- RBA
* Maine
* Southcoastal
* August 11, 2005
* MESC0508.11
- Species Mentioned:
**FRIGATEBIRD sp.**
*YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON*
Common Eider
TRICOLORED HERON
Peregrine Falcon (spp. anatum-type)
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet (including "WESTERN WILLET")
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
DICKCISSEL
- Transcript:
Hotline: Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert (Internet
Only).
Date: August 11, 2005 compiled at: 5:00pm.
To report: (207) 846-8002, or birds@yarmouthbirds.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 messages can be found at www.yarmouthbirds.com.
This alert was updated on Thursday, August 11, 2005
with highlights that include: a probable **MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD**, two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, a
TRICOLORED HERON, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHER among 19 1/2 species of shorebirds, and
the first trickle of southbound passerines.
High pressure built in behind a cold front of Friday,
setting up another beautiful weekend, with dry air and
seasonably warm temperatures. Humidity and
temperatures began to increase on Monday and by
Tuesday temperature were around 90 in most areas. A
sea breeze did keep things cooler along the coast on
Wednesday, and on Thursday, instability behind an
early-morning cold front triggered some isolated
thunderstorms.
An apparent adult male **FRIGATEBIRD** was spotted
over Wolfe's Neck State Park in Freeport on 8/5.
Although it can be assumed that this was a MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD, other species (Ascension Frigatebird - of
which there is a 1953 specimen record from Great
Britain - and Great Frigatebird) cannot be ruled out
based on the photographs that have been seen so far.
There are 5-10 records of Magnificent, or probable
Magnificent, Frigatebirds from Maine, although males
may be impossible to conclusively identify to species.
Interesting enough, a Frigatebird, very likely the
same individual was spotted off of Bar Harbor, Hancock
County two days earlier, so observers to our south
should keep their eyes out!
Two *YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS* were reported from
Stratton Island on the 3rd and 4th. Observers
especially in the Scarborough Marsh area should keep
an eye out for this species, as most of the waders
from the island travel to the mainland to forage.
A growing aggregation of COMMON EIDER off of East
Point in Biddeford Pool was estimated at 1500+
individuals on the 7th.
A TRICOLORED HERON was spotted from Portland's Eastern
Promenade as it flew north over Peak's Island in the
evening of the 5th.
A juvenile anatum subspecies-type PEREGRINE FALCON
snagged a Semipalmated Plover over Biddeford Pool on
8/7.
200 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were tallied by a fishing
birder circling Richmond Island (Delorme Map 3: B-5)
on the 7th.
One AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was at Pine Point in
Scarborough on 8/11.
204 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were tallied at Wharton Point on
the north end of Maquoit Bay in Brunswick (Delorme Map
6: C-3) on the 6th while 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS,
including one juvenile, were in a pond along routes
9/208 in Biddeford on the 6th. A total of 27 WILLET,
included one "Western Willet, were at Biddeford Pool
on the 7th, along with two HUDSONIAN GODWITS. A very
good count of 20 WHIMBREL and another Hudsonian Godwit
was at Pine Point in Scarborough on the 11th
A RED KNOT was at Pine Point in Scarborough on 8/11.
The leucistic SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was spotted again
on Hill's Beach on the 7th while this week's high
count of "Semi-Sands" was 600+ at Biddeford Pool
earlier that day.
High counts of other shorebirds this week included:
52 KILLDEER (Mayhall Road sod farms, Gray, Delorme Map
5: B-4, 8/10); 800 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (Pine Point,
Scarborough Marsh, 8/11); 40 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
(Scarborough Marsh total, 8/11); 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS
(East Point Sanctuary, Biddeford Pool, 8/7); 32 RUDDY
TURNSTONE (Biddeford Pool, 8/7); 30 SANDERLING (Hill's
Beach, Biddeford, 8/7); 200 LEAST SANDPIPER
(Scarborough Marsh total, 8/11); 2 WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER (Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/11); 1 PECTORAL
SANDPIPER (Hill's Beach, Biddeford, 8/7; Wharton
Point, Brunswick, 8/11; and Eastern Road, Scarborough
Marsh, 8/11); and 850 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS
(Scarborough Marsh total, 8/11).
A single RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER returned to a West
Kennebunk yard on the 5th.
Four YELLOW WARBLERS rounding East Point in Biddeford
Pool and a single BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the East
Point Sanctuary on the 7th were signs that fall
passerine migration is getting underway. On the 10th,
a Falmouth yard hosted 3 PRAIRIE WARBLERS and one PALM
WARBLER, along with 4 other species of warblers - the
first likely southbound "flock" of warblers that have
been reported this season.
Furthermore, the first DICKCISSEL of the fall flew
over the boat launch at Wharton Point in Brunswick on
the 11th.
Thank you for calling, and see you in the field!
