Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking: August 2016

Wednesday, 31 August 2016

[Maine-birds] Tuckahoe Turf Farm

Five Buff-breasted Sands at the end of the day along with many many Killdeer. Far right rear meadow. Never been there before. What a great and unusual habitat!

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Weskeag scope foubd

At about 1pm today a scope was found at the weskeag marsh parking lot. Another birder who was there was going to leave it at the weskeag farm store. She was going to post info on Facebook so I assume if she couldn't leave it at the farm store more info will be on Facebook. She isn't on maine-birds so I figured I should get this info on here as well

Chuck caron

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[Maine-birds] Pulse of Warblers this AM in Cumberland

At 8AM I saw movement in the trees today and went outside to check it out and in about 10-15 minutes had the following:

8 American Goldfinch

8 Black Capped Chicakdee

1 Black and White Warbler

1 American Redstart

2 (possibly 3) Eastern Pewee

1 Ruby Throated Hummingbird

1 Blue Jay

6 Tufted Titmouse

1 Black Throated Green Warbler

2 Common Yellowthroat Warbler

1 Red-Eyed Vireo’s

Better than coffee!

Rob O’Connell

490 Greely Road Extension

Cumberland, ME 04021

H-207-221-3462

M-207-450-4092

Tuesday, 30 August 2016

[Maine-birds] Buff-breasted Sandpiper and more at Hills Beach today

Thanks to Josh from Massachusetts, who waved us over, we saw a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Hills Beach today. I only got one picture before it flew away. We also are pretty sure we had a Whimbrel and 11 very cute and entertaining young Bonaparte's Gulls. They were all together on the water, and they would jump up in the air a short distance, and dive bomb back down. The picture of one doing this shows very orange legs. This makes me question what they were. The ear sport sure looks like the Bonaparte's to me. One of the Short-billed Dowitchers had a some missing feathers. It looked like you could see some bones? I put pictures of all these on my Flickr page.

https://flic.kr/p/LAHN46

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, ME

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[Maine-birds] RFI - Ecuador

I am hoping to go to Galapagos next year, and read that birding in Mindo (near Quito) can be excellent. If anyone has been there in the last couple of years, I'd be interested in your thoughts on lodging and the best way to arrange a couple of days excursion to Mindo.

Please reply off list to awilliam@bates.edu

Thank you,

Anne

[Maine-birds] Biddeford/Kennebunkport sightings (Aug 27-30)...

Here are some bird happenings from Biddeford and Kennebunkport:

8/27 (Saturday)
...2 Eastern Whip-poor-wills singing just before sunrise along Guinea Rd., Biddeford/Kennebunkport

...4 Piping Plovers, 8 Least Terns (5 juveniles, 3 adults), 1 Merlin, and 350+ Tree Swallows at south end of Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport

...1 Marbled Godwit (Lifer!), 6 Red Knots, and 1 Western Sandpiper (FOY) at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31271883)

8/28 (Sunday)

...Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling along Guinea Rd., Kennebunkport

...~200 Black-bellied Plovers, 1 Marbled Godwit, and 3 Caspian Terns (FOY) at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31301052)

8/29 (Monday)

...6 Piping Plovers, 1 Marbled Godwit, and 4 Red Knots at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford

8/30 (Tuesday)

...7 Piping Plovers, 1 Marbled Godwit, 3 Red Knots and 1 Dunlin at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31326414)

Wildly,
Josh

Inspiring Nature Connection in New England
joshfecteau.com | patreon.com/JoshFecteau

[Maine-birds] Re: Washington County weekend, 8/26-29 (SAGU, BHGU, SPGR, shorebirds, crossbills, etc)

Derek, curious about whereabouts at WQH you saw the crossbills: parking area, trail to bog, etc? We've been chasing those suckers all over eastern WC with no luck!

On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 8:51:38 PM UTC-4, D Lovitch wrote:

Hi all,
I just completed a four-day weekend tour to Washington County. It will take me a while to get photos sorted and a blog posted, so I will start with the highlights:

8/26:
- 4 Snowy Egrets, Essex Woods marsh, Bangor.
- 18 Common Nighthawks, Rte 9, Beddington.

8/27:
- Passamaquoddy Bay and Head Harbor Passage, New Brunswick, with Eastport Windjammer's Pier Pressure:
1 adult SABINE'S GULL (NB)
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NB and ME)
5,000-7,000 Bonaparte's Gulls
300-400 Black-legged Kittiwakes
200+ Razorbills
- 1 adult BLACK-HEADED GULL and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Clark's Ledge, Eastport.

8/28:
- 1 male Spruce Grouse, x White-winged Crossbills, 2 Red Crossbills, and 3 Pine Siskins, Boot Head Preserve, Lubec.
- 3 White-winged Crossbills and 4 Red Crossbills, and 1 Philadelphia Vireo, Quoddy Head State Park.
- Lubec Bar and Flats:
1500 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 250+ Least Sandpipers, 75-100 Sanderlings, 1 Whimbrel, etc.
- Quoddy Head SP pm sea watching:
2 Atlantic Puffins
14 Sooty Shearwaters
3 Razorbills
2 Northern Gannets, etc.
- 1 juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, beach across from Pike's Puddle, Lubec.

8/29:
- 606 Semipalmated Sandpipers, etc., Machias River Motel.
- 1 Red Crossbills, Mason Bay Conservation Area

-Derek

Sent from my iPhone

Re: [Maine-birds] Buff-breasted Sandpipers,etc.

