Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking: June 2016

Thursday, 30 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Peregrine-Eagle interaction

June 30
When we stopped at Egg Rock (Frenchman Bay) on the way back from our daily trip to Petit Manan Island, there was an adult female Peregrine Falcon sitting on the eastern cobble beach. As we watched the Peregrine took off and made a high speed pass across the Herring Gull nesting area and took a large nestling gull. This happened very fast, the Peregrine never slowed down or missed a wing beat. It flew off the island, directly over the boat being chased by several Herring Gulls. Suddenly a Bald Eagle appeared from behind the lighthouse, attacked the Peregrine which was being distracted by the gulls, and took the nestling gull away from it. The Peregrine headed toward the nest on Ironbound Island and the eagle headed for the nest on Turtle Island.
________________________________________
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[Maine-birds] Lost budgerigar, Willow Rd. in Wiscasset

Hi,
I know this is not a bird sighting, but a 10-year-old girl lost her yellow budgie parakeet today. Willow Rd on Wiscasset. If you happen to see him, could you let me know?

Thanks!
Delia in Brunswick

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Misc. sightings (Jun 22-28)...

Could you tell me where to look for swallow on Proctor road, Biddeford?
Cathy Clark
Chawk@roadrunner.com

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[Maine-birds] Ruff - Eastern Trail Pannes

Linda & I got out to the pannes at 2:59 pm. Tim Fennel was there & had the Ruff insight. It was less than half way out the main panne so we got some great looks.
It was still there when we left at about 3:30.

Turk Duddy
Cape Porpoise, ME

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Re: (probable) RUFF - Scarborough, 6/30

Hi All: I was out at that spot with the birder from San Diego at about 1 and saw this bird in the furthest, largest pan on the right side of the trail. We saw what must be this bird with willets and yellow legs. Noticeably larger with rufous neck and head and as sort of "scaly" looking back, light belly. Very rough looking over all (no pun intended). Bill shorter than the other birds working very slowly in comparison to the other waders. Never having seen a ruff, I can't be sure but that was the closest thing to it in appearance. Hope someone can nail a picture for you to id. Mine is too indistinct to help

On Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 2:10:40 PM UTC-4, Doug Hitchcox wrote:

Passing along a third or fourth hand report of a RUFF in the pannes off the Eastern Trail through the Scarborough Marsh. Posting this now to get the word out but will share more as details surface.

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] RUFF - Scarborough, 6/30

Just received this from Tim Fennell:

"At 1:00 pm today there was a very rufous-colored Ruff in the salt pannes at Scarborough Marsh. A birder named Travis with Project Puffin Watch was down the trail and had seen it too and was trying to get some photos. I was on an exercise walk so just had my binoculars. I'm headed back right now with scope and camera to try to refind it."

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 30, 2016, at 2:09 PM, Doug Hitchcox <dhitchcox@mac.com> wrote:
>
> Passing along a third or fourth hand report of a RUFF in the pannes off the Eastern Trail through the Scarborough Marsh. Posting this now to get the word out but will share more as details surface.
>
> Good birding,
>
>
> Doug Hitchcox
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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[Maine-birds] (probable) RUFF - Scarborough, 6/30

Passing along a third or fourth hand report of a RUFF in the pannes off the Eastern Trail through the Scarborough Marsh. Posting this now to get the word out but will share more as details surface.

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Peregrine Falcon - Camden Hills State Park

On this morning's hike up Mount Battie, my husband and I saw/heard a calling adult Peregrine Falcon as it flew overhead. Odds are good that it was one of the pair that has nested in the park for the past several years. We've seen one of the presumed local pair quite a few times in downtown Camden, but this was the first time we'd seen one on one of our regular walks closer to its nesting area (but farther, of course, from downtown's pigeons).

Kristen

Kristen Lindquist

website: www.kristenlindquist.com

haiku blog: klindquist.blogspot.com

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

--Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Blue-gray Gnatcatchers breeding in Dresden

I just came back from a walk along Cedar Grove Road and was surprised to hear two noisy gnatcatchers foraging along the road. This is the first time I've encountered gnatcatchers at this locality and I'm usually there once a week.

I was surprised to see one of the adults feeding a young bird. This is approximately 3 miles NE from a breeding record in Richmond in the early 1980s. To my knowledge this extends the NE breeding range by a strong 3 miles but it's easy to imagine that they nest further east.

Mike F and I have long thought we'd find gnatcatchers breeding a few miles south at Green Point as they were present for several years but neither of us has seen gnatcatchers at this locality in the past few years.

Also, 4+ male Indigo Buntings.

The birds seemed to appreciate the rain, lots of song.

