Saturday 24 November 2018

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

1st; to all those who have downloaded the MSI CHECKLIST.

I have uploaded a revised version of the list which corrects several errors and includes previously omitted species.
Thanks to Stu Tingley and others for finding my mistakes. Hopefully, there are no major errors this time but please, let me know if you see anything untoward.
Incidentally, the listing order pretty much follows Sibley.

Any of these new URLs will access the latest version. The file name is unchanged.

http://mbf.cc/20X5pq

http://mbf.cc/qTy1kf


Bird activity hasn't changed much over the last couple days, other than everybody (including me) has been trying to shelter from the frigid winds that have been near and over gale force.
There are a few more PINE SISKINS and a few less Sparrows showing although there were several TREE SPARROWS today.
With rising temperatures and somewhat lower wind, I expect an up-tick.

For those unfamiliar with off-shore weather, perhaps I should point out that we generally run some few degrees warmer and get less precipitation than the mainland. We get our share of dirty weather but the surrounding water moderates temperatures.
We've had little more than a dusting of snow in the past couple of weeks.The ground is totally bare and mainly unfrozen.
The lowest temperature that we had was -10C /+14F.
Standing water froze during this little cold snap but it's melting now with +7C /+45F.

Since the round with MERLIN, HARRIER & PEREGRINE a few days ago, raptor activity has been limited to a lone EAGLE stopping by briefly yesterday and a daily visit from a (presumed) local Peregrine.

The GREAT BLUE HERON which I mentioned a few days ago did succumb and is now wrapped for delivery to the museum.
The immediate cause of death is undoubtedly starvation. It is nothing but skin and bone. There is no obvious reason for the starvation. It's a young bird, though, so inexperience may have contributed to its demise.  

On the water, HARLEQUINS continue numerous with several dozen generally in view.
There appears to be some feed around with hundreds of Gulls loafing on adjacent Gull Rock.
This afternoon saw over a hundred KITTIWAKES working the tide streaks close to the island.   


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