Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking

Sunday, 30 September 2012

[Maine-birds] Biddeford birds

After the rain stopped I got out to do a little bit of birding around Biddeford. A flock of about 30 pine siskins briefly alighted in my yard before moving on, and White-throated Sparrow continue to increase in number, as do Palm Warblers. Also saw my first Black-throated Blue of the fall as well. Heading over to the coast, Fortunes Rock beach had all 3 scoter species, a red-breasted merganser and 2 red-necked grebes. Eastern...

[Maine-birds] purple finches

I always find it interesting this time of the year. The immature finches show such a variation in color. Some tend toward grey brown, others tend very slightly toward olive brown. Some are "brown" brown and others are quite buffy and a very few have a faint rosiness to the throat. Numbers have been on the increase in the past week. And I feel sorry for the poor goldfinches who have to look...

[Maine-birds] White-Crowned Sparrow - Bremen

A pleasant rainy day surprise to see an immature White-Crowned Sparrow under the feeder. Juanita Roushdy Bremen, ME -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding...

[Maine-birds] Horned Lark and Snow Bunting

Small flocks of Horned Lark and one lone Snow Bunting working the edges of the logging roads South of Millinocket this morning! Anita Mueller Mark Picard Wildlife Photography MOOSE PRINTS Gallery and Gifts 58 Central Street Millinocket, Maine 04462 www.markpicard.com mark@markpicard.com 207-447-6906 -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.c...

Re: [Maine-birds] Phippsburg siskins

I had a Pine Siskin at a neighbors feeder yesterday too, down here in Biddeford.David RankinBiddeford, MEOn Sun, Sep 30, 2012 at 11:09 AM, Robin R Robinson <rrrobinson2010@hotmail.com> wrote: Phippsburg, Maine Map 6 Totman coveGet out your snow shovels: First of season Pine siskins, # 13 at feeders, mixed females, males and...

[Maine-birds] Phippsburg siskins

Phippsburg, Maine Map 6 Totman coveGet out your snow shovels:First of season Pine siskins, # 13 at feeders, mixed females, males and JuvsRobin R RobinsonBirding The Burghttp://robins-chaos.blogspot.comhttp://robinrobinsonmaine.com"On the internet", the dog using the keyboard reassures his canine friend, "nobody knows you're a Dog." ...

Saturday, 29 September 2012

[Maine-birds] schoodic point saturday

The rain subsided entirely for a two hour period this afternoon at Schoodic Point (1 - 3 PM).Three species of shearwaters were visible between the reach of 8X binocs and a 25X scope.Greater 22, Sooty 7, and Manx 2. This should bode well for the pelagic tomorrow.Three species of scoter: Surf 54, Black 44, White-winged 3.Northern Gannet 37Red-throated Loon 2Common Loon 4Greater Yellowlegs 1Spotted...

Email notifications from Google Webmaster Tools

Dear Webmaster Tools user,We know that having a healthy and well-performing website is important to you. To keep you informed about your site's status Webmaster Tools will now automatically send you a notification email if there are critical or important issues that we detect with your site.We'll only send you email for issues that we think have significant impact on your site's health or search performance which have clear actions...

[Maine-birds] RE: (Maine Birds) Mount Desert Island Birds Northern Gannet and a Bald Eagle

Mount Desert Island Birds: Northern Gannets off Otter Point Otter Point , Hancock, US-MESep 29, 2012 9:30 AM - 9:55 AMProtocol: StationaryComments: A bus full of Minnesotans watched Northern Gannets plunge-diving around what is jokingly called "Rocky the Whale" and famed for the hole in Samuel Champlain's ship. It has been sometime since I saw Gannets feeding so close to the Island. Because DENT has...

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

Well, it was a nice nap. More correctly an afternoon in that half- awake state where you sort of realize that the television is turned on but you neither know nor care what program is playing. The rain is intermittent and the wind is down but the increasing fog has visibility down to 100 metres. The birds are beginning to forage a bit, trying to feed before dark. They still need to be vigilant, though. At least 4 KESTRELS, 2...