Best, Peter

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[Maine-birds] Re: ID help please

I'm not expert enough --but somebody will probably chime in that is. However, I have loads of these in my field in Brooksville and we have identified the adults in the past to be Savannah's so I think that's a very good guess. Nice shot!

On Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 8:58:20 AM UTC-4, Richard Garrigus wrote:

This one is eluding me, could use help. Contradictory signals in my brain.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30354588

Thanks,

Richard Garrigus

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Misc. sightings (Jun 22-28)...

Here are some bird happenings from around Maine:

6/22 (Wednesday)

...3 Least Terns, 1 Willow Flycatcher, 2 Marsh Wrens, 4+ Nelson's Sparrows, 2+ Saltmarsh Sparrows, and 2+ Swamp Sparrows heard (and seen) from the Coughlin Overlook at Laudholm Farm, Wells

...WILSON'S PLOVER (Lifer!) on Seawall Beach, viewed from Popham Beach, Phippsburg [found earlier in the day by Laura Zitske; notes and documentation photos here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30350887]

6/24 (Friday)

...Virginia Rail calling from riverside marsh at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Ferry Rd., Saco

6/25 (Saturday)
...Louisiana Waterthrush (uncommon in Oxford County) and Wood Thrush at Hillside Cemetery, Stow Road, Stow

...Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (heard from overlook north of summit), 5 Winter Wrens, 8+ Swainson's Thrushes, and 10 species of warblers (Ovenbird, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Canada) along White Mountain NF--East Royce Trail, Batchelders Grant Township

...2 Purple Martins flying around 485 West Main St., Denmark [previously reported by many eBirders]

...Virginia Rail (calling), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (FOY), and 2 Black-billed Cuckoos at Brownfield Bog (aka Sanborn WMA), Bog Rd., Brownfield

...3 Evening Grosbeaks visiting feeders at 590 North St., Parsonsfield [previously reported by many eBirders]

6/26 (Sunday)

...2 Bank Swallows (at nest colony) and Cedar Waxwings (nest-building) off Proctor Rd., Biddeford [w/ Lena Moser]

6/27 (Monday)

...Eastern Phoebe still incubating 2nd brood of 5 eggs at York County Community College, Wells

6/28 (Tuesday)
...24-hours later, the Eastern Phoebe nest contained 3 hatchlings and 2 yet-to-open eggs

Best,
Josh

JoshFecteau.com | Inspiring Nature Connection in New England

[Maine-birds] Re: banded gull

It certainly can be interesting to find and report banded birds. I photographed a banded (actually flagged) semi-palmated sandpiper in Ogunquit two weeks that turns out to have been banded in northern Brazil in January of 2014 by researchers from Cape May, NJ.

On Sunday, June 26, 2016 at 9:59:33 PM UTC-4, Bill Blauvelt wrote:

I have found three different banded Herring Gulls this year. Two of them were found at Deering Oaks Park in Portland last Friday.

BBN was born on the Portland Library, summer of 2015. It was seen in late-Sept of 2015 in Deering Oaks Park. I saw it again on 6-24-16 at Deering Oaks Park.
https://flic.kr/p/JxMYxT

AHS was born in the 2013 summer on the JB Brown roof, which is close to Portland Pie. My sighting on 6-24 at Deering Oaks Park in Portland was the 1^st re-sight of this bird.
https://flic.kr/p/HBGfdW

Herring Gull AJX was banded as a chick in 2014 on the roof-top of MECA (Maine College of Art) on Congress Street in Portland by Noah Perlut. I saw it on 3-27-16 at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.
https://flic.kr/p/HyYCiG

I don't think I can look at a gull any more without checking out the legs.
Bill Blauvelt
Portland, Maine

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Noah Perlut <npe...@une.edu>
Date: Sun, Jun 26, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Subject: RE: banded gull
To: Bill Blauvelt <bil.bl...@gmail.com>

Hi Bill-

AHS was born in the 2013 summer on the JB Brown roof, which is close to Portland Pie. 1^st resight of this bird. Very nice.

Thanks,

noah

From: Bill Blauvelt [mailto:bil.bl...@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 5:03 PM
To: Noah Perlut <npe...@une.edu>
Subject: Re: banded gull

Noah,

Here is the 2nd gull that I saw at the same time as BBN. It was on the little Island and I couldn't get a clear picture.

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, ME

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 6:17 PM, Noah Perlut <npe...@une.edu> wrote:

Thanks Bill. No, nothing unusual. I just like to know what they are up to.

