Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: September 2, 2005
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (www.maineaudubon.org )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Wilton among 7 TURKEY VULTURES.
York County
At Drakes Island in Wells there were 100 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 LAUGHING GULL,
and several species of shorebirds.
At Parson's Beach in Kennebunk there were 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 LAUGHING
GULL, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and SANDPIPERS, and YELLOWLEGS. A CAROLINA WREN
was seen in a yard in Kennebunk.
At Goose Rocks Beach on August 28 there were SANDERLINGS, 1 PIPING PLOVER
and 10 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS.
On August 23 there were 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS and 2 WHIMBRELS at Biddeford
Pool. An immature female DICKCISSEL was seen in thickets along beach access
across the street (Rte. 208) from Hattie's Deli. Ten or more WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS were on north end of Biddeford Pool Beach, and 4 WHIMBRELS were
by Hattie's. Fifteen or more GREATER and 5 SOOTY SHEARWATERS were seen off
of East Point Sanctuary. On the outgoing tide at Hill's Beach there were 11
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, 16 STILT SANDPIPERS, 21 WHIMBRELS, and 26 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS.
Scarborough Marsh Area
On Eastern Road there were 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (2 adult birds), WHIMBREL, 1 AMERICAN BITTERN,
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and 2 STILT SANDPIPERS. Birds at
Pine Point this week included 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and 2 PEREGRINE
FALCONS on August 26. On August 28 there were 3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS,
LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and PLOVERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS,
BLACK and WHITE WARBLER, and NORTHERN WATERHTRUSH. Two WHIMBRELS, 10
WILLETS, 70 TERNS flying over, and a WESTERN SANDPIPER were seen on the
30th. At the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center there were NORTHERN HARRIER
(male and female), PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLIN along with the normal migrating
shorebirds.
Out on Stratton there were AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, RED
KNOT, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT,
DICKCISSEL, and 2 JAEGERS were reported, including a POMARINE.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
Birds seen at the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth on August 31 and September
1 included: 3 MANX SHEARWATERS, 3 GREATER SHEARWATERS, 2 NORTHERN GANNETS,
and 3+ distant PHALAROPES.
A total of 72 birds were banded at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth
on August 27. There were seven species of warblers including, 3 OVENBIRDS,
and 3 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, several LEAST and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS,
EASTERN PHOEBES, RED-EYED VIREOS, 2 VEERYS, and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
A molting adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER with ~30 KILLDEER was seen in the
grassy field inside the horse track at the Cumberland Fairgrounds off
Blanchard Road & Bruce Hill Road in Cumberland. The birds are best observed
from the south side of the track near the Bruce Hill Road entrance, all are
advised to remain outside the track fence.
In Gray off Route 115, there were 15 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS.
A juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen on August 29 at the turf farm
along Mayall Road straddling the Gray/New Gloucester townline (just east of
Maine Turnpike). The bird can be viewed from the road near the Deer X-ing
sign (which faces the south bound side, near phone poll #22 or 23). It was
first located ~300 yards out in the recently harvested/re-seeded (dirt)
area, but gradually moved closer to the road eventually it was foraging
along the margin of the dirt area and in a grassy/weedy patch ~75 yards from
the road near farm equipment, where it was often difficult to see among the
weeds. You are advised to stay by the road. At this time permission to walk
out in the fields has not been granted to birders, but will be pursued.
Also, parking is a bit tight along this stretch so mind the traffic.
Fifty COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen in Bridgton on the 27th along with PINE,
and NASHVILLE WARBLERS.
Birds at Fryeburg Harbor in the sod field puddles included: 7 WILSON'S
SNIPE, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and on August 31 there were 15 STILT
SANDPIPERS.
Midcoast
Birds seen on the ferry from Vinalhaven on August 26 included: 12 NORTHERN
GANNETS, 1 POMARINE JAEGER, 3 PHALAROPES, 175 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 25 BLACK
SCOTERS, 400 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 GREAT CORMORANT, and 2,800 large
larids (mostly herring gulls).
On August 24, shorebirds feeding at low tide on the mud flats of Parker's
Cove, in Isleboro included a first-year BAIRD'S SANDPIPER.
A MERLIN was seen in Pemaquid.