A dozen Buff-breasted Sandpipers were in the first field at Tuckahoe today just before noon.

Joanne

On 8/28/2016 6:26 PM, 'john tobin' via Maine birds wrote:

Stopped by the Tuckahoe Turf Farm late morning. Was able to find 6 Buff-breasted Sandpipers with the help of Marian Zimmerman and Bob Crowley. We also identified 3 Baird's Sandpipers, about 2 dozen Least Sandpipers, 35 Killdeer, 1 Kestril . They were mostly in the 2nd field back from Hubbard Rd.
John Tobin

Scarborough

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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[Maine-birds] Social-ish Goatsuckers

Got a report of a flock of 30+ Common Nighthawks seen over Interstate 95 in Island Falls last evening.

A Ruddy Turnstone was among the shorebirds at Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield on Sunday. This was only the 5th (or so) record that I am aware of, for the county. The Reservoir is at record low water levels due to a control structure issue and its some of the best "mud flats" we've ever had up here!

The Eurasian Wigeon drake was last seen at Christina Reservoir on August 15th but may still be around. Still in eclipse plumage, its sporting a chocolate head and brownish body. It may still be around but an adult Peregrine Falcon has been keeping the waterfowl nearer to the stumps lately.

Good Birding.

Bill

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

[Maine-birds] Maine Calling

Maine Public Radio is currently re-airing a "Maine Calling" program on Birding with Peter Vickery and Jan Piersen. It is on now at 1pm and I believe again tonight at 8.

-John

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[Maine-birds] Sandy Point Morning Flight, 8/30.

Hi all,
A good flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth this morning.

256 American Redstarts
139 Unidentified
44 Red-breasted Nuthatches
37 Cedar Waxwings
24 Yellow Warblers
18 Black-throated Green Warblers
17 Northern Paruls
16 Black-and-white Warblers
9 Magnolia Warblers
6 American Goldfinches
5 Northern Waterthrushes
4 Black-throated Warblers
4 Bobolinks
2 Greater Yellowlegs
2 Least Sandpipers
2 Least Flycatchers
2 Red-eyed Vireo
2 Canada Warblers
2 Blackpoll Warblers
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Eastern Kingbird
1 "Traill's" Flycatcher
1 Unidentified flycatcher
1 FISH CROW - my 180th species at Sandy Point!
1 Barn Swallow
1 Unidentified Catharus thrush
1 Ovenbird
1 Unidentified waterthrush
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Wilson's Warbler
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 DICKCISSEL (first of fall; photo)
1 Purple Finch

t=608

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Weskeag roadside

A juvenile stilt sandpiper has inhabited the roadside pools and pannes for several days - usually in the company of lesser yellowlegs. Heron and egret numbers continue to be strong as waders shift from pool to pool in search of fish and eels. Some peregrine activity from time to time.

Don

Monday, 29 August 2016

[Maine-birds] Essex Street Woods, Bangor: 9 Snowy Egrets & more

This afternoon there were at least 9 Snowy and at least 5 Great Egrets at Essex St. The Snowies will allow fairly close approach, especially on the Watchmaker St. side of the trail. At least one Merlin was scouring the area and perching out in the open on dead trees, and one adult Green Heron was also seen along with 8-9 Blue Winged Teal. Zero shorebirds were seen, possibly due to the Merlin's presence.

Sean Smith

[Maine-birds] Washington County weekend, 8/26-29 (SAGU, BHGU, SPGR, shorebirds, crossbills, etc)

Hi all,
I just completed a four-day weekend tour to Washington County. It will take me a while to get photos sorted and a blog posted, so I will start with the highlights:

8/26:
- 4 Snowy Egrets, Essex Woods marsh, Bangor.
- 18 Common Nighthawks, Rte 9, Beddington.

8/27:
- Passamaquoddy Bay and Head Harbor Passage, New Brunswick, with Eastport Windjammer's Pier Pressure:
1 adult SABINE'S GULL (NB)
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (NB and ME)
5,000-7,000 Bonaparte's Gulls
300-400 Black-legged Kittiwakes
200+ Razorbills
- 1 adult BLACK-HEADED GULL and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Clark's Ledge, Eastport.

8/28:
- 1 male Spruce Grouse, x White-winged Crossbills, 2 Red Crossbills, and 3 Pine Siskins, Boot Head Preserve, Lubec.
- 3 White-winged Crossbills and 4 Red Crossbills, and 1 Philadelphia Vireo, Quoddy Head State Park.
- Lubec Bar and Flats:
1500 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 250+ Least Sandpipers, 75-100 Sanderlings, 1 Whimbrel, etc.
- Quoddy Head SP pm sea watching:
2 Atlantic Puffins
14 Sooty Shearwaters
3 Razorbills
2 Northern Gannets, etc.
- 1 juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, beach across from Pike's Puddle, Lubec.

8/29:
- 606 Semipalmated Sandpipers, etc., Machias River Motel.
- 1 Red Crossbills, Mason Bay Conservation Area

-Derek

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Seawall and Popham beaches

I saw three adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the mouth of the Morse River today and notice that Helmut did as well.

