Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: August 25, 2005
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (www.maineaudubon.org )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A WHITE-WINGED TERN was reported from Acadia National Park on August 13th.
The bird was seen in Blackwoods Campground, follow Park Loop Road north to
first bridge, proceed west to shore, and continue about fifty yards in a
southerly direction.
York County
At Goose Rocks Beach there were 3 PIPING PLOVERS and a GREAT HORNED OWL.
At the Kennebunk Plains there were 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, 3 EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS, 10+ VESPER SPARROWS, FIELD SPARROW, OVENBIRD, and BOBOLINK.
The quarterly survey at Biddeford Pool on the 23rd yielded: LEAST SANDPIPER,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
(opposite Hattie's Restaurant), LITTLE BLUE HERON, WHIMBREL, SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, COMMON TERN, WILLET, CAROLINA WREN, and TREE
and BARN SWALLOW. Also seen were CANADA, NASHVILLE, BLACK and WHITE,
YELLOW, AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and a WILSON'S WARBLER.
A juvenile plumage BAIRD'S SANDPIPER made a brief stop on the Basket Island
Sandbar (between Hills Beach and Basket Island) on the 17th at about 7:00
p.m.
A HUDSONSIAN GODWIT was seen at Hill's Beach at low tide and 1 female
ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen East Point Sanctuary. Over 2,000 shorebirds were
roosting on the rocks at the north end of Biddeford Pool Beach on incoming
tide high tide, 1500 or so were SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, but this group also
included 10+ WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and an alternate plumage adult PURPLE
SANDPIPER.
Scarborough Marsh Area
Highlights of the Maine Audubon field trip/Shorebird Clinic to Scarborough
Marsh were 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, and 30 LITTLE BLUE HERONS
on Eastern Road. Three GREEN HERONS were seen at the Audubon Nature Center
and a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON was seen from Eastern Road and the Lobster
Co-op. Shorebirds at the Lobster Co-op and Eastern Road included: 70
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 300 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 30 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 20
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 WHIMBRELS, 10 +/- SANDERLINGS, 550 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS, 100 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 5 +/- WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS (at Co-op),
30 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS (on Eastern
Road), and 60 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, including 1 hendersoni subspecies.
Many BONAPARTE'S GULLS were also seen.
On the 18th on Eastern Road there were 14 species of waders including
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 4 STILT SANDPIPERS and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. A
PEREGRINE FALCON put on a good show for half an hour; also a NORTHERN
HARRIER and a MERLIN were seen.
At Pine Point there were 3 WHIMBRELS and 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.
Out on Stratton Island there were two BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
Over 250 warblers were seen at Sandy Point Beach, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth
on the 25th. Highlights included: 3 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 3 MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS, 2 CANADA WARBLERS, 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, and 1
OVENBIRD. Other passerines present included 1 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 1
SCARLET TANAGER, 2 LEAST FLYCATCHERS, and one YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
Also on the 25th migrants in a yard in Falmouth included 10 species of
warbler and 6 flycatchers. Highlights included: 1 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, 1
PINE WARBLER, 1 PRAIRIE WARBLER, 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, 1
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1-2 LEAST FLYCATCHERS,1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 2
BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 2 SCARLET TANAGERS, 2 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and 4
BALTIMORE ORIOLES.
A male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen in a yard at Highland Lake, Windham.
An adult HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage was seen feeding by a ledge in
Water Cove, on Bailey Island.
Midcoast
Three juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were actively running around the
upper part of Mile Beach (middle), Reid State Park, Georgetown.
Thirty COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen flying over Route 295 in Richmond.
At Clarry Hill in Union, there were 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS and an AMERICAN
KESTREL.
On Monhegan Island there were YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, PINE and BLACK
and WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, CEDAR WAXWING, COOPER'S HAWK,
MERLIN, and AMERICAN KESTREL.
At the Weskeag Marsh and Thomaston Flats there were about 1,000 shorebird
including: 3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, PECTORAL & WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 200
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 350-400 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 9 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS, 12 KILLDEER, 1 STILT SANDPIPER, 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, a
GREAT EGRET, a MERLIN, and two young PEREGRINE FALCONS
A WINTER WREN was in Pemaquid.
