’s photo review).

Total = 4,592

  • Notables from a delightfully birdy morning on Bailey Island, Harpswell on 10/17 included a decent, and relaxingly unquantified, morning flight mostly of Yellow-rumped Warblers; 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and 1 Cape May Warbler among the migrants found here and there around the island.
  • 12 SANDHILL CRANES, Mayall Road, Gray/New Gloucester, 10/18 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 WILSON’S WARBLER and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, Eastern Promenade, Portland, 10/18.
  • 1 DICKCISSEL, feeders here at the store, 10/19, continuing through at least 10/21. Was this the same bird seen on 10/4 and then again on 10/13-14?
  • 4 continuing FORSTER’S TERNS, Pine Point, Scarborough, 10/20 (with clients from California and Massachusetts).
  • 2 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrows, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 10/20 (with clients from California and Massachusetts).

Our Last Tour of 2025 still has some space remaining!

Birds on Tap℠ – Roadtrip! Rarity Roundup

​November 9, 2025; 8:00am – 3:00pm

Cost – $125

​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 Highlights 10/8 – 10/14/2025.

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No photos represented my birding week more than Yellow-rumped Warblers in flight! Thanks, as always, to Bill for allowing me to use his photos here.

  • My tour report from our 10/5 Half-Day Pelagic out of Boothbay Harbor is posted here, including a complete species list and lots of photos.
2025 Fall Half-Day Pelagic with Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Cap’n Fish’s Cruises.

Next, my observations of note over the last seven days included the following:

  • Highlights from our Durham property this week included 1 Rusty Blackbird 10/8-9 and 3 American Woodcocks on 10/14.
  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/9: A record-shattering day!

An exceptional Morning Flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning. In fact, it was record-breaking!

6:48-10:48am

41, clear, lt-mod NW (did not take early wind reading) decreasing then increasing back to 7.7-10.5mph before becoming increasingly gusty)

3244 Yellow-rumped Warblers (NEW RECORD!)

1423 American Robins

585 Unidentified (mostly high bunches or too far to north or south)

576 Dark-eyed Juncos (NEW RECORD!)

100+ White-throated Sparrows (Conservative estimate in parking lot area after flight; a handful appeared to cross at dawn).

59 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

50 Palm Warblers

74 Northern Flickers

72 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

44 Rusty Blackbirds (NEW RECORD)

43 Golden-crowned Kinglets

18 Chipping Sparrows

16 Black-throated Green Warblers

15 Northern Parulas

14 Cedar Waxwings

11 Purple Finches

10 unidentified kinglets

9 American Pipits

8 Blue-headed Vireos

6 Blackpoll Warblers

6 Hermit Thrushes (minimum, with two or several repeatedly visiting pasture rose hips at bridge base)

4 Eastern Bluebirds

4 Eastern Phoebes

4 American Goldfinches

3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (NEW RECORD!)

2 Black-throated Blue Warblers

2 White-crowned Sparrows

2 Brown Creepers

2 Swamp Sparrows

2 Tufted Titmice (several false starts)

2 Merlins

2 Magnolia Warblers

2 Common Loons

1 Swainson’s Thrush (confirmed by Bill Thompson)

1 Yellow Warbler

1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER

1 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (from photo review by Bill Thompson)

1 Red-tailed Hawk

1 Red-winged Blackbird

1 Common Yellowthroat

1 American Redstart

1 Blue Jay

1 Turkey Vulture

1 unidentified sparrow (probably a Field)

1 Eastern Towhee

1 Cooper’s Hawk

1 Pine Siskin

X Song Sparrows (significant increase in parking lot area but did not count)

***Total = 6,428 *** 2ND HIGHEST ALL-TIME COUNT and HIGHEST OCTOBER COUNT!***

  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/10:

A good morning flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth this morning. Given the calm winds of much of the night, and the completely calm dawn, it was much more active than I expected. Kinglets were swirling all over, so my counts may be too high or very low. The Ruby-crowned count seems a touch high, while the Golden-crowned count feels low. Meanwhile, the slower and lower flight, with more birds pausing before crossing despite the lack of wind made for excellent viewing and much more relaxing and enjoyable morning!