This brings the total to 5 Lessers I've seen in the past 10 days or so, all different individuals. It's my sense that Lessers behave much like Caspian and Royal terns and don't linger over multiple tide cycles. Initially these birds were all on the Popham side by the river. When the flock was disturbed this trio was gone, unlike all the other gulls that settled on the Seawall Beach side. It's my guess that any adults there tomorrow will be different individuals, but this is difficult to test.

In any case, it's the height of the Lesser fall migration and there promise to be numbers at Popham over the next few weeks, and undoubtedly elsewhere. Bonus points if you find one in your own neighborhood.

Also, 9 Piping Plovers and hundreds of juvenile Sanderlings make me feel better about the generally miserable number of shorebirds passing through Maine these days.

Best, Peter

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[Maine-birds] Fwd: Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls?

It turns out they are Juvenile LAUGHING GULLs, and adult Bonaparte's Gull.

Bill Blauvelt

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bill Blauvelt <bil.blauvelt@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 29, 2016 at 11:51 AM
Subject: Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls?
To: maine-birds listserve <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>

I think we saw an adult Bonaparte's Gull and 2 juvenile Black-headed Gulls at the same time at Hills Beach yesterday. I assumed they were all Bonaparte's at the time. When I got home and viewed my pictures I now they are not. Can anyone confirm this for me, or correct me?

Thank you,

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, Maine

https://flic.kr/p/LBEitq

[Maine-birds] Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gulls?

Thank you,

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, Maine

https://flic.kr/p/LBEitq

[Maine-birds] Caspian Tern Updates?

Sounds like yesterday's Caspian Terns at Biddeford may have flown off, but in case they return, or others come in to replace them, updates would be appreciated.

Thanks-

Mike Resch

Pepperell, MA

Sunday, 28 August 2016

[Maine-birds] nighthawks passing through Gorham

Friday evening about 6:15 a flock of several dozen nighthawks made their leisurely way across our part of Gorham, heading southwest. I did not see all, but there were four dozen or so that were visible.

Tom

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[Maine-birds] Of Bobolinks and Blue-winged Teal

Barbara and I kayaked for 2 hrs at high tide on the Abby (Bowdoinham) today and saw 1,600+ Bobolinks and 140+ Blue-winged Teal, Merlin, etc… It has been a series of wonderful experiences, this year with Bobolinks calling overhead throughout the paddle. We saw flocks of hundreds passing overhead and landing and feeding on the wild rice. The scientific name for Bobolink is (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), meaning roughly if memory serves ( don't count on it), Long-clawed bird that loves rice. Merrymeeting Bay has extensive wild rice fields (actually they're in the water but the locals consider them fields), and thousands of birds of different species come to the bay to feed on it. That's why Merrymeeting Bay has been a premier duck hunting site for hundreds of years.

Everyone is familiar with and delights at the bright male Bobolinks caroling over open fields but this is is a much different and remarkably spectacular experience. These birds will be on their way to Bolivia, Brazil, and other parts of South America in the next weeks. And, like shorebirds, they're gaining body weight for their impossibly long flights.

This may not be a different year bird but it's certainly a profoundly different bird experience and I recommend it highly.

Three large flocks of Blue-wings flew overhead, roughly 140 birds, but we've found 400+ individuals feeding on the rice in previous outings. Their grunting feeding sounds are wonderful.

I guess I'm saying, a kayak is a great way to experience birds in such a different way.

Best, Peter

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[Maine-birds] Buff-breasted Sandpipers,etc.

Stopped by the Tuckahoe Turf Farm late morning. Was able to find 6 Buff-breasted Sandpipers with the help of Marian Zimmerman and Bob Crowley. We also identified 3 Baird's Sandpipers, about 2 dozen Least Sandpipers, 35 Killdeer, 1 Kestril . They were mostly in the 2nd field back from Hubbard Rd.

John Tobin

Scarborough

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[Maine-birds] marbled Godwit still around

And has bounced around from the causeway to basket Island to the sandbar in the middle and then out to the causeway between basket and stage island. Still looking for the buff breasted and western sandpipers.

Thanks,
Rob O'Connell

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Saturday, 27 August 2016

[Maine-birds] Nighthawks

Had several flying over China Lake late this afternoon/evening.

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[Maine-birds] Tuckahoe Turf, Buff-breasted ,Baird's

Hi,

Today in the first field as you enter were a gathering of KILLDEER, 4 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, and other peeps. In a muddy pool under the new water irrigation system was one LEAST and one BAIRD'S. When I came back to the first field there were about 16 birds, but because I was looking into the sun I could not determine what they all were.

I posted some dysfunctional pictures on checklist http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31276052

On the 8-21-2016 I had 4 BAIRD'S That checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31186147

Happy birding

Andy Aldrich

North Berwick

Tuckahoe Turf farm is at 305 Hubbard Rd. Berwick, Maine Please stay on roads and never drive on the grass.

[Maine-birds] Fledging Barred Owls - why still begging?

I have had two young barred owls doing their screaming begging call in my yard for about four weeks. The parents seem to have left them to their own devices and I suspect they are doing fine, but won’t they at some point stop begging? It goes on every night, throughout the night. If I stand at the edge of the wood and imitate the call, they come in quite close (which obviously I am reluctant to do). Does anyone know if this is typical? Is there any chance they could be in true distress? I have grown quite attached to them!

