Name, Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date, January 5, 2007
Area, State of Maine
Number, (207) 781-2332
Compilers, Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber, Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
Three reports of a single DOVEKIE were received from York, Biddeford Pool
and Cape Elizabeth.
A female KING EIDER was seen at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth on
January 4.
A female PAINTED BUNTING was at a feeder in Waldoboro on New Years Eve.
Over 1000 RAZORBILLS were seen off Quoddy Head on January 3.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were seen in Biddeford Pool and Stockton Springs.
SNOWY OWLS were found in Fort Fairfield and Limestone.
York County
The Biddeford/Kennebunk Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on December 31.
A SNOW GOOSE, 2 RUDDY DUCKS and a CAROLINA WREN were seen at the Saco Yacht
Club. Of note at Biddeford Pool were 8+ BRANT, 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, 1
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 1 DICKCISSEL, 30 RAZORBILLS, and 50 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES off East Point.
Other York County reports include a GREAT BLUE HERON, 2 PALM WARBLERS,
BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and HORNED GREBES seen on December 31 at Seapoint Beach,
Kittery.
A DOVEKIE was at Short Sands Beach Cove in York on January 4.
Thirty HARLEQUIN DUCKS and over 50 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at The Cliff House
in Ogunquit. At Perkins Cove, all three species of SCOTERS and many
HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue to be seen.
Two BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, a male and a female, were seen in Curtis Cove on
Granite Point in Biddeford on December 31. On December 31, a DOVEKIE was
feeding off of East Point Sanctuary.
Scarborough Marsh Area
A GLAUCOUS GULL landed on Grondin Pond in Scarborough on December 29. The
ducks on the pond, 1 female CANVASBACK, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY
DUCKS, AMERICAN COOTS, 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and 4 RING-NECKED DUCKS,
continued to be seen.
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are visiting feeders in at least three yards in the
Scarborough Marsh area.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
The Fryeburg CBC, held on December 28, recorded 42 species including a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Denmark and an AMERICAN BLUEBIRD in Fryeburg.
The Misery Township Christmas Bird Count on December 29 had a total of 21
species. Notables were 2 RUFFED GROUSE, 5 GRAY JAYS, 35 COMMON RAVENS, 129
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 11 BOREAL CHICKADEES, 17 RED CROSSBILLS, 55
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 48 PURPLE FINCH, and 70 PINE SISKINS.
On December 28 at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, there were 2
RAZORBILLS, 2 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 2 NORTHERN GANNETS, a DOVEKIE, 1 distant
large alcid species, and 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS and on January 4 there was a
FEMALE KING eider among the 75 or so COMMON EIDERS, and a PALM WARBLER was
near the parking lot. Two RAZORBILLS, a GREAT CORMORANT, and 8 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS were seen at Dyer Point on December 28 and on January 4 there
were 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was being chased by AMERICAN CROWS near the Forest Avenue
Exit of I-295 in Portland. An adult ICELAND GULL was off Portland's East End
Beach boat ramp at low tide on the afternoon of January 2. A MERLIN was at
Evergreen Cemetery on December 28.
A TURKEY VULTURE was soaring above intersection of Spring Street and Route
22 in Westbrook on January 2.
The Brunswick/Freeport CBC was held December 30. Highlights of the Freeport
section included 2 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, 1 SNOW GOOSE, 41 RUDDY DUCKS, 1
GADWALL, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE, and 27 DUNLIN. NORTHERN
SAW-WHET, BARRED, and GREAT HORNED OWLS were recorded along with a lingering
BELTED KINGFISHER, and lots of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.
Four BALD EAGLES, 2 adult and 2 immature, were in Bridgton.
A COOPER’S HAWK was in Wilton.
Midcoast
The North Penobscot Bay CBC was held December 30. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and
a SWAMP SPARROW were located at the end of Station Street in Stockton
Springs. Another SWAMP SPARROW and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD were found in
Belfast. A partial compilation indicates a good representation of waterfowl
including at least 3 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, GREATER SCAUP, HOODED MERGANSER,
100+ LONG-TAILED DUCKS and 350+ RUDDY DUCKS. Other highlights included
BONAPARTE’S GULLS, 2 CAROLINA WRENS, and 6 RED CROSSBILLS. Both RED-NECKED
GREBES and RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at various locations.
The Matinicus CBC on January 4, found 37 species including 40 NORTHERN
GANNETS, 10 GREAT CORMORANT, 4 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 131 RAZORBILLS, 12
BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 2 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 5 WINTER WRENS, 29 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS, 14 SONG, 27 WHITE-THROATED and 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 5 NORTHERN
CARDINALS, 107 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and 8 RED and 31 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.
