Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking

Friday, 29 May 2026

[Maine-birds] Offshore Trip Report - 5/28/26 (Arctic Terns, Leach's S-P, Puffins, etc.)

Report of birds encountered during research trip aboard UNH Research Vessel Gulf Challenger. Boat did not stop or steer toward birds. I was a guest yesterday on a UNH boat that was performing ocean experiments offshore. The boat traveled offshore to a point north of the Isles of Shoals (CO2 buoy) and collected water samples. It then continued east over Jeffrey's Ledge to the "Wilkinson's Basin" location where it deployed the water sampler, collected plankton samples, and deployed a specialized plankton laser camera aboard "wire walker". It then returned following the outbound route. The bird highlights included the return of southern hemisphere nesting species, three nice rarities, and an overall good diverse list of pelagic species. Wilson's Storm-Petrels are back in good numbers. And although there were only a small number of shearwaters, both Great and Sooty are back and a handful of Northern Fulmar are lingering from the winter. Rarities included a Leach's Storm-Petrel, two Arctic Terns and two Atlantic Puffins. The only offshore migrant of note was a single hummingbird over Jeffrey's Ledge! Weather and seas - Light northerly winds becoming calm, then increasing out of south. Seas 2 feet becoming flat late in day. Sunny with brief patches of fog offshore becoming mostly cloudy with nearby showers. We mostly avoided spotty showers. Time - 9:15 AM to 4:00 PM. eBird checklists submitted and eBird trip list with documentation photos at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/530782 Total list of birds offshore (east of Isles of Shoals CO2 buoy) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 - Single bird buzzing over boat from over Jeffrey's Ledge! Red-necked Phalarope 8 Red/Red-necked Phalarope 3 ATLANTIC PUFFIN 2 - Nice flyby of two adults inside of Jeffrey's Ledge. Rarely seen in summer. American Herring Gull 86 Great Black-backed Gull 48 ARCTIC TERN 2 - Although they've nested on White/Seavey, this species is rarely recorded offshore. My first record from the boat. Common Tern 13 Common Loon 2 Wilson's Storm-Petrel 464 - My first of year. High count as big pulse of birds newly arrived. Very concentrated on center of Jeffrey's Ledge. LEACH'S STORM-PETREL 1 - Rare. My first record from this boat. While stopped at Wilkinson's. Northern Fulmar 7 - Lingering birds. Great Shearwater 1 - My first of year. Sooty Shearwater 4 - My first of year. 1 of these close to shore near longitude of Isles of Shoals. Northern Gannet 1 Double-crested Cormorant 9 Marine Mammals ------------------------ Harbor Porpoise - 2 Whales - 0. I think most of the whale activity recently has been further south toward Old Scantum. Steve Mirick Bradford, MA -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/d47ae09c-9b62-44b1-b9b4-4c427022ccae%40gmail.com.

Thursday, 28 May 2026

[Maine-birds] Red Crossbill flyovers, Basin Cove, Harpswell, ME 5/28/26

Red Crossbill flyovers, Basin Cove, Harpswell, ME 5/28/26

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Re: [Maine-birds] Catbird behavior

I usually have a pair in the yard and a pair in the orchard, this year there are 3 in the yard, not sure what arrangement they have going on. It is fun listening to what songs they pilfer and put in their repitoire.

Several chimney swifts flying over the house this morning, monitoring to see if they are using my chimney, guess no woodstove this cold weekend.

------------------

Dr. Sarah Caputo

Belfast Veterinary Hospital

Mtn. Valley Farm Jacobs

Montville, ME

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

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From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Sharon F. <sfinley111@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2026 9:13:27 AM
To: David Gulick <dvdgu741@gmail.com>; Sean S <therefromhere168@gmail.com>
Cc: maine-birds@googlegroups.com <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Catbird behavior

We have had several pairs of cat birds nesting around us for many years. 9-10 madly chase each other upon returning and feed on all the suet to be found! Also indulge in grape jelly and meal worms at every possible opportunity. Statins may not be a bad idea!