Peggy Page

Cape Elizaneth

[Maine-birds] c. nighthawks in Sidney and other birds

It really is the end of summer now--I had four common nighthawks over the field behind my house tonight. I've been waiting for them. (I used to see them while my kids had soccer practice, but I don't go to practice with them anymore and I get a few at my house, but not the large, streaming flocks closer to the river.) I had one over the schools in Oakland on Thurs night as well.

arlier in August I had a couple of batches of barn swallows--about 20 birds in the first group and 10 in the second. Numbers seem low compared to previous years when I had babies lined up on my roof begging.

The neighborhood kestrels fledged two to three babies--I could never get all of them in sight at once to count accurately. They seem to have taken off. Very relieved they had a successful year.

The bluebirds raised two broods--fledged three out of six the first time and all five the second time. Lots of bluebirds still around.

Lots of phoebes in the yard along with four or five kingbirds. Still seems very birdy here with the nightly catbird scolding.

Good birding,

Julia

[Maine-birds] Beautiful Bald Eagle-York Maine

Smelt Brook Trail in York Maine-Off the Vista continues to trill with its eagles. Today I caught this bald after waiting for about an hour, a few weeks back there was an two year old immature but the holy grail was last Feb when I saw a golden! It is worth the walk.

Please excuse the pic quality, I am amateur hand holding a 300mm.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/29192272511/in/dateposted-public/

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[Maine-birds] Sabine's Gull

Sabine's Gull off Cherry Island Eastport- flying 20' off boat-along with John Tobin
Beautiful coloration-
Skip Small
Rockport
Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Buff-breasted Sandpiper

There was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper foraging along the edge of the fresh water pond on Stratton Island (Saco Bay) this morning. Beautiful bird!

Lucy LaCasse

52 Old Neck Rd

Scarborough, ME 04074

207-883-3637

207-928-3637 (Stoneham)

207-650-4770 (cell)

wnder@aol.com

[Maine-birds] Biddeford: Marbled Godwit and Western Sandpiper

Hi all,

A Marbled Godwit and a Western Sandpiper are currently among many other shorebirds at the Basket Island Causeway at Hills Beach, Biddeford.

Best,

Josh

Inspiring Nature Connection in New England
joshfecteau.com | patreon.com/JoshFecteau

[Maine-birds] Sandhill Cranes, Plymouth

Around 9 AM today, four Sandhill Cranes were present in the large field on Loud Rd., then a few minutes later, three were observed in a field on Small Rd.

[Maine-birds] Nighthawks

Lots of nighthawks flying over south unity and thorndike. last evening. Diana

Sent from my iPad

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Friday, 26 August 2016

[Maine-birds] York County sightings (Aug 24-26)...

Here are some bird happenings in York County:

8/24 (Wednesday)
...Eastern Whip-poor-will singing before sunrise along Guinea Rd., Kennebunkport

8/25 (Thursday)

...4 Piping Plovers, 10+ Red Knots, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper (FOY) at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31247412)

8/26 (Friday)

...7 Blue-winged Teal, 1 Northern Shoveler, 1 Merlin, 3 Marsh Wrens, and 24 Bobolink at the Sanford Lagoons (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31257145)

...juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper (FOY) and "Western" Willet at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31261065)

Wildly,
Josh

Inspiring Nature Connection in New England
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[Maine-birds] New Sweden: Evening Grosbeaks

We had four Evening grosbeaks at the feeder today: 1 female and 3 males. Seems like an odd time year for them to be here!

Also around:

Purple finches
Goldfinches (many)
Black-capped chickadees
Blue jays
Mourning doves
Ruby-throated hummingbirds

[Maine-birds] Sabine's Gull

Any recent sightings of the Sabine's Gull?- heading in that area today.
Thanks
Skip Small
Rockport

Sent from my iPhone

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Thursday, 25 August 2016

[Maine-birds] Additional Highlights and Shorebird High Counts this Week, 8/20-25

Hi all,

My observations of note over the past six days included:

- 1000+ Tree Swallows, Biddeford Pool, 8/22 (with client from New Mexico).

- 1 continuing Red-necked Grebe, Ocean Ave, Biddeford Pool, 8/22 (with client).

- Presumed TRICOLORED HERON X SNOWY EGRET Hybrid, Pelreco Marsh, Scarborough Marsh, 8/23 (with Jeannette)

My shorebird high counts over the past week were as follows:

Black-bellied Plover: 161, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 8/20 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

Semipalmated Plover: 311, Hill's Beach, Biddeford, 8/22 (with client from New Mexico).

Piping Plover: 7 (all or mostly juvenile), Hill's Beach, 8/22 (with client).

Killdeer: 11, Highland Road, Brunswick, 8/20 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

Greater Yellowlegs: 8, Wharton Point, 8/20 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

Lesser Yellowlegs: 9, off Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 8/23 (with Jeannette).

Solitary Sandpiper: 1, Sandy Point Beach, Yarmouth, 8/23.

"Eastern" Willet: 7 (plus one unidentified willet), Pine Point, Scarborough, 8/25.

Whimbrel: 2, The Pool, Biddeford Pool, 8/22 (with client).

Ruddy Turnstone: 1, Pine Point, 8/25.

Red Knot: 2 (one adult, 1 juv), Pine Point, 8/25.

Sanderling: 18, Hill's Beach, 8/22 (with client).

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 300+, off Eastern Road Trail, 8/23 (with Jeannette).

Least Sandpiper: 191, off Eastern Road Trail, 8/23 (with Jeannette).

