On the 20th in Hiram behind the Village Cemetery (on Rt. 117), near Hancock Brook at least 2 AMERICAN WOODCOCK were flying around and making noise the evening of the 20th. Since the birds weren't visible I automatically thought the peenting was from Common Nighthawks (which I've also been seeing or hearing around the area daily in small numbers all week), but the twittering wing noises made me listen to the call again.. definitely buzzier, flatter and mechanically repetitious than a Nighthawk's, though similar in pitch. Incidental list with sounds: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56563079 .
At least one Woodcock was heard calling the next night as well, but around 9:20 on Wednesday evening an EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard calling in the same general area, making me temporarily forget about the Woodcocks. Regrettably the recording from that night consists almost entirely of stomping foot noises and breathing, from trying to get close enough to get a decent level while the bird seemed to move further and further toward the brook. I haven't heard it (or the Woodcocks) the past couple of nights, and it would be great if it's not just passing through.
On the 21st there were again a ton of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS at Ingalls Pond near the Hiram/Baldwin town line. Seriously not trying to give the eBird staff headaches, but yes! There were 35-45 of them milling around the sky, overhead on the trails (flying in close to catch the bugs following us), and above a large area of the pond, high and low. Although it was windy and not optimal for hearing bird calls, fortunately the NRWS were more vocal than the other swallow species (with some pairs were chasing each other) and can be seen and heard in some numbers in this video (turn up sound to hear their "jriit" calls). As before, they were in 2 main groups on the north and south ends of the water frontage, and mixing with slightly fewer Tree Swallows and far fewer Cliff & Barn. The birds were visually scanned for half an hour by Jeff Webb and myself, in an attempt to be accurate re. numbers.
Ingalls list: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56607589
Ingalls video link: https://youtu.be/CwdNYV23f_I
It's been my experience that luck for viewing larger numbers of swallows seems to hinge on the afternoon being later and the weather being cooler, although there were 3 individuals noted in 72 degree weather at 3:45 this afternoon, as well as a male BAY-BREASTED and 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. Today's list: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56730223
My supposition as to why there are so many NRWS (by all accounts NOT a colonial nesting species) in the vicinity of Ingalls Pond is the continually unbroken and relatively unspoiled habitat along Rt. 113. Simply put, there's more than enough habitat space to accommodate many nesting pairs without stepping on each others' toes. The same type of uncommon shallow wetlands, which somewhat resemble the boat landing area at Messalonskee Lake (minus any cattails), extends unbroken for a very long distance and then begins again in Hiram near the juncture of Rt. 117 along the Saco River, continuing for another 2/5 of a mile there. The shallows of Ingalls Pond are bordered along almost the entire shore with the same low scrubby water bushes (no idea what they are called) that extend out into the water. There is lots and lots of water frontage with no houses built next to the pond. The same low brushy frontage (backed by mostly deciduous mixed trees...the area is not "spruce bog" at all) is contiguous with both sides of Ingalls Pond, and occurs in a third parallel strip just across the railroad tracks which thinly separate Ingalls from the Saco River. Zooming in on the satellite feature of eBird at the spot gives an idea of the unusual and picturesque landscape features of this area.
This is a hotspot worth checking for anyone who's in the area, or visiting the Brownfield Bog. I've found 65 species there since my first visit there on the 14th. It would be great to see what anyone else is able to turn up.
Sean Smith
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