Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking: December 2016

Saturday, 31 December 2016

[Maine-birds] New Year's Eve 2016 highlights...

Hi all,

Jenny and I enjoyed some end of year birding today in Kennebec,
Cumberland, and York Counties.

We started at the corner of Maple Ridge Road and Wyman Bog Road in
Winslow (others have reported this as in China, but maps appear to
show otherwise) where we found the continuing LARK SPARROW. We birded
the area for a bit, but didn't hear or see any Redpolls.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33318067

Our next stop was Hope Way (off York Farm Road) in Augusta, where we
quickly located the continuing BOREAL CHICKADEE visiting suet feeders.
A Lifer for Jenny!
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33317911

Later, we checked on the ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER still working the
north edge of Pond Cove in Cape Elizabeth. Another Lifer for Jenny! No
sign of the "Western" Palm Warbler during our visit.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33317606

At Grondin Pond in Scarborough, we observed 1 RING-NECKED DUCK, 5
SCAUP (they were too distant and too busy preening for me to feel
confident of which kind), and 4 AMERICAN COOTS, among 200+ Mallards
and a handful of American Black Ducks.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33317424

Viewing from the Factory Island parking lot adjacent to the railroad
tracks, we saw the continuing adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the
Saco River below Route 1. There was also a PEREGRINE FALCON perched
atop the MERC smokestack in Biddeford.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33317165

Best,
Josh

P.S. I ended my Maine Big Year with a total of 305 species! A huge
thanks to everyone who assisted by sharing sightings and helping me in
countless other ways.

P.P.S. I'm leading a bird walk in Wells next Sunday (1/8/16). Details
here: http://joshfecteau.com/events/

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

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[Maine-birds] Pine Grosbeaks in Turner

Christine and I ran across a flock of 22-24 Pine Grosbeaks on N. Parrish Road in Turner around noon today. The location was about 0.6 or 0.7 miles north of the intersection with Pleasant Pond Road (or about 2.5 miles north of the intersection with hwy 117), a few houses north of Sunnyside Gardens. Here's a link to our eBird checklist:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33320366

A nice surprise, and a great way to wrap up a terrific year of birding. Happy New Year!

Gary Jarvis

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[Maine-birds] Freeport-Brunswick Christmas Bird Count: West Freeport Territory, 12/31.

Hi all,

Zane Baker, Jeannette, and I spent today participating, as usual, in the Freeport-Brunswick Christmas Bird Coun for our 11th year. Our "West Freeport" Territory includes most of Freeport west of I-295, a sliver of Pownal, and a corner of Yarmouth and Durham. Our most land-locked section always offer some surprises, even if the lack of open water reduces our overall tallies. However, a total of 18.5 party miles by foot to a mere 12.7 miles by car helps to make sure we don't miss much!

Today, we had 1357 individuals of 37 species, both record highs. Two new territory species and several record highs made for a rather birdy day.

Start: 7:25 - 10F, clear, calm.
End: 4:15 - 28F, cloudy, lt SW.

3 American Black Ducks
6 Mallards
1 Bald Eagle *first territory record (surprisingly)
2 Cooper's Hawks
3 Red-tailed Hawks
1 Ring-billed Gull
48 Herring Gulls
72 Mourning Doves
104 Rock Pigeon (new high count for territory)
4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (new high count)
17 Downy Woodpeckers
16 Hairy Woodpeckers
2 Pileated Woodpeckers
1 NORTHERN FLICKER (Maine Coast Waldorf School, Freeport. 1st territory record).
108 American Crows (new high count)
137 Blue Jays (new high count)
2 Common Ravens
342 Black-capped Chickadees
44 Tufted Titmice
31 Red-breasted Nuthatches
45 White-breasted Nuthatches
2 Brown Creepers
14 Golden-crowned Kinglets
125 American Robins
10 Eastern Bluebirds
13 European Starlings
28 Cedar Waxwings
16 American Tree Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
44 Dark-eyed Juncos (tied record high)
15 Northern Cardinals
4 Purple Finches
14 House Finches
60 American Goldfinches
1 EVENING GROSBEAK (female, Webster Road, Freeport. 2nd territory record)
20 House Sparrows

