Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking

Thursday, 31 May 2012

[Maine-birds] Popham Beach shorebirds - May 31

A thick ground-clinging fog enveloped Popham Beach when I hit it at low tide this afternoon. It made finding shorebirds in the lagoon a little dicey. Near as I could count, there were these:
5 Semipalmated sands
2 White-rumped sands
5 BB Plovers
1 Semi Plover
1 Willet
and some Herring Gulls

15 minutes later over at Ft Popham, there were 100s of gulls feeding on an upwelling of something in Atkins Bay. A few Bonies, but mostly Herring Gulls. Also there were 9 BBPlovers and
5 Semipalmated sands
2 White-rumped sands

I assumed the latter 2 species were same birds as earlier around the corner.
The 2 White-rumps were not the same as the solo bird at Popham on May 18.

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[Maine-birds] MDI Birdathon results

Yesterday, I lead a birdathon team – Ed Hawkes, Chad Propst, Rob Packie, and last-minute addition William Nichols – on a day-long effort to find birds on Mount Desert Island (all proceeds benefit Downeast Audubon’s education program, sending local youths to summer camp). All day long, the birds came slow and with much effort. By the end of the day, we tallied 95 species! We do this Birdathon every year, so next year we will try to break last year’s MDI record of 112 species.

The following is our list of birds for the day:

Norway Drive fields, Hancock, US-ME

May 30, 2012 2:51 AM

Comments: This was our second stop on our day-long Mount Desert Island Birdathon, a fund-raiser for the Down-east Chapter of Maine Audubon. All funds raised send local, Hancock County, Maine, youths to summer camp. We started at 2:00 a.m., hoping to find owls. It took nearly an hour to find our first species.

1 species

1. Hermit Thrush X

Acadia NP--Sieur de Monts Spring, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 4:10 AM

37 species

2. American Bittern 1

3. Herring Gull 1

4. Mourning Dove X

5. Barred Owl 1

6. Downy Woodpecker X

7. Pileated Woodpecker X

8. Eastern Wood-Pewee X

9. Alder Flycatcher X

10. Least Flycatcher X

11. Eastern Phoebe X

12. Great Crested Flycatcher X

13. Blue-headed Vireo X

14. Red-eyed Vireo X

15. Blue Jay X

16. American Crow X

17. Black-capped Chickadee X

18. White-breasted Nuthatch X

19. Brown Creeper X

20. Winter Wren X

21. Veery X

22. American Robin X

23. Gray Catbird X

24. European Starling X

25. Ovenbird X

26. Black-and-white Warbler X

27. Common Yellowthroat X

28. American Redstart X

29. Magnolia Warbler X

30. Yellow Warbler X

31. Chestnut-sided Warbler X

32. Pine Warbler X

33. Yellow-rumped Warbler X

34. Black-throated Green Warbler X

35. Song Sparrow X

36. Swamp Sparrow X

37. White-throated Sparrow X

38. American Goldfinch X

Bar Harbor neighborhoods, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 6:18 AM

5 species

39. Hairy Woodpecker X

40. Northern Cardinal X

41. Red-winged Blackbird X

42. Purple Finch X

43. Pine Siskin X

Bar Harbor Town Pier, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 6:32 AM

5 species

44. Double-crested Cormorant X

45. Laughing Gull X

46. Great Black-backed Gull X

47. Rock Pigeon X

48. House Sparrow X

College of the Atlantic campus, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 6:49 AM

1 species

49. House Finch X

Hulls Cove, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 7:24 AM

5 species

50. Mallard X

51. Common Eider X

52. White-winged Scoter X

53. Black-bellied Plover 14

54. Ring-billed Gull X

Hadley Point, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 7:45 AM

2 species

55. Bonaparte's Gull 2

56. Black Guillemot X

Eden Village, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 7:57 AM

1 species

57. Canada Goose 2

Northeast Creek, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 8:01 AM

5 species

58. Common Merganser X

59. Tree Swallow X

60. Barn Swallow X

61. Chipping Sparrow X

62. Bobolink X

Acadia NP--Thompson Island, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 8:19 AM