6:49-9:52am

33F, clear, calm with a developing puff of WNW.

449 Yellow-rumped Warblers

138 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

106 American Robins

52 Golden-crowned Kinglets

37 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

35 Dark-eyed Juncos

25 Cedar Waxwings

16 Northern Flickers

10 Eastern Bluebirds

9 Blue-headed Vireos

8 Palm Warblers

8 Chipping Sparrows

8 White-throated Sparrows

5 Red-breasted Mergansers

5 Nashville Warblers

5 Northern Parulas

4 Brown Creepers

3 Tennessee Warblers

3 Black-throated Blue Warblers

3 Hermit Thrushes

2 Blue Jays

2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (2nd highest tally after yesterday’s record 3!)

2 American Goldfinches

2 Common Loons

2 Eastern Phoebes

2 Tufted Titmice (numerous “false starts.” Same two as yesterday?)

2 Black-capped Chickadees

2 Red-breasted Nuthatches

1 Osprey

1 Purple Finch

1 Black-throated Green Warbler

1 House Finch

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 unidentified Catharus

1 Common Yellowthroat

1 American Redstart

1 Hairy Woodpecker

1 American Pipit

1 Northern Harrier

1 Savannah Sparrow

1 Lincoln’s Sparrow

1 Red-eyed Vireo

1 Swamp Sparrow

Total = 960

  • 3 continuing juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 1 continuing juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 10/10.
  • 1 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow (FOF), 1 Saltmarsh Sparrow, 4 Nelson’s Sparrows, 2 Red Crossbills, 2 Northern Pintails, etc, Reid State Park, Georgetown, 10/12.
  • 1 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth, 10/13.

Upcoming Tours with Limited Space Available:

  • Birds on Tap℠ – The Boat Trip! Rare Birds and Island Exploration with Portland Explorer.

This Sunday! October 19, 2025; 9:00am – 2:00pm

​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!). But this time we’re leaving the van in the garage, and hitting the water! That’s right, we’re taking a cruise, and we’re returning to the private House Island in Porland Harbor twice in 2025. 

During last year’s wildly successful outing in which we became the first birding group ever on the island, we found oodles of Yellow-rumped Wabrlers, an uncommon Field Sparrow, and other migrants. But we were truly captivated by Captain Pete, who guided us through the historic fort, sharing a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating stories. The beer was pretty darn good too, as we sampled the history of Maine’s craft beer scene. 

Building on that success, we’re visiting the private House Island in Portland Harbor twice in 2025. 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!  

Returning in late October, once again rarities will be on our mind. While rare birds are rare, we are still going to expect the unexpected. But more likely are regular migrants of the season such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, a variety of sparrows, and a growing diversity of waterbirds. At the very least, we’ll have resident waterbirds and several species of gulls to sort through. We are having daydreams of a rare flycatcher!

As we motor back across the harbor, we’ll continue to familiarize ourselves with some of the common waterbirds, such as Common Eiders, Common Loons, and the vanguard of our winter diving ducks while enjoying a local craft beverage produced in the city of Portland. While the exact plan is subject to change, we’ll be sure to come up with a plan to adequately celebrate our discoveries.

This Week’s Highlights 10/1 – 10/7/2025.

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We were surprised to find a tarrying American Oystercatcher still hanging out on Upper Green Island (where we documented them breeding once again this summer) during our Birds of Casco Bay Boat Tour on the 6th.
  • My tour report from Monhegan, 9/26-9/30, including lots of rarity photos can now be viewed here. Sorry for the delay here, especially for those waiting for the trip list.
2025 Monhegan Fall Migration Weekend Tour Report

Then, my observations of note over the last seven days included the following:

  • Highlights from our Durham property this period included a Tennessee Warbler on 10/2, 1 Rusty Blackbird on 10/3, and 4 American Woodcocks on 10/7.
  • Sandy Point Morning Flight, 10/1.

