- RBA
* Maine
* Southcoastal
* April 19, 2007
* MESC0704.19
- Species Mentioned:
Snow Goose
Brant
Gadwall
EURASIAN WIGEON
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
CANVASBACK
Lesser Scaup
AYTHYA HYBRID SP.
Northern Gannet
American Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Laughing Gull
Razorbill
Northern Shrike
Carolina Wren
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Fox Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rusty Blackbird
- Transcript:
Hotline: Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert
(Internet Only).
Date: Thursday, April 19, 2007 compiled at:
5:00pm.
To report: (207) 846-8002, or
wbcbirds_AT_yarmouthbirds_dot_com.
Coverage: York, Cumberland, and Sagadahoc
Counties.
This is Derek Lovitch welcoming you to the
Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert, sponsored by the
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth at 500 Route One,
Yarmouth, Maine. All locations not found in A
Birder’s Guide to Maine by Pierson, et al. are
referenced to the Delorme Maine Atlas. Transcripts of
current and past reports can be found at
www.yarmouthbirds.com.
Weather Summary: The weather was certainly more
noteworthy than the birding this week! After last
Thursday’s storm dropped 4 to 12” (Bridgeton) of snow
by Fri am, we finally reached the normal high of 52F
in Portland on Sat. Then, all hell broke loose, as an
incredibly powerful Nor’easter developed. Rain began
Sun am, changed to snow, and then back to heavy rain.
4 to 8” of rain fell, strong winds (gusts up to
60mph), coastal and inland flooding, beach erosion,
downed trees, widespread power outages, etc continued
through Tues, with sleet and wet snow Mon night.
Conditions then slowly improved, with diminishing
northerly winds and scattered showers on Wed, followed
by partly sunny skies and temps climbing to above
normal highs (normal high in Portland = 54F).
One SNOW GOOSE was along Saco’s Boom Rd (Delorme Map
3; B-1) on 4/15 while 42 – including one “Blue” Goose
– were along the Kennebec River in Dresden (Delorme
Map 12: E-1) on 4/14. Two BRANT were at the East Point
Sanctuary at Biddeford Pool on 4/15, while 8 were at
Cape Elizabeth’s Kettle Cove on 4/17.
A pair of GADWALL continue in the marsh behind the
Pelreco building in Scarborough Marsh, while three
were observed off of the Eastern Rd. Trail on 4/17. A
drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found in a flooded farm
field on the north side of Brown’s Point Rd in
Bowdoinham (Delorme Map 6: A-4) on 4/18 with 6
AMERICAN WIGEONS and continued the next day. From
Bowdoinham Center, follow Rte 24 N to Brown’s Point Rd
on the right. Cross the Abagadasset River. When the
paved road bends sharply to the left, and becomes Pork
Point Rd, stay straight as Browns Point Rd becomes
dirt. After being flushed by an eagle, the ducks
alighted on the Kennebec River, viewable from about ¼
farther east on Brown’s Point Rd. The wigeons - and a
host of other ducks - were joined by a pair of
NORTHERN SHOVELERS on 4/19.
A hen CANVASBACK arrived on Grondin Pond in
Scarborough (view from the end of Woodview Rd, off
Fogg Rd; Delorme Map 3: B-4) last week and continued
through at least the 17th.
The AYTHYA HYBIRD formerly thought to be a Ring-necked
Duck x Redhead may in fact be a Tufted Duck x
Redhead/Common Pochard. The bird continued on Prout’s
Pond behind the Pleasant Hill Driving Range and the
Food Guy restaurant on Pleasant Hill Rd in Scarborough
(Delorme Map 3: A-4) through at least 4/13, but was
not present on 4/17.
Single adult NORTHERN GANNETS were spotted from East
Point in Biddeford Pool on the 15th and from Dyer
Point in Cape Elizabeth (Delorme Map 3: B-5) on the
17th.