3 species

63. Common Loon X

64. Golden-crowned Kinglet X

65. Northern Parula X

County Road, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 8:37 AM

3 species

66. Greater Yellowlegs X

67. Ruby-throated Hummingbird X

68. Red-breasted Nuthatch X

Knox Road, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 9:08 AM

1 species

69. Wild Turkey X

Babson Brook Preserve, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 9:18 AM

3 species

70. Eastern Bluebird X

71. Cedar Waxwing X

72. Dark-eyed Junco X

MDI High School, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 10:09 AM

3 species

73. Northern Flicker X

74. Common Raven X

75. Ruby-crowned Kinglet X

Acadia NP--Eagle Lake, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 11:09 AM

1 species

76. Spotted Sandpiper X

Bar Harbor neighborhoods, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 11:27 AM

2 species

77. Turkey Vulture 13

78. Common Grackle X

Acadia National Park, Ocean Drive, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 12:27 PM

4 species

79. American Black Duck X

80. Black Scoter X

81. Red-throated Loon X

82. Bald Eagle X

Little Long Pond, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 1:40 PM

3 species

83. Great Blue Heron X

84. Osprey X

85. White-winged Crossbill X

Acadia NP--Echo Lake, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 2:32 PM

2 species

86. Peregrine Falcon 2

87. Blackburnian Warbler X

Acadia NP--Ship Harbor Trail, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 4:02 PM

1 species

88. Nashville Warbler X

Collage of the Atlantic campus, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 6:05 PM

1 species

89. Merlin X

Acadia NP--Cadillac Mountain, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 6:30 PM

2 species

90. Swainson's Thrush X

91. Eastern Towhee X

Bar Harbor Village Green, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 7:31 PM

1 species

92. Chimney Swift X

Norway Drive fields, Hancock, US-ME May 30, 2012 8:06 PM

3 species

93. American Woodcock X

94. Common Nighthawk X

95. Savannah Sparrow X

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

6 Firefly Lane, "On the Village Green"

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

207/801-2617 (store)

207/266-9461 (mobile)

Rich@TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

www.TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

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[Maine-birds] Seawall Beach this week

We're at Seawall Beach, Phippsburg for the week:

birds of interest include:

Roseate Tern: 2

Black Tern: 1 adult, unexpected in spring.

Common Tern: 40+

Black-bellied Plover: 170+

Semi Sandpiper: 300+

White-rumped Sandpiper: at least 5, annual here in spring.

One adult Razorbill off the beach was a treat.

A White-eyed Vireo reported singing off the southwest end of the beach.

A few Dows, Leasts, turnstones, etc..

Seems like very few B-t Greens and other warblers. no Red crossbills, sorry Robin.

Best, Peter

[Maine-birds] an apology

This past Sunday I posted a video of a Clay-colored Sparrow that had been spotted by some local experts. In my zeal to allow people to see and hear this bird that is rare to our area, I believe I used poor judgement in recording it and then posting that recording to this group. Let me assure all of you that I have learned from this experience and will be much more sensitive in these matters in the future.

Jim McCree

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[Maine-birds] Bank Swallows and ABA

I got a chance to observe a village of

Bank Swallows for a few moments

at one of my favorite wildlife locations.

It seemed to me that the slightest erosion

could wipe out the entire colony! Precarious!

http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p501323621/h1c396f95#h1c396f95

I'd also like to thank everyone who recently

posted a link to "Principals of Birding Ethics".

Birds make up a large number of my photographic

subjects, and while I've been inline, intuitively,

with those guidelings, there's always room to

learn more and reinforce what you think you

already know.

Thanks for the education!

Cheers,

Dave

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[Maine-birds] Birds and Birders Betrayed by Central Maine Power - please help!