North to north-east winds are usually not very productive for the Morning Flight at Sandy Point, but the radar images showed a huge flight overnight, so I decided to give it a try. Good thing I did! A northwesterly component inland must have “stacked” birds up against the coast, where they were then influenced by the increasing northeasterly component offshore, producing a better than expected push across the channel. The more I observe the flight here, the more I have to learn! In the end, an unexpectedly good flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth, this morning.

6:38-10:00am

46F, Clear, N 8.2-10.4 increasing to NNE 13.3-16.9mph.

238 Cedar Waxwings

222 Yellow-rumped Warblers

73 Blue Jays

64 unidentified

39 Black-throated Green Warblers

35 Dark-eyed Juncos

34 Canada Geese

33 Northern Parulas

28 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

27 Palm Warblers

26 Savannah Sparrows

23 Blackpoll Warblers

16 White-throated Sparrow (3 may have crossed at first light)

14 Northern Flickers

12 American Robins

10 Golden-crowned Kinglets

9 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

9 Chipping Sparrows

6 Nashville Warblers

6 Rusty Blackbirds

6 American Goldfinches

5 Magnolia Warblers

3 Scarlet Tanagers

2 Common Loons

2 Ospreys

2 Cape May Warblers

2 Tufted Titmice (5+ false starts)

2 Hermit Thrushes

1 Pine Warbler

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 American Pipit

1 Baltimore Oriole

1 Red-breasted Nuthatch

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk

1 Brown Creeper

1 Merlin

1 Blue-headed Vireo

1 Swamp Sparrow

1 Cooper’s Hawk

T= 959

2 Monarchs

  • Whale Watch with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor on 10/3: 15 NORTHERN FULMAR, 13 Great Shearwaters, 1 Cory’s Shearwater, 3 Red Phalaropes, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, etc.
  • 6 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS with 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 White-rumped and 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers, etc, Walsh Preserve, Freeport, 10/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
  • 1 DICKCISSEL, garden here at the store, 10/4 (with m.obs).
  • Freeport Wild Bird Supply/Cap’n Fish’s Cruises ½ Day Pelagic out of Boothbay Harbor on 10/5 was incredible. Highlights included 18 Northern Fulmar, 29 Atlantic Puffins, 1 Pomarine Jaeger, 55 Great Shearwaters, 2 Razorbills, 54+ Red-necked Phalaropes, 3 Red Phalaropes, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Peregrine Falcon driving an Ovenbird into the ocean, and a playful pod of Common Dolphins. Full trip report with photos soon.
  • 1 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Upper Green Island; photo above), 125+ Laughing Gulls, 126 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, etc, Casco Bay, 10/6, via Birds of Casco Bay boat tour with Seacoast Tours (Photo above).

Upcoming Tours with Limited Space Available:

October 19, 2025; 9:00am – 2:00pm

​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!). But this time we’re leaving the van in the garage, and hitting the water! That’s right, we’re taking a cruise, and we’re returning to the private House Island in Porland Harbor twice in 2025. 

During last year’s wildly successful outing in which we became the first birding group ever on the island, we found oodles of Yellow-rumped Wabrlers, an uncommon Field Sparrow, and other migrants. But we were truly captivated by Captain Pete, who guided us through the historic fort, sharing a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating stories. The beer was pretty darn good too, as we sampled the history of Maine’s craft beer scene. 

Building on that success, we’re visiting the private House Island in Portland Harbor twice in 2025. 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!  

Returning in late October, once again rarities will be on our mind. While rare birds are rare, we are still going to expect the unexpected. But more likely are regular migrants of the season such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, a variety of sparrows, and a growing diversity of waterbirds. At the very least, we’ll have resident waterbirds and several species of gulls to sort through. We are having daydreams of a rare flycatcher!