White-rumped Sandpiper: 34, Pine Point, 8/25.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 juvenile each at Biddefprd Pool Beach, 8/22 (with client) and off Eastern Road Trail, 8/23 (with Jeannette. Her photo at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/freeportwildbird/28916888990/in/album-72157625893020187/)

Pectoral Sandpiper: 2 juvs, off Eastern Road Trail, 8/23 (with Jeannette).

Short-billed Dowitcher: 38, Wharton Point, 8/20 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

-Derek

*****************************************

Derek and Jeannette Lovitch

Freeport Wild Bird Supply

541 Route One, Suite 10

Freeport, ME 04032

207-865-6000

www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

****************************************

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

[Maine-birds] Great Egret N Windham Collins Pond

roosting tonight - 1st one I've seen here in 24 yrs

also 4 Common Nighthawks

Judy Scher

[Maine-birds] Marbled Godwit, Gisland Farm

A Marbled Godwit was off the North Meadow blind for about 10 minutes around 1:30, before the tide reached the shoreline and then flew to the opposite side of the estuary!

[Maine-birds] Hudsonian Godwit, Gisland Farm

A Hudsonian Godwit flew in around 1:30 off the North Meadow blind and foraged with the other shorebirds for about 10 minutes and then flew directly to the other side of the estuary!

[Maine-birds] Sandhill Cranes

Two Sandhill Cranes very close to the the gazebo at the intersection of Rt. 11, Poland Spring Rd. and Webbs Mill Rd. digits oped pic with my iPhone.

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[Maine-birds] banded gulls

Hi all,

This summer we banded 140 Herring Gull chicks on roof-tops in Portland. We have now banded ~600 chicks since 2011 in Portland. Each bird has a metal band on the left leg and a field readable color band on the right leg (most of the bands are orange but a few are blue). The color band has three letters on it. There are a number of gull banding projects in the region, including two others in Maine (John Anderson of College of the Atlantic bands on Great Duck Island and Julie Ellis of Tufts bands on Appledore Island). Please keep your eyes out for these birds and report the band color and identification code directly to me--if you resight a bird that is not mine I can help track down the researcher who banded it.
Thanks and enjoy the end of the summer.

noah perlut
nperlut@une.edu

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

[Maine-birds] golden eagle vs imm. bald eagle

At Flagstaff lake Sat&Sun. Nice boat ride we had up there to learn the history. Sunday (girls were lounging, I was birding…) lucky enough to see an imm. bald eagle landing on a little grassed island and then the Golden Eagle landed. Interesting to see them fly up in the sky and kind of spar or banter. Then the golden landed on the island again what a treat.

[Maine-birds] York County sightings (Aug 17-23)...

Here are some bird happenings from York County:

8/17 (Wednesday)
...35 Northern Gannets from Great Hill Rd., Kennebunk
...continuing juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Great Pond, 1st Street, Biddeford Pool
...continuing Little Egret foraging at low tide in "the pool" near Sky Harbor Dr., Biddeford

8/18 (Thursday)
...24 Wood Ducks, 3 Blue-winged Teal, 1 juvenile Little Blue Heron (first photographed by Andy Aldrich on 2 Aug), 2 Green Herons, 14 Bank Swallows, 3 Bobolinks, and more at the Sanford Lagoons

8/19 (Friday)

...continuing Little Egret foraging at low tide in "the pool" near Sky Harbor Dr., Biddeford, and near high tide with 50+ Snowy Egrets and 4 Great Egrets at Great Pond, 1st Street, Biddeford Pool

...Baird's Sandpiper at the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford

8/20 (Saturday)

...7 Piping Plovers (juveniles) roosting together on the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford

...4 Piping Plovers (juveniles), 25 Laughing Gulls (juveniles), and 24 Least Terns (including 6+ fluffy juveniles) at Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport

8/22 (Monday)

...6 White-winged Scoters and 10 flyby Blue-winged Teal from Colony Beach, K'port

...500+ Swallows (presumably mostly Tree Swallows) over Stage Island, viewed from Bickford Island, K'port

...continuing group of 7 Piping Plovers (juveniles) along the Basket Island Causeway, Hills Beach, Biddeford

...juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron along Harbor Rd., Wells

...46 Snowy Egrets along the Mousam River (near Route 9), Kennebunk

8/23 (Tuesday)

...250+ Swallows over Great Pond, Biddeford Pool

...Peregrine Falcon along Mile Stretch Rd., Biddeford Pool

Wildly,
Josh

Inspiring Nature Connection in New England
joshfecteau.com | patreon.com/JoshFecteau

[Maine-birds] Fwd: Banded gulls

I took some pictures of a couple of banded Ring-billed Gulls in a large flock at Back Cove in Portland on August 17. It turns out they were banded just east of Montreal, Quebec.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13686093@N06/albums/72157672554887416

Bill Blauvelt

Portland, ME

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Giroux, Jean-François
Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 2:49 PM
Subject: Banded gulls
To: "bil.blauvelt@gmail.com" <bil.blauvelt@gmail.com>

Your sightings reported to Noah Perlut made it through the gull biologist community. Here are some details about the marked ring-billed gulls spotted in Portland. I was able to determine the codes from the numbers seen on the steel bands. One has a broken band, which is sometimes occurs after few years. These were banded in a 45,000 pairs colony just east of Montreal, Quebec.