Hi all,

Back in the fall, you may remember when I came to you asking for phone calls to help pressure Central Maine Power to temporarily halt and then limit the clearing of cover at Sandy Point, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth which hosts a regionally significant concentration of migrant passerines each fall. Thanks to pressure from the birding community, we stopped the cutting until after the vast majority of birds passed through last fall. I was also led to believe we had reached an agreement to limit the amount of cutting to the minimum necessary to meet Federal requirements for safety and reliability. Needless to say, I was more than a little shocked when I showed up in March to find the majority of the point devastated.

Birders and birds have been betrayed by CMP, and we have to let them know we are angry. When they presented the insulting proposal of "mitigating" the cutting with THREE small bushes, it was clear they did not "get it." We need them to understand why this place is so important to birds, and to birders (many of whom are rate payers). I NEED YOUR HELP!

I just posted a blog about the issue, the background, and the recent conversations that have occurred between March 14th and last week.

http://maineoutdoorjournal.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=102092.

I'm not going to be able to do this alone. Please make a call and stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Derek

------------------
Jeannette and Derek Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com
Visit our E-store http://store.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/

[Maine-birds] Clarry Hill changes

I walked the dirt access road to the Clarry summit this morning. A few
singing song sparrows, 3 buzzing savannah sparrows and 3 sets of
vesper sparrows. There are obvious declines in sparrow numbers in
recent years. This area has undergone drastic habitat changes within
the 30+ years I have birded it. The quantity of grassland has been
gradually but planfully converted into vine cultivation. We must
remember, afterall, that this is a commercial blueberry area. I recall
grassy field areas where at least 2 pair of upland sandpipers nested
annually, and I recall seeing a brood of fuzzy fledglings scurrying
across the top of the hill. Personally, I have not seen an uppy at
this site for probably 3 years. Just down the paved main roadway,
field sparrows nested before that area became overgrown and eventualy
forested. Not to lament, just to contemplate these swift habitat
changes.

Don

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[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

Quite a heavy movement through here last night; a combination of
passerines and shorebirds.

So far I haven't seen anything unusual but the BAYBREASTED & CHESTNUT
SIDED WARBLERS continue in numbers, as well as COMMON YELLOWTHROATS,
female REDSTARTS & mixed FLYCATCHERS.

The night movement of shorebirds seemed to be mainly phalaropes, the
same as the previous night. The main difference was the ratio of
species. Tuesday night was clearly dominated by RED PHALAROPES while
Wednesday (last night) appeared to favour RED NECKED PHALAROPES.

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Wednesday, 30 May 2012

[Maine-birds] Red-shouldered Hawk, Cuckoos - New Gloucester

A beautiful, adult Red-shouldered Hawk was teed up on a snag at the cattle ranch on Fickett Rd this morning, as the fog was lifting. As I stopped the truck, it flew to another snag, then north into the woods, calling all the while.

The woods between the tracks north of Penny Road featured:
both Cuckoos (1 ea.),
several Alder Flies
1 Least Fly
12 spp of warblers
but nothing of interest in the large marsh next to the tracks

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[Maine-birds] Matinicus Rock trip

Hi All,

We still have space on the Matinicus Rock trip. Please see below for
details and feel free to email me with questions. Jan Pierson and
Peter Vickery are leading.

Friday Jun 8, 2012 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
New Harbor, ME
Members: $80.00 Non-members: $100.00

A 32-acre island 18 miles offshore at the mouth of Penobscot Bay,
Matinicus Rock is one of Maine's most important seabird nesting
colonies. Here, Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, black
guillemots, arctic and common terns, and laughing gulls all gather to
nest.

Motoring out of New Harbor aboard the Hardy III, we'll cross the mouth
of Muscongus Bay, passing close by the seabird colony at Eastern Egg
Rock where roseate terns nest. With plenty of open-water habitat along
our route, we could see a good array of pelagic species, including
Wilson's storm-petrels, northern gannets, common murres, phalaropes,
greater and sooty shearwaters, black-legged kittiwakes, and jaegers.

Please visit www.maineaudubon.org to register online.