They are very cheery and entertaining to share a yard with. Noise level here is constant due to catbirds, Carolina wrens(incessant!),cardinals,Orioles and nesting house wrens!🐦

Redstarts that nest near yard have returned again this spring as have a pair of Baltimore orioles. Worth getting through another winter!

From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Gulick <dvdgu741@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 11:57 AM
To: Sean S <therefromhere168@gmail.com>
Cc: maine-birds@googlegroups.com <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Catbird behavior

Our catbirds practically live on the suet! Can they develop coronary artery disease? Can catbirds have heart attacks or strokes? Perhaps I should grind up a statin and mix it in with the suet.

On May 27, 2026, at 9:46 AM, Sean S <therefromhere168@gmail.com> wrote:

Catbirds are fun birds to have around and they're always welcome at our suet. The downside of having an accessible suet block is that Starlings (annoying) and Grackles (even more annoying because of the way they use their saw-like bills to hack off huge chunks) can partake at will. And then there's the issue of Squirrels, which sometimes have to be bribed away with peanuts and other treats. But it's still worth it to be able to allow Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and other species to have access to suet during times, as it seems this year, when insects are in short supply. I haven't seen any ticks this year (in itself, a welcome first), and only a couple of mosquitoes... very few moths on the window screens at night, not even many house flies vs. past years.

Catbirds have been nesting fixtures around the yard for several years now, I think in large part because of the suet feeder. They have such colorful personalities and vocal talents. Recently the male has been singing from a lilac bush at odd times during the night. Last night he was doing a perfect, but louder imitation of a Gray Treefrog, mixed in with other mimicry.

Sean Smith

Hiram

On Tue, May 26, 2026, 5:47 PM Michelle Gregoire <m4gregoire@gmail.com> wrote:

We have a suet cage with a roof so only woodpeckers, nuthatches and other birds that are comfortable upside down are able to feed from it - keeps the starlings away. A very clever

Gray Catbird has learned how to jump from the deck railing and hover for a second, long enough to reach up and grab a bit from the underside of the cage. Perhaps it learned to hover by watching the hummingbirds (just kidding)?

Michelle Gregoire

Westbrook

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Re: [Maine-birds] Catbird behavior

They are very cheery and entertaining to share a yard with. Noise level here is constant due to catbirds, Carolina wrens(incessant!),cardinals,Orioles and nesting house wrens!🐦

Redstarts that nest near yard have returned again this spring as have a pair of Baltimore orioles. Worth getting through another winter!

Our catbirds practically live on the suet! Can they develop coronary artery disease? Can catbirds have heart attacks or strokes? Perhaps I should grind up a statin and mix it in with the suet.

On May 27, 2026, at 9:46 AM, Sean S <therefromhere168@gmail.com> wrote:

Catbirds are fun birds to have around and they're always welcome at our suet. The downside of having an accessible suet block is that Starlings (annoying) and Grackles (even more annoying because of the way they use their saw-like bills to hack off huge chunks) can partake at will. And then there's the issue of Squirrels, which sometimes have to be bribed away with peanuts and other treats. But it's still worth it to be able to allow Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and other species to have access to suet during times, as it seems this year, when insects are in short supply. I haven't seen any ticks this year (in itself, a welcome first), and only a couple of mosquitoes... very few moths on the window screens at night, not even many house flies vs. past years.

Catbirds have been nesting fixtures around the yard for several years now, I think in large part because of the suet feeder. They have such colorful personalities and vocal talents. Recently the male has been singing from a lilac bush at odd times during the night. Last night he was doing a perfect, but louder imitation of a Gray Treefrog, mixed in with other mimicry.