Thanks for reporting these sightings and do not hesitate to submit other directly to me or through our web site http://gull.uqam.ca

Jean-François Giroux

Directeur, Département des sciences biologiques,

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM),

141 Président-Kennedy, SB-R880

CP 8888, Succursale Centre-ville,

Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3P8

Site Internet

[Maine-birds] Sandy Point Morning Flight, 8/23

Hi all,
It's definitely fall now! A light flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth this morning in my first visit to "my office" of the season.

5:52-8:05
55F, clear, W2.7-WSW3.5mph.

51 Yellow Warblers
40 American Redstarts
38 Unidentified
37 Red-breasted Nuthatches*
21 Cedar Waxwings
15 American Goldfinches
8 Magnolia Warblers
6 Black-throated Green Warblers
4 Barn Swallows
4 Cliff Swallows
4 Northern Parulas
2 Black-and-white Warblers
2 Prairie Warblers
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Merlin
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Great-created Flycatcher
1 Unidentified empid
1 Warbling Vireo
1 Unidentified vireo
1 American Robin
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Red-winged Blackbird
X Common Yellowthroats

T=246

*good late summer flights of Red-breasted Nuthatches are usually a sign of a good winter finch year on the horizon.

Sent from my iPhone

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Monday, 22 August 2016

Re: [Maine-birds] wind impact on songbirds, particularly flycatchers

I moved to North Wales in the UK 18 months ago and the wind is relentless, summer and winter. Calm days are extremely rare. I am told by locals that it is unusual for it to be this bad. I miss those lovely, calm, windless Maine days. We are also still having torrential rain and little sunshine.

Shelagh, now in North Wales

On 22 Aug 2016, at 22:00, 'Jess Home' via Maine birds wrote:

I'm extremely interested in hearing more.

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 22, 2016, at 4:54 PM, cathie.murray@gmail.com wrote:

Hello all,
Have you noticed that in general the average velocity of breezes/wind is higher and the duration of strong breezes/winds is longer recently? (Is there a name to quantify this magnitude/duration phenomenon?) I assume it's related to global warming/climate change and the generally more powerful movements of air due to temperature differences, etc.
I wonder how this is impacting our songbirds, particularly flycatchers. We have had few of those "lazy days of summer" with insects floating in the air and phoebes snapping them up. The drought has impacted insect numbers of course, but what about the wind's impact on predator success?
Is anyone studying this? Is there a way to contribute useful observations? Or do you think nothing is amiss?
Feel free to respond offline if you don't think this is of broad interest.
Thanks,
Cathie Murray, Hallowell

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[Maine-birds] Re: Sabine's Gull, Eastport, ME and Deer Island, NB

I saw the Sabine's gull again today around 4PM. It was feeding with Bonaparte's gulls and kittiwakes next to Cherry Island in the southern part of Head Harbor Passage during the outgoing tide. This location is ~1/2 a mile from the Maine border. I also spotted a little gull in the mix.

Here's a photo of the Sabine's gull:

https://flic.kr/p/LjnZvR

and little gull:

https://flic.kr/p/KuAeVP

Cheers,

Chris Bartlett

On Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 1:45:13 PM UTC-4, Chris Bartlett wrote:

My daughter Sarah and I had the pleasure of birding alongside Peter and Barbara Vickery, Mac Hunter, Aram Calhoun, and Ron Joseph this morning. Our trip took us from Lubec, Maine through Head Harbor Passage, NB and to the Old Sow whirlpool. The best bird was an adult Sabine's gull that we found at the Old Sow in both Eastport, Maine and Deer Island, New Brunswick. It was difficult to stay on the Sabine's because it was feeding with a few thousand whirling Bonaparte's gulls in the tide rips. Along the way we also saw a year-old little gull, a sooty shearwater, 60-70 razorbills, 6-7 minke whales, and lots of harbor porpoise. It was a fantastic trip.

Photos of the Sabine's Gull can be seen here:
https://flic.kr/p/KV9mi7
https://flic.kr/p/KV9kZw

Cheers,

Chris Bartlett

Re: [Maine-birds] wind impact on songbirds, particularly flycatchers

I'm extremely interested in hearing more.

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 22, 2016, at 4:54 PM, cathie.murray@gmail.com wrote:

Hello all,
Have you noticed that in general the average velocity of breezes/wind is higher and the duration of strong breezes/winds is longer recently? (Is there a name to quantify this magnitude/duration phenomenon?) I assume it's related to global warming/climate change and the generally more powerful movements of air due to temperature differences, etc.
I wonder how this is impacting our songbirds, particularly flycatchers. We have had few of those "lazy days of summer" with insects floating in the air and phoebes snapping them up. The drought has impacted insect numbers of course, but what about the wind's impact on predator success?
Is anyone studying this? Is there a way to contribute useful observations? Or do you think nothing is amiss?
Feel free to respond offline if you don't think this is of broad interest.
Thanks,
Cathie Murray, Hallowell

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[Maine-birds] wind impact on songbirds, particularly flycatchers

Hello all,
Have you noticed that in general the average velocity of breezes/wind is higher and the duration of strong breezes/winds is longer recently? (Is there a name to quantify this magnitude/duration phenomenon?) I assume it's related to global warming/climate change and the generally more powerful movements of air due to temperature differences, etc.
I wonder how this is impacting our songbirds, particularly flycatchers. We have had few of those "lazy days of summer" with insects floating in the air and phoebes snapping them up. The drought has impacted insect numbers of course, but what about the wind's impact on predator success?
Is anyone studying this? Is there a way to contribute useful observations? Or do you think nothing is amiss?
Feel free to respond offline if you don't think this is of broad interest.
Thanks,
Cathie Murray, Hallowell