-Derek

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

Derek and Jeannette Lovitch

Freeport Wild Bird Supply

541 Route One, Suite 10

Freeport, ME 04032

207-865-6000

www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

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

[Maine-birds] Highlights of our section of the Thomaston-Rockland CBC, 12.31.16

For maybe the 18th year in a row now, my husband Paul and I surveyed our section of the Thomaston-Rockland CBC circle, which includes the Rockland Breakwater, grounds of the Samoset Resort in Rockport, the beach end of Clam Cove, and a vast crazy amount of field and forest territory between Chickawaukie Lake and Beechwood St. in Thomaston. We were joined this year by Brian Willson, Gail Presley, Debbie Rapp, and Margaret McLeod.

Highlights of our section included:

Purple Sandpiper - 4, Rockland Breakwater

Northern Harrier - 1, flying out over outer Rockland Harbor beyond the breakwater

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1, new for our section (since we've been doing it), in Achorn Cemetery in Rockland

Rusty Blackbird - 5, in the wetlands between Old County Rd. and W. Meadow St., Rockland

We tallied 41 species total, which was low for our section. No cool irruptives seen. No warblers this year (tough to top last year's Yellow-throated Warbler). No turkeys! But a very good time was had by all. Thank you, team!

And Happy New Year to birders everywhere--don't forget, your Big Year could start tomorrow!

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

[Maine-birds] Camera

Hi Sean,

Check out the Nikon Coolpix p900. It has an 83x (2000mm) optical zoom. Small and light weight and only around $600. My father-in-law has one and it works great. With a tripod I think it would be a good alternative to lugging around heavy lenses.

Todd

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[Maine-birds] Re: Camera

You need very expensive (and heavy) long lenses to get good bird shots generally. You might do better purchasing a modest spotting scope and then getting a bracket to mount a smart phone to the scope. I have gotten my best bird shots with an iPhone mounted to a spotting scope. My scope cost a lot, but there are much less expensive ones out there that are probably close to as good. You need a good tripod too. Good luck--its lots of fun doing it.

On Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 9:57:51 AM UTC-5, Sean Hatch wrote:

I am close to my 300 Maine bird and I'm now just getting into photographing these beautiful creatures. I'm looking to buy a nice camera. Something nice for base and add zoom lens later. Maybe both? Looking to spend 700-1200$. I am not knowledgeable about cameras or lenses. I can do research but want to hear from ppl offline if they don't mind emailing back and forth. Thanks.

[Maine-birds] Pond Cove Orange-Crowned Warbler still present

Took an opportunity today to check on the Orange-Crowned Warbler over at Pond Cove today. It was still present as of 12:05. Initially located along the beach near Shore Road, it was picking through the leaf litter and rocks at the base of the growth at the top of the beach. It danced around for a while hopping into the bushes and back to the exposed rocky areas. Amazing to see warblers on snow. The last sighting we had of it, it took off down Shore Road to the vegetation across from the brick house visible from the beach (about here 43.608669, -70.216211).

Thanks to all who kept the reports coming for this bird, as well as all of the birds this year.

Happy New Year!

Rob O'Connell

[Maine-birds] Lark Sparrow yes

I arrived about noon to find Marian (Biddeford) looking for the Sparrow. We saw it briefly in a snowy tangle behind the tree with the feeders, behind the White House with dark shutters. At 2:00 it finally came out and fed near the power pole, on the ground alone and with doves. Good views from the road at that location.

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[Maine-birds] snow buntings, Pemaquid

A flock of a dozen Snow Buntings has returned to my driveway this morning. Fun to watch.

Nancy Dickinson

New Harbor/Pemaquid

[Maine-birds] Camera

I am close to my 300 Maine bird and I'm now just getting into photographing these beautiful creatures. I'm looking to buy a nice camera. Something nice for base and add zoom lens later. Maybe both? Looking to spend 700-1200$. I am not knowledgeable about cameras or lenses. I can do research but want to hear from ppl offline if they don't mind emailing back and forth. Thanks.

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Friday, 30 December 2016

[Maine-birds] This Week's (Maine) highlights and annual "Next Birds" Predictions blog link.