[Maine-birds] Eared Grebe - Yes - 9:15am, 9/29

Hi all, My Saturday Morning Birdwalk Group and I successfully twitched the Simpson's Point EARED GREBE on the incoming tide between about 9:15 and 9:45am this morning. It was feeding with one of three Horned Grebes present (along with 1-2 Red-necked Grebes) quite a bit closer (to the ESE of the boat launch) than my previous observation, but thanks to the low light, it was also far from satisfactory. -Derek...

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

It's a dark, wet, windy, "I'm-not-going-out-in-that!" sort of a day. There's about a hundred gulls patrolling the lawn for worms and a couple of nondescript sparrows clinging to the patio. Everything else is hunkered down just like me. No birding today by the mutual consent of both bird and birder. Yesterday, at least until late afternoon, was the polar opposite. Thursday was a decent day leading into a clear, nearly-full moon lighted...

[Maine-birds] 44c White-throated Sparrow Town Hill/Mt Desert

I'm doing window-birding, looking out from a few feet above ground level this rainy morning, and I have a perfect view of a "first winter" White-throated Sparrow "showing some juvenile plumage". I'm using Rising's "Sparrows of the US and Canada", the old edition with its beautiful illustrations. 44c Plate 19 is the one I'm thinking is it, "similar to the 'tan stripe' morph' [which it might be]...Birds in this plumage can be seen...

[Maine-birds] Pine Siskins - Kennebunk

Half a dozen Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning along with the growing flock of purple finches and goldfinches. Had about 25 chipping sparrows in the yard yesterday as well as a yellow-bellied sapsucker. Shiloh Kennebunk -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding...

[Maine-birds] Sabine's Gull, Head Harbor Passage area

I thought that I'd forward this report that I posted to the New Brunswick Naturalist's list yesterday. I'm looking forward to the Maine Audubon pelagic cruise from Bar Harbor tomorrow!Chris============Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 7:10 PMTo: NATURENB at LISTSERV.UNB.CASubject: Sabine's Gull, Head Harbor Passage areaI had a great time birding in the Head Harbor Passage area this afternoon (9/28) with Cindy Fahay,...

Friday, 28 September 2012

[Maine-birds] Monhegan update, 9/28

Lots of birds moved in last night, bringing a greater warbler diversity, relatively speaking, more sparrows, and more siskins and sapsuckers. Even in the rain this afternoon birds were chipping away in little waves and merlins zipped overhead. Highlights: Another good look at the Sora in the Meadow Canada warbler-1 Parula-1 Black-and-white warbler-1 Yellow warbler-1 Palm warbler-5 Blackpoll-2 Magnolia warbler-3 BT blue warbler-2 Marsh...

[Maine-birds] East End, Portland

I stopped by the East End in Portland this morning on the way to work. I figured I'd check out the upper dirt trail for sparrows before going down to the waterfront. I never made it down there before having to continue to work. As I approached the trail I realized there was a lot of movement so I stopped to scan and saw that the path was covered with sparrows. I moved up to the end of the path for a closer look. Most of them were...

Re: [Maine-birds] White-eyed Vireo, Sears I. 9/28

This is always a good bird even in Cuba.... a known wintering location for this species. Here in Northern Maine this bird is rarely encountered. On Mount Desert Island it would be considered a rare bird. Blue-headed are moving through the region as well. Look forward to your pics. Michael -----Original Message----- From: Louis Bevier Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 4:45 PM To: Maine Birds Subject: [Maine-birds] White-eyed...

[Maine-birds] White-eyed Vireo, Sears I. 9/28

With so many migrants aloft last night, I thought that I would try the Sears Island area this morning. There were gobs of birds moving off the north end by the gate (and gobs more in the huge area of shrubs and trees lining the road to the south). There was little wind, only a gentle north breeze that turned northeast and then calmed. I focused mainly on birds that perched. The morning flight here differed in some respects from...

[Maine-birds] Re: (Maine Birds) Mount Desert Island Birds Great Cormorant continue on Old Soaker

Mount Desert Island Birds: Great Cormorants continuing on Old Soaker Sand Beach to Otter Cove 2012 , Hancock, US-MESep 28, 2012 10:15 AM - 12:15 PMProtocol: Traveling2.0 mile(s)Comments: The cruise ship Maasdam and 4 brave souls join me for our Ocean Trail Hike lead my yours truly since 1994.12 speciesCommon Eider (Somateria mollissima) 171Common Loon (Gavia immer) 2 at sand beachRed-necked Grebe (Podiceps...

