Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: March 9, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
Early spring migrants this week included scattered reports of TURKEY
VULTURES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, PURPLE FINCHES, KILLDEER
and a single AMERICAN WOODCOCK, while Aroostook County saw a late winter
spurt of SNOW BUNTINGS.
BALD EAGLES have begun nesting.
York County
Two FOX SPARROWS continue in a yard in York.
A pair of MUTE SWANS returned to Cape Neddick on March 4.
In West Kennebunk there was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continues in the Saco River off of Water Street in
Biddeford, while a TURKEY VULTURE circled over the Biddeford Industrial Park
and a PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder on West Street.
A few scattered RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS arrived in York and Biddeford Pool.
Greater Portland
Scarborough Marsh area birds included RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a KILLDEER
at the Industrial Park, COMMON GRACKLES at Pine Point, and an EASTERN
BLUEBIRD at Grondin Pond.
In Cape Elizabeth, a NORTHERN HARRIER was at Two Lights State Park, while 10
HORNED LARKS were in the Strawberry Fields, and 25 BRANT at Kettle Cove.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Portland Fish Pier on March 3, while a mixed
flock of 80 CEDAR WAXWINGS and AMERICAN ROBINS were on Sewall Street in
Portland.
Four TURKEY VULTURES were soaring over the Maine Turnpike at Exit 53,
(west) Falmouth, while a fifth was over Route 22 in Gorham.
A PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder near Highland Lake in Windham.
Midcoast
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS arrived in Phippsburg on March 5.
A flock of about 35 EVENING GROSBEAKS were at 34 & 36 Pinewood Drive off
Foreside Road in Topsham on March 5. Elsewhere in Topsham, a pair of BALD
EAGLES was displaying over Merrymeeting Bay near where they nest and 2
NORTHERN RAVENS were also performing flight displays nearby.
A possible white-phase GYRFALCON was reported on March 5 on Route 24 in
Bowdoinham near the town line with Topsham. The bird was not relocated. Two
TURKEY VULTURES were seen circling in the area on March 7. A RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD was at a feeder in Bowdoinham on March 9.
An early AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in Damariscotta.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK coursed the back yard of a home in Tenants Harbor on March 3.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and PINE SISKINS continued on Monhegan.
Lewiston-Auburn
An EVENING GROSBEAK was in Sweden.
A GLAUCOUS GULL and 2 ICELAND GULLS were seen in Auburn along the
Androscoggin River off Riverside Drive, about a half mile north of the I-95
overpass.
Kennebec River Valley
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen in Winthrop and Hallowell. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was
on the top of a tree behind the Woodlands Assisted Living Center on Winthrop
Street in Hallowell March 6.
TURKEY VULTURES were seen in Augusta on March 5 and 8.
Single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were seen at feeders in Fairfield on March 5
and in Augusta on March 8.
Central Maine
Thirty-five SNOW BUNTINGS were feeding in a yard in Passadumkeag.
Seen on March 6, a SNOWY OWL continues in the Morse Corners area of Corinna,
at a dairy farm on the corner of Routes 43 and 11 and the White Road.
Along the Stud Mill Road in Township 32MD, a few WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
were calling and singing from the spruces.
Penobscot Bay
A TURKEY VULTURE was seen flying over Route 1 in Bucksport on March 6.
A PURPLE FINCH and 2 PINE SISKINS joined a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and 10
DARK-EYED JUNCOS at a feeder in Sedgewick on March 5.
Downeast Coast
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was discovered on Parkman Mountain on Mt. Desert Island.
A flock of 55 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were roosting close to shore on Schoodic
Point while a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL sang across the road.
Washington County
Two PINE SISKINS were at a feeder in Town Hill on Mount Desert Island on
March 7.
A pair of BALD EAGLES returned to Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, and 5
SNOW BUNTINGS, and a RED CROSSBILL were seen elsewhere on the refuge.
Western Maine
A WOOD DUCK was at the end of Highland Lake in Bridgton.
An EVENING GROSBEAK was in Sweden.
Birds found near the Nesowadnehunk Campground in Baxter State Park included
hundreds of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER, and 10 PINE SISKINS, while 6 AMERICAN ROBINS were along the
river and 10 BOREAL CHICKADEES were seen on the Marston Trail.
Aroostook County
A PURPLE FINCH was singing in Houlton.
A flock of 75 SNOW BUNTINGS were feeding in a driveway in New Sweden, 60
were at a home in Bancroft, and 6 in Fort Kent.
EVENING GROSBEAKS, PINE GROSBEAKS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were found
south west of Allagash.
Upcoming Maine Audubon Birding Trip
Plum Island for Winter Specialties
Clinging to the northern coast of Massachusetts off Newburyport, Plum Island
is a barrier beach known far and wide for its great birding. Parker River
National Wildlife Refuge covers most of the island, and there are wonderful
viewing spots from which to search for a wide variety of seabirds,
waterfowl, hawks, and owls. Rarities are always a possibility here as well.
Bring lunch and a thermos of something hot to drink, and bundle up for a
brisk winter day of great birding in the dunes and on the beach. Price
includes refuge entrance fee and transportation in the Maine Audubon van.