Thanks,
Mike Windsor
Maine Audubon

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[Maine-birds] WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 5/30

Hi all,

While leading a birdwalk as part of our Leica Day events at the store, Cameron Cox and I found a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Wharton Point in Brunswick (Delorme Map 6: C-3). We believe the bird was a 1st Spring bird, or a very pale adult, but we need to look more carefully at the photos. This is a great bird in the spring! It was associating with a small mixed flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers and Plovers, and/or two Least Sandpipers.

And as a reminder, Cameron will be giving a free presentation tonight entitled, "A Birder's Guide to Photography" (And he'll be incorporating the shots of this unbelievably cooperative White-rump). More information is here:

http://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/birdingtoursinMaine.asp

-Derek

[Maine-birds] BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO - Essex Woods - Bangor

6:45AM-8AM - FINALLY, after several attempts, I caught up with the recently reported BB Cuckoos at the corner, on the north end of the west side trail. Heard them a few days ago but no glimpses until this AM. Heard short soft call right at the corner, but had to wait for 10-15 minutes before the first one revealed itself. The two birds foraged from mid-level to just above ground. Yahooo! Rob Speirs Cumberland, ME.

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[Maine-birds] Common Nighthawk on MDI

Hi all -- Monday night around 8:15 I had a lone Common Nighthawk overhead in SW Harbor (audible and seen). I'd gone outside for a small errand, and was glad I did.

Craig K

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Re: [Maine-birds] Mount Desert Island birdathon wants you....

I would like to join you but may be pushed against the Acadia Birding Festival time crunch which starts Thursday.

Good luck. Let me know if you have space and I'll see what I can do

Michael

From: rich@thenaturalhistorycenter.com

Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:18 PM

To: 'Maine Birds'

Subject: [Maine-birds] Mount Desert Island birdathon wants you....

Tomorrow is the big day for the Mount Desert Island team on the Downeast Audubon Birdathon. One of our team members has had to cancel last minute, so if anyone would like to spend the day birding with us, we have a slot available. We will be starting at 2:00 a.m. and go until we have see all of the birds or run out of steam (usually it is the latter, and that is by about dusk).

And it is not too late to contribute. All proceeds will be used to send local youths to summer camp.

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

6 Firefly Lane, "On the Village Green"

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

207/801-2617 (store)

207/266-9461 (mobile)

Rich@TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

www.TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

www.facebook.com/TheNaturalHistoryCenter

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Tuesday, 29 May 2012

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

Tuesday was a dull, semi-wet day but it brought BAY BREASTED &
CHESTNUT SIDED WARBLERS, PARULAS, THRUSHES, JUNCOS & FLYCATCHERS. Also
3 Eagles and a hunting Peregrine Falcon.

We just experienced a pretty good thunder cell with lots of lightening
and some heavy rain.
Along with the storm came lots of shorebirds, most of which seem to be
Phaloropes.
Also visible overhead in the lightening flashes were Gulls,
Shearwaters, Terns and Petrels.

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[Maine-birds] Fw: eBird Report - Penjajawoc Marsh, Bangor, May 29, 2012

Today, I was able to find the clay color sparrow. Also had a breeding pair of brown thrashers. They were carrying nesting material. Then I had a sharp shinned hawk being chased by smaller birds across the marsh. Not to bad of a day at the Penjajawoc Marsh.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulc2402/7297132656/

Paul Corcoran

Bangor Maine

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "do-not-reply@ebird.org" <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
To: paulc2402@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 5:17 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Penjajawoc Marsh, Bangor, May 29, 2012T

Penjajawoc Marsh, Bangor, Penobscot, US-ME
May 29, 2012 11:50 AM - 12:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
14 species

Mallard 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Willow Flycatcher 1
American Crow 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 5
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 25
Common Yellowthroat 3
Clay-colored Sparrow 1 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulc2402/7297132656/" title="Clay-colored Sparrow by Paul Corcoran2010, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7297132656_bc6bac5b3b.jpg" alt="Clay-colored Sparrow"></a>
Bobolink 2
Red-winged Blackbird 10
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

[Maine-birds] Mount Desert Island birdathon wants you....

