- RBA
* Maine
* Southcoastal
* December 1, 2005
* MESC0512.01
- Species Mentioned:
*AMERICAN AVOCET*
*WESTERN KINGBIRD*
Brant
Redhead
Barrow's x Common Goldeneye hybrid
Ruddy Duck
American Bittern
American Coot
Lesser Yellowlegs
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
PARASITIC JAEGER
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Razorbill
SNOWY OWL
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Northern Shrike
TREE SWALLOW
Carolina Wren
American Pipit
PINE WARBLER
Palm Warbler
WILSON'S WARBLER
Lapland Longspur
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Common Redpoll
- Transcript:
Hotline: Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert (Internet
Only).
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2005 compiled at: 5:00pm.
To report: (207) 846-8002, or birds@yarmouthbirds.com.
Coverage: York, Cumberland, and Sagadahoc Counties.
This is Derek Lovitch welcoming you to the
Southcoastal
Maine Rare Bird Alert, sponsored by the Wild Bird
Center of Yarmouth at 500 Route One, Yarmouth, Maine.
All locations not found in A Birder's Guide to Maine
by
Pierson, et al. are referenced to the Delorme Maine
Atlas. Transcripts of current and past messages can
be
found at www.yarmouthbirds.com.
Weather Summary: A low pressure system Thanksgiving
Day
produced 1-4" of snow, with the lowest totals along
the
coast where more rain fell. Even rarer than a tornado
in Maine is a tornado in Maine in November, but an F1
tornado was documented in Phippsburg! Friday through
Sunday was cold, with a shortwave on Saturday toughing
off some light snow. Areas of drizzle (beginning as
freezing rain) and fog Monday and Tuesday were the
result of onshore winds that became southerly and
warmed temps into the 50's. Rain developed Tuesday
night and continued until a cold front pushed through
Wednesday night, producing another 1-2" of rain and
more local flooding. 24.18" of precipitation fell in
the meteorlogical autumn (Sept-Nov), breaking the old
record of 23.15". The average for the period is
12.49", and it is already Portland's second wettest
year on record with a full month to go. Meanwhile, as
expected with the season's first snowfall, some late
lingering migrants were pushed to feeders.
Up to 5 *AMERICAN AVOCETS* are being seen in Webhannet
Marsh in Wells. 5 were first found on 11/24, quite
possibly 5 of the 6 that were seen in Scarborough
Marsh
back on November 6th. At least 2 birds continued
daily
through Thursday, 12/1. The Avocets are most reliable
2-4 hours after high tide as they feed in a creek
along
Webhannet Road (south of it's intersection with Mile
Road). They are frequenting the creek behind houses #
35 to #151. In addition, the birds have been spotted
farther out in the marsh at various tides, especially
from the end of nearby Deptula Lane (all Delorme Map
3:
E-1). Other birds noted in this area include a LESSER
YELLOWLEGS (11/24), 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS (11/26),
and an AMERICAN BITTERN (11/26) right at the end of
Deptula Lane.
A *WESTERN KINGBIRD* was reported from Biddeford Pool
Beach on 11/23. The bird has not been relocated.
Two BRANT continue in Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth,
while other duos were seen at East Point Sanctuary in
Biddeford Pool and the Cliff House in Ogunquit on the
27th.
The Fortunes Rocks Beach REDHEAD was last seen on
11/25
before the ponds froze over, but the two drakes
continue at Grondin Pond (off of Clearwater Road,
Scarborough: Delorme Map 3: B-4), at least through
11/27.
A BARROW'S x COMMON GOLDENEYE hybrid first reported on
11/26 at Winslow Park in Freeport (Delorme Map 6: D-1)
has apparently been present since the 20th. 5 RUDDY
DUCKS were in Wells Harbor on 11/25, while 14 continue
on Grondin Pond, at least through the 27th - along
with
5 continuing AMERICAN COOTS.
A PARASITIC JAEGER was reported about 1 mile east of
Richmond Island on 11/27.