Noah

Sent from my iPhone

On May 31, 2016, at 4:24 PM, Bill Blauvelt <bil.bl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Noah,

I just added the pictures I have to my Flicker page in an album called Banded Herring Gull. I go to Evergreen several times a month. If I see it again, is there anything you would like in the way of notes or photos?

https://flic.kr/p/HHAmRn

Bill

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 3:16 PM, Noah Perlut <npe...@une.edu> wrote:

Hi Bill,

Thanks for reporting the banded gull. I banded that gull as a chick in 2014 on the roof-top of MECA (Maine College of Art) on Congress Street in Portland. Can you please tell me more specifically where you saw it and what it was up to? Incidentally, it was seen in the duck pond at Evergreen Cemetery in late-March.

noah

This e-mail may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you suspect that you were not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.

[Maine-birds] Seal Island NWR (Restricted Access) - Shearwaters, Whales and an Unappreciated Alcid

Yesterday the 25th International Guillemot Appreciation Day. We spent the day enjoying our local Black Guillemots and even found our first few chicks during our productivity check! If you are unfamiliar with the holiday you probably should consider participating next year (6/27) by doing anything a guillemot would do, perhaps even dressing up as one, making baked goods shaped like them or even making a flag (we did all of these on the island this year).

With the strong predominantly southerly winds I decided to do some seawatching in the evening hoping for some shearwaters. I was certainly not disappointed! I first picked up some small numbers of GREAT SHEARWATERS (GRSH) moving south against the wind. Their gliding and flapping flight style tight against the troughs of the waves was a welcome sight. There was some pretty good surf just outside the bay but, some bigger splashes caught my eye. It turned out to be 3 breaching humpbacks! We enjoyed them for about an hour as they preformed almost every acrobatic move a humpback could go about doing. Humpbacks are quite the unusual sighting around these parts! When I started to pick through the shearwaters more I picked out one larger individual that had a much more lumbering flight compared to the GRSH and upon further inspection it was clear that it was a CORY'S SHEARWATER (COSH). These birds seem to be becoming a more and more common sight further towards the outer edge of Penobscot Bay. Just before I lost the evening light I was able to pick out one SOOTY SHEARWATER as well!

Great Day on the Island!

Keenan Yakola

Monday, 27 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Cuckoo

Yes. The yellow-billed cuckoo nest at Brownfield Bog was empty this afternoon. We,hung put from about 4:00 to 5:30pm and saw one fly down to the road a few times and back three times, and brief glimpses two other times.
Bill Blauvelt and Peter Morelli

Sent from my iPad

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Sunday, 26 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Fwd: banded gull

I have found three different banded Herring Gulls this year. Two of them were found at Deering Oaks Park in Portland last Friday.

BBN was born on the Portland Library, summer of 2015. It was seen in late-Sept of 2015 in Deering Oaks Park. I saw it again on 6-24-16 at Deering Oaks Park.

https://flic.kr/p/JxMYxT

AHS was born in the 2013 summer on the JB Brown roof, which is close to Portland Pie. My sighting on 6-24 at Deering Oaks Park in Portland was the 1^st re-sight of this bird.

https://flic.kr/p/HBGfdW

Herring Gull AJX was banded as a chick in 2014 on the roof-top of MECA (Maine College of Art) on Congress Street in Portland by Noah Perlut. I saw it on 3-27-16 at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

https://flic.kr/p/HyYCiG

I don't think I can look at a gull any more without checking out the legs.

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, Maine

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Noah Perlut <nperlut@une.edu>
Date: Sun, Jun 26, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Subject: RE: banded gull
To: Bill Blauvelt <bil.blauvelt@gmail.com>

Hi Bill-

AHS was born in the 2013 summer on the JB Brown roof, which is close to Portland Pie. 1^st resight of this bird. Very nice.

Thanks,

noah

From: Bill Blauvelt [mailto:bil.blauvelt@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2016 5:03 PM
To: Noah Perlut <nperlut@une.edu>
Subject: Re: banded gull

Noah,

Here is the 2nd gull that I saw at the same time as BBN. It was on the little Island and I couldn't get a clear picture.

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, ME

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 6:17 PM, Noah Perlut <nperlut@une.edu> wrote:

Thanks Bill. No, nothing unusual. I just like to know what they are up to.

Noah

Sent from my iPhone

On May 31, 2016, at 4:24 PM, Bill Blauvelt <bil.blauvelt@gmail.com> wrote:

Noah,

I just added the pictures I have to my Flicker page in an album called Banded Herring Gull. I go to Evergreen several times a month. If I see it again, is there anything you would like in the way of notes or photos?

https://flic.kr/p/HHAmRn

Bill

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 3:16 PM, Noah Perlut <nperlut@une.edu> wrote:

Hi Bill,

Thanks for reporting the banded gull. I banded that gull as a chick in 2014 on the roof-top of MECA (Maine College of Art) on Congress Street in Portland. Can you please tell me more specifically where you saw it and what it was up to? Incidentally, it was seen in the duck pond at Evergreen Cemetery in late-March.

noah

This e-mail may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you suspect that you were not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.