[Maine-birds] Still whipping

Though quiet through much of July and early August, the Proctor Rd (Biddeford) whip-poor-will(s?) has been announcing his presence of late. We heard him a few times last week, most recently on Thursday, August 17. The whip-poor-will clock, once so finely tuned to 8:55 pm (plus/minus 3 minutes) near the summer solstice has shifted closer to 7:55 pm as summer marches toward fall. We were away for the weekend, so we have not listened the last few nights; but we're tuned in again now and we'll let you know if he sings out once more before packing up bags and heading to warmer coasts.

Brad and Lena Moser

Sunday, 21 August 2016

[Maine-birds] American Avocet, Sagadahoc Bay, Georgetown, 21 Aug (today)

Mike Fahay submitted an eBird report (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31184516) with photos of an American Avocet in Sagadahoc Bay (see list for map point).

Although reported as an adult in fading alternate plumage, the photos show a juvenile with some preformative molt.

American Avocets are unusual among shorebirds in that the juveniles more or less resemble (or mimic?) adults in breeding plumage. They can be tricky to tell apart. Mike's photos show the inner webs of the inner primaries with white margins, fresh tertials and a few new scapulars; these features all indicative of a young bird. The long and comparatively straight bill lacking a strong recurve means the bird is a male. Some have suggested that this mimicry of the adult plumage is perhaps so predators cannot target young birds as "easy" prey. Whatever the case, as Dennis Paulson says, the orange head and neck of breeding and juvenile avocets "merely adds distinction to distinctiveness."

Louis Bevier

Fairfield

[Maine-birds] Seeking Chimney Swift roosts

Sorry for the confusion. I'm interested in the Cliff Swallow building outside of Augusta, mentioned in this thread. And how to get there. Not swifts. Thank for the emails though.

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Saturday, 20 August 2016

Re: [Maine-birds] Sabine's Gull, Eastport, ME and Deer Island, NB

Should anyone have the ambition and poor judgement - but that's up to you! - to look for the Sabine's Gull, it's likely to linger off the Old Sow for several days. One can take the car ferry - as a pedestrian - from Campobello to Deer Island and bird from the southern tip looking across to Eastport. You can figure out the ferry schedule, just remember NB is one hour ahead of ME time and you need your passport. We were there around 11:30 about 1+ hour before high tide and there were thousands of Bonies and I'm sure we missed numerous birds. But the point offers a stable platform, unlike a small boat bouncing around in the Sow. I used to bird this area in the 70s and 80s and it's worth being there 2+ hours before high tide - there's just too much activity to capture in this bedlam of birds. It's truly spectacular, irrespective of rarities, which are always present but perhaps not recorded. Sabine's Gull is so much easier than first year Little or Black-headed - but the latter two are annual here.

Bon chance,

Peter

On Aug 20, 2016, at 1:45 PM, Chris Bartlett <christophabartlett@gmail.com> wrote:

My daughter Sarah and I had the pleasure of birding alongside Peter and Barbara Vickery, Mac Hunter, Aram Calhoun, and Ron Joseph this morning. Our trip took us from Lubec, Maine through Head Harbor Passage, NB and to the Old Sow whirlpool. The best bird was an adult Sabine's gull that we found at the Old Sow in both Eastport, Maine and Deer Island, New Brunswick. It was difficult to stay on the Sabine's because it was feeding with a few thousand whirling Bonaparte's gulls in the tide rips. Along the way we also saw a year-old little gull, a sooty shearwater, 60-70 razorbills, 6-7 minke whales, and lots of harbor porpoise. It was a fantastic trip.

Photos of the Sabine's Gull can be seen here:
https://flic.kr/p/KV9mi7
https://flic.kr/p/KV9kZw

Cheers,

Chris Bartlett

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[Maine-birds] Seeking Chimney Swift roosts

What building outside of Augusta?

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[Maine-birds] Sabine's Gull, Eastport, ME and Deer Island, NB

My daughter Sarah and I had the pleasure of birding alongside Peter and Barbara Vickery, Mac Hunter, Aram Calhoun, and Ron Joseph this morning. Our trip took us from Lubec, Maine through Head Harbor Passage, NB and to the Old Sow whirlpool. The best bird was an adult Sabine's gull that we found at the Old Sow in both Eastport, Maine and Deer Island, New Brunswick. It was difficult to stay on the Sabine's because it was feeding with a few thousand whirling Bonaparte's gulls in the tide rips. Along the way we also saw a year-old little gull, a sooty shearwater, 60-70 razorbills, 6-7 minke whales, and lots of harbor porpoise. It was a fantastic trip.

Photos of the Sabine's Gull can be seen here:

https://flic.kr/p/KV9mi7

https://flic.kr/p/KV9kZw

Cheers,

Chris Bartlett

[Maine-birds] Seeking Chimney Swift roosts

Everyone – first of all, a belated thank-you to everyone who responded to our request for Cliff Swallow hang-outs a couple weeks ago. One of you pointed us to a building outside of Augusta, where there were 30-some nests, many of them active, with a large number of birds flying around the parking lot area. Our birds joined the group there!

