Tuesday 30 April 2013

[Maine-birds] Re: (Maine Birds) Mount Desert Island Birds: Greater Yellowlegs territorial fighting, Lesser Yellowlegs as well

Mount Desert Island Birds: Greater Yellowlegs territorial fighting

Alley Island overlook, Hancock, US-ME
Apr 30, 2013 9:07 AM - 9:32 AM
0.2 mile(s)
Comments:     Nico and I watched three Greater Yellowlegs, one male actively driving another away while performing territorial flights and displaying. The dominate male was calling weat-eo-o, weat-eo-o, weat-eo-o than flying towards and behind the other male calling loud chip notes. After 10 minutes, the 2nd male retreated to the opposite side of the salt marsh. The dominate male settles briefly and walks towards and mixes with the slightly larger female. In general the females are larger than males. No negative reaction….so she must like him! There have been many Yellowlegs around this spring which has not always been the case. Many times they shoot around or over MDI choosing other stop over locations. This overlook is a truly unique head of the island salt marsh,   perfect for these long legged Tringa with recurved bill for probing.   Cuba still had both Lesser and Greater in small numbers from April 5-17.   Having just returned from Cuba on the 17th, I have been impressed with the activity on MDI with Northern Parula here slightly early with a male calling at Three Pines. The ocean had a nice surprise with a flock of Surf Scoters, which I have not seen all winter! in these waters, FOY ,I think. . After December they were far and few between around MDI having moved most likely to more southerly climes. Red-Breasted Mergansers males were a treat.
17 species

American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 4
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 38     good looks at males spread out over the water in mixed flocks
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 3
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 3     size difference between male and female distinctive
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 5
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1     in flight
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 4
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 5

Hamilton Pond, Hancock, US-ME
Apr 30, 2013 1:30 PM - 1:35 PM
Comments:     One quick stop for a listen and a Pine Warbler territorially calling, Double-crested Cormorant has been here for a few days. A sign that there may still be good food sources for other diving ducks.
8 species

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 4
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2     Swift and nimble flyers . Only one other bird flys
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1     These two birds were almost Duetting, which I have heard with other similar combinations of YRWB and PIWB
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 1

Babson Creek MCHT , Hancock, US-ME
Apr 30, 2013 5:10 PM - 6:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Graham Good and myself spent a little quiet time in the marsh. One Lesser Yellowlegs foraging in a salt pond with a Belted Kingfisher diving into the salt ponds and tidal streams around the entire marsh.
9 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 1 I suspect that these are nesting somewhere on the Long Pond watershed
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1

Three Pines Bird Sanctuary 2013, Hancock, US-ME
Apr 30, 2013 7:48 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Last bird of the day with Hermit Thrush giving a dusk call, the "Last Call" of the evening. Many of you know of this phenomenon when the forest birds give one final call before settling down for the night.
1 species

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1

Michael J. Good, MS
President Down East Nature Tours
Founder and Director Research and Development
15th Acadia Birding Festival, May 30-June 2, 2013
Co-founder Penobscot Watershed Eco Center
39 COTTAGE STREET
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
207-288-8128 / 207-479-4256

info@DownEastNatureTours.com
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[Maine-birds] B&W W.

Got my FOY Black and White Warbler today. I dont know what it is about them but they just make me happy. What an amazing day! Summers coming I can feel it!! E. Old County Rd. Newcastle ME.

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Re: [Maine-birds] Saco - Biddeford Birding 4/30

Hi Chuck,

Indeed, that's a Common Murre in basic plumage. I am presuming (without having checked any references yet), that this is a 1st year bird.

Anyway, what time did you have the bird? I saw it there this morning around 9 this morning, with about 6 Razorbills, and it stayed close to shore long enough for me to be joined by Katrina Fenton, Henry Walters, and Pat Moynahan. Always a treat to see from the mainland, I probably would have posted if I thought it was going to stick around. Sorry, folks, but glad you saw it too, Chuck!

-Derek

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 30, 2013, at 6:22 PM, Chuck Homler <needsmoreritalin@gmail.com> wrote:

A relatively quiet day today. I started out at the Heath where the only birds I saw or heard were Chickadees, Blue Jays, Crows and a Downy Woodpecker. Seriously! The boardwalk is a dead end halfway through the heath but the work they are doing on the boardwalk and trail should be applauded.

From there I headed to Biddeford Pool. I didn't see any shorebirds. There were 7 Long-Tailed Ducks in breeding plumage off of the beach by Gilbert St. Also a pair of Green Herons (in the same tree) and a Juvenile BCNH that was near the land trust off 7th,

I had a Murre, which I believe to be a Common Murre based on the shape of the face and the angle to the bill. It was off the Eastpoint with some Eiders and a pair of RB Mergansers. Photos on the Maine Bird List flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mainebirdlist/

Great weather to be out! Only Warbler for the day was a Yellow-Rump hanging with a Phoebe at the pond in the woods at the land trust.