Central Maine
In Turner on the 22nd there were 25-30 BOBOLINKS, 1 DICKCISSEL, 1 UPLAND
SANDPIPER, YELLOW and NASHVILLE WARBLERS.
A PEREGRINE FALCON with prey in its talons was flying from east to west over
the bridge (Bridge Street) crossing the Kennebec River, in Augusta.
On Hollywood Boulevard in Whitefield on the 19th there was an AMERICAN
BITTERN, VIRGINIA RAIL with young, MARSH WRENS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, and
BOBOLINKS.
On Taylor Road in Orono there were NASHVILLE WARBLERS (at least 6 adults and
immatures in a chokecherry bush) and 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE. There was also 1
SOLITARY SANDPIPER near the culvert by the road leading to the dump and at
the second pond were 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 2 HOODED MERGANSER, 2 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, and 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWK At the third pond another PIED-BILLED
GREBE was seen.
In the IGA parking lot on Stillwater Avenue in Old Town, a COOPER'S HAWK
cruised through.
In Dixmont on the 19th there were 2 WOOD THRUSHES, INDIGO BUNTING, and a
RED-TAILED HAWK.
Eastern Maine
A WHITE-WINGED TERN was reported from Acadia National Park on August 13th.
The bird was seen in Blackwoods Campground, follow Park Loop Road north to
first bridge, proceed west to shore, and continue about fifty yards in a
southerly direction.
At Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge there were: GREAT BLUE HERON, 3 GREEN
HERON, YELLOWLEGS, WOOD DUCK, BLUE and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and RING NECKED
DUCK.
An immature BALD EAGLE was seen by Plymouth Pond.
WILSON'S STORM PETRELS, 15 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, ARCTIC TERN, and 2 BALD EAGLES
were seen out of Port Clyde.
In Indian Township there was a BLACK-BAKED WOODPECKER on Tribe land. Also,
there were 8 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER,
and 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
On Saturday August 20th, birds at south Lubec and on Campobello Island
included: 440 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 1 GOLDEN PLOVER, 250 (partial count
estimate) SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 15 (estimate) SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 5 RED
KNOTS, 1GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 20 RUDDY TURNSTONES, SANDERLINGS, 25+
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 25+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1,000 (low estimate)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1 MERLIN, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER (male), and 2 COMMON
EIDERS.[It was high tide while at Lubec so there was not much opportunity to
view birds up close. With the exception of small flocks flying by, most were
at the cobble bar roosting area east of The Nature Conservancy sand spit. It
is critical to arrive about three hours before high tide while the birds
concentrate or on the falling tide about two hours after high water].
In a quick stop at West Quoddy Head in Lubec, just after high tide there
were 1 GREAT CORMORANT, 12 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE.
At Wilson's Beach Breakwater on Campobello Island in a falling tide (about 2
hours after high water) there were 25,000-30,000 HERRING GULLS, 5,000-7,000
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 200+BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 20,000 (PARTIAL
COUNT) BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 500+ DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS, 3 GREAT CORMORANTS, 2 RAZORBILLS, 1 BALD EAGLE, 1 OSPREY, 75
COMMON EIDERS, and 5 BLACK GUILLEMOTS.
[Wilson's Beach is best birded about 2 1/2 to 3 hours after high water. The
totals include birds briefly observed near-shore at East Quoddy Head. Most
(75%) of the large larids were along the west/north shore of Campobello
beyond the Deer Island ferry].
Northern Maine
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were seen in Fort Kent.
On the St. John River/Allagash area there were 30 COMMON MERGANSERS.
On the Huber lands that begin behind the Dolby Log Yard near Millinocket
there was a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and another BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER at mile 4.2. There were three GRAY JAYS at 4.5 miles. At mile 11,
another BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and a BOREAL CHICKADEE were seen. An
AMERICAN KESTREL and two MERLINS were also encountered along this stretch,
plus several more Pileated Woodpeckers. This road is heavily traveled by
logging trucks. ALWAYS pull over and give them the right of way. NEVER park
in the road!
Birds in Aroostook County are on the move recently and things are changing
daily.
