[Maine-birds] Great Wass Island R-T Loon, 7/22

Hello,

I'm an out-of-state birder (Mass.) spending three weeks on wonderful Great Wass Island, and I've got a couple of observations/questions.  

First, I'm not sure if there are any other summer records for this area, but I found a basic plumaged Red-throated Loon off the eastern shore of Great Wass on Sunday afternoon, in Cape/Popplestone Cove (south of the end of the TNC trail).  It was in the company of eiders, razorbills, and cormorants feeding on baitfish near high tide.  Also, off Little Pond Head (SE tip of Great Wass), there were several small groups of Sooty Shearwaters, a lone Great Shearwater, a puffin, and a couple dozen gannets, mostly moving NE to SW over deeper water.

Second, I've been having poor luck finding Spruce Grouse or Boreal Chickadee on the TNC preserve trails.  I'm aware that this is a tough time of year for finding resident boreal species, but does anyone have any tips?

Thanks,

Willy Hutcheson

Concord, MA

jeccawilly AT yahoo.com

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