[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Eurasian Wigeon, Long-eared Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, House Wren, Indigo Bunting

The last couple weeks have offered up a steady parade of noteworthy birds here in northern Maine. Breeding season is going full tilt with the first wave of juveniles crashing around and begging for food and adults working through the 16 hour days to keep them fed. There seems to be an usual number and diversity of "southerners" up here lately.

This morning, Wayne Petersen and his Mass Audubon group found a handsome drake Eurasian Wigeon at Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield. The bird was still in great looking breeding plumage with little sign of molt. This could not be said of most of the 50+ American Wigeon with which it was keeping company. They also had a singing Indigo Bunting at Trafton Lake in Limestone, a House Wren singing in down town Fort Fairfield and an Upland Sandpiper at the Presque Isle Airport. Rare birds all, in northern Maine.

On June 22nd, Lovena West photographed a family of Long-eared Owls in Mars Hill. Her photos were heartily "liked" by the Maine Birds Facebook group.

Another Facebook star was an adult Red-headed Woodpecker photographed by Pat Palm in Presque Isle on the 17th. The bird was a one day wonder and has not been reported again.

Other birds on the northern edge of their range included a Red-shouldered Hawk seen circling over a woodlot in Limestone and an apparently-unpaired Pine Warbler singing from the four-and a-half white pines in the Caribou cemetery. Both of these were found by Geoff LeBaron on the 17th.

In addition to a good selection of breeding warblers, a birding group from Midcoast (Maine) Audubon had long visits with an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Lincoln's Sparrow on territory at Cross Lake Twp on the 16th.

A delegation from Merrymeeting Audubon saw all the rare breeding waterfowl at Lake Josephine in Easton on the 25th and 26th. Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Redhead and Ruddy Duck were seen here. An apparent, recently-hatched brood of Ruddy Ducks were also observed here today. Other special waterbirds reported from Lake Jo earlier in the month included a Green Heron and Common Gallinule found on the 7th

Finally, there has been a spate of reports of Turkey Vultures and Northern Cardinals across the area in recent weeks. Both of these species are becoming increasingly common across the area. A juvenile cardinal photographed in Presque Isle on the 25th provided rare documentation of the species breeding on the northern edge of its range.

Good Birding.

Bill

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

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

I suppose the main news would be about TERNS.
Mainly, the ARCTIC TERNS (and presumably the few COMMON TERNS) are progressing nicely. There are still lots of unhatched eggs but the earliest chicks seem to be developing well. I'm not overly impressed by the apparent food supply but it seems adequate so far.

Now we just need the weather to hold. This dry spell may be bad for fires and other stuff but it's good for fluffy chicks.

A BLACK TERN was readily evident for a week or more, then seldom or not seen, reterned yesterday. I'm wondering if it might be a female following the path of previous female Black Terns who were unsuccessful in finding a mate. Those birds nested, unsuccessfully, laying unfertilized eggs. Spending time on a nest could explain why the tern isn't being seen as much of late.

A ROYAL TERN did a fly-by two or three days ago, well observed at its flight level by researchers in the lighthouse. The other terns were not impressed and demonstrated their displeasure.

The ALCIDS are also progressing well with adequate food quantity albeit not the most desirable quality. Most of the fish appear to be HAKE this year. That species is perhaps second to HERRING but superior to the SANDLANCE which was so prevalent last year.

I saw my first EIDER ducklings on the water this morning. More accurately, they are the first of the general hatch.
There was at least one, much earlier, outlier clutch.
I helped capturing a few Eider hens on nests yesterday (for a research project) and, judging by the number of nests and clutch sizes that I saw, it looks like a fairly good year for the Eiders.

For those that follow the signs, rather than the calendar, Summer is ending. The southward migration started here on Friday with the arrival of the 1st SHORTBILLED DOWITCHERS (2) and a handful of SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS yesterday.

I haven't seen any SPOTTED SANDPIPER chicks yet but I expect them on the lawn any day now. One of the researchers reported seeing a nest in the process of hatching, with one chick still wet from the egg.
Yesterday I saw a couple different adults acting as if they had young nearby.

Among the emerging young are the SAVANNAH SPARROWS with the first bob-tailed youngsters beginning to appear.

"Alien" wanderers are few of late. The COWBIRD and all except one RED BREASTED NUTHATCH appear to be gone. Also, the MOCKINGBIRD & BROWN THRASHER haven't been around for a day or more.

[Maine-birds] No Wilson's Plover on Seawall this afternoon

Barbara and I birded the Morse River end of Seawall Beach from 13:15 to 15:00hrs with no Wilson's Plover apparent. The tide was coming in and we were there from mid tide to high tide. 17 Blackbellies, a Red Knot, and a Ruddy Turnstone are likely summering in the area.