Area waterfowl have had a very good breeding season locally, with most of
the production later in the season than usual. The ducks that initiated
nests in May had a hard time with all the cold and rain and weren't very
successful. A female REDHEAD has appeared in a pond near Lake Josephine in
Easton along with three juvenile diving ducks, these could be Maine's first
Redhead brood. Since the juveniles are older and wander widely around the
pond, it's hard to tell who owns them. There are some adult RING-NECKED
DUCKS in the pond but the young birds seem to head towards the Redhead when
disturbed. More later.
Also at Lake Jo, Maine's first RUDDY DUCK family is well with all six
juveniles maturing under the attentive care of the hen and drake. RUDDY
DUCKS are our only duck where the male sticks around and helps with care of
the young. CANADA GEESE have left their natal wetlands and are now starting
to visit the newly harvested grain fields. Flock sizes are growing rapidly
with groups of 50+ being reported. Over 30 AMERICAN WIGEONS were scoped on
the north shore of Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield and BLUE-WING TEAL
numbers are increasing rapidly around the area. A very high count of 96 WOOD
DUCKS were loafing on the east shore of Lake Jo this week. Only two were
hens. A similar high count of 77 juvenile COMMON MERGANSERS are being seen
regularly just below the Caribou Dam in Caribou. GREEN-WINGED TEAL and
HOODED MERGANSERS are being seen at Collins Pond in Caribou and hundreds of
RING-NECKED DUCKS are rafting together on Christina and Lake Josephine. No
Northern Shovelers have been seen lately.
Not many Common Loon chicks have been reported but PIED-BILLED GREBES seem
to have had a very successful breeding season. Over 20 were counted at
Christina recently. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Collins Pond.
A young COOPER'S HAWK was a rare find at Christina Reservoir last Sunday.
MERLINS were harassing shorebirds at Collins Pond and near Caribou Dam and
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS were seen in Presque Isle and Woodland. An adult BALD
EAGLE has been eyeing the merganser congregation at the dam.
Both SORA and VIRGINIA RAILS were seen at Christina Reservoir on Sunday.
The shorebird variety has increased a bit recently. At Collins Pond, the
less common shorebirds were several SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and SANDPIPERS, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS are quite common now in the smaller beaver flowages and
wetlands. A high count of 7 was seen at Collins Pond on the 19th. LESSER
YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERS remain the most common migrants. A WILSON'S
SNIPE flew over a house last night and vocalized several times. Eight
AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen in an alder swale in Westfield on Saturday.
Three COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen over the Caribou High School on the 21st.
Last year migrant nighthawks were seen passing through Central Aroostook on
the 17th of August. BELTED KINGFISHERS are also on the move and many can be
seen along the Aroostook River. Low water is making the minnow schools easy
targets for these. Six were seen at once on Sunday at Collins Pond.
Late season flycatchers spotted this week included a LEAST FLYCATCHER at
Caribou, a GREAT-CRESTED vocalizing near Christina Reservoir and an EASTERN
WOOD-PEWEE in Caribou. EASTERN KINGBIRD family groups are regularly
encountered in the area.
Migrant swallows are congregating at larger wetlands and it appears numbers
are down as expected. A group of 50+, TREE, 5 BARNS and several CLIFF
SWALLOWS were feeding over Christina Reservoir. A probable migrant CLIFF
SWALLOW passed over a yard in Woodland on the 21st. Some late CLIFF SWALLOW
nesters have been reported recently and some of these have only just fledged
in the past week.
A VEERY and a probable SWAINSONS THRUSH were heard vocalizing overhead last
night. AMERICAN ROBINS appear to be increasing.
Mixed flocks of warblers are regular in a yard in Woodland. Last week's list
included NASHVILLE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN,
YELLOW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. A late-singing
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was heard at Collins Pond on Monday. Hordes of sparrows
can be found on field edges lately and the juveniles can present some
interesting ID challenges. CHIPPING, SWAMP, WHITE-THROATED, SAVANNAH, and
SONG were spotted in Caribou on Sunday.
Several young BOBOLINKS were feeding in a weedy field in Fort Fairfield on
Sunday. The first big COMMON GRACKLE flocks are appearing and enjoying the
grain spilled along area roads. Over 200 flew over a yard on Saturday.
PURPLE and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are regular flyovers.