Hi all,

Just a couple of observations of note for me in Maine from last Saturday and today included the following:

- 4 Ruddy Turnstones, 10 Dunlin, and ~50 distant, unidentified scaup, Winslow Park, Freeport, 12/24 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

- no mystery passerines, Bowdoin Mill area, Topsham and Brunswick, 12/30 (about an hour of searching the area in the early pm).

Meanwhile, I have posted my annual "Predictions Blog" of the next 25 species to be added to Maine's cumulative list (as well as my own) for those who are interested:

https://mebirdingfieldnotes.wordpress.com/2016/12/23/the-2017-maine-bird-predictions-blog/

Happy New Year List,

Derek

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

Derek and Jeannette Lovitch

Freeport Wild Bird Supply

541 Route One, Suite 10

Freeport, ME 04032

207-865-6000

www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

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

[Maine-birds] Redpoll query...

Hi all,

I'd love to see a Common Redpoll tomorrow to cap off my year. If
anyone has a hot lead on where I can find some, please send me a
message. (Thanks to Herb Wilson for the China lead.)

Thanks,
Josh

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

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[Maine-birds] Kennebec County birds - Boreal Chickadee and Lark Sparrow continue

Both of the previously reported county rarities were present today.

The Boreal Chickadee came to the suet feeder behind Apartment 5, Building 10 at Hope Way in Augusta at 11:45 this morning. The feeder is not visible from the parking lot but you can walk between Building 8 and Building 10 to get a good view of the feeder. Just follow the trail through the snow we made. The sides of both buildings have no windows so you will not be bothering anyone.

The Lark Sparrow continues at the intersection of Maple Ridge Road and Wyman Bog Road in China. The Lark Sparrow has usually been sighted on the ground beneath the feeders on the south side of the house trailer. This morning, the sparrow was on the north side beneath some feeders adjacent to the driveway at 1:15 PM. We had views from about 15 feet. It was with several American Tree Sparrows - a "stickpin" convention!

The feeders on the south side of the trailer were hopping with a diversity of regular feeder birds. One Common Redpoll was among the dozen or so American Goldfinches.

Best,

Herb

Re: [Maine-birds] LASP - PS

This (Friday) morning the ground under the feeders is obscured by bushes which have leaned over from the weight of the snow. We're leaving, but good luck to the bird and any birders who hope to see it!

Leslie Starr

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Thursday, 29 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Evening Grosbeaks in Jonesboro, Washington County

We observed 36 Evening Grosbeaks this morning in a grove of residential trees in Jonesboro. The location is Route 1 - about 1/2 mile west of the UM Blueberry Hill Farm Research Station.

Anne Archie, Harrington

[Maine-birds] Dickcissle York

Dickcissle in York reported and photoed today on the Facebook group MAINE Burds

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAINEBirds/permalink/1184595811622519/

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[Maine-birds] Rusty blackbirds and bohemian waxwings Wash. Co.

I had a flock of about 15 rusty blackbirds on Palm Street in Baileyville yesterday, and 15 bohemian waxwings near the office at Moosehorn NWR in Calais today. Moosehorn manager Keith Ramos first spotted the waxwings, and also saw 2 northern shrikes near the eagle nest platform yesterday.

--Ray Brown--

Calais, Maine

[Maine-birds] LASP - Kennebec County, 12/29

The Lark Sparrow is continuing on Maple Ridge Rd. My sightings of this bird have all been behind the southernmost house at the south corner of Maple Ridge Rd. and Wyman Bog Rd. There are several feeders at this property, which consists of several buildings. I have only see the Lark Sparrow under a hanging feeder between the last house, as you're heading south on Maple Ridge, and a small scrubby patch bordering the next property, which is a small field with a house a little further down the road. The last house faces Wyman Bog Rd. so the feeder is behind it but visible from Maple Ridge Rd. and the hanging feeder is near a post with an electric meter.

Yesterday I talked to a woman who lives in the house. She seemed pleased that she has a special bird and doesn't seem perturbed about people looking into the yard. Another neighbor came by and they talked about woodpeckers.