As we motor back across the harbor, we’ll continue to familiarize ourselves with some of the common waterbirds, such as Common Eiders, Common Loons, and the vanguard of our winter diving ducks while enjoying a local craft beverage produced in the city of Portland. While the exact plan is subject to change, we’ll be sure to come up with a plan to adequately celebrate our discoveries – or the one that got away! 

This Week’s Highlights 9/15 – 9/21/2025.

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This Northern Wheatear graced Scarborough Marsh from 9/15 through 9/17. For some reason, there are only about 4 records in the last ten years, as this spiffy and charismatic bird has become even more rare in the state, or perhaps, just more rarely detected. Jeannette and I caught up with it here on the 16th although it didn’t want to come to close to the trail for us that afternoon.

My observations of note over the last seven days included two light Morning Flights at Sandy Point and a rarity chase.

  • Birding our property in Durham this week was once again very productive. Several Lincoln’s Sparrows were in the yard on the 16th and 17th, and the first White-throated Sparrows appeared at the feeders on the 17th. Other highlights include a continuing juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk; a vole- and frog-stalking Great Blue Heron all week; a tarrying immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbird from 9/17 through the 19th; several Lincoln’s Sparrows daily; a Brown Thrasher and Scarlet Tanager on 9/18; and a really nice variety of warblers.
  • A light flight over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth on 9/15 (with apologies for all of this superfluous spacing…I’m trying to figure this out!)

6:19-8:50am

55F, mostly clear, NNW 5.3-6.6 to N 6.5-7.2mph

103 Northern Parulas

29 Unidentified

8 Red-eyed Vireos

8 Blue Jays

7 American Redstarts

6 Black-throated Green Warblers

4 Yellow Warblers

4 White-throated Sparrows

3 Purple Finches

3 Red-breasted Nuthatches

3 Blackpoll Warblers

2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets

2 Palm Warblers

2 American Goldfinches

2 Blue-headed Vireos

2 American Robins

1 Magnolia Warbler

1 Indigo Bunting

1 Common Loon

1 Merlin

1 Osprey

1 Savannah Sparrow

1 Baltimore Oriole

1 Cape May Warbler

1 Prairie Warbler

1 Eastern Phoebe

1 Northern Waterthrush

1 American Pipit

1 Nashville Warbler

1 Peregrine Falcon

1 Yellow-rumped Warbler

1 Bay-breasted Warbler

1 Northern Flicker

X Common Yellowthroats

Total = 205

This Savannah Sparrow appeared to be contemplating walking across the bridge instead of
taking to the air yet again.
  • 1 continuing NORTHERN WHEATEAR, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 9/16 (with Jeannette). Present since the morning of the 15th, we successfully visited the bird on the afternoon of the second day of its stay. Photo above.
  • A light but rewarding flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin’s Island, Yarmouth on 9/19.

6:24-9:24am (with Bill Thompson)

55F, mostly clear. NW 4.3-5.2 increasing to 5.1-11.0mph.

99 Northern Parulas

44 unidentified

32 Blackpoll Warblers

18 Black-throated Green Warblers

14 White-throated Sparrows

8 Red-breasted Nuthatch

6 Magnolia Warblers

6 Blue Jays

6 Red-eyed Vireos

4 American Redstarts

4 Purple Finches

4 American Goldfinches

2 Chipping Sparrows

2 Baltimore Orioles

2 Cedar Waxwings

1 American Pipit

1 Palm Warbler

1 Blue-headed Vireo

1 American Kestrel

1 Merlin

1 Red-bellied Woodpecker (four “false starts”)

1 CONNECTICUT WARBLER (photo below)

1 Yellow-rumped Warbler

1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

1 Scarlet Tanager

1 Nashville Warbler

1 Tufted Titmouse (5 “false starts”)

1 Bay-breasted Warbler

Total = 266

Connecticut Warblers are essentially annual at Sandy Point, but I never get a photo off and am often reticent to pull the trigger on the call without a really good look. Luckily, Bill Thompson joined me in “my office” this morning and was at the ready for the large yellowish warbler with long wings barreling towards us. This stellar photo shows the diagnostic complete eyering, pale throat, and long yellow undertail coverts of this robust warbler.