[Maine-birds] Yellow warbler and others

There was lots of feeding activitythis morning along the logging road intoHalfway Brook. Yellow-rumped warblers, yellow warblers, common yellow throats,juncos, finches-house and gold, severalother types that I was unable to photo or identify. Beautiful morning. http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p501323621/h44e12da2#h44e12da2 Cheers,Dave -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com...

[Maine-birds] Monhegan Island Highlights, 9/23-27

Hi all, Kristen Lindquist and Doug Hitchcox have continued their service as the "Voices of Monhegan," but I thought I would share a few of our group's highlights from my 4+ days out there leading a tour for New Jersey Audubon with my good friend Scott Barnes. Yeah, we were the ones who missed the bleeping Golden-winged Warbler…repeatedly. We tallied 19 species of warblers among 111 total species during our...

[Maine-birds] Sandy Point Morning Flight, 9/28

Hi all, A great flight passed over and through Sandy Point Beach, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth this morning. Shoreline stabilization work (presumably by the Town of Yarmouth) could have been timed better to minimize some minor loss of already-minimized vegetation, but their re-seeding attempt provided excellent forage for most of this morning's White-throated Sparrows, and the Dickcissel. 40F. Light...

[Maine-birds] White-throated Sparrows

I have about 40 White-throated Sparrows have a feeding frenzy in my backyard. Bill Blauvelt Portland, ME -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding...

[Maine-birds] Sanford Sewage Plant, Sep 27, 2012, 32 American Pipits

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11676505 Sanford Sewage Plant, York, US-ME Sep 27, 2012 7:45 AM - 10:25 AM Protocol: Traveling 3.5 mile(s) Comments: most of the time digiscoping in the solid fill area 22 species Canada Goose 8 American Black Duck X Mallard X Blue-winged Teal X did not count, VERY LARGE FLOCK OF TEAL, GREEN AND BLUE WING!! Green-winged Teal X Pied-billed Grebe X Great Blue...

[Maine-birds] Cape Neddick Migration

The migration here has netted some interesting results this year. Six TV's have been roosting at the edge of the water, in a snag, for a couple of weeks. We've never had them land here before. It's like having our own private Halloween. Yesterday, two Thrashers arrived with a flock of Blue Jays and loads of Titmice and Chickadees. Two very vocal Kingfishers are chasing each other madly...

Thursday, 27 September 2012

[Maine-birds] Monhegan update 9/27

I have to confess that I took most of yesterday "off" to actually relax a bit before my vacation ends here. My only new species yesterday was 4 Tree Swallows. Today, more hawks moving through, though still not in huge numbers. Just from the lawn of the Trailing Yew while we ate lunch we watched several merlins, harrier, peregrine, and a sharpie. Sparrows arrived in greater numbers, especially whitethroats. On the seed up in...

[Maine-birds] Wells Reserve walk

A lunchtime walk to Laudholm Beach netted 21 bird species and 8 of butterflies. Biggest avian surprise was a drumming ruffed grouse. White-throats and yellow-rumps were numerous, but I picked up no other warblers. Scoped a couple of gannets well offshore. Closer in I saw eiders, but no other sea ducks or grebes. About 250 dc cormorants flew way out and another 100 migrated over the beach.I counted more red admirals than monarchs....

[Maine-birds] Eared Grebe - Yes - 4:00pm, 9/27

Hi all, The EARED GREBE was present and accounted for, despite the low tide, between 3:50 and 4:05pm this afternoon. Scott Barnes and I (on our way back from Monhegan with an NJ Audubon tour) also had 8 Horned Grebes, 2 Red-necked Grebes, and 15+ Surf Scoters. -Derek Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.c...

[Maine-birds] Eared Grebe with Horned Grebe, not Hooded!

Jan was good enough to point out that Hooded Grebe, near endemic to Patagonian Argentina, was a very fancy bird, indeed!I meant Horned Grebe but hope to assist in Hooded Grebe inventory in Jan. Must have crossed wires internally, again.Best, Peter ...

[Maine-birds] Eared Grebe continues at Simpson's Pt., Brunswick - scope essential

I saw the Eared Grebe at 11:30 this morning. It associated with a Red-necked Grebe and a Hooded Grebe. As has been pointed out by others, this is long-distance viewing and a good scope that holds resolution at 50+ power was critical this morning. Smooth waters are also important, fine today.I saw it between Scrag Island and Jordan Point (east side of bay) and also in front of Scrag Island.Nice find Louis, distant...