Leslie Starr

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[Maine-birds] banded Ring -billed gull

I reported the band # of a live gull found hanging out near McDonalds in Kittery and received a rapid reply from “them as knows.”

Bird was banded as a nestling in 2012 on an island in the St. Lawrence near Montreal.

I asked the bird for its green card, but it turned away saying it did not speak the English….

[Maine-birds] Aroostook NWR, Limestone

I took advantage of the nice afternoon yesterday to ski and bird the trails into the East Loring section of the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge. The trail from the headquarters building connects onto the old railroad bed that used to be used to move the nuclear warheads in and out of the former Loring Air Force Base. The Friends group has groomed a trail through the deep snow making for great access into this otherwise remote area.

The first bird I saw was a Common Raven holding a freshly killed vole. Later, near the "Weapons Storage" part of the refuge, I encountered an adult Northern Shrike. This too was carrying a vole. I wondered if the compacted snow of the groomed ski trail presents a barrier to the tunneling rodents and makes them come to the surface. If so, it seems the avian predators have figured this out.

I also spent some time with a flock of 15+ Pine Grosbeaks silently budding on the upper branches of the young fir and spruce along the trail. These birds seem parrot-like to me in the way they reach and dangle, almost upside down, to get at their food.

I understand that an auto loop will be opening into the East Loring portion of the refuge in summer 2017.

Good birding

Bill

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

Wednesday, 28 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Bullock's Camden

Bullock's Oriole reported and photoed to MAINE Birds Facebook page today

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAINEBirds/permalink/1183681195047314/

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[Maine-birds] Boreal chickadee Augusta

A Boreal Chickadee was reported and photographed in Augusta today to the Facebook group MAINE Birds https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAINEBirds/permalink/1183728741709226/

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[Maine-birds] Pond Cove and Dyer Point, Cape Elizabeth

Hi all -- I was able to locate the Orange-crowned and Palm Warblers today at Pond Cove in Cape Elizabeth. The cool thing about this spot is how many other birds are feasting on the virtual swarm of insects hovering on and just above the rotting sea weed piles: ~12 E. Bluebirds, several Am. Goldfinch, 1 Song Sparrow, a Golden-crowned Kinglet. And nearby, House Finch, R-b Woodpecker, N. Mockingbird, and more.

Also, spotted one lone N. Gannet well offshore at Dyer Point, Two Lights.

Best,

Craig K

[Maine-birds] Pine Grosbeaks Millinocket

A dozen! Females outnumbered males 11 to 1!

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[Maine-birds] Mystery passerine Bowdoin Mill, Topsham

I keep missing this bird that is regularly right out the door from MCHT office at the yellow mill building (Bowdoin Mill). At 4pm tonight it flew out from a small island of trees and juniper in the Sea Dog parking lot and landed high on the roof line of the mill building where it walked with a distinct bobbing motion kind of like a waterthrush (definitely not a waterthrush based on call. The other day it was hunkered down in the same area and would not flush. I cannot place the chipping call it makes when it flies, but something reminiscent of a pipit, longspur, duh i just don't know bird. Its the size of the birds just mentioned or large sparrow. By the time I got my binoculars tonight it flew over the green bridge and landed in the small floodplain shrubby area on the Topsham side of the river. Not claiming that this is a show stopper, but given the odd habitats, habits and call that I can't place, its something different... If I get on it, I'll keep folks posted. If you are in the area it might be worth birding the Sea Dog parking area. It has been here for at least a week.

Re: [Maine-birds] NO Black Vulture

Allison and I just cruised around the area from around 11:15-11:45 with no luck either thought there are certainly lots of places for it to be roosting and hidden.

Jeff Wells

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 28, 2016, at 11:55 AM, Margaret Viens <margaretviens@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I birded the area around the reported Black Vulture location (Napa Auto parts, Rte 201, Farmingdale and 3rd st) from 9:15 to 11:00 this morning; by car and on foot; and was joined at various times by 5 other birders. No luck!
>
> I was also there from 3:10-4:00 yesterday and missed it in the reported cedar tree, and no other birders were there at the time....
>
> Good luck if you try,
>
> Margaret Viens
> Waterville
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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[Maine-birds] NO Black Vulture

I birded the area around the reported Black Vulture location (Napa Auto parts, Rte 201, Farmingdale and 3rd st) from 9:15 to 11:00 this morning; by car and on foot; and was joined at various times by 5 other birders. No luck!

