[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Redhead, Hoary Redpoll, hoary Junco

The Aroostook Birders finally hit it right on weather!  We had bright skies, calm winds and balmy temps for the Annual Waterfowl Walk this morning.

Top duck today was a pair of newly-arrived Redheads at Lake Josephine in Easton.  This pair was accompanied by several Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Gadwall and good numbers of the commoner ducks like Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, Mallard and Blacks.  There was, of course, no shortage of Canada Geese but nothing unusual was found among them.

Common Loons, Double-crested Cormorants and plenty of Belted Kingfishers had also arrived at Lake Jo.  Though a couple of skulky Brown Thrashers only showed themselves for some brief glimpses, everyone had good looks at their first American Bittern of the season at Puddledock Pond in Fort Fairfield.

We also spotted a good assortment of raptors, with several Northern Harriers, Ospreys, American Kestrel, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.  Always notable in Aroostook County, a Turkey Vulture glided by while we were visiting Nadeau Pond in Fort Fairfield.

Back in my yard in Woodland, I still have a good assortment of sparrow species with 180+ Dark-eyed Juncos, 30 White-throated, 20 Song, and single digits of Fox, Savannah, Chipping, American Tree and a Swamp Sparrow too.  Most interesting was a hoary Junco- a very light gray leucistic Dark-eyed feeding not far from a lingering flock of redpolls which included a Hoary Redpoll.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk keeps making passes at them but has yet to snag one today (that I've seen).

Good Birding!

Bill

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Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

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