Friday 28 March 2014

Re: [Maine-birds] Phippsburg Broad Winged

Along the same vein - I did the perimeter of Merrymeeting Bay yesterday, looking for indications of Ice-Out,  and saw very few birds, anywhere.  But there was Coast Guard activity in the Narrows (North end of Bath) and two of their boats crashing thru the ice at the end of Browns Pt Rd
(photo here:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17620408 ).

There were also big sheets of ice floating down the Kennebec off Bath, something I haven't seen all winter.

No ducks in the bay anywhere. ?Porque? No open water anywhere.  Also a sharp absence of passerines in any of the ag fields.  No icterids, H Larks, S Buntings, crows.


On Fri, Mar 28, 2014 at 8:19 AM, Robin R Robinson <rrrobinson2010@hotmail.com> wrote:
Yesterday, March 27
Broad Winged Hawk flying low over West Point Road near entrance to the Totman Cove Preserve. First of season here!
Oddly, as I was driving, at the very moment I saw the Broadie,  I was mulling over the possible impact on the migratory birds of this unrelenting freezing weather. Not the cold air, but specifically, I was wondering if the small bodies of water remaining frozen for so long will retard the hatchings of frog, toad and aquatic insect eggs then the critters to follow  that so many birds depend on.  Traditionally, we make note here of the exact date that the ice lets out on Center Pond on Rt 209. The ice out date always falls between my husband's birthday on March 22 and mine on April 5. We each place a wager as to who's BD the ice will be out for. It doesn't look promising to be out even by April 5. The ice quality is changing slightly, but reports are that the fishermen's ice augers are drilling 2 feet deep or more before hitting water. I can't help but think this will influence hatchings of various things. Does anyone have any thoughts or information about this?

Robin R Robinson
Pondering the Pond in Phippsburg
http://robinrobinsonmaine.com

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