I was also there from 3:10-4:00 yesterday and missed it in the reported cedar tree, and no other birders were there at the time....

Good luck if you try,

Margaret Viens
Waterville

Sent from my iPhone

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Tuesday, 27 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Orange-crowned warbler, Palm warbler

Both continuing today at Pond Cove, Cape Elizabeth along with Golden-crowned kinglet, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Mockingbirds and others feeding along beach.

[Maine-birds] BLVU, RSHAxRTHA, LASP - Kennebec County, 12/27

Hey everyone:

I had a great day chasing some uncommon birds around Kennebec County with Josh Fecteau. None came easy and it felt like a good balance of luck and perseverance but we managed to 'twitch' our three targets:

Black Vulture (BLVU) - a Black Vulture was found by Casey Hynes on the 26th, roosting on a chimney near the NAPA in Farmingdale. We rushed there this morning and after some searching relocated the vulture near the gas station (and fake palm trees) on the west side of 201. It eventually moved back to its previous roost but quickly disappeared. Here are some more notes on that brief encounter: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33232566 Louis and Don relocated it later in the day and we were able to see it again roosting in a hemlock on 3rd Street; odds are good it will be there tomorrow morning. A few more notes here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33232599 One interesting malady of note on this bird is it appears to have an injury to its left eye. You may recall that Fyn Kynd found a Black Vulture that was missing its left eye on 28 May 2016 in Searsmont, only 30 miles east of this location: http://ebird.org/ebird/me/view/checklist/S29947946

presumed Red-shouldered Hawk x Red-tailed Hawk (hybrid) - This presumed hybrid has been frequenting the area around the Benton Elementary School since the 18th. Louis Bevier has done a great job documenting this bird over the past week and a collection of photos can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/zegd2dr It took us several tries and it seems the bird prefers the afternoon to forage in this area. Some notes and (distant) photos from today are at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33232596

Lark Sparrow (LASP) - Leslie Starr found a Lark Sparrow along Maple Ridge Road in China on the 25th. We bumped into Margaret Viens along the road and after a lengthy vigil at the intersection of Maple Ridge and Wyman Bog Road, the Lark Sparrow finally showed at the feeders behind the house at the southwest corner or that intersection. We never talked to the homeowner though she didn't seem to mind us watching from the road. Drivers were going pretty fast down Maple Ridge so be cautious and it is probably best to park on Wyman Bog Road. Here are some notes and a photo: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33232592

A pretty good day in Kennebec County!

Good birding,

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

Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Iceland gull in SP

South Portland, or as some of the Urban Professionals call it SoPo.

:)

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 27, 2016, at 4:21 PM, wrenyen <medea.steinman@maine.edu> wrote:

What does "SP" mean?

On Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 1:15:03 PM UTC-5, Marie Jordan wrote:
At mill cove by Hannaford's in SP
Marie

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[Maine-birds] Re: Iceland gull in SP

What does "SP" mean?

On Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 1:15:03 PM UTC-5, Marie Jordan wrote:

At mill cove by Hannaford's in SP
Marie

[Maine-birds] Re: Carolina Wrens- Machias

Nice one, William! Thanks.

On Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 1:56:21 PM UTC-5, William Otto wrote:

I had a new yard bird on Saturday, with 2 Carolina Wrens visiting the area around my house and enjoying some of the suet that woodpeckers had knocked to the ground. They have been around my feeder area for the last four mornings. Hopefully they stick around a few more days to make it onto the Machias CBC this weekend.

William

--
William Otto
Professor of Chemistry
Chair, Environmental and Biological Sciences Division
University of Maine at Machias
107a Science, UMM
116 O'Brien Ave, Machias, ME 04654
207-255-1345
fax: 207-255-1390

[Maine-birds] Carolina Wrens- Machias

I had a new yard bird on Saturday, with 2 Carolina Wrens visiting the area around my house and enjoying some of the suet that woodpeckers had knocked to the ground. They have been around my feeder area for the last four mornings. Hopefully they stick around a few more days to make it onto the Machias CBC this weekend.