Cheers,
Chuck

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[Maine-birds] Fwd: HSR: Bradbury Mountain State Park (30 Apr 2013) 34 Raptors

>
> Bradbury Mountain State Park
> Pownal, Maine, USA
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 30, 2013
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 115 305
> Osprey 4 491 493
> Bald Eagle 0 23 57
> Northern Harrier 0 118 124
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 627 656
> Cooper's Hawk 1 57 76
> Northern Goshawk 0 3 16
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 49 124
> Broad-winged Hawk 18 1359 1359
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 122 299
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
> Golden Eagle 0 0 1
> American Kestrel 4 410 412
> Merlin 0 67 70
> Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5
> Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4
> Unknown Buteo 0 3 6
> Unknown Falcon 0 4 4
> Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
> Unknown Raptor 0 18 29
>
> Total: 34 3471 4042
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 16:00:00
> Total observation time: 8 hours
>
> Official Counter: Derek Lovitch, Jeannette Lovitch
>
> Observers: Tom Downing
>
> Visitors:
> 12
>
>
> Weather:
> Crystal-clear skies all day. Contrails were short-lived in the dry air
> mass. It was a tough day to see hawks, but it was at least warm! Temps
> rose to 18F before cooling a few degrees as a southerly sea breeze
> increased once again. Haze marginally impacted visibility towards the
> coast.
>
> Raptor Observations:
> Local Broad-winged Hawks were very active today, especially in the
> afternoon. Four birds were circling and interacting closely at one point
> when two of the birds locked talons and tumbled for multiple seconds before
> separating.
>
> Non-raptor Observations:
> As with the raptor flight today, not too much else was on the move today.
> However, a total of 32 species were observed from the summit. Birds deemed
> migrating were limited to:
>
> 55 Double-crested Cormorants
> 9 Tree Swallows
> 5 Common Grackles
> 2 Barn Swallows
> 1 Yellow-rumped Warblers
> 1 American Goldfinch
>
> Predictions:
> It looks like there may be a sea breeze again tomorrow, but not as strong
> as today. Winds are forecast to be out of the east in the morning, but
> switching around to the south later in the day. Temperatures should reach
> the mid-60s with sunny skies in the morning. It should be another lovely
> day with at least some birds on the move (but see below).
>
> The first half of April saw us caught under an Omega Block when two areas
> of high pressure trapped an area of low pressure right over us, resulting
> in a prolonged period of cool and unsettled weather. Now, and another
> Omega Block has us stuck under high pressure and producing beautiful
> weather. However, storms to our south may be helping to dry up our flow of
> birds, or perhaps the high is now shunting things away from the coast. So
> once again, hawkwatchers find themselves hoping for a change in the
> weather!
> ========================================================================
> Report submitted by Jeannette Lovitch (freeportwildbird@yahoo.com)
> Bradbury Mountain State Park information may be found at:
> www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/hawkwatch.asp
>
>

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[Maine-birds] Saco - Biddeford Birding 4/30

A relatively quiet day today. I started out at the Heath where the only birds I saw or heard were Chickadees, Blue Jays, Crows and a Downy Woodpecker. Seriously! The boardwalk is a dead end halfway through the heath but the work they are doing on the boardwalk and trail should be applauded.

From there I headed to Biddeford Pool. I didn't see any shorebirds. There were 7 Long-Tailed Ducks in breeding plumage off of the beach by Gilbert St. Also a pair of Green Herons (in the same tree) and a Juvenile BCNH that was near the land trust off 7th,

I had a Murre, which I believe to be a Common Murre based on the shape of the face and the angle to the bill. It was off the Eastpoint with some Eiders and a pair of RB Mergansers. Photos on the Maine Bird List flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mainebirdlist/

Great weather to be out! Only Warbler for the day was a Yellow-Rump hanging with a Phoebe at the pond in the woods at the land trust.

Cheers,
Chuck

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Chuck Homler

needsmoreritalin.wordpress.com
youtube.com/needsmoreritalin
flickr.com/needsmoreritalin

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[Maine-birds] Pileated Woodpecker, Camden

Not an unusual bird, of course, but always dramatic to see: a Pileated Woodpecker was just hanging out on a pine trunk right outside our office windows. Fun interruption for all of us working away inside.

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

[Maine-birds] Purple Martins in Belgrade

They're back at the house on Depot Road.

I also had a northern waterthrush at my house in Sidney this a.m.

Julia

[Maine-birds] Pileated, Northern Parula, BTGreens, more at Mast Landing Aud Sanctuary

First of all, thank you to all the birders who provided some great information on spring migration trends/timing for Maine. It's tough seeing all my friends south of us getting on with spring, with lilacs in full bloom and warbler fallouts, while we're just starting. The main thing is that I just don't want to miss anything for lack of knowledge!

Among other common birds, we saw some great FOY birds this morning (late start) at Mast Landing: Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Parula and Black-throated Green Warblers (they were very vocal!), several Brown Creepers, and a startled Ruffed Grouse who may have been preparing to drum on a nice big fallen log had we not scared him into flight by coming around a corner of the trail. Oops.

The one downer about spring migration: you have to get soooo early!

Delia Guzman
Brunswick

Mast Landing Bird Sanctuary, Freeport, Cumberland, US-ME
Apr 30, 2013 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Started on Ridge Trail, went to end, turned onto Deer Trail and then to Orchard Trail, back to parking lot
13 species

Ruffed Grouse 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Brown Creeper 7
American Robin 3
Northern Parula 1 (heard only, but very distinct)
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
American Goldfinch 1

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13941305

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/me)

[Maine-birds] King eider, 3 Iceland gulls, Lesser bl-bded gull etc

Hi folks,

While working in the Cutler, Whiting and Machiasport area over the weekend, I was able to look for waterbirds in Machias Bay and Old Man Island.