A PEREGRINE FALCON, COOPER'S HAWK, GREAT CORMORANT, BALD EAGLE, RAVEN,
BELTED KINGFISHER and HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were seen at the
Androscoggin in Topsham over the New Year’s weekend.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in West Bath.
A GRAY CATBIRD and many PURPLE FINCHES turned up at a feeder located
diagonally across street from Bowdoinham County Store on Route 24 in Bowdoinham.
Twelve RUDDY TURNSTONES were feeding on a ledge off Samoset Road in Boothbay
Harbor on January 2.
A female PAINTED BUNTING was at a feeder in Waldoboro on New Years Eve.
Eight PURPLE SANDPIPERS were foraging at the Rockland breakwater while 2
HORNED GREBES were in Clam Cove.
Five RING-NECK PHEASANTS were at a feeder on North Haven on New Year’s morning.
One hundred forty RUDDY DUCKS were in Fort Point Cove in Stockton Springs on
January 4.
Highlights on Monhegan Island this past week were 1 PINE GROSBEAK, 2 PINE
SISKIN, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and 2 BALD EAGLES.
Eastern Maine
Five WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have been feeding and singing for several weeks
on red spruce cones in the tops of the trees in Brooklin.
The Deer Island CBC on December 30 produced a DICKCISSEL on Little Deer
Isle, a NORTHERN SHRIKE on Herrick Road in Brooksville, 5 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS along the Condon's Point Road in Brooksville, 3 SAW-WHET OWLS on
Reach Road in Sedgwick and Sargentville, a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in the
Benjamin River in Sedgwick, and 22 RED-NECKED GREBES along the Brooksville
coast.
Elsewhere, an aggregation of at least 1000 RAZORBILLS was observed at West
Quoddy Head in Lubec on January 3. The Razorbills were flying and then
landing on the water in groups of 20 to 50 birds.
Central Maine
Preliminary results for the Bangor/Bucksport CBC held on December 30
recorded 51 species, right at the twenty-year average. Total number of
individual birds appears way down, with many feeder watchers reporting very
little activity, and eight of the 51 species counted are represented by a
single individual. Highlights have not yet been posted.
A raft of about 30 COMMON GOLDENEYE was on Lake Auburn.
Three BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were among approximately 20 COMMON GOLDENEYES in
Lewiston along Water Street on January 2.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was hunting at feeders in Greene on December 31.
A SNOW GOOSE has been hanging out with a group of 70 or so CANADA GEESE in
the Kennebec River just south of the Thai restaurant in Hallowell.
Two GLAUCOUS GULLS, 3 ICELAND GULLS, and a first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL have been in a group of up 2,000 gulls at the Hatch Hill Land Fill in
Augusta.
Three BARROW’S GOLDENEYES are mixed in with 30 to 40 COMMON GOLDENEYES on
the Kennebec River and can be viewed from Fort Halifax in Winslow.
The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER as well as 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were still being
seen on Water Street in Waterville as of January 2. An albino BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE was also spotted at the feeder.
A NORTHERN HARRIER was cruising a field at Flood Farms in Clinton. At least
50 WILD TURKEYS were also seen at this location.
A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, a species which has been scarce this year, was seen
in a yard across the street from the intersection of Division and Market
Street in Bangor, while elsewhere in Bangor a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen.
Hampden birds included a PURPLE FINCH, a RED-TAILED HAWK, and a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK crossed the Kirkland Road in Old Town near Hirundo
Wildlife Sanctuary on December 30.
A NORTHERN FLICKER was photographed in Dixmont on December 30.
Northern Maine
The Presque Isle Christmas Bird Count was held Saturday 30 December 2006.
Both the species total (32) and number of individuals (3,500+) was well
above the long term average. Many feeders were found full of seed with no
birds around. Out in the woods it was a different story, with lots of
finches enjoying the heavy cone and catkin crops.
Highlights included a count first (and possible county first) EASTERN TOWHEE
in Mapleton; The second ever GREAT HORNED OWL, heard in Chapman, a SNOWY OWL
at Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield, 2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS, one
each in Chapman and Presque Isle, 2 and a tardy AMERICAN ROBIN. The warm
December weather resulted in the highest counts ever for COMMON GOLDENEYES
and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. Two count period NORTHERN SHRIKES were tallied.
Over the New Year’s weekend, the most abundant birds seen at Nahmakanta Lake
outside Greenville were WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. Also present were RED
CROSSBILLS, CANADA JAYS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES.
A CARDINAL and 50 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are visiting a feeder in Houlton.
Fifteen PINE GROSBEAKS and 12 REDPOLLS were in Fort Kent.
A SNOWY OWL was seen near Trafton Lake in Limestone.