William

William Otto
Professor of Chemistry
Chair, Environmental and Biological Sciences Division
University of Maine at Machias
107a Science, UMM
116 O'Brien Ave, Machias, ME 04654
207-255-1345
fax: 207-255-1390

[Maine-birds] Iceland gull in SP

At mill cove by Hannaford's in SP
Marie

[Maine-birds] Thousands of crows in Bangor

...apparent roost site between Garland St and State St just south of EMMC. A wall of crow calls between 630 & 640am. Leaving my vehicle in a nearby parking lot, I first took the odd sound as construction noise from the hospital project.

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Monday, 26 December 2016

[Maine-birds] MEYC, Dec 21, 2016

Thirty individuals identified 81 Bird Species on the Dec 21, 2016 Southern Maine CBC. This is the 45th count year for this Circle,MEYC. It was a pleasant Winter Solstice day, rescheduled from the icy 19th of December. Temperatures ranged from 18-32 degrees F and west winds blew at 7-10 MPH. Our 81 species is an average count and we added no new birds. A lingering Gray Catbird seen only for the 4th count and 1 Bohemian Waxwing found in a mixed flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings characterized the dynamics of the birding day. Wood Duck, Greater Scaup, Northern Pintails and Green-wing Teal were found on open water while a light phased Rough-legged Hawk hovered over Moody Marsh. Count week has so far added a Barred Owl to our total. Thanks to all who participated and attended the compilation at the Wells Reserve.

Happy Holidays to all.

Pat Moynahan

Sent from my iPhone

[Maine-birds] Lewiston Auburn CBC results

Sunday, December 18th, 11 brave individuals started out into the freezing rain for Lewiston/Auburns 37th Christmas Bird Count. Thankfully, temperatures rose to the 40's and drizzle turned to fog. 44 species were tallied for the day. Notable birds were a Merlin, a late Turkey Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Eastern Bluebirds and 3 Northern Mockingbirds. Count week birds included a Red-Bellied Woodpecker and Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Horned Larks were high at 82 individuals, and seen in 3 of the 6 sectors.

[Maine-birds] Orange-crowned still present at Pond Cove

At high noon, wrack-picking with two Mockingbirds, a Song Sparrow and the Palm Warbler! All within 100' of the road (200' down Shore Road from the park entrance and parking). As Glenn used to say, "a bird with an address".

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Unity BOWA

A half hour ago 100+ Bohemian Waxwings on the Quaker Hill Rd by the old Indian Museum.

Austin

[Maine-birds] Bremen Birds

The Fox Sparrow continues under the feeder despite chilly temps, plus usual birds. Also 50 Black Ducks, 3 mallards, and 24 Bufflehead Ducks splashing, feeding, preening in sunlit cove.

Juanita Roushdy

Bremen, ME 04551

Friends of Hog Island - Promises made; promises kept.

Sunday, 25 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Orange crown and Palm Warbler stiil present at Pond Cove in Cape Elizabeth

I stopped by here for a half hour or so and the warblers Brendan McKay reported are still here working above the wrack line bushes!

Saturday, 24 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Barred Owl, Tree Sparrow and Bohemian Waxwings in Harrington

We were treated to good looks at a sitting Barred Owl in a recent timber harvest acreage at the junction of Putnam Drive and Pineo Point Road. The bird was in one of the scattered overstory trees.

An American Tree Sparrow was under our feeder this morning and we also saw 26 Bohemian Waxwings in tamarack trees at the junction of Willey District Road and Route 1.

Anne Archie, Harrington, ME

[Maine-birds] Swamp Sparrow

I had a Swamp Sparrow under my feeder today.

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[Maine-birds] Fwd: [cayugabirds-l] Herring Gull banded in Portland 6/28/16

Ever wonder where Portland sea gulls winter? Kevin McGowan is an expert on crows and crow behavior who works at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology . He monitors the compost facility at Cornell (in Ithaca, NY) regularly. In the following post, he reports on a banded Herring Gull found there two weeks ago.

