Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: December 2, 2006
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found on a brushy hillside above the paved
parking area at the Saco Yacht Club, on Front Street in Saco.
COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS continue to be widely reported on open inland
waters. RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were widely reported in northern
Maine with scattered reports elsewhere in the state. NORTHERN SHRIKES
continue to be reported from all areas of the state.
York County
Three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were in York at Barrell Mill Pond on November 24.
A BELTED KINGFISHER and 4 SNOW BUNTINGS were in Gooserocks in Kennebunk. Six
HORNED LARKS, 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 29 DUNLIN, and 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
were at Little River in Kennebunk on November 25, while a SNOW BUNTING was
at Parson’s Beach.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found on a brushy hillside above the paved
parking area at the Saco Yacht Club, on Front Street in Saco. The bird has
been seen regularly in area, and most recently on November 30. Among other
birds seen at this site were a CAROLINA WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Thirty to thirty-five SANDERLINGS were huddled together on Fortunes Rocks
Beach in Biddeford opposite Etherington Pond where 10 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were
bathing. At Biddeford Pool over the weekend were a single BRANT, 2
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, HORNED LARKS, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Also seen in the
area this past week were 300 PURPLE SANDPIPERS, an AMERICAN PIPIT, and a
HARLEQUIN DUCK. Four NORTHERN GANNETS, RED-NECKED and HORNED GREBES, and
WHITE-WINGED and SURF SCOTERS were with many LONG-TAILED DUCKS at East Point.
There was an ICELAND GULL at the mouth of Goosefare Brook in Old Orchard.
Eleven HOODED MERGANSERS were on Rockhaven Lake in West Newfield.
Scarborough Marsh Area
Five EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were on Old Neck Road.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
A GREAT HORNED OWL, a MERLIN and a WINTER WREN were found at Evergreen
Cemetery on November 25. A NORTHERN FLICKER and a HERMIT THRUSH were present
on November 26.
In Portland 3 HORNED LARKS were feeding in grasses lining the shore by a
small marsh near soccer field on Back Cove, while a BRANT was found near the
Narrow Gauge Railway Museum and a RED-THROATED LOON was off the Eastern
Promenade. A COOPER'S HAWK and CAROLINA WREN have been frequenting the
Deering section of Portland.
An immature BALD EAGLE was feeding on a seal carcass along Back Cove in
Portland. This first year bird was banded on Square Pond in Shapleigh, Maine.
A small group of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and a CANADA WARBLER were in the Wolf’s
Neck area of Freeport.
A late TURKEY VULTURE was over the University of Southern Maine campus in
Gorham on November 27.
In Rangeley a flock of RED CROSSBILLS were foraging in the spruce and firs
along with a few GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, while BOREAL CHICKADEES were heard
calling.
Midcoast
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in the tree tops along the road into Brunswick High
School off Maquoit Road in Brunswick, while another was in Sedgwick, at the
south end of Salt Pond field on east side of Hales Hill Road.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER visited a feeder in Topsham.
Two female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a female BALTIMORE ORIOLE were at a
feeder on North Haven.
A first year SNOWY OWL was seen on the roof of a house near Adams Pond off
Route 27 in Boothbay.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were on
Monhegan. Also seen this week were DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS, NORTHERN GANNETS, and 2 BALD EAGLES.
Eastern Maine
Fourteen HORNED GREBES were at Clark’s Cove on Mt. Desert Island.
In Eastport, 8 BALD EAGLES were sitting along the Canadian side and 1,000+
BONAPARTE’S GULLS were in the bay.
Three SPRUCE GROUSE, 3 GRAY JAYS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS, and 2 RED CROSSBILLS were on Route 192 near Machias.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was along the Bold Coast Trail in Cutler.
Central Maine
In Litchfield, RED CROSSBILLS were heard flying over.
Four HORNED LARKS, 2 SNOW BUNTINGS, 2 AMERICAN PIPITS, and a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL were in Wilton.
Ten COMMON MERGANSERS and 2 HOODED MERGANSERS were in Jay.
A male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen in Oakland recreation area at the north end
of McGrath Pond on November 23. The bird was not relocated.
A male HARLEQUIN DUCK found on November 15, and 2 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES
continue to be seen with the COMMON GOLDENEYE flock on the Kennebec, across
from Fort Halifax in Winslow. That flock varies from zero to 130 birds with
usually a few dozen present.
A GREAT BLUE HERON flew downriver in Hallowell.
Northern Maine
BOREAL CHICKADEES and 8 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in Fort Kent.
Two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were in St. Agatha.
A third ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in Stockholm where a THREE-TOED
WOODPECKER and many WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were also observed.
Three RED CROSSBILLS were seen in Stacyville.
Thirty DARK-EYED JUNCOS were in Houlton.
Four GRAY JAYS were found at 2 areas in the Sunkhaze National Wildlife
Refuge; one pair was halfway between the transfer station and Little Birch
Stream, the other at Ash Point parking lot. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was perched
near Buzzy Brook along the Stud Mill Road.
