[Maine-birds] CBC section highlights, 12.19.15, Rockland area, inclu. poss. PACIFIC LOON

Participated in the Thomaston-Rockland CBC today, and coordinated the section that includes the Samoset/Rockland Breakwater for what my husband Paul and I think is maybe our 15th or 16th year now. If you've been following the posts this week, you will understand that we had the responsibility of re-locating the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER today so that it became part of the official count tally, not just a "count week" bird. Thankfully, we did! It was the first songbird we saw this morning, hanging out in the pines around the marshy swale on the golf course, a few hundred yards inland from the breakwater. 

Then we went out on the Rockland Breakwater, where we observed 1 Purple Sandpiper (a low count for us), 2 Great Cormorant fly-bys, 5 Razorbills, and among several Common Loons, a POSSIBLE PACIFIC LOON. It had a more slender bill and overall shape than the Commons all around, but was not at all grebe-like with an upturned bill like a Red-throated would be--had a straight, slender bill. Unfortunately, it was just on the edge of the sun glare, preening, and then moving farther away out of scope range, so no chance for good photos. We saw it straight out from the lighthouse toward Owls Head, so anyone chasing this (and I hope someone does, to potentially confirm our sighting!) should try scanning from both the breakwater and the Owls Head side of Rockland's outer harbor. 

We were almost as excited to find, a few hours later, an obliging YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in a shrubby patch along Samoset Rd. that backs onto the resort grounds. 

On Chickawaukie Lake, the annual late fall mob of American Coots was huddled at the south-eastern end of the lake, in a cove almost out of sight from the "beach" on Route 17, about 100 of them today.

The final spectacle of the day was coming upon a crow roost at about 3:30, on the south side of Old County Rd, Rockland. Several hundred crows makes for a cool sight any time of year. 

Happy Holidays, everyone! 

Kristen

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Kristen Lindquist

website: www.kristenlindquist.com

haiku blog: klindquist.blogspot.com

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." 

--the 14th Dalai Lama

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