Alicia

P.S. If you click on the link and notice the crow with a '75' on its wing, it was tagged as part of the ongoing crow research project.

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	banded Herring Gull
Date:	Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:39:46 +0000
From:	Kevin J. McGowan <kjm2@cornell.edu>
Reply-To:	Kevin J. McGowan <kjm2@cornell.edu>
To:	CAYUGABIRDS-L <CAYUGABIRDS-L@list.cornell.edu>

I took some photos of a first cycle Herring Gull at the Cornell compost facility on 10 December, 2016, and I just found out it was banded as a chick 28 June 2016 on the roof of the Portland Art Museum in downtown, Portland, Maine, by Dr. Noah Perlut of the University of New England. It's always interesting to know where our winter visitors come from.

Photos of the bird are in my eBird list at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32947117. Six gull species there that day.

Kevin

[Maine-birds] MDI

Male Wood Duck in the Somesville mill pond

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Winter Plumage Red Necked Greeb ?

Is my I.D. of the bird correct. Seen 12/23 off Ocean Avenue in Biddeford Pool.

Thanks, Mike

[Maine-birds] BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, Camden continues

The BULLOCK'S ORIOLE that has been seen in a yard in Camden since mid-November continues to visit the feeders in that yard, and the homeowner still welcomes birders who would like to see him.

(Margaret, your email in-box appears to be full and bounced back my reply to your query.)

Best wishes to all for happy, birdy holidays!

Kristen

Kristen Lindquist Website: kristenlindquist.com Haiku blog: www.klindquist.blogspot.com

Friday, 23 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Re: Palm Warbler & Orange-crowned Warbler - Cape Elizabeth

Photos can be seen on my eBird checklist;

http://ebird.org/ebird/me/view/checklist/S33167272

On Friday, December 23, 2016 at 5:33:40 PM UTC-5, Brendan McKay wrote:

This morning I birded Pond Cove (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pond+Cove/@43.6085044,-70.2154819,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cb29e2154e6615f:0xb1e1cfe7052c8554!8m2!3d43.6086569!4d-70.2141055) and found a "Western" Palm Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler along the upper edge of the stone beach. It looks like Derek had the Palm Warbler here back on the 20th.

Good winter birding!

Brendan
Portland, ME

[Maine-birds] Palm Warbler & Orange-crowned Warbler - Cape Elizabeth

This morning I birded Pond Cove (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pond+Cove/@43.6085044,-70.2154819,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cb29e2154e6615f:0xb1e1cfe7052c8554!8m2!3d43.6086569!4d-70.2141055) and found a "Western" Palm Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler along the upper edge of the stone beach. It looks like Derek had the Palm Warbler here back on the 20th.

Good winter birding!

Brendan

Portland, ME

[Maine-birds] This Week's Highlights, 12/17-23

Hi all,

Observations of note over the past seven days for me included the following:

- 42 Evening Grosbeaks, Tuttle Road, Pownal, 12/17 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

- 1 Hermit Thrush and 1 Winter Wren, Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth, 12/20 (with Jeannette).

- 1 GRAY CATBIRD, St. Bartholomew's Church, Cape Elizabeth, 12/20 (with Jeannette).

- 1 "WESTERN" PALM WARBLER and 1 Northern Shrike, Pond Cove, Cape Elizabeth, 12/20 (with Jeannette).

- 1 female NORTHERN SHOVELER, Eastern Promenade, Portland, 12/22. Second Promenade record and my personal 176th species here!

- 1 1st winter Iceland Gull, Mill Creek Cove, South Portland, 12/22.

- Snow Buntings at numerous locations this week, although my high count was merely 9 at Stover's Point in Harpswell on 12/21.

- phone-scoped photo of my previously reported female King Eider (immature male not photographed this time) off of the Portland Fish Pier on 12/22:

https://www.facebook.com/Freeportwildbird/photos/a.1200342509995701.1073741849.198877036808925/1491256000904349/?type=3&theater

- Derek

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

Derek and Jeannette Lovitch

Freeport Wild Bird Supply

541 Route One, Suite 10

Freeport, ME 04032

207-865-6000

www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

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

[Maine-birds] Red-shouldered Hawk

Just saw one in Gorham being chased out of a tree by a crow. Always nice to see these beautiful hawks.

