A week and a half ago I was mudlarking down behind the Cianbro building on Cassidy Point on a really windy day and watched as one was hovering while hunting along the edge of the river for a good several minutes. I was quite surprised by it as well. It genuinely looked like it might have been a child's kite being held by a string as it needed no wingbeats, only minor corrections to maintain its position. The intensity of its study of the foreshore was magnificent. It disappeared behind a building there and I did not see it come back up along the riverside along West Commercial Street so I think it may have headed upriver towards the Mercy complex.
From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Ian Carlsen
Sent: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 12:02 PM
To: Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Maine-birds] Eastern Prom Report - Portland, ME
Hello from the unofficial Eastern Prom Hawkwatch!
I'm kidding about the hawkwatch bit, but migration was certainly under way and I was reaping the benefits of their movement. Highlight today was a male northern harrier (NOHA) flying low over the promenade and quickly disappearing in a northernly direction. Not likely to get one of those on the Eastern Promenade outside of a flyover code!
Nine turkey vultures (TUVU) followed shortly thereafter, also on the move north. Flushed a local sharp-shinned hawk (SSHA) and well... that was it for raptors. Spring's vanguard of common grackles (COGR) has arrived as well as a good influx of American robins (AMRO). Buffleheads (BUFF) still remain, as well as an unexpected group of black scoter (BLSC) that I've seen a few times now off of the prom.
Beaucoup song sparrows (SOSP) along the bike path, counted about 55 of them. Unable to pull out a rarity from amongst them, even had one promising-looking Lincoln's sparrow (LISP) in some dense puckerbrush that ended up belting out a disappointingly pitch perfect song sparrow song and revealing itself to be an imposter. So much for that...
It's a gorgeous day outside, hope everyone gets to spend some time out enjoying it. Wishing you all the best in birding.
Ian Carlsen
Portland, ME
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