Birds at the Weskeag Marsh in Thomaston on August 27 at high tide included:
MERLIN, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 50 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1
AMERICAN KESTREL, 100 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 50 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 40 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 10 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 600 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 200
LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and 2 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED
SPARROWS.
Central Maine
A COMMON or ARCTIC TERN was flying south down Kennebec River in Hallowell on
August 31.
Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen in Smithfield.
The following birds were seen in Wilton: 3 BALD EAGLES, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 1
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 BLACK
VULTURE in with 7 TURKEY VULTURES, 8 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 1 SCARLET
TANAGER, 1 EVENING GROSBEAK, and 1 COMMON NIGHTHAWK.
In Hampden there were 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS and a BALD EAGLE.
In Solon there were 13 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS on the 27, and there were 9 COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS in Bangor on the 28th.
Eastern Maine
Birds seen on the Maine Audubon Whale Watch out of Bar Harbor on August 27
included: 20 GREATER, 2 SOOTY, and 2 MANX SHEARWATERS, 120 WILSON'S, and
15-20 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, 25 NORTHERN GANNETS, 1 JAEGER, 2 WHIMBRELS, 4
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 12 other PHALAROPES, ~ 15 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, 1
RAZORBILL, ~ 45 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 2 COMMON LOONS, 1,500+ COMMON EIDERS, and
an immature ICELAND GULL.
>From the Frenchman Bay area and the offshore whale watch trips 8/24-28:
COMMON LOON, a few winter plumaged birds are starting to show up in the bay
area. NORTHERN FULMARS have increased during the offshore trips to the east
of Mt. Desert Rock this week. Twenty were feeding near a school of tuna 24
miles east of "the rock" on 8/28. A few NORTHERN GANNETS have been at the
mouth of Frenchman Bay throughout the past week. Both adults and immatures
have been working small shoals of Sardines near Egg Rock 8/27-28. There has
been a notable increase in the numbers of GREAT CORMORANTS in the bay with
20+ seen on each 2-hour trip. Small flocks of 6-10 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
are passing southward at the mouth of the bay daily. The large flocks of
COMMON EIDERS have dispersed over the past month and small flocks of 20-40
immatures are around Egg Rock and Schoodic Point. Three SURF SCOTERS were
flying eastward off Ironbound Island on 8/26. A female KING EIDER was
reported off Egg Rock on 8/24.
BALD EAGLES are still very active with two adults and a second year bird
seen in the middle of the Double-crested Cormorant nesting area on Thrumcap
Island. (off Bar Harbor and managed by the College of the Atlantic) daily.
The PEREGRINE FALCONS have left the Precipice area in Acadia National Park
(the trail has reopened) and both adult and immature birds are regularly
seen along the Bar Harbor shore and almost daily around the downtown dock
area. There are a few hawks crossing Frenchman Bay with PEREGRINE FALCONS,
MERLIN, a single COOPER'S HAWK, and two TURKEY VULTURES seen on 8/28. There
was a report of 2 POMARINE JAEGERS working over the school of tuna east of
Mount Desert Rock on 8/28. Small numbers of BONAPARTE'S GULLS, most of them
in an intermediate summer-winter plumage are being seen daily in the bay.
From 50-100 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, most of them young birds are seen daily during
the trips around Frenchman Bay. Adults are starting to molt into winter
plumage. A "flock" of 50+ COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen feeding over a sand
pit along Route 9, the Airline, on 8/27.
A BOREAL OWL was heard vocalizing off-and-on for the morning of August 25 in
Tomhegan Township west of Moosehead Lake. It was near the Toe-of-the Boot
(actually in West Middlesex Grant Township but head from Tomhegan Township).
Other birds of interest were 2 RED CROSSBILLS, 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES, and a
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.
An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen on a rising tide at Blue Hill
Boat Ramp.
Birds seen from the Cat Ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on
August 31 included: 200+ GREATER SHEARWATERS, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 SOOTY
SHEARWATER, 50+ WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, 20+ LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, 6
NORTHERN GANNETS, 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA, and 1 POMARINE JAEGER.
A single female AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was seen on the flats on Route 191 in
Cutler.
Northern Maine
In Fort Kent there were RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, a BROAD-WINGED HAWK, and
huge flocks of EUROPEAN STARLINGS.
