Thursday 20 November 2014

[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak

I encountered a nice variety of irruputive finches in my travels today.

Portage Lake was frozen solid this AM and not much was around for birds at the few spots I stopped.  At Soucy Landing on the Hathaway Road though I was able to "pish" a handful of Common Redpolls from the sky as they were flying by.  The flock didn't stay put for long, but it was nice to see after their absence last winter.

Further down the Fish River Valley, I came upon my first Pine Grosbeaks of the season, picking up grit in the road in Quimby.  The group of five included yellow, pink and russet individuals and I was able to get a few passable photos out the truck window:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20618836

Eagle Lake held some interesting stuff too.  I found a crab apple tree with American Robins, European Starlings, Evening Grosbeaks and Ring-billed Gulls all nibbling on the fruit.  A first for me.  There seems to be a recent increase in Ring-billeds with the freeze up.  These leave the area for the winter and return in March.

The cold that's hit the area is sure to freeze up all but the largest lakes this weekend.  I expect that most of the remaining geese and all but the hardiest ducks will be headed south.  I received a report today of 10,000+ Canada Geese huddled in some open water remaining at Arnold Brook Lake in Presque Isle.

A Snowy Owl was reported earlier this week in Caribou.

Good Birding
Bill

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

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