Old Man Island Quiet compared to the last visit.

When viewing Old Man, you need to be patient and scan for at least an hour, especially if the bird activity seems low. There were flocks of scoters, eiders and cormorants passing by.

1 male king eider (closer to shore)

1 Black-legged kittiwake

1 Northern gannet (flying beyond Old Man)

6 Razorbills

2 Black guillemots

12 Red-breasted mergansers

100 scoters migrating offshore

15 Long-tailed ducks

Usual herring and black-backed gulls.

Machias Bay (east side)

~300 Herring gulls - Mostly 1 to 3rd yr cycle.

3 Iceland gulls - One first spring very white bird; 1 first spring darker morph; and one third cycle bird

1 Lesser black-backed gull - One bird coming into his/her first spring. Long wings, smaller size, dark bill, wide tail band and browner mantle with lighter head were distinctive (from the other herring gulls).

1 Herring X Glaucous gull Second spring bird

~ 20 Laughing gulls

~30 Great black-backed gulls

141 Common eiders - mostly adult males; actual count

3 White-winged scoters

~60 Black scoters

~20 Surf scoters

2 Buffleheads

66 Black ducks

2 Mallard X black ducks

1 Blue-winged teal

22 Bed-breasted merganser

4 Great blue heron

1 Common loon

~330 Ring-billed gulls

Good birding,

Norm Famous

Norman Famous, Wetlands and Wildlife Ecologist

513 Eight Rod Road

Augusta, ME 04330

(207) 623 6072

[Maine-birds] BB warbler and others Downeast

Hi folks,

I was working in Cuter Thurs through Monday in grasslands all weekend and staying in Machiasport. Here are some of the high lights.

1 Bay-breasted warbler in Machiasport

1 Yellow warbler in Cutler

10+ Palm warblers

50 + yellow-rumps with 80% on Sunday morning; There were a large number of arrivals that night

Savannah sparrows - I was picking up about 10 per day on Thursday and Friday with very little long activity. There was a major influx on Saturday night/Sun morning with much song activity scattered through about 1000 acres. Monday was full of song activity as territories were being established.

Swamp sparrows There was a large flight Sat PM/Sun AM where they were in most emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands singing profusely.

1 Brown thrasher

Harrier courtship behavior and vocalizations.

1 Pipit

1 Horned lark

6 Kestrels

10 Osprey

1 Rusty blackbird

1 Blue-winged teal

! Barn swallow

Check out Peter VIckery's link to the great shorebird video.

Good birding

--

Norman Famous, Wetlands and Wildlife Ecologist

513 Eight Rod Road

Augusta, ME 04330

(207) 623 6072

[Maine-birds] Re: black throated green Kennebunk

I've also been hearing it here in Raymond for the past two days.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:26:27 AM UTC-4, Sharon F. wrote:

Heard a Black throated green warbler at 7 AM today-very chilly and quite early for one! Sharon in West K.

[Maine-birds] Re: Migration timeline questions

Thanks, Louis, for a great and informative answer.

On Monday, April 29, 2013 4:28:54 PM UTC-4, dguzman1 wrote:

I'm new to Maine, having moved up here from central PA last fall. My question: When does spring migration get going up here? I keep seeing things about how migration is jumping south of us, but here things seem to be a bit slow. Is it too early for this far north?

Thanks for your knowledge and help!
Delia Guzman
Brunswick

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[Maine-birds] Bird Banding Breakfast on Friday, May 3

Hello Maine Birders,

This Friday at 7 a.m., Maine Audubon is partnering with Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) for a Bird Banding Breakfast at River Point Conservation Area in West Falmouth. This is a great opportunity to view birds in the hand and learn about BRI's research. We'll finish the program with coffee and muffins. For online registration, and additional program information, please visit http://maineaudubon.org/events/2013/bird-banding-breakfast-may/

Mike Windsor
Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist

[Maine-birds] black throated green Kennebunk

Heard a Black throated green warbler at 7 AM today-very chilly and quite early for one! Sharon in West K.

[Maine-birds] Evergreen Quiet-my FOY Wood Thrush

And Blue-gray Gnatcatcher continues.

Stella

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Re: [Maine-birds] Maine Birds

HI Aloyse,

Northern Shoveler were first documented as a Maine breeder in 1979 when Spenser found a hen with a single chick at Lake Josephine in Easton. Now 5 - 10 broods are raised here annually.

Shovelers have also been documented breeding on Stratton Island off of Old Orchard Beach.

Good birding!

Bill

There

On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 6:44 AM, luvbrds <luvbrds@myfairpoint.net> wrote:

Saturday, April 27

    Corundel Lake, Corinna - NORTHERN SHOVELER pair: These were quite a distant away on the water but there was no mistaking the rusty brown patch mostly surrounded by white on the side of the male. We also saw them in flight which was distinctive. Are there records of these ducks breeding in Maine? This is the second time we've seen a pair. Both sightings were within three miles of each other (as the crow flies). We also saw a female NORTHERN HARRIER flying over the water and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.

    An AMERICAN BLUEBIRD was on the Dexter end of the Crawford Road.