Date: September 2, 2005
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (www.maineaudubon.org )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Wilton among 7 TURKEY VULTURES.
York County
At Drakes Island in Wells there were 100 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 LAUGHING GULL,
and several species of shorebirds.
At Parson's Beach in Kennebunk there were 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 LAUGHING
GULL, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and SANDPIPERS, and YELLOWLEGS. A CAROLINA WREN
was seen in a yard in Kennebunk.
At Goose Rocks Beach on August 28 there were SANDERLINGS, 1 PIPING PLOVER
and 10 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS.
On August 23 there were 2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS and 2 WHIMBRELS at Biddeford
Pool. An immature female DICKCISSEL was seen in thickets along beach access
across the street (Rte. 208) from Hattie's Deli. Ten or more WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS were on north end of Biddeford Pool Beach, and 4 WHIMBRELS were
by Hattie's. Fifteen or more GREATER and 5 SOOTY SHEARWATERS were seen off
of East Point Sanctuary. On the outgoing tide at Hill's Beach there were 11
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, 16 STILT SANDPIPERS, 21 WHIMBRELS, and 26 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS.
Scarborough Marsh Area
On Eastern Road there were 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (2 adult birds), WHIMBREL, 1 AMERICAN BITTERN,
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and 2 STILT SANDPIPERS. Birds at
Pine Point this week included 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and 2 PEREGRINE
FALCONS on August 26. On August 28 there were 3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS,
LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and PLOVERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS,
BLACK and WHITE WARBLER, and NORTHERN WATERHTRUSH. Two WHIMBRELS, 10
WILLETS, 70 TERNS flying over, and a WESTERN SANDPIPER were seen on the
30th. At the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center there were NORTHERN HARRIER
(male and female), PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLIN along with the normal migrating
shorebirds.
Out on Stratton there were AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, RED
KNOT, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT,
DICKCISSEL, and 2 JAEGERS were reported, including a POMARINE.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
Birds seen at the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth on August 31 and September
1 included: 3 MANX SHEARWATERS, 3 GREATER SHEARWATERS, 2 NORTHERN GANNETS,
and 3+ distant PHALAROPES.
A total of 72 birds were banded at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth
on August 27. There were seven species of warblers including, 3 OVENBIRDS,
and 3 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, several LEAST and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS,
EASTERN PHOEBES, RED-EYED VIREOS, 2 VEERYS, and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
A molting adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER with ~30 KILLDEER was seen in the
grassy field inside the horse track at the Cumberland Fairgrounds off
Blanchard Road & Bruce Hill Road in Cumberland. The birds are best observed
from the south side of the track near the Bruce Hill Road entrance, all are
advised to remain outside the track fence.
In Gray off Route 115, there were 15 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS.
A juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen on August 29 at the turf farm
along Mayall Road straddling the Gray/New Gloucester townline (just east of
Maine Turnpike). The bird can be viewed from the road near the Deer X-ing
sign (which faces the south bound side, near phone poll #22 or 23). It was
first located ~300 yards out in the recently harvested/re-seeded (dirt)
area, but gradually moved closer to the road eventually it was foraging
along the margin of the dirt area and in a grassy/weedy patch ~75 yards from
the road near farm equipment, where it was often difficult to see among the
weeds. You are advised to stay by the road. At this time permission to walk
out in the fields has not been granted to birders, but will be pursued.
Also, parking is a bit tight along this stretch so mind the traffic.
Fifty COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen in Bridgton on the 27th along with PINE,
and NASHVILLE WARBLERS.
Birds at Fryeburg Harbor in the sod field puddles included: 7 WILSON'S
SNIPE, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and on August 31 there were 15 STILT
SANDPIPERS.
Midcoast
Birds seen on the ferry from Vinalhaven on August 26 included: 12 NORTHERN
GANNETS, 1 POMARINE JAEGER, 3 PHALAROPES, 175 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 25 BLACK
SCOTERS, 400 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 1 GREAT CORMORANT, and 2,800 large
larids (mostly herring gulls).
On August 24, shorebirds feeding at low tide on the mud flats of Parker's
Cove, in Isleboro included a first-year BAIRD'S SANDPIPER.
A MERLIN was seen in Pemaquid.