Three (two basic adult and one 1st cycle) BLACK-HEADED
GULLS were at Fort Foster in Kittery on 11/27, while
two 1st cycle where present there on 12/1. 1st cycle
ICELAND GULLS were noted at Fortunes Rocks Beach and
off of Stratton Island, both on the 27th.
A smattering of near-shore RAZORBILLS were reported
this week, including 4 off of East Point Sanctuary in
Biddeford Pool on the 29th.
A SNOWY OWL was spotted off of Popham Beach State Park
on the 27th, as it perched atop a small rocky islet
about 100 yards south of Fox Island).
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS continued at Windham and West
Kennebunk feeders, while one visited a Cape Porpoise
feeder on the 26th.
An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was along Ocean Ave in
Biddeford Pool on 11/26.
A very late TREE SWALLOW was over the Ogunquit Beach
(Delorme Map 2: E-5) dunes on 11/28.
As is typical with the season's first snow, CAROLINA
WRENS made appearances at feeding stations. This week
they were seen in yards in Harpswell, Windham, and the
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth, while others were noted
at Village Crossings (off Scott Dyer Road, Delorme Map
3: A-5) and Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth on
11/26.
A tardy AMERICAN PIPIT was at the north end of
Biddeford Pool Beach on the 27th.
An immature female-type PINE WARBLER visited a
Cumberland suet feeder on 11/24-26, one PALM WARBLER
was in Portland (near the corner of Marginal Way and
Forest Avenue, Delorme Map 73: E-3) on the 27th, and a
very late WILSON'S WARBLER was in a Hill's Beach yard
on 11/30.
Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were behind Hattie's Deli in
Biddeford Pool on 11/29, with two over Portland's Back
Cove on 12/1.
One RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and one COMMON GRACKLE
visited
a West Kennebunk feeder on the 26th, and a
BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD was seen in North Berwick the same day.
The "Orchard Oriole" reported last week turned out to
be a dull immature female-type BALTIMORE ORIOLE, while
another immature female-type Baltimore was briefly
seen
at the Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth on the 26th.
Two COMMON REDPOLLS visited a Cumberland feeder on the
25th.
- End transcript
* Maine
* Southcoastal
* December 1, 2005
* MESC0512.01
- Species Mentioned:
*AMERICAN AVOCET*
*WESTERN KINGBIRD*
Brant
Redhead
Barrow's x Common Goldeneye hybrid
Ruddy Duck
American Bittern
American Coot
Lesser Yellowlegs
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
PARASITIC JAEGER
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Razorbill
SNOWY OWL
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Northern Shrike
TREE SWALLOW
Carolina Wren
American Pipit
PINE WARBLER
Palm Warbler
WILSON'S WARBLER
Lapland Longspur
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Common Redpoll
- Transcript:
Hotline: Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert (Internet
Only).
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2005 compiled at: 5:00pm.
To report: (207) 846-8002, or birds@yarmouthbirds.com.
Coverage: York, Cumberland, and Sagadahoc Counties.
This is Derek Lovitch welcoming you to the
Southcoastal
Maine Rare Bird Alert, sponsored by the Wild Bird
Center of Yarmouth at 500 Route One, Yarmouth, Maine.
All locations not found in A Birder's Guide to Maine
by
Pierson, et al. are referenced to the Delorme Maine
Atlas. Transcripts of current and past messages can
be
found at www.yarmouthbirds.com.
Weather Summary: A low pressure system Thanksgiving
Day
produced 1-4" of snow, with the lowest totals along
the
coast where more rain fell. Even rarer than a tornado
in Maine is a tornado in Maine in November, but an F1
tornado was documented in Phippsburg! Friday through
Sunday was cold, with a shortwave on Saturday toughing
off some light snow. Areas of drizzle (beginning as
freezing rain) and fog Monday and Tuesday were the
result of onshore winds that became southerly and
warmed temps into the 50's. Rain developed Tuesday
night and continued until a cold front pushed through
Wednesday night, producing another 1-2" of rain and
more local flooding. 24.18" of precipitation fell in
the meteorlogical autumn (Sept-Nov), breaking the old
record of 23.15". The average for the period is
12.49", and it is already Portland's second wettest
year on record with a full month to go. Meanwhile, as
expected with the season's first snowfall, some late
lingering migrants were pushed to feeders.