To my knowledge, this is at least the fourth known Wilson's Plover for Seawall Beach since 1982 or so.

Best, Peter

Pics of knot and turnstone here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30403907

Saturday, 25 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Little Egret - Falmouth, 6/25

Forwarding this report of the Little Egret at Gilsland Farm from Dan Rottino.

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dan Rottino <rottino@hotmail.com>
Date: June 25, 2016 at 11:47:32 AM EDT
To: "dhitchcox@mac.com" <dhitchcox@mac.com>
Subject: Little egret

Gilsland Farm at 11 AM. North end. Moving closer to Tidewater.

If You See Something
Post Something!
(Right Away)
Dan Rottino
East Haddam, CT

[Maine-birds] ID help please

This one is eluding me, could use help. Contradictory signals in my brain.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30354588

Thanks,

Richard Garrigus

Friday, 24 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Peregrines and Eagles

June 24, 2016
I could only see two Peregrine chicks at Ironbound Island nest today, the largest and medium sized ones. No sign of the smaller chick but it could have been hidden behind the others. Both have lost most of their downy feathers are in almost full juvenile plumage. The adults, always three of them, attack every bald eagle that flies by the cliff face. There has been no rain and the cliff face is covered with droppings.
There are two large eaglets on the Sheep Porcupine Island nest (an Acadia NP island in Frenchman Bay) and both are very active when one of the adults lands on the nest. One adult was quite agitated and made a half-hearted pass at a passing Turkey Vulture this morning.
________________________________________
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[Maine-birds] Wilson's Plover

Finally got him/her!! Beautiful day for for a walk at Morse Mountain. Snowy Egret along the way to the beach in the first marsh. 12 Glossy Ibis in first marsh coming back from beach which was a nice treat. A Bonaparte's was also preset. A single Sanderling, Willets and Black-bellieds. After 3 hours of scoping stints and on the way out the Wilson's revealed himself in front off me along the beach I was walking. Awesome little bird. A dead gannet was also on beach and a lone seal pup loafing I thought worth mentioning. Rather young and unconcerned with me. No other signs of other seals. Seemed lost but I am not an expert.

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[Maine-birds] N. Harrier

I looked up when the killdeer started shrieking just in case it was something interesting. Sure enough a male n. Harrier was hunting the newly hayed :( fields. When it swung around behind my house, I watched it catch and eat something. Think it was a vole.

[Maine-birds] Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Oak Point Trail

This morning. Common yellowthroats, yellow warblers, hairy woodpeckers, northern flickers and mom black-capped chickadee feeding a juvenile. Oh and a porcupine, almost stepped on this one!

http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p432832521/h7d70cd5b#h7d70cd5b

Cheers,

Dave

[Maine-birds] Wilson's Plover - YES

This morning (6/24) between 7:30 and 8:20 I observed the Wilson's Plover near Popham Beach State Park. The plover was on the Seawall beach side of Morse River, near where Josh Fecteau reported it in the evening on 6/22.

Thursday, 23 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Late report: PACIFIC LOON, Great Wass Island, 6/13

Mainebirds,
Apologies for the late report, but other things got in the way...
On 6/13, I observed a Pacific Loon in Western Bay, Great Wass Island, in Beals. The bird was pretty distant but identifiable at least Pacific/Arctic (Arctific), with Pacific being far more likely. It was transitioning into alternate plumage and showed a pale gray nape blending to a very dark throat that contrasted sharply with a white chest, a straight, lightweight bill, and a rounded profile. I watched it for 15 minutes and was able to capture some rather poor phonescoped images, but after I ran up to the house for my real camera, the bird had vanished. As far as I can tell based on a cursory glance at eBird, this would represent one of few, if any, records for Pacific Loon in Maine east of Belfast, and one of only a couple of non-winter records. I wonder if last year's Brunswick bird moved down east...
See eBird checklist for images:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30218835
Good birding,
Willy Hutcheson
Concord, MA (Great Wass Island, ME)

[Maine-birds] Bangor marsh

Virginia rail, pied-billed grebe chick, cedar waxwing and a mallard chick made for an interesting sojourn.

http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p432832521/h71e14b2f#h71e14b2f

Cheers,

Dave

[Maine-birds] Little Egret - Gilsland Farm Bird Walk, 6/23

Hello Maine-birders:

It was a beautiful morning for a bird walk! It has been fun to see nesting behavior of our resident birds changing over the past weeks. Of note today were the first fledgling Black-capped Chickadees and Eastern Phoebes staying close to and being fed by their respective adults. In the West Meadow we finally located a cavity being used by Great Crested Flycatchers, likely a second pair for the farm as someone photographed juveniles here a week ago.

