Early in the week it was decidedly winterlike. Temperatures dropped to just below zero here in Woodland on Monday and Tuesday nights and some of the open water had begun to refreeze. Things turned around, however, and the recent warm and wild weather has pumped another pulse of waterfowl into northern Maine. Snow has retreated from most open fields now, though there is still ample snowpack in the woods north of southern-most Aroostook County. Ice was moving in the big rivers last weekend but there is plenty left to melt on the lakes, wetlands and ponds.
Yesterday afternoon I found a Cackling Goose with about 350 Canada Geese at Collins Pond in Caribou. My point-and-shoot camera has almost succumbed to years of abuse and the little goose was bathing, preening and contorting, so my photos of the bird aren't much help for confirming the ID: https://flic.kr/p/FX6FRU Other early waterfowl reported in the county since late March are Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Ducks.
The stalwart Brown Thrasher continues in my yard in Woodland and Connie McLellan reported that her Yellow-rumped Warbler is still visiting her suet blocks at Cross Lake Twp as of the 4th. Connie also sent along photos of the Snowy Owl that lingers at St Agatha (4/3).
Other noteworthys were several adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls that have been visiting Collins Pond regularly since 3/31 and a third cycle Glaucous Gull photographed here on the 4th. https://flic.kr/p/F4LpJt
Don Smith reported seeing another Lesser Black-backed at Mars Hill yesterday.
American Woodcock followed the snowline north with the first county bird reported at Mars Hill on 3/31 and two more seen in in Chapman on the 3rd. Killdeer had made the journey as far as St. Agatha by the 4th
A Belted Kingfisher made it north to the thoroughfare at Cross Lake on the 3rd and Great Blue Herons were reported in Washburn 4/6 and Presque Isle 4/7.
American Kestrels were seen in Littleton, Haynesville, St Agatha, Fort Fairfield and Caribou this week, A Merlin was reported in Danforth in northern-most Washington County on the first and Turkey Vultures were seen in Orient and Oakfield. March 27th was good for raptor movement. I saw my first Rough-legged Hawk and Red-tailed Hawks (Fort Fairfield) and an Immature northern Goshawk in Caribou on that day.
An Eastern Phoebe was reported in Mt Chase on April 3rd.
The only sparrows reported to date are Song Sparrows and continuing American Tree and Dark-eyed Juncos. The latter increasing in number rapidly this week. Blackbird flocks are numerous and still consist primarily of male birds. The first male Brown-headed Cowbirds reached my yard by April 2nd.
The finch show continues but is abating. Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks and American Goldfinch are still around in good numbers but Common Redpolls have decreased considerably in local reports. Purple Finches are being reported widely. I've had no reports of Pine Grosbeaks in several weeks now.
Good Birding.
Bill
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