    Stan and Aloyse Larrabee

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[Maine-birds] Maine Birds

Saturday, April 27

Corundel Lake, Corinna - NORTHERN SHOVELER pair: These were quite a distant away on the water but there was no mistaking the rusty brown patch mostly surrounded by white on the side of the male. We also saw them in flight which was distinctive. Are there records of these ducks breeding in Maine? This is the second time we've seen a pair. Both sightings were within three miles of each other (as the crow flies). We also saw a female NORTHERN HARRIER flying over the water and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.

An AMERICAN BLUEBIRD was on the Dexter end of the Crawford Road.

Stan and Aloyse Larrabee

Monday 29 April 2013

[Maine-birds] FOY Pine Warbler Cape Neddick

I heard a couple of Pine Warblers last Saturday but couldn't spot any up in the white pines. Today I caught the bird on camera and consulted with GBBC members about its ID. We're pretty sure it's a Pine Warbler.

Ms Wild Turkey visited again today, as did a female Purple Finch and a female Brown Headed Cowbird, among the regulars at the feeders.

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[Maine-birds]

Highlights from Islesford ( Little Cranberry Island ) this past weekend
Brown Thrasher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Semi-Palmated Plover, male Horned Grebe in full color, Greater Yellowlegs , Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Green-winged Teal, Winter Wren, and a Woodcock sitting on her nest....... FOY Northern Parula at MDI High ponds today

Sent from Jim's iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Re:(Maine Birds) Mount Desert Island Birds: Greater Yellowlegs

Hello all,

Thinking about the migration question ask earlier today: Maine is the destination for millions of migratory birds. Many shorebirds, like Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, are working their way north to the tundra right now and stopover on mudflats like Clark Cove at low tide where I found 5 tonight. The number of shorebirds we see during migration does depend on weather patterns. Migratory groups also have traditional stop over locations that have been handed down over generations. Stop overs are vitally important to migrants as they forage and store needed energy for the final leg to breeding territories. Many forest birds for example, are now facing extinction due to Lost habitat where they have traditionally rested and feed. Birds are facing monumental tasks for survival due to human habitat destruction.

The global discussion and ongoing myopic focus on Climate change has taken away from the more serious message about HABITAT DESTRUCTION and loss of Habitat which humans could do something about. Education by birders is vital. Avian evolution has included millennium of climate change, creating genetic memory that allows for some elasticity but Habitat destruction along the eastern flyway is permanent and devastating, forcing birds to find new breeding locations, many times on the periphery, in edge habitat where predators destroy nest and forage on young bird . Red Squirrels are notorious nest robbers and are actively being fed by humans with "Bird Feeders" scattered around suburban environments where forest resources are becoming limited. I am discouraged by what I see in the Boston region, for example, where Owls and Raptors are losing forested breeding grounds to suburban Sprawl and housing developments. The combination of human squirrel feeding and the consistent loss of habitat is devastating Neotropical migrant populations. Both climate change and habitat destruction are serious issues for migratory birds. Plant a few trees or shrubs and encourage your suburban friends to do the same. Talk to your neighbors and Grow back wilderness in Suburban communities. This will help climate change, migratory birds and stimulate local economy!

Michael

[Maine-birds] Maine RBA - April 28, 2013

Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert
Reporting Period: April 22 – 28, 2013
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Doug Hitchcox

Noteworthy Species Mentioned:
'Eurasian' Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Tricolored Heron
White-faced Ibis
Glossy x White-faced Ibis (hybrid)
Purple Martin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Bohemian Waxwing
Orchard Oriole
Hoary Redpoll

York County

At least 35 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were photographed atop Mount Agamenticus on the 23rd.

Greater Portland

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen on the Eastern Trail through the Scarborough Marsh on the 22nd.

With a pair first arriving on the 16th, at least three WHITE-FACED IBIS and one presumed GLOSSY X WHITE-FACED IBIS HYBRID are being seen around the Scarborough Marsh. An adult TRICOLORED HERON was also seen throughout the week, most often at Dunstan Landing.

Two BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were seen at Capisic Park in Portland on the 25th and 26th.

A male ORCHARD ORIOLE was photographed at the River Point Conservation Area in West Falmouth on the 26th.

A well-described GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was reported from a yard in Gray on the 24th but was not seen again and went undocumented.

Kennebec River Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was photographed on the North Street Recreational Trail in Waterville on the 22nd.

Midcoast

A drake 'EURASIAN' GREEN-WINGED TEAL continued until the 22nd at the mouth of the Abbagadasset River, visible from Browns Point Road in Bowdoinham.

On the 23rd, three BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were photographed on Hermit Island.

Central Maine

Three PURPLE MARTINS returned to the Field of Dreams box at Unity Pond on the 22nd.

Northern Maine

A pair of REDHEADS returned to Lake Josephine in Easton on the 27th.

In Woodland, a HOARY REDPOLL continued to visit feeders as of the 27th.

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[Maine-birds] barn swallows in Sidney

FOY on the wire in front of my house, then hunting with the tree swallows. Also had three at Messalonskee boat landing in Belgrade on the way home. It was very quiet there otherwise.

Great day for eagles, though. Got to point out two to students today in Oakland and one to students in Belgrade.

