[Maine-birds] Biddeford Birds -- Cackling Goose

I birded a few areas on the coast in Biddeford today, starting at Timber Point and working north. Plenty of Goldeneyes, all Common that I could tell. Still a few gannets making their way south, and two Red-throated Loons at Biddeford Pool Point. Best bird of the day was a CACKLING GOOSE in the Great Pond at Biddeford Pool, hanging out with about 100 other Canada Geese. I got some (terrible) shots that I'll try to upload to Flickr later. It had the classic short stubby bill and steep forehead, and was noticeably smaller than the rest of the Canadas, but larger than the nearby American Black Ducks. There was a second bird that looked suspiciously small, but it flew off towards the Golf Course before I could get a good look at its bill.

Also of note were 67 Red-necked Grebes of the Point as well as 7 Purple Sandpipers and 21 Great Cormorants on an island off the point. Six late Black-bellied Plovers were on the Golf Course at Biddeford Pool, and a late Semipalmated Plover was at the Point as well.

At UNE, there were 12 Pine Grosbeaks yesterday and 7 today in the crabapple trees next to the Learning Assistance Center , including two males, allowing excellent photographic opportunities.

A juvenile Northern Goshawk made a brief appearance on Hills Beach rd yesterday as well

Good Birding

--
David Rankin

University of New England

Graduate Student

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