The other highlight was of course the LITTLE EGRET. The tide hasn't been favorable for seeing it on our walks recently, but today's low and incoming tide was perfect. The egrets typically work their way up river with the incoming tide and eventually up Scitterygusset Creek toward Tidewater Farm where the Little Egret has been so reliable lately. This morning there were two dogs running around on the mud flats at the mouth of Scitterygusset, perhaps keeping the egrets from just flying straight up to Tidewater. The Little Egret eventually flew in, viewed near the blind in the North Meadow, at 9:43AM and counting there until at least 10:00AM.

A complete list of birds seen during the walk is available at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30355838

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox
Staff Naturalist
Maine Audubon
207-781-2330 x237
dhitchcox@maineaudubon.org

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[Maine-birds] Phippsburg: Wilson's Plover (6/22)

I can't speak to today's sightings, but I figured it was worth mentioning where I saw the Wilson's Plover at low tide (6:50-7:20) Wednesday evening. I stood at the west end of Popham Beach at the outflow of the Morse River; the bird was on flats on the opposite side, at the eastern end of Seawall Beach.

I uploaded some grainy record photos to my eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30350887

Good luck!

--Josh

JoshFecteau.com | Inspiring Nature Connection in New England

[Maine-birds] Did anyone look for the Wilson's Plover?

Just hoping for a positive or negative report on the bird at Popham from today.

Thanks,

Noah

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

[Maine-birds] Re: Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Brownfield Bog

Correction. We went on Tuesday, June 21, not Sunday.

On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 7:37 AM, Bill Blauvelt <bil.blauvelt@gmail.com> wrote:

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo was on a nest next to the road, just past "The Shack" on Bog Rd. at Brownfield Bog last Sunday. I put a pic on my e-bird list.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30348290

Bill Blauvelt
Portland, Maine

[Maine-birds] Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Brownfield Bog

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo was on a nest next to the road, just past "The Shack" on Bog Rd. at Brownfield Bog last Sunday. I put a pic on my e-bird list.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30348290

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, Maine

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

The most secure GANNET nest appears to be abandoned, having lost its egg 3 or 4 days ago.
The apparent nesting Gannets were about for a while, even being joined at one point by as many as 3 others.
Gannets readily re-lay but this is the 2nd nest on MSI to lose an egg without a replacement laying.

There are now, however, 2 nests at the really high risk location just above the water.
Lots of social and sexual activity at those nests but the egg status of those nests is uncertain.

The Tern hatch is going well to this point.
Fingers crossed for fair weather.

A squall passed over the island about an hour ago but thankfully the rain was brief and not too heavy.

An odd and interesting product of that squall was the carcass of a LEAST BITTERN.

It had apparently died some time ago on the platform on the side of the lighthouse.

Unfortunately the body is too decomposed for preservation.
The tiny size of this species certainly shows why they are so hard to spot in their usual habitat.

By comparison, AMERICAN BITTERNS are positively gigantic.

The only new species of note is an EASTERN KINGBIRD. I believe that it arrived yesterday but I expect it will soon leave.

It hasn't been well received by the Terns.

[Maine-birds] Wilson's Plover continues at Popham

South side of dunes on mud flats beyond Morse River water inlet. Good scope looks. Pat

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] WILSON'S PLOVER - Phippsburg, 6/22

On Popham Beach with Maine Audubon's plover crew right now (11:20am) and Laura Zitske just spotted a WILSON'S PLOVER in the plover/tern nesting area near the large dunes south of the parking area.

Good birding!

Doug Hitchcox

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Nope

I had someone look for the blue grosbeak this morning and we both now believe it a bunting. At first we were both confused by the brown on wings and behavior. It did look like a grosbeak for a bit. Sorry for the false excitement.

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Tuesday, 21 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Misc. sightings (Jun 15-21)...

Here are some bird happenings from around Maine:

6/15 (Wednesday)
...families of Canada Geese, Mallards, and American Black Ducks, 1 Common Loon (unusual for this location), 12 Killdeer, 6 Spotted Sandpipers, and 5 White-rumped Sandpipers at the Sanford Lagoons

6/16 (Thursday)
...Yellow-throated Vireo singing just east of the Batson River on Guinea Rd., Kennebunkport

6/17 (Friday)

...1 Spruce Grouse (Lifer!), 1 Black-backed Woodpecker, 4 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, 2 Boreal Chickadees, 4 Bicknell's Thrushes (Lifer!), 9+ Swainson's Thrushes, 16+ Blackpoll Warblers, 1 Fox Sparrow and more along Saddleback Mountain Trail, Sandy River Plantation [notes and photos here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30273796]