Julia

[Maine-birds] Fwd: HSR: Bradbury Mountain State Park (29 Apr 2013) 75 Raptors

> Bradbury Mountain State Park
> Pownal, Maine, USA
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2013
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 115 305
> Osprey 1 487 489
> Bald Eagle 0 23 57
> Northern Harrier 2 118 124
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 26 620 649
> Cooper's Hawk 1 56 75
> Northern Goshawk 1 3 16
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 49 124
> Broad-winged Hawk 23 1341 1341
> Red-tailed Hawk 0 122 299
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
> Golden Eagle 0 0 1
> American Kestrel 14 406 408
> Merlin 4 67 70
> Peregrine Falcon 1 5 5
> Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4
> Unknown Buteo 0 3 6
> Unknown Falcon 1 4 4
> Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
> Unknown Raptor 1 18 29
>
> Total: 75 3437 4008
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 16:00:00
> Total observation time: 8 hours
>
> Official Counter: Katrina Fenton
>
> Observers: Tom Downing
>
> Visitors:
> 16.
>
>
> Weather:
> The overcast moved in early and gummed up the sky for much of the day,
> finaly stretching itself to pieces later in the afternoon. The south wind
> picked up quickly, though without as much force as yesterday as it ran from
> the foggy ocean. Temperatures held at 60.
>
> Raptor Observations:
> The 4000th raptor of the season came through this afternoon, an American
> Kestrel destined for some sunny field with lovely edges for raising a
> family and spying food from. Of the 13 species of raptors observed today,
> all but four had at least one migrant representative to help the count
> along. The Peregrine Falcon circled with two Broad-winged Hawks, comparing
> tapered wings and flared-out tails before parting. The Northern Goshawk
> wasn't a juvenile, but it showed a different molt pattern than the local
> adult who had been photographed the day before. It was most likely a
> 2nd-year bird heading for better hunting farther north.
>
> Non-raptor Observations:
> A Black-throated Green Warbler greeted the morning from the summit, the
> first of its species to stop by this spring. A daily high of 44 species was
> set for this season, with locals making room for new neighbors and migrants
> pressing on.
>
> Non-raptor Migrants:
>
> Common Loon- 3 Double-crested Cormorant- 13
> Great Blue Heron- 2 Tree Swallow- 21 Barn Swallow- 3
> swallow sp.- 4 Brown-headed Cowbird- 1 blackbird sp.- 18
> American Goldfinch- 5 Purple Finch- 6 finch sp.- 3
> Yellow-rumped Warbler- 2 passerine sp.- 5
>
> Predictions:
> Partly-cloudy conditions and slighty less wind tomorrow. Temperatures will
> be again be around 60, kept in check by the 5-10mph southeast seabreeze.
> Migrant numbers could well be similar to what came through today.
> ========================================================================
> Report submitted by Jeannette Lovitch (freeportwildbird@yahoo.com)
> Bradbury Mountain State Park information may be found at:
> www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/hawkwatch.asp
>
>

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[Maine-birds] Belted Kingfisher, Camden, 4.29.13

Belted Kingfisher (FOS) just rattled overhead here at my office in the Megunticook River.

Kristen

Kristen Lindquist
Camden, ME
www.klindquist.blogspot.com

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Re: [Maine-birds] Migration timeline questions

The short answer is that the passerine migration you might be thinking of--the bulk of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and flycatchers--has just begun. Most of these arrive or pass through from late April to late May, with the peak of warblers, the classic highlight most people anticipate, usually occurring from mid-May to the first few days of June.

What is happening currently is that over the past few days and into this coming week we have had mild weather under high pressure. This means most birds are flying right over us or right onto breeding territories. To "see" migration apart from blips on radar or chips overhead, it usually takes some weather to block birds or force them down. The weather is too darn nice right now.

The long answer to your question is that migration has been going on since late February, with different groups of birds taking the lead over the course of spring. Blackbirds and Turkey Vultures, for example are early returnees. The waterfowl season runs from late March to early May and is winding down now (sea-ducks like scoters and eiders are among the later migrants and then often make the jump right over us so we never see it happening). Diurnal hawks have been moving since mid-March, with peaks for different species coming and going; Broad-wings are hitting their stride right now, for example. A few shorebirds arrive early, Killdeer and woodcock, then snipe, for example; a few more species are traditional in mid to late April; most shorebirds, the tundra nesting species, will move through in the latter half of May. Terns will be arriving early to mid May. That's just a few examples and a partial sketch. It's happening and we're heading into the best time.

The eBird project provides an easy way to track migration. One can even generate bar graphs to get a sense of migration timing for species. Go here:
http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=changeLocation
Choose Maine in the states (or select a few neighboring states; or select Canada, then New Brunswick and/or Nova Scotia), click "entire region" and continue. Alternatively, one can look at bird conservation regions. We are in #14 Atlantic Northern Forest. There are ways to look at these data on maps and by month too. Exploring the site is encouraged!

One of the coolest things linked now on eBird is Birdcast. This is a week by week forecast of migration and retrospective of what did happen. Go here:
http://birdcast.info
There is an animated graph showing forecast weather AND bird migration. Over the past few weeks, this map has been amazingly useful to anticipate migration and fallouts (where northbound birds hit fronts). Check it out!

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

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[Maine-birds] Fwd: White-throated sparrow

Sorry for the double up, but I'm still trying to figure

how to send the web link as a hot button.

