Sunday, 2 August 2020

[Maine-birds] Hills Beach Biddeford Pool

Shorebird numbers are starting to increase with Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Short-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Plover in decent numbers along Basket Island.

Howeve I'm hoping for some ID help after a very dramatic four-species bird encounter. I was watching a House Finch (FY-Feeding Young) feed a very young "flopper" Brown-headed Cowbird (FL-Recently Fledged) in the middle of the road on Sky Harbor Drive, when suddenly an accipiter sp. (Coop/Sharpie) was practically on top of my head. It dropped a carcass right next to me, grabbed the juvie BH Cowbird and flew off (CF-carrying food). The House Finch was the winner all around, because it escaped. So I'd like to see if anyone can ID the carcass—and potentially ID the accipiter. It felt like a Coop, but I barely saw it and was under an attack of disgust having a carcass almost dropped on my head and surprise of the cowbird being snatched feet from me. My best guess is a nestling that didn't make it.  It would appear to have talons, long relatively thick yellow legs, and some cinnamon feathering which would be consistent with juvie Coop. Or is it something else entirely? Can anyone definitely ID this from the photos in the checklist?

Magill Weber

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