...Mourning Warbler (Lifer!) just below the summit of Quill Hill, Dallas Plantation

6/18 (Saturday)
...Piping Plover on nest at Hills Beach, Biddeford

6/19 (Sunday)

...Cliff Swallow flying over the Salmon Falls River, at Rt. 101 bridge, South Berwick, ME

6/21 (Tuesday)

...continuing Clay-colored Sparrow along paved section of Maguire Rd., west of high-voltage power lines, Kennebunk

--Josh

JoshFecteau.com | Inspiring Nature Connection in New England

[Maine-birds] Little Egret - Falmouth, 6/21

Just wanted to get some LITTLE EGRET updates posted for those looking. Bill Bunn found it off the North Meadow at Gilsland Farm this morning; I think around 11:30 but it was then seen flying north toward Tidewater a little after noon. Ron Bradley called at 1:30pm that the bird had just flown into view at Tidewater Farm. High tide (for Portland Harbor) is 12:44PM today.

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox
Staff Naturalist
Maine Audubon
207-781-2330 x237
dhitchcox@maineaudubon.org

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[Maine-birds] Blue Grosbeak

At 1:00 I saw a blue grosbeak at Gorham Public Works. Another cool bird for me this summer.

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Fwd: [Maine-birds] Bird baths- question

Thank you for the several replies to this question! I so appreciate the ideas and suggestions, but also the kind thought.

Hope to get to it this afternoon!