Date, January 5, 2007
Area, State of Maine
Number, (207) 781-2332
Compilers, Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber, Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
Three reports of a single DOVEKIE were received from York, Biddeford Pool
and Cape Elizabeth.
A female KING EIDER was seen at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth on
January 4.
A female PAINTED BUNTING was at a feeder in Waldoboro on New Years Eve.
Over 1000 RAZORBILLS were seen off Quoddy Head on January 3.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were seen in Biddeford Pool and Stockton Springs.
SNOWY OWLS were found in Fort Fairfield and Limestone.
York County
The Biddeford/Kennebunk Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on December 31.
A SNOW GOOSE, 2 RUDDY DUCKS and a CAROLINA WREN were seen at the Saco Yacht
Club. Of note at Biddeford Pool were 8+ BRANT, 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, 1
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 1 DICKCISSEL, 30 RAZORBILLS, and 50 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES off East Point.
Other York County reports include a GREAT BLUE HERON, 2 PALM WARBLERS,
BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and HORNED GREBES seen on December 31 at Seapoint Beach,
Kittery.
A DOVEKIE was at Short Sands Beach Cove in York on January 4.
Thirty HARLEQUIN DUCKS and over 50 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at The Cliff House
in Ogunquit. At Perkins Cove, all three species of SCOTERS and many
HARLEQUIN DUCKS continue to be seen.
Two BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, a male and a female, were seen in Curtis Cove on
Granite Point in Biddeford on December 31. On December 31, a DOVEKIE was
feeding off of East Point Sanctuary.
Scarborough Marsh Area
A GLAUCOUS GULL landed on Grondin Pond in Scarborough on December 29. The
ducks on the pond, 1 female CANVASBACK, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY
DUCKS, AMERICAN COOTS, 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and 4 RING-NECKED DUCKS,
continued to be seen.
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are visiting feeders in at least three yards in the
Scarborough Marsh area.
Greater Portland and Western Maine
The Fryeburg CBC, held on December 28, recorded 42 species including a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Denmark and an AMERICAN BLUEBIRD in Fryeburg.
The Misery Township Christmas Bird Count on December 29 had a total of 21
species. Notables were 2 RUFFED GROUSE, 5 GRAY JAYS, 35 COMMON RAVENS, 129
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 11 BOREAL CHICKADEES, 17 RED CROSSBILLS, 55
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 48 PURPLE FINCH, and 70 PINE SISKINS.
On December 28 at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, there were 2
RAZORBILLS, 2 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 2 NORTHERN GANNETS, a DOVEKIE, 1 distant
large alcid species, and 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS and on January 4 there was a
FEMALE KING eider among the 75 or so COMMON EIDERS, and a PALM WARBLER was
near the parking lot. Two RAZORBILLS, a GREAT CORMORANT, and 8 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS were seen at Dyer Point on December 28 and on January 4 there
were 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was being chased by AMERICAN CROWS near the Forest Avenue
Exit of I-295 in Portland. An adult ICELAND GULL was off Portland's East End
Beach boat ramp at low tide on the afternoon of January 2. A MERLIN was at
Evergreen Cemetery on December 28.
A TURKEY VULTURE was soaring above intersection of Spring Street and Route
22 in Westbrook on January 2.
The Brunswick/Freeport CBC was held December 30. Highlights of the Freeport
section included 2 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, 1 SNOW GOOSE, 41 RUDDY DUCKS, 1
GADWALL, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE, and 27 DUNLIN. NORTHERN
SAW-WHET, BARRED, and GREAT HORNED OWLS were recorded along with a lingering
BELTED KINGFISHER, and lots of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.
Four BALD EAGLES, 2 adult and 2 immature, were in Bridgton.
A COOPER’S HAWK was in Wilton.
Midcoast
The North Penobscot Bay CBC was held December 30. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and
a SWAMP SPARROW were located at the end of Station Street in Stockton
Springs. Another SWAMP SPARROW and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD were found in
Belfast. A partial compilation indicates a good representation of waterfowl
including at least 3 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, GREATER SCAUP, HOODED MERGANSER,
100+ LONG-TAILED DUCKS and 350+ RUDDY DUCKS. Other highlights included
BONAPARTE’S GULLS, 2 CAROLINA WRENS, and 6 RED CROSSBILLS. Both RED-NECKED
GREBES and RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at various locations.
The Matinicus CBC on January 4, found 37 species including 40 NORTHERN
GANNETS, 10 GREAT CORMORANT, 4 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 131 RAZORBILLS, 12
BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 2 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 5 WINTER WRENS, 29 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS, 14 SONG, 27 WHITE-THROATED and 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 5 NORTHERN
CARDINALS, 107 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and 8 RED and 31 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.