Up to 5 *AMERICAN AVOCETS* are being seen in Webhannet
Marsh in Wells. 5 were first found on 11/24, quite
possibly 5 of the 6 that were seen in Scarborough
Marsh
back on November 6th. At least 2 birds continued
daily
through Thursday, 12/1. The Avocets are most reliable
2-4 hours after high tide as they feed in a creek
along
Webhannet Road (south of it's intersection with Mile
Road). They are frequenting the creek behind houses #
35 to #151. In addition, the birds have been spotted
farther out in the marsh at various tides, especially
from the end of nearby Deptula Lane (all Delorme Map
3:
E-1). Other birds noted in this area include a LESSER
YELLOWLEGS (11/24), 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS (11/26),
and an AMERICAN BITTERN (11/26) right at the end of
Deptula Lane.
A *WESTERN KINGBIRD* was reported from Biddeford Pool
Beach on 11/23. The bird has not been relocated.
Two BRANT continue in Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth,
while other duos were seen at East Point Sanctuary in
Biddeford Pool and the Cliff House in Ogunquit on the
27th.
The Fortunes Rocks Beach REDHEAD was last seen on
11/25
before the ponds froze over, but the two drakes
continue at Grondin Pond (off of Clearwater Road,
Scarborough: Delorme Map 3: B-4), at least through
11/27.
A BARROW'S x COMMON GOLDENEYE hybrid first reported on
11/26 at Winslow Park in Freeport (Delorme Map 6: D-1)
has apparently been present since the 20th. 5 RUDDY
DUCKS were in Wells Harbor on 11/25, while 14 continue
on Grondin Pond, at least through the 27th - along
with
5 continuing AMERICAN COOTS.
A PARASITIC JAEGER was reported about 1 mile east of
Richmond Island on 11/27.
Three (two basic adult and one 1st cycle) BLACK-HEADED
GULLS were at Fort Foster in Kittery on 11/27, while
two 1st cycle where present there on 12/1. 1st cycle
ICELAND GULLS were noted at Fortunes Rocks Beach and
off of Stratton Island, both on the 27th.
A smattering of near-shore RAZORBILLS were reported
this week, including 4 off of East Point Sanctuary in
Biddeford Pool on the 29th.
A SNOWY OWL was spotted off of Popham Beach State Park
on the 27th, as it perched atop a small rocky islet
about 100 yards south of Fox Island).
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS continued at Windham and West
Kennebunk feeders, while one visited a Cape Porpoise
feeder on the 26th.
An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was along Ocean Ave in
Biddeford Pool on 11/26.
A very late TREE SWALLOW was over the Ogunquit Beach
(Delorme Map 2: E-5) dunes on 11/28.
As is typical with the season's first snow, CAROLINA
WRENS made appearances at feeding stations. This week
they were seen in yards in Harpswell, Windham, and the
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth, while others were noted
at Village Crossings (off Scott Dyer Road, Delorme Map
3: A-5) and Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth on
11/26.
A tardy AMERICAN PIPIT was at the north end of
Biddeford Pool Beach on the 27th.
An immature female-type PINE WARBLER visited a
Cumberland suet feeder on 11/24-26, one PALM WARBLER
was in Portland (near the corner of Marginal Way and
Forest Avenue, Delorme Map 73: E-3) on the 27th, and a
very late WILSON'S WARBLER was in a Hill's Beach yard
on 11/30.
Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were behind Hattie's Deli in
Biddeford Pool on 11/29, with two over Portland's Back
Cove on 12/1.
One RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and one COMMON GRACKLE
visited
a West Kennebunk feeder on the 26th, and a
BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRD was seen in North Berwick the same day.
The "Orchard Oriole" reported last week turned out to
be a dull immature female-type BALTIMORE ORIOLE, while
another immature female-type Baltimore was briefly
seen
at the Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth on the 26th.
Two COMMON REDPOLLS visited a Cumberland feeder on the
25th.
- End transcript