Barbara

~~~

Barbara Partridge Herrgesell
Sanford, ME

herpartb@aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: 'Barbara Herrgesell' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
To: maine-birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Jun 21, 2016 11:37 am
Subject: [Maine-birds] Bird baths- question

With everything so dry I'd like to provide some water for the robin and phoebe I see in my yard. (No feeders right now.)

Is there something I would have in my house that would work? On the ground? Plastic, porcelain? It needs to be soon, I think.

Thanks. It doesn't seem to be raining here soon, though "they" said it would. Pop-up showers popping up elsewhere. (Maybe it will rain here now that I've posted this!)

Thanks.

Barbara

Barbara Partridge Herrgesell
Sanford, ME

herpartb@aol.com

[Maine-birds] Bird baths- question

With everything so dry I'd like to provide some water for the robin and phoebe I see in my yard. (No feeders right now.)

Is there something I would have in my house that would work? On the ground? Plastic, porcelain? It needs to be soon, I think.

Thanks. It doesn't seem to be raining here soon, though "they" said it would. Pop-up showers popping up elsewhere. (Maybe it will rain here now that I've posted this!)

Thanks.

Barbara

Barbara Partridge Herrgesell
Sanford, ME

herpartb@aol.com

Monday, 20 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Re: Brownfield bog access

The access to the bog itself is off from Bog Rd-a dirt road off from Lords Hill Rd. Up until the first gate is owned partially by private landowners, so please respect the landowners and obey seasonal road closure signs when they are present. The road and gates are currently open-they get opened whenever they dry out in spring. Canoeing or kayaking are a great way to cover the area, but there's plenty of area to walk as well. Canoe access points are at the end of Bog rd for the largest wetland (aka Great Bog), and at the Gray building for the Old River Course and Bald Bog.

There are additional access points to other areas of the Wildlife Management Area, primarily off from Route 5/113.

On Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 7:18:02 PM UTC-4, Peter wrote:

There was a great trip report from Brownfield Bog a few days ago. we're planning a trip. It's been a long time since I've been there. I do have Bob Duchesne's book with its info on access. I remember last year that there was a report of a closed gate and a longish walk. Can anyone give up to date advice on access? Is a canoe a good idea? Thanks.

Peter

[Maine-birds] Little Egret at Gilsland

Hello,

I lucked onto the little egret close to shore along the trail to the north meadow blind. Western side, just off the first big loop of the trail. High tide.

I got on the phone to a friend to post it to the listserv right away because I knew there was someone inquiring (up from MA). Watched the bird fly off as I was talking. Hung up and immediately saw a couple coming toward me on the trail. Turns out it was the folks from MA. They were fairly certain they'd gotten it earlier from the blind.

Good birding,

Richard Garrigus

Sunday, 19 June 2016

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

Well, the Terns have started to hatch, with the first seen yesterday and others today.
I watched one emerging this morning from its shell in a trail-side nest.
The number of nests is greater than earlier thought, likely in line with last year.
150 nests, perhaps as many as 200, seems a reasonable estimate.
Now the race is on to reach fledging without food shortages or adverse weather.

The Gannets have two nests, one exactly where the earlier nest was lost to wave action.
In spite of several days of social and sexual activity at that nest and a Gannet usually sitting on it, there was no egg present at dawn today. Nor are any Gannets staying there through the night, only returning about sunrise each morning.

The other Gannet nest is active, occupied day and night, being steadily upgraded with new nest material (usually Rockweed) and most importantly, it contains an egg.
That nest is only about 25-30 yards from two of our visitor blinds so quite a few tourists are enjoying the dividend of the Gannet's elaborate social interaction whenever nest material is delivered or the pair exchange roles on the nest.

The chance of the nest surviving at water's edge is effectively zero. Even a very small tempest will wash it away.

The other nest isn't at risk from the sea and Gannets are known for their fearlessness when nesting so human activity shouldn't be a problem. (Activity, including research work, near the nest has been restricted.)
I suspect that these Gannets are inexperienced and starting their nesting a couple months late could affect their success.
And then there's always the risk of predation ...............

Regardless of the obstacles, the possibility of Gannets returning to their historical breeding range is appealing.

The RAZORBILL & MURRE hatches are well advanced and the PUFFINS aren't too far behind. So far, the food being delivered seems to be reasonable quality and it is of appropriate size.

There's not much happening with other species. SPOTTED SANDPIPER and SAVANNAH SPARROW young have yet to appear.

LAUGHING GULLS do fly-bys every day and two were seen to land yesterday in a potential nesting area on the Southern part of the island.

The BLACK TERN wasn't very evident today or yesterday. Perhaps it has tired of chasing ARCTIC TERNS seeking a mate. Or perhaps it has decided to nest by itself like two other Black Terns did in the past.
Now that's a species that I'd like to see established here.

Raptor activity has been relatively low although today I watched a PEREGRINE FALCON strike, wound & knock down a Tern over the water. It then made pass after pass trying to retrieve its meal.
It was interesting to see how single-minded it was, ignoring hundreds of other birds on the water, some within mere feet of the Tern, while focusing on the chosen prey.
The Tern was grabbed several times but the falcon couldn't maintain its grip on the water-heavy, struggling victim.
Time was on the falcon's side. Eventually, after dozens of attacks, the Falcon kept the Tern in its talons long enough to get to shore.
The other Terns were not well pleased.

[Maine-birds] Kennebunk Plains 6.19.16

Spent the morning at the Plains from 4:30am to 8am. Highlights:
E. Towhee
Brown Thrasher
Upland Sandpiper
E. Kingbird
Vesper Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW × 3
Cedar Waxwing
Baltimore Oriole

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[Maine-birds] Testing email

Turk Duddy
Cape Porpoise, ME

Sent from my iPhone

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Saturday, 18 June 2016

[Maine-birds] Seal Island NWR- White-winged Dove, Glossy Ibis, Red-billed Tropicbird

Hi All,

I think the subject of the email says it all. All around great day on Seal Island NWR. Chicks all about and we are still getting some great non-seabirds! I will post a checklist with photos of the bird tomorrow. We didn't find the dove until 30mins after sunset! Hopefully it sticks around for a bit so the crew can keep on singing like Stevie Nicks!

Keenan Yakola

[Maine-birds] King Rail - Wells

Yesterday, 6/17/2016 Medea Steinman and I drove down (from Franklin, Hancock Co.) to try our luck finding the King Rail. We had no trouble at all. It was exactly where posted in e-Bird, off Eldridge Rd.

3:11 pm the bird was calling from the reeds. It would occasionally walk out onto the mud where it was fully visible and disappear back into the marsh plants only to wander back out onto the mud. We noticed that whenever a car drove by on the very nearby road, the bird darted back under cover.

Note: A neighbor to the marsh shared with us her concerns that a few people were trying to go off the road and into the marsh and had even tried to get into the marsh through her yard before asking. We had a nice talk with her. She was interested to learn more about the bird and was glad to hear our take: that most birders are respectful of wildlife AND property owners and refuge boundaries.

Boots.

Franklin, ME

Hancock Co.

[Maine-birds] Black Vulture

At 9:40 this morning I saw a black vulture at the intersection of 25 & 112 in Gorham. Pretty cool.

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[Maine-birds] Sandhill Cranes - Surry

Sorry about the truncated Sandhill Crane email yesterday, the forwarding did not work:

Here is the email I received about Cranes in Surry:

 saw your post Sunday on the Sandhill cranes but I was not able to locate them that day. However, today I saw just saw two fly over at our place on Toddy Pond Road in Surry. I'm guessing they had been in Goldstream Marsh on Toddy Pond Road and they seemed to be heading toward Orland. Good chance they were the same cranes that you saw, so maybe they are hanging around in the area. I don't have posting privileges on the Maine listserv so if you would like to post this, that would be fine by me. Thanks.

Steve Antell