Dave

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Small <docfinsdave@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 4:45 PM
Subject: White-throated sparrow
To: Dave Small <docfinsdave@gmail.com>

http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p501323621/h5d647886#h5d64787c

Birding the back yard has it's advantages. This white-throated

sparrow has been hanging around my feeders, it's a beautiful

bird.

Cheers,

Dave

[Maine-birds] White-throated sparrow

Birding the back yard has it's advantages. This white-throated

sparrow has been hanging around my feeders, it's a beautiful

bird: http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p501323621/h5d647886#h5d64787c

Cheers,

Dave

[Maine-birds] Migration timeline questions

I'm new to Maine, having moved up here from central PA last fall. My question: When does spring migration get going up here? I keep seeing things about how migration is jumping south of us, but here things seem to be a bit slow. Is it too early for this far north?

Thanks for your knowledge and help!

Delia Guzman

Brunswick

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[Maine-birds] Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

Yesterday, we saw and heard several Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drumming on hard wood trees to attract a mate yesterday at Mt Blue State Park Also several Blue-headed Verios, and we heard a drumming Grouse.

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, ME

[Maine-birds] Mai Po shorebird video

Paul Donahue sent me this terrific shorebird video. The video was been slowed so it's easy to see the shorebird feeding. Primarily Old World birds but the occasional turnstone.

Best, Peter

http://vimeo.com/64924489

[Maine-birds] Re: Mount Desert Island Birds: YR Warblers on the move in Mixed flocks

Mount Desert Island Birds: Yellow Rumped and Warblers are on the Move

The hotspots are active with warbler activity during this early portion of migration. This weekend we saw the intensity of Palm and Yellow Warblers in various watershed around Mount Desert Island began to decline as we crank up towards the mass movement of birds. The diversity of warblers is about to increase greatly with South American winter migrants not far behind the irruption of Yellow-rumped and Palm. Sunlight and insect activity our the key factors in a particular locations attraction to Warblers and Flycatchers currently especially bio-rich micro-habitat like Seal Cove or Jordan Pond. A really nice big movement of birds passed by this weekend. I love the orchestra.

Michael

[Maine-birds] FOY Common Yellowthroat, Brown Thrasher Biddeford

On my morning walk, I heard my first yellowthroat of the year singing away, and spied a Brown Thrasher sulking in the bushes on Proctor rd.

Good Birding

--
David Rankin

University of New England

Graduate Student

[Maine-birds] Louisana Waterthrush

The Louisiana Waterthrush reported yesterday at Vaughn Woods in Hallowell was singing away this morning at about 10:15. It was in the vicinity of the stone bridge that crosses about halfway along the brook trail.

A Northern Parula Warbler was also present, as was a Winter Wren.

Jay Adams

Dresden

Re: [Maine-birds] Field sparow

Hi Chip,

Also have had one at Babson Creek here on MDI for a few years .... have not heard it yet. Last year it as actively calling all spring and early summer. He needs a mate so send any female Field Sparrows down east!!

Michael

From: Clark Moseley

Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 11:17 AM

To: Maine-birds

Subject: [Maine-birds] Field sparow

One Field Sparrow has been coming to my feeder station to eat millet here on 198 Pertville Rd, Sedgwick for the last 3 days. The last one that I had here was on April 25, 2007. These are the only 2 sightings that I have recorded in Sedgwick while living here since 1999. The south side of Blue Hill Mnt. is the closest nesting location that I am aware of, although we have not seen or heard this species for the last two years in this location. I do remember Leda Beth Gray reporting having heard one down at the Great Meadow here in Sedgwick several years ago. Again as I recall this was during the spring time migration when she was scouting for her birdathon. As far as I know this location is at the northern terminus of their normal distribution. Both of my sightings have only been during the heavy spring time migration of sparrows. To find this species regularly I have to travel in a southward direction from Sedgwick. If anyone is interested in receiving a jpeg of this bird send me a line.

Chip

Clark "Chip" Moseley
PO Box 151/198 Pertville Rd.
Sedgwick, ME 04676

Hm. Phone: 207.359.2558

Cell Phone: 207.812.0461 (seldom used)

Camp Phone: 207.672.3603

[Maine-birds] gnatcatcher Kennebunk

I was able to join the blue gray gnatcatcher viewing parade on Sunday. Actually heard it a bit before finally getting a visual. Also heard a catbird Sat. A.M. and also finally sighted Palm warblers amidst the yellow rumps. Still have one junco around-looks lonely...Tree swallows and blue bird pair sorting out house ownerships-enough to go around for all! Sharon in West Kennebunk

[Maine-birds] Field sparow

Chip

Clark "Chip" Moseley
PO Box 151/198 Pertville Rd.
Sedgwick, ME 04676

Hm. Phone: 207.359.2558

Cell Phone: 207.812.0461 (seldom used)

Camp Phone: 207.672.3603

[Maine-birds] Brown Thrasher

FOY Brown Thrasher in tree at field edge yesterday at Scarborough River Sanctuary Park (place on the hill between pelreco and eastern trail). There is a small pond hidden in the woods a bit down the trail. Stood there 30 minutes marveling at dozens of ruby kinglets, some with flaming red mohawks. Also observed N. Parula, Palm, Yellow-Rump and B&W warblers at the pond. Great spot.