[Maine-birds] Maine Bird Records Committee- New members

The Maine Bird Records Committee just completed an election to replace four departing members. The Committee is pleased to announce the election of Kristen Lindquist, Luke Seitz, Louis Bevier and Jan Pierson to fill the vacancies. I'm sure the new members need no introduction to Maine birders A good number of Maine's talented birders and ornithologists threw their name in for consideration and the Committee was...

[Maine-birds] Blue Grosbeak and Dickcissel, Waterville and Clinton

Big movement of sparrows here--this morning I found a BLUE GROSBEAK at the community gardens in Waterville (Washington St. about 1 mile north of Kennedy Memorial Dr.) along with White-crownded Sparrow, and lots of other Zonos, Spizels, and Melospizers. There was a DICKCISSEL with lots of sparrows in Clinton yesterday. Louis Bevier Fairfield -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/g...

[Maine-birds] Yellow-headed Blackbird, Seal Island (a month ago!)

Hi all, I saw some photos of an immature YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD that a student from College of the Atlantic, Jordan Chalfant, found 28 August while working on Seal Island (thanks to Rich MacDonald for relaying the pix). This is a really neat find. There have been just a couple seen in Maine each year in the past couple of years. Yellow-headed Blackbird has a long history of vagrancy to the East Coast and beyond (e.g. Bermuda...

Re: [Maine-birds] Black Skimmers...Scarborough

Two of the Skimmers were still at Pine Point this morning at 8:30. Same spot. Joanne On 9/26/2012 1:06 PM, Francis Mitchell wrote: > Saw 5 immature skimmers working Jones Creek at Pine Point > at 1240 today. When I left they were loafing on the mud in the creek. > Good birding, > Frank > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> > Version: 2012.0.2221...

[Maine-birds] cardinals, etc. Kennebunk

Quite an influx of white throated sparrows in the last 3-4 days; they are mixing with the plentiful song sparrows still about. A pair of towhees is still foraging in the area.Apparently cardinals molt fairly late or is this year an exception? I have 3 that look like they are losing their stuffing! Sharon in West K. ...

[Maine-birds] Cherryfield Spotted Sandpiper

One apparent juvenile below the dam off Stillwater road; this seems late, as I have not seen one around here for 3 weeks or more. Also a common merganser and a heard-only Gray Catbird, also seemingly late (maybe a Blue Jay imitating?). Joel WilcoxCherryfield -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207...

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

[Maine-birds] White-throated Sparrow; And hello from Kennebunk!

It was a damp, warm morning trodding through the woods today around Brown Street. Life birds include: A Herrmit Thrush, a White-throated Sparrow, and several active Belted Kingfishers. I was searching for an owl all morning (6-10) when around 9 (while I was very deep in the woods, following deer paths) I walked up upon and spooked a very large bird, with heavy wingbeats. ...

[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Red-headed Woodpecker, Redheads, Black-bellied Plover

I received a reliable report of an adult Red-headed Woodpecker visiting a feeder in Portage Lake. The bird has apparently been around for several days. I only know of a few records for Aroostook county. Hoping for pictures I spotted a few good birds around Long Lake today.On the south end at Sinclair, there was a Rusty Blackbird feeding near the mouth of McLean Brook and several White-winged Crossbills were...

[Maine-birds] Eared Grebe Continues at Simpson Point in Brunswick

Today around 5pm, the Eared Grebe, first observed by Louis Bevier on September 16, was foraging in the usual location off Simpson Point in Middle Bay between Jordan Point and Scrag Island. Unusual about the sighting today was that a Horned Grebe was in the same scope view as the Eared Grebe, and the difference in coloration and shape was obvious. Even though the grebe was located somewhat closer to Simpson...

[Maine-birds] pipits

I have at least 50 pipits (conservative #) in the cornfield across from my house in Sidney. Fun to observe.I also had 6 killdeer this am at the Belgrade Central School. A couple of weeks ago there were 14. Hadn't seen any lately til yesterday (5 in Belgrade) and one last night at my house. Julia -- Maine birds mailing list maine-birds@googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds https://sites.google.com/site/birding207...