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[Maine-birds] Killdeer (photo) Monhegan

This Killdeer has been around for several days. We've also had several Gannets - unusual for this time of year. I watched two diving for fish at the southern end of the harbor at noon today.

Thursday, 22 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Leucistic or Hybrid?

This bird has been mixed in with my mallards this week. Is it a hybrid (wood x mallard) or a leucistic - I'm leaning towards hybrid.The eye feature looks more like the female Wood Duck.

Peggy Blair

RE: [Maine-birds] Oriole hanging steady in Cumberland

Actually, most photos are with the 12/7 list:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33074295

From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com [mailto:maine-birds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Dave Cowan
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2016 10:34 AM
To: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Maine-birds] Oriole hanging steady in Cumberland

Hey folks,

We've had an oriole visiting our feeders daily since 12/6. What with the Bullock's in Camden I've spent some time reviewing the possibilities and have settled on 1^st year male BAOR, but by all means weigh in if you think it might be otherwise. Photos here:

https://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S33074216

Cheers of the season,

Dave

[Maine-birds] Oriole hanging steady in Cumberland

Hey folks,

We’ve had an oriole visiting our feeders daily since 12/6. What with the Bullock’s in Camden I’ve spent some time reviewing the possibilities and have settled on 1^st year male BAOR, but by all means weigh in if you think it might be otherwise. Photos here:

https://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S33074216

Cheers of the season,

Dave

[Maine-birds] Biddeford Pool Birds 12/22

Got an amazing view of a Rough-legged Hawk at the ice cream shop on Mile Streatch Rd. Also, Purple Sandpipers, Red-throated Loon, and Razorbill at East Point Sanctuary.

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[Maine-birds] 2 King Eiders, Portland Harbor, 12/22

Hi all,
There are now two KING EIDERS, one immature male and one female in Portland Harbor. Both are currently in view from the fish pier, in opposite directions.
-Derek

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Bohemian Waxwing - York

Our team found a Bohemian Waxwing in York yesterday during the CBC. The bird was with a flock of Robins and Cedar Waxwings in the berry bushes along the on the left hand side of High Pine Road immediately after turning onto High Pine Rd from Cider Hill Rd.

Map of approximate location: https://goo.gl/maps/93Mz3yb1V3y

Cheers,

Shiloh

Wednesday, 21 December 2016

[Maine-birds] Rough – legged hawk

I saw one hovering as I was driving south down 295 through Portland. It was by the outlet of Back Cove where it empties into the ocean. I saw it at 10 o'clock and Turk saw it again at 1:30.

Sent from my iPhone... So please forgive typographical errors, message brevity and any strange word choices my phone decides were better than what I actually dictated

Linda Woodard
207-415-8331
Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Harlequin Ducks at Two Lights S.P.

17 Harlequin Ducks (8 male) at Two Lights State Park. Observed at 11:15 am, 21-Dec.

Tara Stewart & Loren Merrill

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[Maine-birds] Pine Grosbeaks, Farmington

Happy Winter Solstice, birding friends! Folks in the Farmington/Wilton area might be able to catch up with a flock of 11 Pine Grosbeaks (all females/"russet" females by plumage) that I came across yesterday around 3PM. They were feeding in a crabapple tree right next to the road on Rt. 43. The spot is smack on the Farmington/Wilton line, a little ways west of the Walton Mill Dam park on the way up to Temple Intervale. A wide driveway across the road from the tree offers a convenient pull-off spot.

The mill dam park had a lot of bird activity thanks to a stocked feeder at the home next door to the parking area, notably 8-10 American Tree Sparrows and a Northern Cardinal.

Peace & good birding,

Scott Cronenweth

Farmington, ME

scottcronenweth@icloud.com

[Maine-birds] Re: pine grosbeaks

I must check that out! Thank you!

On Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at 12:14:24 PM UTC-5, Julia Hanauer wrote:

I finally got to see some pine grosbeaks this a.m. on the access road to the middle school in Oakland.

Julia