Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Date: July 18, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes and Stella Walsh
Send reports to birdalert@maineaudubon.org
Of Special Note
WHITE-WINGED DOVE, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, NORTHERN
FULMAR, GREATER SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, LEACH’S STORM-PETREL and
STILT SANDPIPER are the standouts for this week’s RBA. Shorebird
diversity in Maine is increasing as fall migration gets underway. Pelagic
species are again well represented.
York County
SANDERLINGS and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were noted for the first time this
July on the flats at low tide at Hills Beach in Biddeford. ROSEATE TERNS
continue to be found amongst the COMMON TERNS at Hills Beach as well.
Greater Portland
A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was discovered this morning (18th)
on the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center Wednesday bird walk behind the
Clambake Restaurant near the end of Pine Point Road.
A half day pelagic out of Portland on July 14 traveled as far as 25 miles
offshore and encountered 50-60 COMMON LOONS, 8-9 NORTHERN FULMARS, ~50
GREATER SHEARWATERS, 20+ SOOTY SHEARWATERS, ~200 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS,
one possible LEACH’S STORM-PETREL, 50+ NORTHERN GANNETS, two ROSEATE TERNS
and one adult ATLANTIC PUFFIN along the way.
Shorebird numbers seem to be building at Scarborough Marsh. LEAST
SANDPIPERS and LESSER YELLOWLEGS are the most numerous but a PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, a STILT SANDPIPER and a WILSON’S SNIPE were noted on July 17 in
the salt pannes along the Eastern Road Trail.
Three WHIMBRELS, ~100 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, ~150 WILLETS, eight plus
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 20+ RUDDY TURNSTONES and a good number of LESSER
YELLOWLEGS were noted roosting on Stratton Island in Saco Bay in the
evening on July 12.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE showed up in the backyard of a private home in
Cumberland on July 13 and was last seen on July 16.
Kennebec Valley
Orchard Orioles continue to be seen at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in
Augusta as of July 16. Sightings occur most frequently in the evening.
Midcoast
A TRICOLORED HERON highlighted a good mix of wading birds at Weskeag Marsh
in South Thomaston on July 14. This bird has been present at Weskeag
Marsh for several weeks now.
Participants on a sunset puffin cruise out of New Harbor to Eastern Egg
Rock on July 12 enjoyed great looks at ATLANTIC PUFFINS, ARCTIC TERNS and
ROSEATE TERNS at Eastern Egg Rock and many WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and
NORTHERN GANNETS were seen en route.
Penobscot Bay
A private boat trip out to Matinicus Rock on July 17 was unsuccessful in
relocating the Red-billed Tropicbird. ATLANTIC PUFFINS, RAZORBILLS,
COMMON MURRES and ARCTIC TERNS were seen at Matinicus Rock and one MANX
SHEARWATER, ~12 GREATER SHEARWATERS, ~400 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and six
NORTHERN GANNETS were spotted during the trip.
Four ARCTIC TERNS were noted from Lincolnville Beach on July 17.
Downeast
A MANX SHEARWATER was spotted midway between Egg Rock and Turtle Island at
the mouth of Frenchman Bay on July 16.
A LEACH’S STORM-PETREL was seen off of Egg Rock in Frenchman Bay on July
15.
Central
MERLINS have successfully bred again in Bangor. Two fledglings and the
adult pair were conspicuous around the neighborhood of Kenduskeag Avenue
and Division Street on July 17.
Northern
From remote Penobscot Lake Lodge north of Pittson Farm in the Moosehead
Lake region, BOREAL CHICKADEES, four RED CROSSBILLS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS and a pair of breeding-plumaged BONAPARTE’S GULLS
were observed over the weekend.
A pair of BLACK TERNS and 60+ COMMON TERNS were noted from St. Agatha on
Long Lake in northern Aroostook County.
Date: July 18, 2007
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes and Stella Walsh
Send reports to birdalert@maineaudubon.org
Of Special Note
WHITE-WINGED DOVE, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, NORTHERN
FULMAR, GREATER SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, LEACH’S STORM-PETREL and
STILT SANDPIPER are the standouts for this week’s RBA. Shorebird
diversity in Maine is increasing as fall migration gets underway. Pelagic
species are again well represented.
York County
SANDERLINGS and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were noted for the first time this
July on the flats at low tide at Hills Beach in Biddeford. ROSEATE TERNS
continue to be found amongst the COMMON TERNS at Hills Beach as well.
Greater Portland
A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was discovered this morning (18th)
on the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center Wednesday bird walk behind the
Clambake Restaurant near the end of Pine Point Road.
A half day pelagic out of Portland on July 14 traveled as far as 25 miles
offshore and encountered 50-60 COMMON LOONS, 8-9 NORTHERN FULMARS, ~50
GREATER SHEARWATERS, 20+ SOOTY SHEARWATERS, ~200 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS,
one possible LEACH’S STORM-PETREL, 50+ NORTHERN GANNETS, two ROSEATE TERNS
and one adult ATLANTIC PUFFIN along the way.
Shorebird numbers seem to be building at Scarborough Marsh. LEAST
SANDPIPERS and LESSER YELLOWLEGS are the most numerous but a PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, a STILT SANDPIPER and a WILSON’S SNIPE were noted on July 17 in
the salt pannes along the Eastern Road Trail.
Three WHIMBRELS, ~100 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, ~150 WILLETS, eight plus
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 20+ RUDDY TURNSTONES and a good number of LESSER
YELLOWLEGS were noted roosting on Stratton Island in Saco Bay in the
evening on July 12.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE showed up in the backyard of a private home in
Cumberland on July 13 and was last seen on July 16.
Kennebec Valley
Orchard Orioles continue to be seen at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in
Augusta as of July 16. Sightings occur most frequently in the evening.
Midcoast
A TRICOLORED HERON highlighted a good mix of wading birds at Weskeag Marsh
in South Thomaston on July 14. This bird has been present at Weskeag
Marsh for several weeks now.
Participants on a sunset puffin cruise out of New Harbor to Eastern Egg
Rock on July 12 enjoyed great looks at ATLANTIC PUFFINS, ARCTIC TERNS and
ROSEATE TERNS at Eastern Egg Rock and many WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and
NORTHERN GANNETS were seen en route.
Penobscot Bay
A private boat trip out to Matinicus Rock on July 17 was unsuccessful in
relocating the Red-billed Tropicbird. ATLANTIC PUFFINS, RAZORBILLS,
COMMON MURRES and ARCTIC TERNS were seen at Matinicus Rock and one MANX
SHEARWATER, ~12 GREATER SHEARWATERS, ~400 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS and six
NORTHERN GANNETS were spotted during the trip.
Four ARCTIC TERNS were noted from Lincolnville Beach on July 17.
Downeast
A MANX SHEARWATER was spotted midway between Egg Rock and Turtle Island at
the mouth of Frenchman Bay on July 16.
A LEACH’S STORM-PETREL was seen off of Egg Rock in Frenchman Bay on July
15.
Central
MERLINS have successfully bred again in Bangor. Two fledglings and the
adult pair were conspicuous around the neighborhood of Kenduskeag Avenue
and Division Street on July 17.
Northern
From remote Penobscot Lake Lodge north of Pittson Farm in the Moosehead
Lake region, BOREAL CHICKADEES, four RED CROSSBILLS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK,
BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS and a pair of breeding-plumaged BONAPARTE’S GULLS
were observed over the weekend.
A pair of BLACK TERNS and 60+ COMMON TERNS were noted from St. Agatha on
Long Lake in northern Aroostook County.