And it is not too late to contribute. All proceeds will be used to send local youths to summer camp.

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

6 Firefly Lane, "On the Village Green"

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

207/801-2617 (store)

207/266-9461 (mobile)

Rich@TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

www.TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

www.facebook.com/TheNaturalHistoryCenter

[Maine-birds] Another Chuck-wills-widow

I have received a report of another possible Chuck-wills-widow. Heard only but reported to be unmistakable as to identification. The evening of 5/28 and again at 4 in the morning on 5/29. Location was Swans Island.
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[Maine-birds] Re: Gannets on Machias Seal Island, NB, CA

I forgot to mention that the trip out of Eastport, ME into the
Passamaquoddy Bay was chartered by Eastport Windjammers aboard the
Lady H.

On May 29, 9:48 am, Barry <be...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello folks,
>
> On Sun, May 28th, I had the privilege of going to Machias Seal
> Island (via Bold Coast Tours, Cutler, ME) with the Road Scholar group
> of the Downeast Birdfestival. We were eager to see to see all of the
> alcids......but were equally excited about the possibilty of seeing a
> Northern gannet nest (as previosly reported by Ralph Eldridge). Well,
> I got lucky and was placed in the blind that had a view of the nest.
> My blind mates and I witnessed the pair constantly bringing in nesting
> material (mostly Rock weed), sitting in the nest, and at on point I
> witnessed the pair copulate. It was a fantastic day out there. Here
> is a link to some photos of the nest:http://www.flickr.com/photos/21615434@N02/
>
> Our "Good" birds for the festival were:
> Black-legged kittiwakes nesting on White Horse Island in Passamaquoddy
> Bay NB, CA
> 1 Purple sandpiper on a ledge in Passamaquoddy Bay
> 2 Boreal chickadees on Boot Head Trail in in Lubec on Boot Cove Rd.
> (Hike lead by Bob and Sandi Duchesne)
> 15~ White-winged scoters on the way out to MSI
> 1000s of Razorbills, Atlantic puffin and Common murres MSI
> Peregrine Falcon MSI

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[Maine-birds] RE: Gannets on Machias Seal Island, NB, CA

Hello folks,

On Sun, May 28th, I had the privilege of going to Machias Seal
Island (via Bold Coast Tours, Cutler, ME) with the Road Scholar group
of the Downeast Birdfestival. We were eager to see to see all of the
alcids......but were equally excited about the possibilty of seeing a
Northern gannet nest (as previosly reported by Ralph Eldridge). Well,
I got lucky and was placed in the blind that had a view of the nest.
My blind mates and I witnessed the pair constantly bringing in nesting
material (mostly Rock weed), sitting in the nest, and at on point I
witnessed the pair copulate. It was a fantastic day out there. Here
is a link to some photos of the nest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21615434@N02/

Our "Good" birds for the festival were:
Black-legged kittiwakes nesting on White Horse Island in Passamaquoddy
Bay NB, CA
1 Purple sandpiper on a ledge in Passamaquoddy Bay
2 Boreal chickadees on Boot Head Trail in in Lubec on Boot Cove Rd.
(Hike lead by Bob and Sandi Duchesne)
15~ White-winged scoters on the way out to MSI
1000s of Razorbills, Atlantic puffin and Common murres MSI
Peregrine Falcon MSI

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[Maine-birds] Chuck Will's Widow-Jefferson

Report from a naturalist I know in Jefferson, ME, that I thought
worthy of passing along in case anyone else hears a CWW:

> Chuck's will-widow song heard twice, about mid-May and this morning May 28.
> Song here seems slightly variant to online versions.

Kristen
--
Kristen Lindquist
12 Mount Battie St.
Camden, ME 04843
www.klindquist.blogspot.com

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Re: [Maine-birds] Clay-colored Sparrow in Bangor

Oops... a draft email and notes were inadvertently sent out after shutting the computer down here at DENT.