The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, sponsored by the Wild
Bird Center of Yarmouth
(www.yarmouthbirds.com/hawkwatch.asp) has totaled 541
raptors to date. In the past seven days (Thurs, 4/12
to Wed, 4/18) only 56 birds have been tallied (thanks
to the stormy weather): 25 OSPREY, 1 BALD EAGLES, 6
NORTHERN HARRIERS, 19 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2
RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 MERLIN, and 1
unidentified.
The AMERICAN COOT continued in the Jones Creek section
of Scarborough Marsh through at least the 15th, seen
from behind the Nestling Duck gift shop that day.
17 SANDERLINGS were at Popham Beach State Park on
4/18.
Three northbound RAZORBILLS passed Biddeford’s East
Point on the 15th.
An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was along Hodson Rd in
Pownal (Delorme Map 5: C-5) on 4/13.
CAROLINA WRENS continue here at the Wild Bird Center
of Yarmouth (2), in a Gorham yard (2), a pair is
nest-building in a Portland yard, and a York yard that
has hosted one for about 6 years is now hosting a pair
as well.
AMERICAN ROBINS have been unusually common at feeding
stations throughout the area – and the state – this
week, feeding on everything from the expected mealworm
and fruit offerings to the less-expected whole
sunflower seeds.
An early GRAY CATBIRD arrived in a Cape Neddick Yard
on 4/19, possible part of the fallout of early and
southern passerines that occurred to our south because
of the massive storm system.
This week’s FOX SPARROW high count was 6 in a Windham
yard on the 14th.
An early ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was reported from a
York feeder on 4/16-17.
Three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were along the Kennebec River
in Dresden on the 14th.
Observations and reports of LESSER SCAUP, SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LAUGHING GULL, HERMIT
THRUSH, and PINE WARBLER also increased this week,
while other new arrivals included AMERICAN BITTERN,
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY
TURNSTONE, and PALM WARBLER.
- End transcript
_______________________________________________________________________
Jeannette and Derek Lovitch
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth
500 Route One, Yarmouth, Maine
207-846-8002
www.yarmouthbirds.com
_______________________________________________________________________
* Maine
* Southcoastal
* April 19, 2007
* MESC0704.19
- Species Mentioned:
Snow Goose
Brant
Gadwall
EURASIAN WIGEON
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
CANVASBACK
Lesser Scaup
AYTHYA HYBRID SP.
Northern Gannet
American Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Laughing Gull
Razorbill
Northern Shrike
Carolina Wren
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Fox Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rusty Blackbird
- Transcript:
Hotline: Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert
(Internet Only).
Date: Thursday, April 19, 2007 compiled at:
5:00pm.
To report: (207) 846-8002, or
wbcbirds_AT_yarmouthbirds_dot_com.
Coverage: York, Cumberland, and Sagadahoc
Counties.
This is Derek Lovitch welcoming you to the
Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert, sponsored by the
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth at 500 Route One,
Yarmouth, Maine. All locations not found in A
Birder’s Guide to Maine by Pierson, et al. are
referenced to the Delorme Maine Atlas. Transcripts of
current and past reports can be found at
www.yarmouthbirds.com.
Weather Summary: The weather was certainly more
noteworthy than the birding this week! After last
Thursday’s storm dropped 4 to 12” (Bridgeton) of snow
by Fri am, we finally reached the normal high of 52F
in Portland on Sat. Then, all hell broke loose, as an
incredibly powerful Nor’easter developed. Rain began
Sun am, changed to snow, and then back to heavy rain.
4 to 8” of rain fell, strong winds (gusts up to
60mph), coastal and inland flooding, beach erosion,
downed trees, widespread power outages, etc continued
through Tues, with sleet and wet snow Mon night.
Conditions then slowly improved, with diminishing
northerly winds and scattered showers on Wed, followed
by partly sunny skies and temps climbing to above
normal highs (normal high in Portland = 54F).
One SNOW GOOSE was along Saco’s Boom Rd (Delorme Map
3; B-1) on 4/15 while 42 – including one “Blue” Goose
– were along the Kennebec River in Dresden (Delorme
Map 12: E-1) on 4/14. Two BRANT were at the East Point
Sanctuary at Biddeford Pool on 4/15, while 8 were at
Cape Elizabeth’s Kettle Cove on 4/17.