Date: August 25, 2005
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (www.maineaudubon.org )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A WHITE-WINGED TERN was reported from Acadia National Park on August 13th.
The bird was seen in Blackwoods Campground, follow Park Loop Road north to
first bridge, proceed west to shore, and continue about fifty yards in a
southerly direction.
York County
At Goose Rocks Beach there were 3 PIPING PLOVERS and a GREAT HORNED OWL.
At the Kennebunk Plains there were 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, 3 EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS, 10+ VESPER SPARROWS, FIELD SPARROW, OVENBIRD, and BOBOLINK.
The quarterly survey at Biddeford Pool on the 23rd yielded: LEAST SANDPIPER,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
(opposite Hattie's Restaurant), LITTLE BLUE HERON, WHIMBREL, SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, COMMON TERN, WILLET, CAROLINA WREN, and TREE
and BARN SWALLOW. Also seen were CANADA, NASHVILLE, BLACK and WHITE,
YELLOW, AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and a WILSON'S WARBLER.
A juvenile plumage BAIRD'S SANDPIPER made a brief stop on the Basket Island
Sandbar (between Hills Beach and Basket Island) on the 17th at about 7:00
p.m.
A HUDSONSIAN GODWIT was seen at Hill's Beach at low tide and 1 female
ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen East Point Sanctuary. Over 2,000 shorebirds were
roosting on the rocks at the north end of Biddeford Pool Beach on incoming
tide high tide, 1500 or so were SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, but this group also
included 10+ WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and an alternate plumage adult PURPLE
SANDPIPER.
Scarborough Marsh Area
Highlights of the Maine Audubon field trip/Shorebird Clinic to Scarborough
Marsh were 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, and 30 LITTLE BLUE HERONS
on Eastern Road. Three GREEN HERONS were seen at the Audubon Nature Center
and a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON was seen from Eastern Road and the Lobster
Co-op. Shorebirds at the Lobster Co-op and Eastern Road included: 70
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 300 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 30 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 20
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 WHIMBRELS, 10 +/- SANDERLINGS, 550 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS, 100 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 5 +/- WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS (at Co-op),
30 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS (on Eastern
Road), and 60 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, including 1 hendersoni subspecies.
Many BONAPARTE'S GULLS were also seen.
On the 18th on Eastern Road there were 14 species of waders including
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 4 STILT SANDPIPERS and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. A
PEREGRINE FALCON put on a good show for half an hour; also a NORTHERN
HARRIER and a MERLIN were seen.
At Pine Point there were 3 WHIMBRELS and 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.
Out on Stratton Island there were two BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
Over 250 warblers were seen at Sandy Point Beach, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth
on the 25th. Highlights included: 3 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 3 MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS, 2 CANADA WARBLERS, 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, and 1
OVENBIRD. Other passerines present included 1 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 1
SCARLET TANAGER, 2 LEAST FLYCATCHERS, and one YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
Also on the 25th migrants in a yard in Falmouth included 10 species of
warbler and 6 flycatchers. Highlights included: 1 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, 1
PINE WARBLER, 1 PRAIRIE WARBLER, 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, 1
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1-2 LEAST FLYCATCHERS,1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 2
BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 2 SCARLET TANAGERS, 2 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and 4
BALTIMORE ORIOLES.
A male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen in a yard at Highland Lake, Windham.
An adult HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage was seen feeding by a ledge in
Water Cove, on Bailey Island.
Midcoast
Three juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were actively running around the
upper part of Mile Beach (middle), Reid State Park, Georgetown.
Thirty COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen flying over Route 295 in Richmond.
At Clarry Hill in Union, there were 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS and an AMERICAN
KESTREL.
On Monhegan Island there were YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, PINE and BLACK
and WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, CEDAR WAXWING, COOPER'S HAWK,
MERLIN, and AMERICAN KESTREL.
At the Weskeag Marsh and Thomaston Flats there were about 1,000 shorebird
including: 3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, PECTORAL & WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 200
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 350-400 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 9 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS, 12 KILLDEER, 1 STILT SANDPIPER, 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, a
GREAT EGRET, a MERLIN, and two young PEREGRINE FALCONS
A WINTER WREN was in Pemaquid.