Sincere apologies on this interesting subject of taping birds and photography. Reiterating Stella's statement: We can all benefit from re-reading the ABA guidelines for responsible birding at:

http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html

Michael

-----Original Message-----

From: Stella Walsh

Sent: Monday, May 28, 2012 8:09 AM

To: Maine-Birds

Subject: [Maine-birds] Please Discuss Off-list

Can the discussion of use of tapes and whether bird photographers are birders be done off list?

Meanwhile, we can all benefit from re-reading the ABA guidelines for responsible birding at:

http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html

Stella

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[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

Light winds of Monday continue at this hour (03:30) along with light
rain that started a couple hours ago.
There are a few migrants setting down but no siginificant numbers.

This is a storm petrel night.
The LEACHES STORM PETRELS go to and from their nests every few
nights.
Although lots are here every night, there are some nights, especially
calm nights like tonight when the numbers jump way up.
These are the nights when it's fun to spend time outside just standing
quietly.
The air is filled with their unmistakable chuckling and you catch
their equally unmistakable and addictive scent.
You get fleeting glimpses as they flutter around you and, if you are
really lucky, one may actually land on you.

Yesterday (Monday) proved to be more birdy that I expected, likely
because of the nearly flat calm of the afternoon.
In number, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS & female REDSTARTS seemed best
represented but YELLOW, MAGNOLIA & BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS were also
easy to find and I noticed females-only for a few other species like
BLACK POLL.

The Blackburnians were especially busy in the calm afternoon as they
repeatedly targeted the abundant butterflies. As best I could
discern, the majority of the victims were mostly PAINTED LADYs & RED
ADMIRALS.

1 or 2 CATBIRDS were around but they were very uncharacteristicly shy,
reclusive and diving for cover if anyone got within a mile of them.
Also around in 1s and 2s were OVENBIRD, HUMMINGBIRD, WOOD THRUSH,
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, LEAST FLYCATCHER & SWAMP SPARROW.

Raptors were represented by the 2 ubiquitous EAGLES and 1 PEREGRINE
FALCON. (Sunday we had a HARRIER).

Four GANNETS were seen today at the nesting site, 2 were seen
copulating and nesting material was brought.
I don't know if there is a second nest as I don't want to bother the
birds if it's avoidable. There is already disturbance caused by
research and other activity.

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Monday, 28 May 2012

[Maine-birds] Monhegan Island, May 28, 2012

Additions to our weekend trip list for our last morning on Monhegan.
We finally pinned down some crossbills for a positive ID on at least
one flock of the many out there.

As of this morning, the white-eyed vireo and Tennessee warbler were
still singing in their usual spots, and still just as elusive to the
eye.

Other interesting birds reported today but not seen by us:
White-crowned sparrow-1 (Robby Lambert)
Olive-sided flycatcher-1, managed to continue to elude us

And then we returned home to a black-and-white warbler singing loudly
in the backyard, and a hummingbird buzzing the front yard--after
looking for both species for 3 days on the island!

Kristen

Monhegan Island, Lincoln, US-ME
May 28, 2012 9:00 AM - 12:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.25 mile(s)
Comments: Additional trip species; see previous two days' reports
for complete species list. <br>Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS,
version 1.4.4
8 species

Red-throated Loon 1 Seen from boat back to Port Clyde
Osprey 1
Atlantic Puffin 1 From boat back to Port Clyde
Brown Thrasher 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Orchard Oriole 1 Singing male
Red Crossbill 20 Mixed flock of adult male and female and juvies

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

--
Kristen Lindquist
12 Mount Battie St.
Camden, ME 04843
www.klindquist.blogspot.com

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[Maine-birds] Hummers again

Oh boy! I got two quick visits to the hummingbird feeder today - one
at 2pm and the other around 5:30pm (Cape Neddick west of turnpike
circa mile marker 13.2.) Another hummer kept poking into the new
growth tips of my blue spruce, have no clue as to why. While working
in the garden, these guys are too quick for this "advanced beginner"
to even go for the binocs or even raise them. But I'm tickled they're
back.