Birds at the Weskeag Marsh in Thomaston on August 27 at high tide included:
MERLIN, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 50 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1
AMERICAN KESTREL, 100 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 50 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 40 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 10 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 600 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 200
LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and 2 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED
SPARROWS.
Central Maine
A COMMON or ARCTIC TERN was flying south down Kennebec River in Hallowell on
August 31.
Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen in Smithfield.
The following birds were seen in Wilton: 3 BALD EAGLES, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 1
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 BLACK
VULTURE in with 7 TURKEY VULTURES, 8 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 1 SCARLET
TANAGER, 1 EVENING GROSBEAK, and 1 COMMON NIGHTHAWK.
In Hampden there were 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS and a BALD EAGLE.
In Solon there were 13 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS on the 27, and there were 9 COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS in Bangor on the 28th.
Eastern Maine
Birds seen on the Maine Audubon Whale Watch out of Bar Harbor on August 27
included: 20 GREATER, 2 SOOTY, and 2 MANX SHEARWATERS, 120 WILSON'S, and
15-20 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, 25 NORTHERN GANNETS, 1 JAEGER, 2 WHIMBRELS, 4
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 12 other PHALAROPES, ~ 15 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, 1
RAZORBILL, ~ 45 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 2 COMMON LOONS, 1,500+ COMMON EIDERS, and
an immature ICELAND GULL.
>From the Frenchman Bay area and the offshore whale watch trips 8/24-28:
COMMON LOON, a few winter plumaged birds are starting to show up in the bay
area. NORTHERN FULMARS have increased during the offshore trips to the east
of Mt. Desert Rock this week. Twenty were feeding near a school of tuna 24
miles east of "the rock" on 8/28. A few NORTHERN GANNETS have been at the
mouth of Frenchman Bay throughout the past week. Both adults and immatures
have been working small shoals of Sardines near Egg Rock 8/27-28. There has
been a notable increase in the numbers of GREAT CORMORANTS in the bay with
20+ seen on each 2-hour trip. Small flocks of 6-10 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
are passing southward at the mouth of the bay daily. The large flocks of
COMMON EIDERS have dispersed over the past month and small flocks of 20-40
immatures are around Egg Rock and Schoodic Point. Three SURF SCOTERS were
flying eastward off Ironbound Island on 8/26. A female KING EIDER was
reported off Egg Rock on 8/24.
BALD EAGLES are still very active with two adults and a second year bird
seen in the middle of the Double-crested Cormorant nesting area on Thrumcap
Island. (off Bar Harbor and managed by the College of the Atlantic) daily.
The PEREGRINE FALCONS have left the Precipice area in Acadia National Park
(the trail has reopened) and both adult and immature birds are regularly
seen along the Bar Harbor shore and almost daily around the downtown dock
area. There are a few hawks crossing Frenchman Bay with PEREGRINE FALCONS,
MERLIN, a single COOPER'S HAWK, and two TURKEY VULTURES seen on 8/28. There
was a report of 2 POMARINE JAEGERS working over the school of tuna east of
Mount Desert Rock on 8/28. Small numbers of BONAPARTE'S GULLS, most of them
in an intermediate summer-winter plumage are being seen daily in the bay.
From 50-100 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, most of them young birds are seen daily during
the trips around Frenchman Bay. Adults are starting to molt into winter
plumage. A "flock" of 50+ COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen feeding over a sand
pit along Route 9, the Airline, on 8/27.
A BOREAL OWL was heard vocalizing off-and-on for the morning of August 25 in
Tomhegan Township west of Moosehead Lake. It was near the Toe-of-the Boot
(actually in West Middlesex Grant Township but head from Tomhegan Township).
Other birds of interest were 2 RED CROSSBILLS, 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES, and a
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.
An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen on a rising tide at Blue Hill
Boat Ramp.
Birds seen from the Cat Ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on
August 31 included: 200+ GREATER SHEARWATERS, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 SOOTY
SHEARWATER, 50+ WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, 20+ LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, 6
NORTHERN GANNETS, 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA, and 1 POMARINE JAEGER.
A single female AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was seen on the flats on Route 191 in
Cutler.
Northern Maine
In Fort Kent there were RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, a BROAD-WINGED HAWK, and
huge flocks of EUROPEAN STARLINGS.