Date: December 2, 2006
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found on a brushy hillside above the paved
parking area at the Saco Yacht Club, on Front Street in Saco.
COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS continue to be widely reported on open inland
waters. RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were widely reported in northern
Maine with scattered reports elsewhere in the state. NORTHERN SHRIKES
continue to be reported from all areas of the state.
York County
Three EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were in York at Barrell Mill Pond on November 24.
A BELTED KINGFISHER and 4 SNOW BUNTINGS were in Gooserocks in Kennebunk. Six
HORNED LARKS, 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 29 DUNLIN, and 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
were at Little River in Kennebunk on November 25, while a SNOW BUNTING was
at Parson’s Beach.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found on a brushy hillside above the paved
parking area at the Saco Yacht Club, on Front Street in Saco. The bird has
been seen regularly in area, and most recently on November 30. Among other
birds seen at this site were a CAROLINA WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Thirty to thirty-five SANDERLINGS were huddled together on Fortunes Rocks
Beach in Biddeford opposite Etherington Pond where 10 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were
bathing. At Biddeford Pool over the weekend were a single BRANT, 2
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, HORNED LARKS, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Also seen in the
area this past week were 300 PURPLE SANDPIPERS, an AMERICAN PIPIT, and a
HARLEQUIN DUCK. Four NORTHERN GANNETS, RED-NECKED and HORNED GREBES, and
WHITE-WINGED and SURF SCOTERS were with many LONG-TAILED DUCKS at East Point.
There was an ICELAND GULL at the mouth of Goosefare Brook in Old Orchard.
Eleven HOODED MERGANSERS were on Rockhaven Lake in West Newfield.
Scarborough Marsh Area
Five EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were on Old Neck Road.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
A GREAT HORNED OWL, a MERLIN and a WINTER WREN were found at Evergreen
Cemetery on November 25. A NORTHERN FLICKER and a HERMIT THRUSH were present
on November 26.
In Portland 3 HORNED LARKS were feeding in grasses lining the shore by a
small marsh near soccer field on Back Cove, while a BRANT was found near the
Narrow Gauge Railway Museum and a RED-THROATED LOON was off the Eastern
Promenade. A COOPER'S HAWK and CAROLINA WREN have been frequenting the
Deering section of Portland.
An immature BALD EAGLE was feeding on a seal carcass along Back Cove in
Portland. This first year bird was banded on Square Pond in Shapleigh, Maine.
A small group of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and a CANADA WARBLER were in the Wolf’s
Neck area of Freeport.
A late TURKEY VULTURE was over the University of Southern Maine campus in
Gorham on November 27.
In Rangeley a flock of RED CROSSBILLS were foraging in the spruce and firs
along with a few GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, while BOREAL CHICKADEES were heard
calling.
Midcoast
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in the tree tops along the road into Brunswick High
School off Maquoit Road in Brunswick, while another was in Sedgwick, at the
south end of Salt Pond field on east side of Hales Hill Road.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER visited a feeder in Topsham.
Two female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a female BALTIMORE ORIOLE were at a
feeder on North Haven.
A first year SNOWY OWL was seen on the roof of a house near Adams Pond off
Route 27 in Boothbay.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were on
Monhegan. Also seen this week were DARK-EYED JUNCOS, 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS, NORTHERN GANNETS, and 2 BALD EAGLES.
Eastern Maine
Fourteen HORNED GREBES were at Clark’s Cove on Mt. Desert Island.
In Eastport, 8 BALD EAGLES were sitting along the Canadian side and 1,000+
BONAPARTE’S GULLS were in the bay.
Three SPRUCE GROUSE, 3 GRAY JAYS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS, and 2 RED CROSSBILLS were on Route 192 near Machias.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was along the Bold Coast Trail in Cutler.
Central Maine
In Litchfield, RED CROSSBILLS were heard flying over.
Four HORNED LARKS, 2 SNOW BUNTINGS, 2 AMERICAN PIPITS, and a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL were in Wilton.
Ten COMMON MERGANSERS and 2 HOODED MERGANSERS were in Jay.
A male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen in Oakland recreation area at the north end
of McGrath Pond on November 23. The bird was not relocated.
A male HARLEQUIN DUCK found on November 15, and 2 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES
continue to be seen with the COMMON GOLDENEYE flock on the Kennebec, across
from Fort Halifax in Winslow. That flock varies from zero to 130 birds with
usually a few dozen present.
A GREAT BLUE HERON flew downriver in Hallowell.
Northern Maine
BOREAL CHICKADEES and 8 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were in Fort Kent.
Two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were in St. Agatha.
A third ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in Stockholm where a THREE-TOED
WOODPECKER and many WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were also observed.
Three RED CROSSBILLS were seen in Stacyville.
Thirty DARK-EYED JUNCOS were in Houlton.
Four GRAY JAYS were found at 2 areas in the Sunkhaze National Wildlife
Refuge; one pair was halfway between the transfer station and Little Birch
Stream, the other at Ash Point parking lot. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was perched
near Buzzy Brook along the Stud Mill Road.