Also ID'd a Blue-eyed Vireo after hunting him down by call. It was
those white eye rings that made me giggle like a school kid -- just
like in the book. Remember your 'Beginner's Mind'?

Thanks to everyone on the list - you are all teachers.

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[Maine-birds] birders and photographers

Both "bird-watchers" and bird photographers are birders in my book. There are good and bad of both. Have not many of us, in our zeal to see a rare bird, pushed (or pished!) the envelope of birding ethics from time to time? But we all know people who do it far too often. The important thing is to not do it in the wrong places and times. Each of us has his/her own definition of birding ethics, regardless of the ABA recommendations. We all love birds, so let's try to think of the birds' welfare first before our own desires to tick off another species on our list. Disturbing birds for financial gain is not cool; minor temporary disturbance of individuals for educational purposes can be okay--just don't stress a given bird too much and don't do it repeatedly.

So, get outside, enjoy the rare and the common birds, get some good photos and get some good bird memories, and have fun while doing it. And don't pick on Bob! He's awesome!

And here's my bird sighting of the day: while helping to fight a wildfire in Danforth today, I found myself eye-to-eye with a singing male magnolia warbler who was defending what was left of his territory after the fire burned through the area. He still had an unburned patch of dog-hair-thick sapling red spruces that he was defending out in the burned over area. Very interesting.

--Ray Brown--

> CC: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
> From: needsmoreritalin@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Clay-colored Sparrow in Bangor
> Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 11:18:57 -0400
> To: duchesne@midmaine.com
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> For reasons as you have mentioned, I often don't report sightings to the list and only post them to ebird weeks later.
>
> I am a birder and a photographer and I rarely use calls. Photographers, like birders, should be patient and wait for the opportunity.
>
> Anyway, I hope you aren't taking too much flak.
>
> Chuck
>
> Sent from my iPhone... So please forgive typographical errors, message brevity and any strange word choices my phone decides were better than what I actually typed.
>
> On May 26, 2012, at 6:50 PM, duchesne@midmaine.com wrote:
>
> > OK. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I have a confession to make. I
> > found the Clay-colored Sparrow on May 22nd and, for the first time in my
> > life, decided not to report it. I was disappointed that right after I
> > found the Prairie Warbler on the Orono Bog Boardwalk a few weeks ago, I
> > heard reports of local photographers going in and taping the bird nearly
> > to death in trying to get great photos. I sadly expected the same thing to
> > happen to the sparrow if I reported it, and it has bothered me that I
> > would now feel that kind of concern about reporting birds.
> >
> > At some point, I am likely to write another newspaper column about how
> > digital photography is changing birder ethics. For some, there is almost
> > an amateur competition to see who can get the most awesome photo, and
> > sometimes the bird suffers the consequences. I do use audio sporadically
> > when leading a walk, but only long enough to give beginning birders a
> > chance at a view without a dozen pair of feet having to leave a trail or
> > roadway, at the risk stepping on ground nests. I don't tape sensitive
> > birds in sensitive areas and I always make sure the bird promptly wins any
> > singing contest.
> >
> > Recently, someone observed to me that there is a difference between
> > birders and photographers. For birders, the bird matters. For
> > photographers, it's the photo that matters. Obviously, that's painting
> > (photoshopping) with too broad a brush and most photographers have
> > retained their traditional sense of ethics. But, as I say, this is the
> > first time I've felt reluctant to report a cool bird.
> >
> > That said, I don't remember any report of a Clay-colored Sparrow as far
> > north of Bangor before. Are there any other recollections of a report this
> > far north?
> >
> > Bob Duchesne
> > www.mainebirdingtrail.com
> >
> >
> >> There is a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penjajawoc Marsh,
> >> right next to Home Depot in Bangor. Admittedly it isn't much of a
> >> song (2 to 3 buzzes at a time), and being in breeding plumage, he
> >> isn't clay-colored. If you stand next to the rear of Home Depot
> >> looking toward the marsh, he usually sings from the scrubby trees
> >> close to the pavement. He has been singing the last two mornings. I
> >> don't recall him being reported earlier, but maybe he was. If so,
> >> sorry for the repeat.
> >>
> >> Also, Willow Flycatchers have returned to this site, but not in the
> >> numbers of last year. I heard only one this morning.
> >>
> >> -Bill Glanz
> >>
> >> --
> >> Maine birds mailing list
> >> maine-birds@googlegroups.com
> >> http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
> >> https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Maine birds mailing list
> > maine-birds@googlegroups.com
> > http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
> > https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
>
> --
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[Maine-birds] Stratton YBFL

