Experienced birders will nod their heads in full agreement: birding is unpredictable.
On Saturday, I guided 13 people in search of boreal species just west of Baxter State Park as a prelude to Sunday’s annual Maine Audubon pelagic trip. Despite doubtful weather, we did pretty well. The group had multiple excellent looks at American Three-toed Woodpecker, often close up. An inquisitive Gray Jay family investigated us a couple of times, and we had great looks at Boreal Chickadees. But we dipped on Black-backed Woodpeckers in the same place where I had scored four the week before. And we dipped on Spruce Grouse in places where I had had twelve the week before. The bad weather kept them in the bushes.
Today, with similar weather, I guided a couple of gents from southern New England who were not able to get onto my full Saturday trip. We went to the same places. We got only a fleeting glimpse at the Three-toed, but scored 14 Spruce Grouse on the day. FOURTEEN after dipping on Saturday. I would have traded half of them for a Ruffed Grouse.
Because the worst part is: they also wanted Ruffed Grouse. In an area that is loaded with Ruffed Grouse, despite miles and miles of dirt roads driven, every time we spotted a grouse in the road it was a Spruce Grouse.
Gray Jays kept showing up, too – at least a dozen on the day, plus the Boreal Chickadees. So we got four of the top five non-warbler boreal species, but we dipped on the Black-backed Woodpeckers again.
Other treats: like Saturday, today we had abundant White-crowned Sparrows moving through. American Pipits flew over early. One of the lingering Ruby-crowned Kinglets actually sang a couple of songs, and we had a lingering Blue-headed Vireo in the same spot. I had a calling Sharp-shinned Hawk, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard them call before. (Kinda wimpy, actually.) It’s not a surprise to get two big bull moose in that area, but it is unusual immediately after hunting week. Nice racks.
Bob Duchesne
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