[Maine-birds] Invitation to use Google Talk

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You've been invited by Rafael Adams to use Google Talk.

If you already have a Google account, login to Gmail and accept this chat
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To sign up for a Google account and get started with Google Talk, you can
visit:
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Learn more at:
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Thanks,
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[Maine-birds] Whimbrel at Biddeford Pool 4/25

I apologize for the very belated post, but I'm here in Brunswick from Michigan just to help my mother move and haven't had much time for the internet.
I made a brief stop in Biddeford Pool on Thursday last week at what appeared to be low tide around 4:30pm. We pulled off Mile Stretch Rd at the first open area between houses and the first bird I saw in this muddy area was a Whimbrel. It was a lifer for me, but very unmistakeable. I took a few decent photos, but they're too large to attach here. I could email them to someone if they want. I didn't realize that this might be early for the species until I logged it on eBird this morning.

[Maine-birds] Northern Parula at Capisic Pond

This morning saw a FOY parula among the dozens of yellow-rumps and palm warblers. 4 male and 1 female wood duck came out into the open water. Evergreen Cemetery was much quieter, though a kingfisher kept rattling the whole time i was circling the pond. Flushed a wren at the pond's edge. Way too brief to know for sure, but I did see a white stripe over the eye...

[Maine-birds] Evening grosbeaks

Two males among the goldfinches at my feeder this morning.

Mary Lou in Sullivan

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[Maine-birds] Pileated, broad-wings Harmony

Male P. Woodpecker back in the neighborhood as of Saturday. Watched a couple of BRHAs circling yesterday afternoon. Still so many juncos. Think I heard a Black and White Warbler, but haven't seen one yet.

Maggie Strickland

Harmony ME

Sunday 28 April 2013

[Maine-birds] Peregrines S. Thomaston

Weskeag Marsh in S. Thomaston was entertaining this afternoon.

My wife and I stopped at the parking lot as we usually do, and almost nothing was apparent at first. Two Snowy Egrets flew by, crossed the street and turned and landed atop a small pine. About then a Red-Tailed Hawk showed up, flying low from the wooded area toward the open marsh. I spotted a small kettle of birds high in the sky above the red-tail as I was watching him and said to Faith, watch the big bird. (She’s my spotter!) While I watched over head what was probably a few Broad-winged Hawks (one was close enough to identify), suddenly, Faith calls; behind me was an ornithological kerfuffle between a Peregrine Falcon and the red-tail in question.

The male Peregrine skillfully dispatched his heavyweight interloper, principally by yelling at him (or her, a young bird) and generally making a nuisance of himself. He then turned and flew back toward the apex of one of the pines that limn the marsh’s edge. I hadn’t noticed, but mother was atop the pine he was headed for. His Majesty and Her Royal Highness were not shy. The two mated and he slipped away behind the pine stand, I think rather close to the new observation area that was dedicated last year.

The female Peregrine, still perched at the very top of the pine she was occupying, and not entirely satisfied with being passive, took a heightened interest in two Green-winged Teal that swam in front of her in the marsh. She left her perch and flew down to investigate. At first she was discreet, but abandoned that posture nearly immediately. She made a second pass and the teal dove underwater, shallow as it was. I believe there was a third pass with the same result, and then she flew off in the direction that her mate had left.

I hope the TV’s that circled overhead sent that feed to the networks.

Glenn Jenks

Camden

Re: [Maine-birds] Eastern Towhee in Brooklin

Hi Kimberly! So nice to see your name come up! I saw a male eastern towhee on Vinalhaven last summer. Got to spend over an hour sitting right next to it on the beach as it scratched, scrambled and scurried around. I was so excited!

Kali

Be still, and the world is bound to turn herself inside out to entertain you. Everywhere you look, joyful noise is clanging to drown out quiet desperation.

Barbara Kingsolver
High Tide in Tucson

On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 8:27 PM, Kimberly Ridley <ridleyk09@gmail.com> wrote:

A male towhee turned up under our birdfeeder on Friday--the first I've seen in 18 years of living in Brooklin! Have others seen towhees down east?

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[Maine-birds] Yellow Warbler, Eastern Towhee etc @ Gilsland Farm Falmouth

I was conducting a shorebird survey this morning at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth and was treated to a pleasant morning. A Yellow Warbler sang from the North Meadow while I counted a few of my first Lesser Yellowlegs of the year amongst the Greater. A tom Turkey was gobbling and strutting after 3 White-Tailed Deer galloped through the meadow. 20+ Savannah Sparrows were found throughout the property with most flushing from the grass in the west meadow and a few were singing. A female Eastern Towhee was foraging around the feeders on the parking lot side of the nature center and was last seen in the kicking at the leaf litter under the row of pines bordering the lot and the rose garden. 48 species here today with Mallard, American Blackduck, and Bald Eagle all MIA.

Late in the afternoon at Capisic Pond in Portland, above the Tree Swallows, were a handful of twittering Chimney Swifts.

Bird haahd,

Noah Gibb-Portland

[Maine-birds] Eastern Towhee in Brooklin

A male towhee turned up under our birdfeeder on Friday--the first I've seen in 18 years of living in Brooklin! Have others seen towhees down east?