First of the Yellow-bellied Flycatchers arrived today.

Stella

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[Maine-birds] Great Creasted Flycatcher

Thank you to all who answered my request

for Id help on this bird. And for all the

resource suggestions...your response was

overwhelming.

Now here it is correctly identified.

http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p501323621/he99075a#he99075a

Cheers,

Dave

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Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Clay-colored Sparrow in Bangor

Hi Bob,

For reasons as you have mentioned, I often don't report sightings to the list and only post them to ebird weeks later.

I am a birder and a photographer and I rarely use calls. Photographers, like birders, should be patient and wait for the opportunity.

Anyway, I hope you aren't taking too much flak.

Chuck

Sent from my iPhone... So please forgive typographical errors, message brevity and any strange word choices my phone decides were better than what I actually typed.

On May 26, 2012, at 6:50 PM, duchesne@midmaine.com wrote:

> OK. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I have a confession to make. I
> found the Clay-colored Sparrow on May 22nd and, for the first time in my
> life, decided not to report it. I was disappointed that right after I
> found the Prairie Warbler on the Orono Bog Boardwalk a few weeks ago, I
> heard reports of local photographers going in and taping the bird nearly
> to death in trying to get great photos. I sadly expected the same thing to
> happen to the sparrow if I reported it, and it has bothered me that I
> would now feel that kind of concern about reporting birds.
>
> At some point, I am likely to write another newspaper column about how
> digital photography is changing birder ethics. For some, there is almost
> an amateur competition to see who can get the most awesome photo, and
> sometimes the bird suffers the consequences. I do use audio sporadically
> when leading a walk, but only long enough to give beginning birders a
> chance at a view without a dozen pair of feet having to leave a trail or
> roadway, at the risk stepping on ground nests. I don't tape sensitive
> birds in sensitive areas and I always make sure the bird promptly wins any
> singing contest.
>
> Recently, someone observed to me that there is a difference between
> birders and photographers. For birders, the bird matters. For
> photographers, it's the photo that matters. Obviously, that's painting
> (photoshopping) with too broad a brush and most photographers have
> retained their traditional sense of ethics. But, as I say, this is the
> first time I've felt reluctant to report a cool bird.
>
> That said, I don't remember any report of a Clay-colored Sparrow as far
> north of Bangor before. Are there any other recollections of a report this
> far north?
>
> Bob Duchesne
> www.mainebirdingtrail.com
>
>
>> There is a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penjajawoc Marsh,
>> right next to Home Depot in Bangor. Admittedly it isn't much of a
>> song (2 to 3 buzzes at a time), and being in breeding plumage, he
>> isn't clay-colored. If you stand next to the rear of Home Depot
>> looking toward the marsh, he usually sings from the scrubby trees
>> close to the pavement. He has been singing the last two mornings. I
>> don't recall him being reported earlier, but maybe he was. If so,
>> sorry for the repeat.
>>
>> Also, Willow Flycatchers have returned to this site, but not in the
>> numbers of last year. I heard only one this morning.
>>
>> -Bill Glanz
>>
>> --
>> Maine birds mailing list
>> maine-birds@googlegroups.com
>> http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
>> https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
>>
>
>
> --
> Maine birds mailing list
> maine-birds@googlegroups.com
> http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
> https://sites.google.com/site/birding207

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