Central Maine
In Turner on the 22nd there were 25-30 BOBOLINKS, 1 DICKCISSEL, 1 UPLAND
SANDPIPER, YELLOW and NASHVILLE WARBLERS.
A PEREGRINE FALCON with prey in its talons was flying from east to west over
the bridge (Bridge Street) crossing the Kennebec River, in Augusta.
On Hollywood Boulevard in Whitefield on the 19th there was an AMERICAN
BITTERN, VIRGINIA RAIL with young, MARSH WRENS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, and
BOBOLINKS.
On Taylor Road in Orono there were NASHVILLE WARBLERS (at least 6 adults and
immatures in a chokecherry bush) and 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE. There was also 1
SOLITARY SANDPIPER near the culvert by the road leading to the dump and at
the second pond were 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 2 HOODED MERGANSER, 2 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, and 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWK At the third pond another PIED-BILLED
GREBE was seen.
In the IGA parking lot on Stillwater Avenue in Old Town, a COOPER'S HAWK
cruised through.
In Dixmont on the 19th there were 2 WOOD THRUSHES, INDIGO BUNTING, and a
RED-TAILED HAWK.
Eastern Maine
A WHITE-WINGED TERN was reported from Acadia National Park on August 13th.
The bird was seen in Blackwoods Campground, follow Park Loop Road north to
first bridge, proceed west to shore, and continue about fifty yards in a
southerly direction.
At Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge there were: GREAT BLUE HERON, 3 GREEN
HERON, YELLOWLEGS, WOOD DUCK, BLUE and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and RING NECKED
DUCK.
An immature BALD EAGLE was seen by Plymouth Pond.
WILSON'S STORM PETRELS, 15 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, ARCTIC TERN, and 2 BALD EAGLES
were seen out of Port Clyde.
In Indian Township there was a BLACK-BAKED WOODPECKER on Tribe land. Also,
there were 8 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER,
and 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
On Saturday August 20th, birds at south Lubec and on Campobello Island
included: 440 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 1 GOLDEN PLOVER, 250 (partial count
estimate) SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 15 (estimate) SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 5 RED
KNOTS, 1GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 20 RUDDY TURNSTONES, SANDERLINGS, 25+
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 25+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1,000 (low estimate)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1 MERLIN, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER (male), and 2 COMMON
EIDERS.[It was high tide while at Lubec so there was not much opportunity to
view birds up close. With the exception of small flocks flying by, most were
at the cobble bar roosting area east of The Nature Conservancy sand spit. It
is critical to arrive about three hours before high tide while the birds
concentrate or on the falling tide about two hours after high water].
In a quick stop at West Quoddy Head in Lubec, just after high tide there
were 1 GREAT CORMORANT, 12 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE.
At Wilson's Beach Breakwater on Campobello Island in a falling tide (about 2
hours after high water) there were 25,000-30,000 HERRING GULLS, 5,000-7,000
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 200+BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 20,000 (PARTIAL
COUNT) BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 500+ DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS, 3 GREAT CORMORANTS, 2 RAZORBILLS, 1 BALD EAGLE, 1 OSPREY, 75
COMMON EIDERS, and 5 BLACK GUILLEMOTS.
[Wilson's Beach is best birded about 2 1/2 to 3 hours after high water. The
totals include birds briefly observed near-shore at East Quoddy Head. Most
(75%) of the large larids were along the west/north shore of Campobello
beyond the Deer Island ferry].
Northern Maine
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were seen in Fort Kent.
On the St. John River/Allagash area there were 30 COMMON MERGANSERS.
On the Huber lands that begin behind the Dolby Log Yard near Millinocket
there was a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and another BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER at mile 4.2. There were three GRAY JAYS at 4.5 miles. At mile 11,
another BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and a BOREAL CHICKADEE were seen. An
AMERICAN KESTREL and two MERLINS were also encountered along this stretch,
plus several more Pileated Woodpeckers. This road is heavily traveled by
logging trucks. ALWAYS pull over and give them the right of way. NEVER park
in the road!
Birds in Aroostook County are on the move recently and things are changing
daily.