[Maine-birds] Fwd: HSR: Bradbury Mountain State Park (28 Apr 2013) 96 Raptors

> Bradbury Mountain State Park
> Pownal, Maine, USA
> Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 28, 2013
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture 0 0 0
> Turkey Vulture 0 115 305
> Osprey 4 486 488
> Bald Eagle 0 23 57
> Northern Harrier 0 116 122
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 594 623
> Cooper's Hawk 1 55 74
> Northern Goshawk 0 2 15
> Red-shouldered Hawk 0 49 124
> Broad-winged Hawk 52 1318 1318
> Red-tailed Hawk 2 122 299
> Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2
> Golden Eagle 0 0 1
> American Kestrel 12 392 394
> Merlin 4 63 66
> Peregrine Falcon 1 4 4
> Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4
> Unknown Buteo 0 3 6
> Unknown Falcon 0 3 3
> Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
> Unknown Raptor 0 17 28
>
> Total: 96 3362 3933
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Observation start time: 08:00:00
> Observation end time: 16:00:00
> Total observation time: 8 hours
>
> Official Counter: Katrina Fenton
>
> Observers: Dave Gulick, Jeannette Lovitch
>
> Visitors:
> 44. One man asked innocently if we had been seeing any Barn Swallows. As he
> was asking, the bird in question came swooping overhead. Serendipity is a
> beautiful thing!
>
>
> Weather:
> A drift of clouds could be seen far to the west, but over the mountain blue
> skies held firm against any advances. The wind was slow to wake up for the
> first couple of hours of the watch. It rose out of the south by late
> morning and blew steadily at 8-12 mph for the remainder of the day.
> Temperatures leveled off in the low 60s after a rapid morning warm-up.
>
> Raptor Observations:
> The local adult Northern Goshawk showed itself for the second time in as
> many days, rising over the northwest side of the mountain to drift
> unchallanged to another corner of its holdings. The wind pushed more
> falcons inland from the coast, with all three expected species coming
> through. Merlins passed low and quickly, while a few of the American
> Kestrels grabbed snacks along the way. The Peregrine Falcon glided by with
> only the meerest flick of a wing tip to power its flight.
>
> Non-raptor Observations:
> There were no first-of-years among the 38 species observed at the summit
> today, but the trees ringing the summit were busy with warblers, sparrows,
> and other feathered folk. Finches called as they passed the mountain, and
> Double-crested Cormorants trudged north in groups of three or six.
>
> Non-raptor Migrants:
>
> Double-crested Cormorant- 62 Great Blue Heron- 2
> Common Loon- 1 Tree Swallow- 24 Barn Swallow- 6
> swallow sp.- 2 Common Grackle- 2 Brown-headed Cowbird- 1
> blackbird sp.- 24 Yellow-rumped Warbler- 10
> Pine Warbler- 1 warbler sp.- 3 American Goldfinch- 3
> Purple Finch- 5 passerine sp.- 7
>
> Predictions:
> Clear morning skies will quickly cloud over to partly to mostly cloudy
> conditions through the afternoon. The wind will be light, out of the west
> to start the day before swinging to the south at 5-10mph, a little less
> brisk than today's seabreeze. Temperatures will climb to around 60. Another
> good travel day!
> ========================================================================
> Report submitted by Jeannette Lovitch (freeportwildbird@yahoo.com)
> Bradbury Mountain State Park information may be found at:
> www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/hawkwatch.asp
>
>

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[Maine-birds] More White-faced Ibis at Scarborough - there may possibly be more than three adults

Robby Lambert and I birded Scarborough marsh yesterday afternoon and came across two adult White-faced Ibis behind Pelreco, including the super bright white faced male photographed by Andy Aldrich, whom we named "Clown" for the prominent white markings. He was associating with another adult White-face and they remained within 30 feet of each other during the time we saw them. There was a third "white-face" type but with gray legs. We didn't see this bird well and it may have been a hybrid. It wasn't a Glossy. These three did not associate with a group of 20+ Glossy Ibis in the same area.

Later in the afternoon we came across another male White-faced Ibis near by Eastern Road. This one was not super white like Clown. It's possible that it was the bird associating with Clown but we weren't able to determine whether that bird was a male or female. But our guess is that the Eastern Road bird represents a third individual which was closely associated with a flock of 40+ Glossy Ibis.

We met a birder who mentioned seeing a White-face along rt. 1 recently. All these sightings could represent a maximum of three adult White-faced Ibis plus a hybrid, or there could be additional white-face types on the marsh. Perhaps this can only be resolved by getting good pics, not particularly easy when they spend so much time foraging in the mud and grass. But, if you get good pics, send them along to Doug (he'll be thrilled to learn this!) and perhaps he and Louis can parse this apart in greater detail.

Also of interest, a Pectoral Sandpiper at Dunstan, a Bank Swallow at Pelreco, and a Gloria Carson sighting at Perlecro, easily best bird of the day!

Best, Peter

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Monday 29 April 2013

Sunday 28 April 2013

Be still, and the world is bound to turn herself inside out to entertain you. Everywhere you look, joyful noise is clanging to drown out quiet desperation. Barbara Kingsolver High Tide in Tucson

Be still, and the world is bound to turn herself inside out to entertain you. Everywhere you look, joyful noise is clanging to drown out quiet desperation.

Barbara Kingsolver
High Tide in Tucson