Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Date: June 20, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes
Of Special Note
BROWN PELICAN and RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD top the list for this week’s RBA.
Other species of note include LITTLE GULL and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER
York County
On June 19, between 9:15 and 9:45 pm, three WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard
along Rt. 99 and McGuire Road in the Kennebunk Plains area. A morning
visit to the Kennebunk Plains area on June 18 found up to seven or eight
UPLAND SANDPIPERS.
An outing in Biddeford on June 18 produced the following highlights: 28
NORTHERN GANNETS and six WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS at East Point Sanctuary, a
pair of roosting AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS at Vines Landing at the mouth of
Biddeford Pool and an immature LITTLE GULL and two ROSEATE TERNS amongst
the Common Terns and Bonaparte’s Gulls on the sand flats at Hills Beach
(tide just starting to rise).
Greater Portland
On June 16, two separate boaters (both well experienced with the species)
reported having excellent views of a BROWN PELICAN soaring and plunge-
diving in the bays south of Brunswick. One sighting occurred near Sister
Island, which is between Little Flying Point in Freeport and Merepoint in
Brunswick. The second report occurred around 6pm near Snow Island in
Quahog Bay in Harpswell. Given the close proximity of these two locations
and the extreme rarity of this bird, it is presumed to be the same
individual. No further sightings have been received.
Midcoast
As of June 19, the seabird biologists on Matinicus Rock report that they
continue to see the RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD more days than not. It has been
there this week. They usually see it for several hours or more at a time
and it occasionally lands on the island.
Maine Audubon is considering a return boat trip to Matinicus Rock in hopes
of seeing this unique bird. If interested, please send an email to
ehynes@maineaudubon.org and include your availability for weekdays vs.
weekends.
An attempt to relocate the Red-billed Tropicbird at Matinicus Rock on June
13 was unsuccessful. A privately-chartered boat from Matinicus Island
spent an hour and half at Matinicus Rock. COMMON MURRE, ATLANTIC PUFFIN,
RAZORBILL, BLACK GUILLEMOT, MANX SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, ARCTIC
TERN, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and WILSON’S STORM-PETREL were all seen but
no tropicbird.
NORTHERN GANNETS are currently making a nice showing along the shores of
this region with many reports received. The high count was 50+ off
Seawall Beach at the Morse Mountain Preserve in Phippsburg on June 18.
Five RED-THROATED LOONS were noted from this location as well.
NORTHERN HARRIERS were confirmed as breeders at Great Meadow in Sedgwick
on June 15.
An unconfirmed report of a male BLUE GROSBEAK visiting a feeder in
Phippsburg was received on June 17.
Kennebec Valley
A VIRGINIA RAIL was calling at night from the marsh along Rt. 197 just
west of Richmond corner (Rt. 197 and Rt. 201) on June 19.
A paddle on Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade on June 17 turned up seven BLACK
TERNS and an AMERICAN BITTERN.
Western Mountains
Birders hiking in Grafton Notch State Park on Baldpate Mountain
encountered two BOREAL CHICKADEES, two GRAY JAYS, 15 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS, three YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS and a number of BLACKPOLL
WARBLERS and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES on June 19.
Date: June 20, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes
Of Special Note
BROWN PELICAN and RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD top the list for this week’s RBA.
Other species of note include LITTLE GULL and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER
York County
On June 19, between 9:15 and 9:45 pm, three WHIP-POOR-WILLS were heard
along Rt. 99 and McGuire Road in the Kennebunk Plains area. A morning
visit to the Kennebunk Plains area on June 18 found up to seven or eight
UPLAND SANDPIPERS.
An outing in Biddeford on June 18 produced the following highlights: 28
NORTHERN GANNETS and six WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS at East Point Sanctuary, a
pair of roosting AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS at Vines Landing at the mouth of
Biddeford Pool and an immature LITTLE GULL and two ROSEATE TERNS amongst
the Common Terns and Bonaparte’s Gulls on the sand flats at Hills Beach
(tide just starting to rise).
Greater Portland
On June 16, two separate boaters (both well experienced with the species)
reported having excellent views of a BROWN PELICAN soaring and plunge-
diving in the bays south of Brunswick. One sighting occurred near Sister
Island, which is between Little Flying Point in Freeport and Merepoint in
Brunswick. The second report occurred around 6pm near Snow Island in
Quahog Bay in Harpswell. Given the close proximity of these two locations
and the extreme rarity of this bird, it is presumed to be the same
individual. No further sightings have been received.
Midcoast
As of June 19, the seabird biologists on Matinicus Rock report that they
continue to see the RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD more days than not. It has been
there this week. They usually see it for several hours or more at a time
and it occasionally lands on the island.
Maine Audubon is considering a return boat trip to Matinicus Rock in hopes
of seeing this unique bird. If interested, please send an email to
ehynes@maineaudubon.org and include your availability for weekdays vs.
weekends.
An attempt to relocate the Red-billed Tropicbird at Matinicus Rock on June
13 was unsuccessful. A privately-chartered boat from Matinicus Island
spent an hour and half at Matinicus Rock. COMMON MURRE, ATLANTIC PUFFIN,
RAZORBILL, BLACK GUILLEMOT, MANX SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, ARCTIC
TERN, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and WILSON’S STORM-PETREL were all seen but
no tropicbird.
NORTHERN GANNETS are currently making a nice showing along the shores of
this region with many reports received. The high count was 50+ off
Seawall Beach at the Morse Mountain Preserve in Phippsburg on June 18.
Five RED-THROATED LOONS were noted from this location as well.
NORTHERN HARRIERS were confirmed as breeders at Great Meadow in Sedgwick
on June 15.
An unconfirmed report of a male BLUE GROSBEAK visiting a feeder in
Phippsburg was received on June 17.
Kennebec Valley
A VIRGINIA RAIL was calling at night from the marsh along Rt. 197 just
west of Richmond corner (Rt. 197 and Rt. 201) on June 19.
A paddle on Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade on June 17 turned up seven BLACK
TERNS and an AMERICAN BITTERN.
Western Mountains
Birders hiking in Grafton Notch State Park on Baldpate Mountain
encountered two BOREAL CHICKADEES, two GRAY JAYS, 15 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS, three YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS and a number of BLACKPOLL
WARBLERS and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES on June 19.