Area waterfowl have had a very good breeding season locally, with most of
the production later in the season than usual. The ducks that initiated
nests in May had a hard time with all the cold and rain and weren't very
successful. A female REDHEAD has appeared in a pond near Lake Josephine in
Easton along with three juvenile diving ducks, these could be Maine's first
Redhead brood. Since the juveniles are older and wander widely around the
pond, it's hard to tell who owns them. There are some adult RING-NECKED
DUCKS in the pond but the young birds seem to head towards the Redhead when
disturbed. More later.
Also at Lake Jo, Maine's first RUDDY DUCK family is well with all six
juveniles maturing under the attentive care of the hen and drake. RUDDY
DUCKS are our only duck where the male sticks around and helps with care of
the young. CANADA GEESE have left their natal wetlands and are now starting
to visit the newly harvested grain fields. Flock sizes are growing rapidly
with groups of 50+ being reported. Over 30 AMERICAN WIGEONS were scoped on
the north shore of Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield and BLUE-WING TEAL
numbers are increasing rapidly around the area. A very high count of 96 WOOD
DUCKS were loafing on the east shore of Lake Jo this week. Only two were
hens. A similar high count of 77 juvenile COMMON MERGANSERS are being seen
regularly just below the Caribou Dam in Caribou. GREEN-WINGED TEAL and
HOODED MERGANSERS are being seen at Collins Pond in Caribou and hundreds of
RING-NECKED DUCKS are rafting together on Christina and Lake Josephine. No
Northern Shovelers have been seen lately.
Not many Common Loon chicks have been reported but PIED-BILLED GREBES seem
to have had a very successful breeding season. Over 20 were counted at
Christina recently. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Collins Pond.
A young COOPER'S HAWK was a rare find at Christina Reservoir last Sunday.
MERLINS were harassing shorebirds at Collins Pond and near Caribou Dam and
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS were seen in Presque Isle and Woodland. An adult BALD
EAGLE has been eyeing the merganser congregation at the dam.
Both SORA and VIRGINIA RAILS were seen at Christina Reservoir on Sunday.
The shorebird variety has increased a bit recently. At Collins Pond, the
less common shorebirds were several SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and SANDPIPERS, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS are quite common now in the smaller beaver flowages and
wetlands. A high count of 7 was seen at Collins Pond on the 19th. LESSER
YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERS remain the most common migrants. A WILSON'S
SNIPE flew over a house last night and vocalized several times. Eight
AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen in an alder swale in Westfield on Saturday.
Three COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen over the Caribou High School on the 21st.
Last year migrant nighthawks were seen passing through Central Aroostook on
the 17th of August. BELTED KINGFISHERS are also on the move and many can be
seen along the Aroostook River. Low water is making the minnow schools easy
targets for these. Six were seen at once on Sunday at Collins Pond.
Late season flycatchers spotted this week included a LEAST FLYCATCHER at
Caribou, a GREAT-CRESTED vocalizing near Christina Reservoir and an EASTERN
WOOD-PEWEE in Caribou. EASTERN KINGBIRD family groups are regularly
encountered in the area.
Migrant swallows are congregating at larger wetlands and it appears numbers
are down as expected. A group of 50+, TREE, 5 BARNS and several CLIFF
SWALLOWS were feeding over Christina Reservoir. A probable migrant CLIFF
SWALLOW passed over a yard in Woodland on the 21st. Some late CLIFF SWALLOW
nesters have been reported recently and some of these have only just fledged
in the past week.
A VEERY and a probable SWAINSONS THRUSH were heard vocalizing overhead last
night. AMERICAN ROBINS appear to be increasing.
Mixed flocks of warblers are regular in a yard in Woodland. Last week's list
included NASHVILLE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN,
YELLOW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. A late-singing
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was heard at Collins Pond on Monday. Hordes of sparrows
can be found on field edges lately and the juveniles can present some
interesting ID challenges. CHIPPING, SWAMP, WHITE-THROATED, SAVANNAH, and
SONG were spotted in Caribou on Sunday.
Several young BOBOLINKS were feeding in a weedy field in Fort Fairfield on
Sunday. The first big COMMON GRACKLE flocks are appearing and enjoying the
grain spilled along area roads. Over 200 flew over a yard on Saturday.
PURPLE and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are regular flyovers.