A PEREGRINE FALCON, COOPER'S HAWK, GREAT CORMORANT, BALD EAGLE, RAVEN,
BELTED KINGFISHER and HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were seen at the
Androscoggin in Topsham over the New Year’s weekend.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was in West Bath.
A GRAY CATBIRD and many PURPLE FINCHES turned up at a feeder located
diagonally across street from Bowdoinham County Store on Route 24 in Bowdoinham.
Twelve RUDDY TURNSTONES were feeding on a ledge off Samoset Road in Boothbay
Harbor on January 2.
A female PAINTED BUNTING was at a feeder in Waldoboro on New Years Eve.
Eight PURPLE SANDPIPERS were foraging at the Rockland breakwater while 2
HORNED GREBES were in Clam Cove.
Five RING-NECK PHEASANTS were at a feeder on North Haven on New Year’s morning.
One hundred forty RUDDY DUCKS were in Fort Point Cove in Stockton Springs on
January 4.
Highlights on Monhegan Island this past week were 1 PINE GROSBEAK, 2 PINE
SISKIN, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and 2 BALD EAGLES.
Eastern Maine
Five WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have been feeding and singing for several weeks
on red spruce cones in the tops of the trees in Brooklin.
The Deer Island CBC on December 30 produced a DICKCISSEL on Little Deer
Isle, a NORTHERN SHRIKE on Herrick Road in Brooksville, 5 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS along the Condon's Point Road in Brooksville, 3 SAW-WHET OWLS on
Reach Road in Sedgwick and Sargentville, a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in the
Benjamin River in Sedgwick, and 22 RED-NECKED GREBES along the Brooksville
coast.
Elsewhere, an aggregation of at least 1000 RAZORBILLS was observed at West
Quoddy Head in Lubec on January 3. The Razorbills were flying and then
landing on the water in groups of 20 to 50 birds.
Central Maine
Preliminary results for the Bangor/Bucksport CBC held on December 30
recorded 51 species, right at the twenty-year average. Total number of
individual birds appears way down, with many feeder watchers reporting very
little activity, and eight of the 51 species counted are represented by a
single individual. Highlights have not yet been posted.
A raft of about 30 COMMON GOLDENEYE was on Lake Auburn.
Three BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were among approximately 20 COMMON GOLDENEYES in
Lewiston along Water Street on January 2.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was hunting at feeders in Greene on December 31.
A SNOW GOOSE has been hanging out with a group of 70 or so CANADA GEESE in
the Kennebec River just south of the Thai restaurant in Hallowell.
Two GLAUCOUS GULLS, 3 ICELAND GULLS, and a first winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL have been in a group of up 2,000 gulls at the Hatch Hill Land Fill in
Augusta.
Three BARROW’S GOLDENEYES are mixed in with 30 to 40 COMMON GOLDENEYES on
the Kennebec River and can be viewed from Fort Halifax in Winslow.
The YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER as well as 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were still being
seen on Water Street in Waterville as of January 2. An albino BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE was also spotted at the feeder.
A NORTHERN HARRIER was cruising a field at Flood Farms in Clinton. At least
50 WILD TURKEYS were also seen at this location.
A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, a species which has been scarce this year, was seen
in a yard across the street from the intersection of Division and Market
Street in Bangor, while elsewhere in Bangor a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen.
Hampden birds included a PURPLE FINCH, a RED-TAILED HAWK, and a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK crossed the Kirkland Road in Old Town near Hirundo
Wildlife Sanctuary on December 30.
A NORTHERN FLICKER was photographed in Dixmont on December 30.
Northern Maine
The Presque Isle Christmas Bird Count was held Saturday 30 December 2006.
Both the species total (32) and number of individuals (3,500+) was well
above the long term average. Many feeders were found full of seed with no
birds around. Out in the woods it was a different story, with lots of
finches enjoying the heavy cone and catkin crops.
Highlights included a count first (and possible county first) EASTERN TOWHEE
in Mapleton; The second ever GREAT HORNED OWL, heard in Chapman, a SNOWY OWL
at Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield, 2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS, one
each in Chapman and Presque Isle, 2 and a tardy AMERICAN ROBIN. The warm
December weather resulted in the highest counts ever for COMMON GOLDENEYES
and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. Two count period NORTHERN SHRIKES were tallied.
Over the New Year’s weekend, the most abundant birds seen at Nahmakanta Lake
outside Greenville were WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. Also present were RED
CROSSBILLS, CANADA JAYS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES.
A CARDINAL and 50 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES are visiting a feeder in Houlton.
Fifteen PINE GROSBEAKS and 12 REDPOLLS were in Fort Kent.
A SNOWY OWL was seen near Trafton Lake in Limestone.