Devoted a whole day to checking out some of my favorite local
hotspots. Felt like a wonderful indulgence; need to do that more
often. Highlights only listed below (i.e., I also saw crows,
chickadees, and the usual gulls everywhere).
Started at BEECH HILL PRESERVE, Rockport, where I spent a couple of
hours hiking all the trails (and showing off the Hut to a couple of
nice visitors from NH):
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Flicker 2
Horned Lark 1 Flyover
Eastern Bluebird 9 Along edge of recently mown blueberry field, 7
of them bright males.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Evening Grosbeak 1 Flyover (FInally! I felt like I was the only
one who wasn't seeing any yet this fall. Next goal: Pine Grosbeak.)
Then stopped at MACES POND, West Rockport, which can be very ducky.
Today, only 4 Buffleheads.
Next stop, CHICKAWAUKIE LAKE, Public beach at Rockland end:
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Horned Lark 2 Foraging on beach
Besides Mallards, I could see other ducks way out on the lake,
including some I suspected might be Ruddy Ducks, but without a scope I
could only guess. A large flock at the Rockport end of the lake, even
farther away, made me wonder if some American Coots were back, but
when I drove down to see, they had unaccountably disappeared (I
probably missed an eagle fly-by that caused them to huddle against the
shore). Don Reimer's report of what he saw there today (bunch of
Coots, Ruddy Ducks, C. Goldeneyes, and Pied-billed Grebes) confirms
that I am useless there without a scope. Disappointing. Guess what's
on my Christmas list!
WESKEAG MARSH next, where I scanned from the parking area, the viewing
platform, and along the road:
American Black Duck 12
Green-winged Teal 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 flashing some crown color!
Also, fresh coyote scat on the trail to the viewing platform. They
were probably watching me as I was watching the marsh!
Last stop, ROCKLAND BREAKWATER, where I hiked out and back, returning
to my car via the beach:
Common Eider 14
White-winged Scoter 1
Long-tailed Duck 10
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Common Loon 2
Red-necked Grebe 2
Black Guillemot 2
NELSON'S SPARROW 1 Along edge of beach. Very bright with well
defined streaking: probable interior ssp.
Northern Cardinal 1
Harbor Seal 3
Good birding, all!
Kristen
--
Kristen Lindquist
12 Mount Battie St.
Camden, ME 04843
www.klindquist.blogspot.com
"What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
--Mary Oliver
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
--HH the Dalai Lama
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