Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: April 13, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
With a heavy snow cover, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, PURPLE FINCHES, DARK-EYED
JUNCOS and FOX SPARROWS, among other sparrows, were widely reported at
feeders. AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen in the limited open areas
throughout much of the state.
Firsts of the year reports included LESSER YELLOWLEGS, AMERICAN COOT,
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, LITTLE BLUE HERON, and INDIGO BUNTING.
A hybrid REDHEAD and a EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL were in Scarborough.
Two male NORTHERN SHOVELER were at Weskeag Marsh in Rockland.
York County
Five BRANT were along the rocks at high tide at Lobster Cove, Long Sands
Beach, in York, while a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was seen in Wheeler Wildlife
area.
An almost certain escaped domestic RUDDY SHELDUCK was also at Long Sands
Beach in York.
Two PIPING PLOVERS continued at Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport,
while an INDIGO BUNTING was seen on April 4 near the Clock Farm on Rt.
9.
Birds at Biddeford Pool on April 10 included 75 DUNLIN, 33 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, and 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK. A LITTLE BLUE
HERON was seen flying northeast up the Little River at Granite Point on
April 9.
Scarborough Marsh
An AMERICAN KESTREL, a PEREGRINE FALCON, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 3 EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS, 4 HORNED LARKS, and 2 GADWALLS were among the birds seen
near Pelreco on the Pine Point Road in Scarborough, while across the
road in Jones Creek, an AMERICAN COOT was present on April 8.
A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was in the company of a large number of
GREEN-WINGED TEALS, 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and 2 GADWALLS in the marsh
across the road from the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center on April 9.
Other birds reported from the marsh included a RUSTY BLACKBIRD, WILSON'S
SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 15 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 3
NORTHERN HARRIERS, and 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. Wading bird numbers are
still low with high counts of 6 GREAT EGRETS, 10 GLOSSY IBIS, and 2
SNOWY EGRETS.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at feeders on April 9 and a VEERY visited
another Scarborough feeder on April 10.
Nine SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS were on Scarborough Beach on April 9.
Greater Portland
Among the visitors to Prout's Pond on the Pleasant Hill Road in
Scarborough were a hybrid REDHEAD, 2 GREATER SCAUP, 20+ LESSER SCAUP,
60+ RING-NECKED DUCKS, COMMON, RED-BREASTED and HOODED MERGANSERS, and 2
PIED-BILLED GREBES.
One AMERICAN WIGEON was at Pond Cove in Cape Elizabeth, while 35 BRANT
continue at Kettle Cove.
A single PIPING PLOVER was defending a snow covered territory on Higgins
Beach on April 9.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER visited feeders on Warwick Street in Portland,
while a FISH CROW was heard over Gleckler Road.
A male PINE WARBLER was in Windham on April 7.
The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch in Freeport tallied 177 raptors from
April 6 through April 11 with 3 TURKEY VULTURES, 27 OSPREY, 3 BALD
EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 44 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 3
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 21 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 6 AMERICAN KESTREL, and 1
unidentified raptor.
Midcoast
Two CEDAR WAXWING flocks are foraging in Brunswick.
Eighteen GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen circling their island rookery in
Harpswell.
An owl survey along the Abbagadasset from Bowdoinham to Richmond found 6
BARRED OWLS, 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, and 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL.
Among the 100 plus ducks in the marsh along Rt. 197 just west of
Richmond Corner were 4 pairs of NORTHERN PINTAILS, 2 drake WOOD DUCKS,
and 4 drake RING-NECKED DUCKS.
Sightings on Samoset Road in Boothbay Harbor Saturday included a
WILSON'S SNIPE.
In Warren village, a male and two female BARROWS GOLDENEYES remain in
the Georges River daily.
A single EVENING GROSBEAK was at a feeder in Unity.
At Weskeag Marsh in Rockland there were 2 male NORTHERN SHOVELERS and 7
AMERICAN WIGEON, a few COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS, 10 GREAT BLUE
HERONS, 2 KILLDEER, and a single WILSON'S SNIPE. A GREAT EGRET has
lingered in the area for a week or so and a COOPER'S HAWK was seen on
April 9.
The report from Monhegan Island included AMERICAN WOODCOCK, KILLDEER,
EASTERN PHOEBE, FOX and SONG SPARROWS, and a PINE WARBLER.
Lewiston-Auburn
An OSPREY was on the nest on the power lines off of Rt. 202 near the
Greene/Lewiston line on April 11.