- End transcript
* Maine
* Southcoastal
* August 11, 2005
* MESC0508.11
- Species Mentioned:
**FRIGATEBIRD sp.**
*YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON*
Common Eider
TRICOLORED HERON
Peregrine Falcon (spp. anatum-type)
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet (including "WESTERN WILLET")
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
DICKCISSEL
- Transcript:
Hotline: Southcoastal Maine Rare Bird Alert (Internet
Only).
Date: August 11, 2005 compiled at: 5:00pm.
To report: (207) 846-8002, or birds@yarmouthbirds.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 messages can be found at www.yarmouthbirds.com.
This alert was updated on Thursday, August 11, 2005
with highlights that include: a probable **MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD**, two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, a
TRICOLORED HERON, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHER among 19 1/2 species of shorebirds, and
the first trickle of southbound passerines.
High pressure built in behind a cold front of Friday,
setting up another beautiful weekend, with dry air and
seasonably warm temperatures. Humidity and
temperatures began to increase on Monday and by
Tuesday temperature were around 90 in most areas. A
sea breeze did keep things cooler along the coast on
Wednesday, and on Thursday, instability behind an
early-morning cold front triggered some isolated
thunderstorms.
An apparent adult male **FRIGATEBIRD** was spotted
over Wolfe's Neck State Park in Freeport on 8/5.
Although it can be assumed that this was a MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD, other species (Ascension Frigatebird - of
which there is a 1953 specimen record from Great
Britain - and Great Frigatebird) cannot be ruled out
based on the photographs that have been seen so far.
There are 5-10 records of Magnificent, or probable
Magnificent, Frigatebirds from Maine, although males
may be impossible to conclusively identify to species.
Interesting enough, a Frigatebird, very likely the
same individual was spotted off of Bar Harbor, Hancock
County two days earlier, so observers to our south
should keep their eyes out!
Two *YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS* were reported from
Stratton Island on the 3rd and 4th. Observers
especially in the Scarborough Marsh area should keep
an eye out for this species, as most of the waders
from the island travel to the mainland to forage.
A growing aggregation of COMMON EIDER off of East
Point in Biddeford Pool was estimated at 1500+
individuals on the 7th.
A TRICOLORED HERON was spotted from Portland's Eastern
Promenade as it flew north over Peak's Island in the
evening of the 5th.
A juvenile anatum subspecies-type PEREGRINE FALCON
snagged a Semipalmated Plover over Biddeford Pool on
8/7.
200 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were tallied by a fishing
birder circling Richmond Island (Delorme Map 3: B-5)
on the 7th.
One AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was at Pine Point in
Scarborough on 8/11.
204 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were tallied at Wharton Point on
the north end of Maquoit Bay in Brunswick (Delorme Map
6: C-3) on the 6th while 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS,
including one juvenile, were in a pond along routes
9/208 in Biddeford on the 6th. A total of 27 WILLET,
included one "Western Willet, were at Biddeford Pool
on the 7th, along with two HUDSONIAN GODWITS. A very
good count of 20 WHIMBREL and another Hudsonian Godwit
was at Pine Point in Scarborough on the 11th
A RED KNOT was at Pine Point in Scarborough on 8/11.
The leucistic SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was spotted again
on Hill's Beach on the 7th while this week's high
count of "Semi-Sands" was 600+ at Biddeford Pool
earlier that day.
High counts of other shorebirds this week included:
52 KILLDEER (Mayhall Road sod farms, Gray, Delorme Map
5: B-4, 8/10); 800 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (Pine Point,
Scarborough Marsh, 8/11); 40 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
(Scarborough Marsh total, 8/11); 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS
(East Point Sanctuary, Biddeford Pool, 8/7); 32 RUDDY
TURNSTONE (Biddeford Pool, 8/7); 30 SANDERLING (Hill's
Beach, Biddeford, 8/7); 200 LEAST SANDPIPER
(Scarborough Marsh total, 8/11); 2 WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER (Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/11); 1 PECTORAL
SANDPIPER (Hill's Beach, Biddeford, 8/7; Wharton
Point, Brunswick, 8/11; and Eastern Road, Scarborough
Marsh, 8/11); and 850 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS
(Scarborough Marsh total, 8/11).
A single RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER returned to a West
Kennebunk yard on the 5th.
Four YELLOW WARBLERS rounding East Point in Biddeford
Pool and a single BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the East
Point Sanctuary on the 7th were signs that fall
passerine migration is getting underway. On the 10th,
a Falmouth yard hosted 3 PRAIRIE WARBLERS and one PALM
WARBLER, along with 4 other species of warblers - the
first likely southbound "flock" of warblers that have
been reported this season.
Furthermore, the first DICKCISSEL of the fall flew
over the boat launch at Wharton Point in Brunswick on
the 11th.
Thank you for calling, and see you in the field!
- End transcript