This was a birdy week here on Mount Desert Island (which basically means I got out birding a LOT!). Here are some highlights from the week:
Bass Harbor Marsh is the place for ducks with four good species observed this week!
Gadwall. Two were found at Bass Harbor Marsh. A female GADW found Wednesday was quite close, easily viewed with binoculars. Thursday, a male GADW was observed at some distance (thank Darwin for spotting scopes). And Friday a male and female GADW were feeding together, again observed at some distance with a scope.
American Wigeon. 4 AMWI (2 female, 2 male) were observed Friday at Bass Harbor Marsh.While I was watching them, College of the Atlantic’s ornithology class pulled up, so I was able to share the love with them. As they were leaving, an Acadia National Park law enforcement officer pulled up. He wanted to know if I was guiding (I was not). In all my years of living in Bar Harbor, I have NOT ONCE been queried by ANP law enforcement, but between last year and this, I have been stopped no less than six times. So, if any of you are guiding in Acadia, be sure to have you Commercial Use Authorization.
Northern Pintail. A single NOPI was reported Tuesday by Jim Bright at Bass Harbor Marsh Tuesday. We dipped on it Wednesday. I found it Thursday. And Friday there were two.
Green-winged Teal. GWTE have arrived with small numbers around Mount Desert Island and a maximum of 12 observed Friday at Bass harbor Marsh.
Friday was Duck Day as I observed 19 species of ducks and geese (that is a very good number for MDI):
- Canada Goose
- Wood Duck
- Gadwall
- American Wigeon
- American Black Duck
- Mallard
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Ring-necked Duck
- Common Eider
- Harlequin Duck
- White-winged Scoter
- Black Scoter
- Long-tailed Duck
- Bufflehead
- Common Goldeneye
- Hooded Merganser
- Common Merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser
Bald Eagle. I had 4 immature BAEA together at Bass Harbor Marsh, including one who unsuccessfully chased a Mallard. I rarely see Mallards dive, but that one sure did!
Belted-Kingfisher. I had one all January and February at Jones Marsh, near the head of Mount Desert Island, but I had not seen one since until Thursday, when I heard its rattling call at Bass Harbor Marsh.
Yellow-rumped Warbler. A YWRA was singing in my dooryard this morning! My FOY warbler!
Fox Sparrow. This week, FOPSs have been observed in small numbers all around the island.
Richard MacDonald
The Natural History Center
P.O. Box 6
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
207/266-9461
Rich@TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com
www.TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com
www.facebook.com/TheNaturalHistoryCenter
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