Our summer swift orphans are nearly ready for release, so we are now looking for a communal chimney swift roost (rather than a single-family nest chimney) that is currently active. We’d settle for a location where a good number of birds are regularly seen in the evening sky, even if the roost chimney per se was unknown.
Again, please contact me off-list.

THANKS!

Diane at Avian Haven

www.avianhaven.org

[Maine-birds] Ancient Murrelet

There is a second (third?) hand report of a (the?) Ancient Murrelet
seen yesterday (8/19) off Bailey Island near the Driftwood Inn. I do not
have more specifics but be aware just in case.

--
Stan DeOrsey jsmd@att.net

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[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

This last week has been a bit of a mixed bag.
Saturday night past produced a small wave of early moving migrants and wanderers, including:
quite a few RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES;
1 or 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS;
a small few of YELLOW WARBLERS;
some more NORTHERN WATER THRUSHES;
an apparently lone BLACK & WHITE WARBLER;
our third DOWNY WOODPECKER of the year;
a couple WIMBRELS;
numerous PHALAROPES (night time fly-bys);
1 or 2 female/juvenile RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and;
a couple of PURPLE FINCHES.

Most of these arrivals settled in for a leisurely stay, although foraging isn't so good for the Hummers just yet.
The PURPLE ASTER is just beginning to bloom and it's the late summer mainstay for them and the migrating Butterflies, along with the generally less abundant GOLDEN ROD.
One Hummer surprised me with its very early morning flight. It's not often that one sees those little fellows cruising the neighbourhood before the sun gets above the horizon.
Butterflies are still scarce although SULPHURS are on the rise.

The Black & White Warbler proved to be quite people-tolerant, spending its time around the buildings, snagging insects and generally acting, as they will, like a BROWN CREEPER. That foraging behaviour took her through an open window and into the occupied bedroom of a UNB staffer for a short visit.

Similar behaviour saw a Nuthatch get between inner & outer basement windows to reap the abundant insects. I left it there, correctly assuming that a Nuthatch, being a cavity nester and just plain smart, it would simply exit via the small entry hole once the bug supply was exhausted.
A second Nuthatch refused to leave the same basement for 2 days. Warm, dry, good food, water, no predators or disturbance and secure sleeping accommodations: what more could you want? Twice I carried it outside the door and it immediately re-entered. After two days it must have reduced the insect supply because it departed of its own accord.

On the Alcid front, things aren't so rosy. There are still a fair number of Puffins being feed; perhaps 2 or 3 hundred (?) but the food coming in is still remarkably unimpressive. I suspect that lots of chicks continue to starve, in spite of getting food.
Fledging weights this year have typically been under 200 grams and more in the range of 170 grams minus. In a good season they would be around 300 grams and up.

I believe that the production rate from monitored burrows came in this year at 12%, compared with a more usual rate in the order of 70% - 80%. Worse, that only means that 12% left the nest.
In the face of the dismal condition of most chicks, the number of chicks that actually got to the water or managed to care for themselves is questionable. Personally, I'd very pleasantly surprised if 5% survive.

Raptors are increasing in variety and frequency.
There's currently a SHARP SHINNED HAWK disturbing the breakfast tranquility but the youngster hasn't found much success this morning. It's inexperience really shows.
MERLINS & PEREGRINES have been filtering through.
EAGLES are random but often, the most recent was yesterday afternoon. There's a dead GRAY SEAL ashore up the island that gulls are sampling but I don't know if any Eagles are indulging.
A couple of NORTHERN HARRIERS (1 female & 1 juvenile) have each stopped off for 4 or 5 days, benefiting from the abundance of newly minted SAVANNAH SPARROWS.

The Shorebird migration continues relatively uneventfully.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS have been up to 200-300 but a 100 or so is more like the daily average.
LEAST SANDPIPERS haven't been above a few dozen.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS are just one or two randomly now.
Likewise with the RUDDY TURNSTONES.
I've only seen 3 WILLETS this week but their slowdown has been offset with a few WIMBRELS passing through.
WOODCOCK were sighted a couple times, although I suspect it's been a single bird.
Also, a single SNIPE was around a day or two.
Yesterday I saw a BITTERN fly in for a landing, out of sight, near the shore. I failed to locate it a couple hours later. I think that they quickly realize that the brackish, stagnant puddles in the rocks are devoid of food for them.

Also yesterday, a particularly bright male Purple Finch showed up on the patio while a female BOBOLINK spent the afternoon and evening feeding on TIMOTHY seed near the patio.

The Red Breasted Nuthatches which I mentioned earlier are very abundant this year, easily the most that I've ever seen herein 21 summers.
Once this week, I had 10 in sight simultaneously while sitting here looking out of the window. After a walk around yesterday and watching them around the lighthouse every morning, I'm confident that there are well over 30 of the little tykes on the island.

CEDAR WAXWINGS appear every few days but only 2-4 at a time. 2 new arrivals are presently perched just outside our kitchen window.

TREE & BARN SWALLOWS have been passing through daily in low numbers but Thursday morning brought over 50 Tree Swallows. Many (if not most) were juveniles. It's been a while since I've seen the wires loaded with swallows, especially out here.

Bird of the week: PROTHONATARY WARBLER, a bright female that stayed around our patio and house for a couple days.
Photographs here: http://birdingnewbrunswick.ca/photo/prothonotary-warbler-5?context=user