From Falmouth
Saturday, March 17 (weather date March 18)
7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Led by Eric Hynes
$40/member, $45/nonmember
Limited to 10 participants
Date: March 9, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
Early spring migrants this week included scattered reports of TURKEY
VULTURES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, PURPLE FINCHES, KILLDEER
and a single AMERICAN WOODCOCK, while Aroostook County saw a late winter
spurt of SNOW BUNTINGS.
BALD EAGLES have begun nesting.
York County
Two FOX SPARROWS continue in a yard in York.
A pair of MUTE SWANS returned to Cape Neddick on March 4.
In West Kennebunk there was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continues in the Saco River off of Water Street in
Biddeford, while a TURKEY VULTURE circled over the Biddeford Industrial Park
and a PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder on West Street.
A few scattered RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS arrived in York and Biddeford Pool.
Greater Portland
Scarborough Marsh area birds included RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a KILLDEER
at the Industrial Park, COMMON GRACKLES at Pine Point, and an EASTERN
BLUEBIRD at Grondin Pond.
In Cape Elizabeth, a NORTHERN HARRIER was at Two Lights State Park, while 10
HORNED LARKS were in the Strawberry Fields, and 25 BRANT at Kettle Cove.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Portland Fish Pier on March 3, while a mixed
flock of 80 CEDAR WAXWINGS and AMERICAN ROBINS were on Sewall Street in
Portland.
Four TURKEY VULTURES were soaring over the Maine Turnpike at Exit 53,
(west) Falmouth, while a fifth was over Route 22 in Gorham.
A PURPLE FINCH visited a feeder near Highland Lake in Windham.
Midcoast
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS arrived in Phippsburg on March 5.
A flock of about 35 EVENING GROSBEAKS were at 34 & 36 Pinewood Drive off
Foreside Road in Topsham on March 5. Elsewhere in Topsham, a pair of BALD
EAGLES was displaying over Merrymeeting Bay near where they nest and 2
NORTHERN RAVENS were also performing flight displays nearby.
A possible white-phase GYRFALCON was reported on March 5 on Route 24 in
Bowdoinham near the town line with Topsham. The bird was not relocated. Two
TURKEY VULTURES were seen circling in the area on March 7. A RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD was at a feeder in Bowdoinham on March 9.
An early AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in Damariscotta.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK coursed the back yard of a home in Tenants Harbor on March 3.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and PINE SISKINS continued on Monhegan.
Lewiston-Auburn
An EVENING GROSBEAK was in Sweden.
A GLAUCOUS GULL and 2 ICELAND GULLS were seen in Auburn along the
Androscoggin River off Riverside Drive, about a half mile north of the I-95
overpass.
Kennebec River Valley
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen in Winthrop and Hallowell. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was
on the top of a tree behind the Woodlands Assisted Living Center on Winthrop
Street in Hallowell March 6.
TURKEY VULTURES were seen in Augusta on March 5 and 8.
Single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were seen at feeders in Fairfield on March 5
and in Augusta on March 8.
Central Maine
Thirty-five SNOW BUNTINGS were feeding in a yard in Passadumkeag.
Seen on March 6, a SNOWY OWL continues in the Morse Corners area of Corinna,
at a dairy farm on the corner of Routes 43 and 11 and the White Road.
Along the Stud Mill Road in Township 32MD, a few WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
were calling and singing from the spruces.
Penobscot Bay
A TURKEY VULTURE was seen flying over Route 1 in Bucksport on March 6.
A PURPLE FINCH and 2 PINE SISKINS joined a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and 10
DARK-EYED JUNCOS at a feeder in Sedgewick on March 5.
Downeast Coast
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was discovered on Parkman Mountain on Mt. Desert Island.
A flock of 55 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were roosting close to shore on Schoodic
Point while a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL sang across the road.
Washington County
Two PINE SISKINS were at a feeder in Town Hill on Mount Desert Island on
March 7.
A pair of BALD EAGLES returned to Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, and 5
SNOW BUNTINGS, and a RED CROSSBILL were seen elsewhere on the refuge.
Western Maine
A WOOD DUCK was at the end of Highland Lake in Bridgton.
An EVENING GROSBEAK was in Sweden.
Birds found near the Nesowadnehunk Campground in Baxter State Park included
hundreds of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKER, and 10 PINE SISKINS, while 6 AMERICAN ROBINS were along the
river and 10 BOREAL CHICKADEES were seen on the Marston Trail.
Aroostook County
A PURPLE FINCH was singing in Houlton.
A flock of 75 SNOW BUNTINGS were feeding in a driveway in New Sweden, 60
were at a home in Bancroft, and 6 in Fort Kent.
EVENING GROSBEAKS, PINE GROSBEAKS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were found
south west of Allagash.
Upcoming Maine Audubon Birding Trip
Plum Island for Winter Specialties
Clinging to the northern coast of Massachusetts off Newburyport, Plum Island
is a barrier beach known far and wide for its great birding. Parker River
National Wildlife Refuge covers most of the island, and there are wonderful
viewing spots from which to search for a wide variety of seabirds,
waterfowl, hawks, and owls. Rarities are always a possibility here as well.
Bring lunch and a thermos of something hot to drink, and bundle up for a
brisk winter day of great birding in the dunes and on the beach. Price
includes refuge entrance fee and transportation in the Maine Audubon van.
From Falmouth
Saturday, March 17 (weather date March 18)
7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Led by Eric Hynes
$40/member, $45/nonmember
Limited to 10 participants