[Maine-birds] Frenchman Bay, Bar harbor area...

Wed. 9/26 Quite rough in the bay today but we had many Gannets and flocks of White-winged Scoter passing across the bay. Three Bald Eagles having a knock-down fight on the lee side of Jordan Island. The automatic birdcam at my feeder in Bar Harbor noted the first White-throated Sparrow using the feeder today. Two Brown Thrashers continue, a heavily molting male Cardinal also. -- ---Check our nature, family, and other photos...

Re: [Maine-birds] Black Skimmers...Scarborough

Yesterday there were 5 immature skimmers in Middletown, RI. Certainly would be an interesting coincidence if these are not the same birds. Quite a distance for these birds to travle in 1 day though. Nexst stop New Brunswick? Mike Resch Pepperell, MA -----Original Message----- From: Francis Mitchell <fjmitchell@ymail.com> To: maine-birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>...

[Maine-birds] Black Skimmers...Scarborough

Saw 5 immature skimmers working Jones Creek at Pine Pointat 1240 today. When I left they were loafing on the mud in the creek.Good birding,Fr...

[Maine-birds] south unity

hi everyone. just had a rosebreasted grosbeak here and earlier a phoebe and a junco. diana p.s. plus the usuals ...

[Maine-birds] BLACK SKIMMERS, Pine Point, 9/26

Hello all, Frank Mitchell called at 12:38 to report 5 immature Black Skimmers in Jones Creek, Pine Point, Scarborough. -Jeannette ------------------Jeannette and Derek LovitchFreeport Wild Bird Supply541 Route One, Suite 10Freeport, ME 04032Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069www.freeportwildbirdsupply.comVisit our E-store http://store.freeportwildbirdsupply.c...

[Maine-birds] Phippsburg Hummer

Phippsburg, maine Map 6 Totman CoveStill have a Ruby Throated hummingbird, female at nectar feeder this morning. RRRRobin R RobinsonBirding The Burghttp://robins-chaos.blogspot.comhttp://robinrobinsonmaine.com"On the internet", the dog using the keyboard reassures his canine friend, "nobody knows you're a Dog." ...

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

[Maine-birds] 9/25 highlights from Monhegan Island

Relocated the GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER at the Ice Pond, much better look than yesterday. Also, WHITE-EYED VIREO still singing in that vicinity. Other highlights today: Kestrel-1st of trip Red-bellied woodpecker-1 Blue-winged teal-1 in Ice Pond (still) DICKCISSEL-1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW-1 (still in ballfield) Lincoln's sparrow-1 Surf Scoter-3 (off shore) White-winged Scoter-1 (off shore--scoters thanks to Jeremiah Trimble and his...

[Maine-birds] Maine RBA - September 23, 2012

Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert Reporting Period: September 17 – 23, 2012 Area: State of Maine Compilers: Doug Hitchcox Noteworthy Species Mentioned: Eared Grebe Sandhill Crane American Golden-Plover Hudsonian Godwit Marbled Godwit Western Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Lesser Black-backed Gull White-winged Dove Red-headed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-eyed Vireo Golden-winged...

[Maine-birds] Lubec shorebirds

Today was presumably my last visit to the Lubec mudflats this year. As elsewhere, numbers are dwindling. Variety remains pretty good. I had equal numbers of Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers – probably about 20 birds altogether. There were five Dunlin, one Red Knot, three dozen SemiP Plovers and two dozen SemiP Sandpipers. I only notched one Least Sandpiper and no dowitchers or turnstones. Five pipits were flighty along...

Re: [Maine-birds] Sears Island

This is a great documentation of the shear numbers of birds passing through our region. I am happy that this list serve can contribute to the greater understanding of our migration and that we must safeguard this place from un-sound ecological policies which affect the avian community. Thanks for this report an I hope it stimulates University of Maine people like Rebecca Holberton to continue searching...

Re: [Maine-birds] Sears Island

As I posted on 9/2 I saw a couple thousand warblers and a few hundred flycatchers, along with an indeterminate number of vireos (as always, more difficult to observe), concentrated, feeding like crazy and obviously on the move through the area near the Sears Island causeway. I'm glad that Seth was able to determine, more specifically, their path of movement. When comparing layouts of...