A pair of GADWALL continue in the marsh behind the
Pelreco building in Scarborough Marsh, while three
were observed off of the Eastern Rd. Trail on 4/17. A
drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found in a flooded farm
field on the north side of Brown’s Point Rd in
Bowdoinham (Delorme Map 6: A-4) on 4/18 with 6
AMERICAN WIGEONS and continued the next day. From
Bowdoinham Center, follow Rte 24 N to Brown’s Point Rd
on the right. Cross the Abagadasset River. When the
paved road bends sharply to the left, and becomes Pork
Point Rd, stay straight as Browns Point Rd becomes
dirt. After being flushed by an eagle, the ducks
alighted on the Kennebec River, viewable from about ¼
farther east on Brown’s Point Rd. The wigeons - and a
host of other ducks - were joined by a pair of
NORTHERN SHOVELERS on 4/19.
A hen CANVASBACK arrived on Grondin Pond in
Scarborough (view from the end of Woodview Rd, off
Fogg Rd; Delorme Map 3: B-4) last week and continued
through at least the 17th.
The AYTHYA HYBIRD formerly thought to be a Ring-necked
Duck x Redhead may in fact be a Tufted Duck x
Redhead/Common Pochard. The bird continued on Prout’s
Pond behind the Pleasant Hill Driving Range and the
Food Guy restaurant on Pleasant Hill Rd in Scarborough
(Delorme Map 3: A-4) through at least 4/13, but was
not present on 4/17.
Single adult NORTHERN GANNETS were spotted from East
Point in Biddeford Pool on the 15th and from Dyer
Point in Cape Elizabeth (Delorme Map 3: B-5) on the
17th.
The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, sponsored by the Wild
Bird Center of Yarmouth
(www.yarmouthbirds.com/hawkwatch.asp) has totaled 541
raptors to date. In the past seven days (Thurs, 4/12
to Wed, 4/18) only 56 birds have been tallied (thanks
to the stormy weather): 25 OSPREY, 1 BALD EAGLES, 6
NORTHERN HARRIERS, 19 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2
RED-TAILED HAWKS, 1 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 MERLIN, and 1
unidentified.
The AMERICAN COOT continued in the Jones Creek section
of Scarborough Marsh through at least the 15th, seen
from behind the Nestling Duck gift shop that day.
17 SANDERLINGS were at Popham Beach State Park on
4/18.
Three northbound RAZORBILLS passed Biddeford’s East
Point on the 15th.
An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was along Hodson Rd in
Pownal (Delorme Map 5: C-5) on 4/13.
CAROLINA WRENS continue here at the Wild Bird Center
of Yarmouth (2), in a Gorham yard (2), a pair is
nest-building in a Portland yard, and a York yard that
has hosted one for about 6 years is now hosting a pair
as well.
AMERICAN ROBINS have been unusually common at feeding
stations throughout the area – and the state – this
week, feeding on everything from the expected mealworm
and fruit offerings to the less-expected whole
sunflower seeds.
An early GRAY CATBIRD arrived in a Cape Neddick Yard
on 4/19, possible part of the fallout of early and
southern passerines that occurred to our south because
of the massive storm system.
This week’s FOX SPARROW high count was 6 in a Windham
yard on the 14th.
An early ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was reported from a
York feeder on 4/16-17.
Three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were along the Kennebec River
in Dresden on the 14th.
Observations and reports of LESSER SCAUP, SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LAUGHING GULL, HERMIT
THRUSH, and PINE WARBLER also increased this week,
while other new arrivals included AMERICAN BITTERN,
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY
TURNSTONE, and PALM WARBLER.
- End transcript
_______________________________________________________________________
Jeannette and Derek Lovitch
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth
500 Route One, Yarmouth, Maine
207-846-8002
www.yarmouthbirds.com
_______________________________________________________________________