A flock of 12+ HORNED LARKS and a KILLDEER were along the Leeds Junction
Road in Wales.
Kennebec Valley
Ten TREE SWALLOWS were flitting around over the A-1 Diner in Gardiner on
April 12.
An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE chased the sparrows around brush piles on
Dennis Hill in Litchfield.
A single SANDHILL CRANE was standing in the frozen marsh at the south
end of Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade while an OSPREY was flying
overhead.
A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS was in Palermo.
Central Maine
Waterfowl are arriving as ponds open with a COMMON LOON, 6 COMMON
MERGANSERS, and 30 RING-NECKED DUCKS reported on Plymouth Pond in
Plymouth.
A flock of 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS are in Hampden.
A small flock of SNOW BUNTINGS were in a field on Forest Avenue just
west of the Veazie rail line crossing in West Orono. RING-NECKED DUCKS
and a NORTHERN HARRIER were at Pushaw Pond, and an AMERICAN KESTREL on
Stillwater Avenue in Orono.
Penobscot Valley Chapter field trip on April 7 to the Stud Mill Road in
Milford found 7 GRAY JAYS, 4+ BOREAL CHICKADEES, many WHITE-WINGED and
RED CROSSBILLS mixed with ample PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES.
Waterfowl included HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, and a pair of
WOOD DUCKS.
The SNOWY OWL was still at Veazland Farm in Corinna as of April 11,
while HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS, WOOD DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYES and
RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen in Corundel Lake.
Penobscot Bay
EVENING GROSBEAKS were calling in Blue Hill.
An OSPREY was seen on North Haven.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was on Mt. Desert Island.
Downeast Coast
A check of the Pennamaquan River in Pembroke on April 7 produced 12
species of waterfowl including 59 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 25 WOOD DUCK, 2
NORTHERN PINTAIL, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and an AMERICAN WIGEON.
A MERLIN was seen on Mitten Mountain Road in Centerville.
An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was on the Wilson Rd in Jonesboro.
Aroostook County
A flock of 60 SNOW BUNTINGS were in a field in New Sweden.
SONG SPARROWS and AMERICAN ROBINS are singing in Houlton.
Date: April 13, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Number: (207) 781-2332
Compilers: Judy Walker, Kay Gammons
Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)
Of Special Note
With a heavy snow cover, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, PURPLE FINCHES, DARK-EYED
JUNCOS and FOX SPARROWS, among other sparrows, were widely reported at
feeders. AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen in the limited open areas
throughout much of the state.
Firsts of the year reports included LESSER YELLOWLEGS, AMERICAN COOT,
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, LITTLE BLUE HERON, and INDIGO BUNTING.
A hybrid REDHEAD and a EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL were in Scarborough.
Two male NORTHERN SHOVELER were at Weskeag Marsh in Rockland.
York County
Five BRANT were along the rocks at high tide at Lobster Cove, Long Sands
Beach, in York, while a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was seen in Wheeler Wildlife
area.
An almost certain escaped domestic RUDDY SHELDUCK was also at Long Sands
Beach in York.
Two PIPING PLOVERS continued at Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport,
while an INDIGO BUNTING was seen on April 4 near the Clock Farm on Rt.
9.
Birds at Biddeford Pool on April 10 included 75 DUNLIN, 33 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, and 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK. A LITTLE BLUE
HERON was seen flying northeast up the Little River at Granite Point on
April 9.
Scarborough Marsh
An AMERICAN KESTREL, a PEREGRINE FALCON, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 3 EASTERN
MEADOWLARKS, 4 HORNED LARKS, and 2 GADWALLS were among the birds seen
near Pelreco on the Pine Point Road in Scarborough, while across the
road in Jones Creek, an AMERICAN COOT was present on April 8.
A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was in the company of a large number of
GREEN-WINGED TEALS, 1 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and 2 GADWALLS in the marsh
across the road from the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center on April 9.
Other birds reported from the marsh included a RUSTY BLACKBIRD, WILSON'S
SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 15 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 3
NORTHERN HARRIERS, and 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. Wading bird numbers are
still low with high counts of 6 GREAT EGRETS, 10 GLOSSY IBIS, and 2
SNOWY EGRETS.
A PINE WARBLER was seen at feeders on April 9 and a VEERY visited
another Scarborough feeder on April 10.
Nine SEMI-PALMATED PLOVERS were on Scarborough Beach on April 9.
