[Maine-birds] Re: Popham Beach and White-rumps, etc.

Re: Peter's remarks about a dearth of White-rumped sands,  we're just back from a week in PEI. One of the highlights was a mass of 325 to 400 WR Sands at Petit Cap in New Brunswick.  Most I've ever seen at once.

Popham Beach hasn't exactly been a hotbed for this species thus far this season, but there was a group of 22 together this morning (plus a few more solos).  Also there...a limping, adult Baird's Sandpiper.

I restricted myself to the lagoon area (75 acres) and wasn't very aware of Common Terns around.  But there was a single Forster's Tern, and I saw 3 adult Least Terns (carrying food) without checking on the status of young.  From Green Point later, there were a very few Sterna sp floating around the pilings in front of Fort Baldwin, but too distant to check IDs.  The Forster's was about a week behind last year's schedule. 

(And I think I know the restaurant Peter's talking about. Wish we were allowed to plug. )

On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 9:05 AM, Peter Vickery <petervickery@roadrunner.com> wrote:

Barbara and I went to Lubec for three days and had a spectacular time.

First, on Friday afternoon, we joined Chris Bartlett and his 12 year old daughter who piloted the boat most of the time.  We went beyond Campobello off White Horse Island towards the Wolves:

Manx Shearwater: 80+, most I've seen in these waters but Chris has been reporting that this is an exceptional summer for them inshore.

Great: 200+

Sooty: 160+

Red-necked Phalaropes: 50, numerous small groups, very nice to see after such a prolonged absence in this area.

Gannets, a few puffins, Razorbills, etc..

6+ Fin-backed Whales, Minke, porpoises.

Great Time.

We saw 8 nighthawks in Lubec on Friday evening and 2 Red Crossbills and a House Finch (only downer on the trip) on Saturday pm.

Lubec Bar was reasonably active Sat morning:

Western Willet: 1 juv.

Lesser Yellowlegs: 3

Whimbrel: 5

Red Knot: 3 juvs.

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 600+, all juvs.

Least: 80+ juvs.

Surprisingly, not a single White-rump.

Peregrine and a harrier.

Three Spruce Grouse - hen and two full-sized young - along the Quoddy Head trail beyond the Bog Trail.

Boot Head Trail: 

Spruce Grouse: 1 lovely male about two hundred yards in, Bob D. knows him by name I'm sure.  It was found by a patient NJ birder - to whom thanks - who had been cruising that section of the trail for 2 hours.  It remained within 10 yards of the trail for 20+ minutes - we walked away after long, delightful views. 

We returned to the Lubec Bar on Sunday morning and saw more Semi Sandpipers, 1,200 or so.  Willet was still present and we were able to photograph it, otherwise standard.

It's a spectacular part of Maine at this season, especially with the remarkable weather.  On the water off Lubec in t-shirts is pretty exceptional.

Excellent restaurant and B and B if anyone is interested, contact offline.

Best, Peter

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