  • 1 dead DICKCISSEL, killed by unprotected windows at the Smith Center at Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment. More info here.


Upcoming Tours with Limited Space Available:

A few spaces are now open!

September 26-29, 2025

Join me on Monhegan during the height of migration for 1-4 days searching the island for regular visitors, rarities, and vagrants. If you haven’t experienced Maine’s Migration Mecca, now is the time! And if you’re like many of our regular travelers, you know you can’t wait to get back.

This is a casual outing, with boat and hotel reservations, as well as meals, on your own. Also, you can come and go as you please, based on whatever boat and departure times and locations suit you best. Sign up for 1,2, 3, or 4 days, we will give you the time and place to meet us on the island based on when you arrive.
In the eleven years we have run this trip on this weekend, we have averaged 95 species, including 17 species of warblers!

​October 5, 2025   – 9:00am

​​Join us on a special cruise dedicated to off-shore birding: a collaboration with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises offering half-day “mini-pelagics!” We’ll seek out the rare and common seabirds that occur in our nearshore waters, but we will always have the hope for something unexpected. Derek will team up with the boat’s expert naturalists to spot, identify, and point out pelagic seabirds. Chumming efforts will provide opportunities to attract the birds in for better photo ops and viewing. While we’ll stop to look at any whales and whatever other interesting sea life we encounter along the way, it is the feathered wildlife we’re searching for, and will be focused on.​​

This annual fall excursion gives a chance at some very sought after pelagic species, such as Great and South Polar Skua. More likely species include Northern Fulmar; Black-legged Kittiwake; Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger; shearwaters – Great, Sooty, Cory’s, and possibly even Manx; Leach’s Storm-Petrel; Razorbill and Atlantic Puffin; Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, and much more. With the later departure date this year, we hope for more jaegers and a better chance at Great Skua, along with the chance at more early-arriving alcids.

Each of our four October trips have been very different, with each year providing some unexpected highlights. Once again, we will be chumming at at least one hotspot, and we’ll have an additional spotter who will keep dedicated eBird lists for those who so desire and want it shared with them. 

October 19, 2025; 9:00am – 2:00pm

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!). But this time we’re leaving the van in the garage, and hitting the water! That’s right, we’re taking a cruise, and we’re returning to the private House Island in Porland Harbor twice in 2025. 

During last year’s wildly successful outing in which we became the first birding group ever on the island, we found oodles of Yellow-rumped Wabrlers, an uncommon Field Sparrow, and other migrants. But we were truly captivated by Captain Pete, who guided us through the historic fort, sharing a wealth of historical knowledge and fascinating stories. The beer was pretty darn good too, as we sampled the history of Maine’s craft beer scene. 

Building on that success, we’re visiting the private House Island in Portland Harbor twice in 2025. 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!  

Returning in late October, once again rarities will be on our mind. While rare birds are rare, we are still going to expect the unexpected. But more likely are regular migrants of the season such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, a variety of sparrows, and a growing diversity of waterbirds. At the very least, we’ll have resident waterbirds and several species of gulls to sort through. We are having daydreams of a rare flycatcher!

As we motor back across the harbor, we’ll continue to familiarize ourselves with some of the common waterbirds, such as Common Eiders, Common Loons, and the vanguard of our winter diving ducks while enjoying a local craft beverage produced in the city of Portland. While the exact plan is subject to change, we’ll be sure to come up with a plan to adequately celebrate our discoveries – or the one that got away!