Sean Smith

Hiram

On Tue, May 26, 2026, 5:47 PM Michelle Gregoire <m4gregoire@gmail.com> wrote:

We have a suet cage with a roof so only woodpeckers, nuthatches and other birds that are comfortable upside down are able to feed from it - keeps the starlings away. A very clever

Gray Catbird has learned how to jump from the deck railing and hover for a second, long enough to reach up and grab a bit from the underside of the cage. Perhaps it learned to hover by watching the hummingbirds (just kidding)?

Michelle Gregoire

Westbrook

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Wednesday, 27 May 2026

[Maine-birds] Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Veery, Baltimore Oriole, Brunswick, ME 5/27/26

Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Veery, Baltimore Oriole, Mere Creek Golf Course, Holes 4 and 5, Brunswick, ME 5/27/26

Dr. Jay Pitocchelli, Professor Emeritus
Biology Department
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH 03102

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Re: [Maine-birds] Catbird behavior

Our catbirds practically live on the suet! Can they develop coronary artery disease? Can catbirds have heart attacks or strokes? Perhaps I should grind up a statin and mix it in with the suet.

On May 27, 2026, at 9:46 AM, Sean S <therefromhere168@gmail.com> wrote:

Catbirds are fun birds to have around and they're always welcome at our suet. The downside of having an accessible suet block is that Starlings (annoying) and Grackles (even more annoying because of the way they use their saw-like bills to hack off huge chunks) can partake at will. And then there's the issue of Squirrels, which sometimes have to be bribed away with peanuts and other treats. But it's still worth it to be able to allow Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and other species to have access to suet during times, as it seems this year, when insects are in short supply. I haven't seen any ticks this year (in itself, a welcome first), and only a couple of mosquitoes... very few moths on the window screens at night, not even many house flies vs. past years.

Catbirds have been nesting fixtures around the yard for several years now, I think in large part because of the suet feeder. They have such colorful personalities and vocal talents. Recently the male has been singing from a lilac bush at odd times during the night. Last night he was doing a perfect, but louder imitation of a Gray Treefrog, mixed in with other mimicry.

Sean Smith

Hiram

On Tue, May 26, 2026, 5:47 PM Michelle Gregoire <m4gregoire@gmail.com> wrote:

We have a suet cage with a roof so only woodpeckers, nuthatches and other birds that are comfortable upside down are able to feed from it - keeps the starlings away. A very clever

Gray Catbird has learned how to jump from the deck railing and hover for a second, long enough to reach up and grab a bit from the underside of the cage. Perhaps it learned to hover by watching the hummingbirds (just kidding)?

Michelle Gregoire

Westbrook

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Re: [Maine-birds] Catbird behavior

Catbirds are fun birds to have around and they're always welcome at our suet. The downside of having an accessible suet block is that Starlings (annoying) and Grackles (even more annoying because of the way they use their saw-like bills to hack off huge chunks) can partake at will. And then there's the issue of Squirrels, which sometimes have to be bribed away with peanuts and other treats. But it's still worth it to be able to allow Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and other species to have access to suet during times, as it seems this year, when insects are in short supply. I haven't seen any ticks this year (in itself, a welcome first), and only a couple of mosquitoes... very few moths on the window screens at night, not even many house flies vs. past years.

Catbirds have been nesting fixtures around the yard for several years now, I think in large part because of the suet feeder. They have such colorful personalities and vocal talents. Recently the male has been singing from a lilac bush at odd times during the night. Last night he was doing a perfect, but louder imitation of a Gray Treefrog, mixed in with other mimicry.

Sean Smith

Hiram

On Tue, May 26, 2026, 5:47 PM Michelle Gregoire <m4gregoire@gmail.com> wrote:

We have a suet cage with a roof so only woodpeckers, nuthatches and other birds that are comfortable upside down are able to feed from it - keeps the starlings away. A very clever

Gray Catbird has learned how to jump from the deck railing and hover for a second, long enough to reach up and grab a bit from the underside of the cage. Perhaps it learned to hover by watching the hummingbirds (just kidding)?

Michelle Gregoire

Westbrook

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