Greater Portland
Among the visitors to Prout's Pond on the Pleasant Hill Road in
Scarborough were a hybrid REDHEAD, 2 GREATER SCAUP, 20+ LESSER SCAUP,
60+ RING-NECKED DUCKS, COMMON, RED-BREASTED and HOODED MERGANSERS, and 2
PIED-BILLED GREBES.
One AMERICAN WIGEON was at Pond Cove in Cape Elizabeth, while 35 BRANT
continue at Kettle Cove.
A single PIPING PLOVER was defending a snow covered territory on Higgins
Beach on April 9.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER visited feeders on Warwick Street in Portland,
while a FISH CROW was heard over Gleckler Road.
A male PINE WARBLER was in Windham on April 7.
The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch in Freeport tallied 177 raptors from
April 6 through April 11 with 3 TURKEY VULTURES, 27 OSPREY, 3 BALD
EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 44 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, 3
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 21 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 6 AMERICAN KESTREL, and 1
unidentified raptor.
Midcoast
Two CEDAR WAXWING flocks are foraging in Brunswick.
Eighteen GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen circling their island rookery in
Harpswell.
An owl survey along the Abbagadasset from Bowdoinham to Richmond found 6
BARRED OWLS, 1 GREAT HORNED OWL, and 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL.
Among the 100 plus ducks in the marsh along Rt. 197 just west of
Richmond Corner were 4 pairs of NORTHERN PINTAILS, 2 drake WOOD DUCKS,
and 4 drake RING-NECKED DUCKS.
Sightings on Samoset Road in Boothbay Harbor Saturday included a
WILSON'S SNIPE.
In Warren village, a male and two female BARROWS GOLDENEYES remain in
the Georges River daily.
A single EVENING GROSBEAK was at a feeder in Unity.
At Weskeag Marsh in Rockland there were 2 male NORTHERN SHOVELERS and 7
AMERICAN WIGEON, a few COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS, 10 GREAT BLUE
HERONS, 2 KILLDEER, and a single WILSON'S SNIPE. A GREAT EGRET has
lingered in the area for a week or so and a COOPER'S HAWK was seen on
April 9.
The report from Monhegan Island included AMERICAN WOODCOCK, KILLDEER,
EASTERN PHOEBE, FOX and SONG SPARROWS, and a PINE WARBLER.
Lewiston-Auburn
An OSPREY was on the nest on the power lines off of Rt. 202 near the
Greene/Lewiston line on April 11.
A flock of 12+ HORNED LARKS and a KILLDEER were along the Leeds Junction
Road in Wales.
Kennebec Valley
Ten TREE SWALLOWS were flitting around over the A-1 Diner in Gardiner on
April 12.
An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE chased the sparrows around brush piles on
Dennis Hill in Litchfield.
A single SANDHILL CRANE was standing in the frozen marsh at the south
end of Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade while an OSPREY was flying
overhead.
A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS was in Palermo.
Central Maine
Waterfowl are arriving as ponds open with a COMMON LOON, 6 COMMON
MERGANSERS, and 30 RING-NECKED DUCKS reported on Plymouth Pond in
Plymouth.
A flock of 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS are in Hampden.
A small flock of SNOW BUNTINGS were in a field on Forest Avenue just
west of the Veazie rail line crossing in West Orono. RING-NECKED DUCKS
and a NORTHERN HARRIER were at Pushaw Pond, and an AMERICAN KESTREL on
Stillwater Avenue in Orono.
Penobscot Valley Chapter field trip on April 7 to the Stud Mill Road in
Milford found 7 GRAY JAYS, 4+ BOREAL CHICKADEES, many WHITE-WINGED and
RED CROSSBILLS mixed with ample PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES.
Waterfowl included HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, and a pair of
WOOD DUCKS.
The SNOWY OWL was still at Veazland Farm in Corinna as of April 11,
while HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS, WOOD DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYES and
RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen in Corundel Lake.
Penobscot Bay
EVENING GROSBEAKS were calling in Blue Hill.
An OSPREY was seen on North Haven.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was on Mt. Desert Island.
Downeast Coast
A check of the Pennamaquan River in Pembroke on April 7 produced 12
species of waterfowl including 59 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 25 WOOD DUCK, 2
NORTHERN PINTAIL, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and an AMERICAN WIGEON.
A MERLIN was seen on Mitten Mountain Road in Centerville.
An EASTERN BLUEBIRD was on the Wilson Rd in Jonesboro.
Aroostook County
A flock of 60 SNOW BUNTINGS were in a field in New Sweden.
SONG SPARROWS and AMERICAN ROBINS are singing in Houlton.