Some highlights from today's B-K CBC in the Cape Porpoise sector included: 1 Adult Bald Eagle, 3 species of hawk, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Carolina Wren, 1 Pine Warbler, 9 Snow Bunting, 2 Common Grackle and 1 Purple Finch. Dave Doubleday
Mount Desert Island Birds: Red–headed Woodpecker
Douglas Feeder Cricket Lane, Hancock, US-ME
Dec 31, 2012 10:50 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Ed Douglas gave me a call this morning about a Red-headed Woodpecker around his place and his feeder. I hoped in the car and sure enough we found a cooperative male in Crimson head and distinctive white wing patches. Melanerpes erythrocephaus was brilliant to see against the recently fallen snow. Temperature 25 degree F Blue sky and healthy northwesterly wind
19 species (+1 other taxa)
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 6
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 8
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) 5
scoter sp. (Melanitta sp.) 6
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 4
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 5
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 1
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 4
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 3rd year plumage in preformative molt
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 1 Its behavior suggested a wise old bird with an understanding of the snowy conditions it was faced with on MDI. This bird had a strong formative plumage A recent northeasterly snow storm had dumped 15 inches of new fluffy snow. Jim D. had only put the feeder out for less than 24 hours when this bird first appeared. Glad to have seen this as a last good bird and new bird for 2012. Photos taken
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 6
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 2 a classic inter-coastal flight and fight between tow individuals and not sure if it was male female?
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 7
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12425917
Bar Harbor Bill Townsend, Hancock, US-ME
Dec 31, 2012 12:55 PM - 1:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Stopped by to wish HNY but Bill was not home.
6 species
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 18
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
Bar Harbor , Hancock, US-ME
Dec 31, 2012 12:15 PM - 12:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
10.0 mile(s)
Comments: Traveling to the BH dump and checking a few places along the way.
5 species
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 6
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1 at the dump
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 1
Somesville Mill Pond , Hancock, US-ME
Dec 31, 2012 1:20 PM - 1:43 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.4 mile(s)
Comments: Birding Somesville dam looking for Ducks. One American Wigeon male was located among many Mallards and a lone Hooded Merganser female
13 species
American Wigeon (Anas americana) 1 Male was found on the seawater side of the Somesville Dam
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 5
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 199
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 5
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 33
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 3
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 7
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Three Pines Bird Sanctuary 2012, Hancock, US-ME
Dec 31, 2012 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Feeder watching and the feeder is suet which has a consistent use by local birds in the know
6 species
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 6
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
A juvenile Great Cormorant was sitting on the ice at the Gardiner waterfront park just now. Seems like an annual, but uncommon, event.
Pine Grosbeaks continue in Gardiner this week at several locations.
Happy New Year!
Michael Smith
Gardiner ME
This week's birding column in the Bangor Daily News is a twofer: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/12/28/outdoors/whale-watching-trip-perfect-for-ignoring-whales-watching-birds/
Not only is it about pelagic birding on Bar Harbor Whale Watch, but it's also an invitation to try a new event from the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon. Zack Klyver is presenting a program on whales at the Sea Dog in Bangor this coming Friday night at 7pm. It combines two of my favorite concepts: nature and beer. The program is free. The beer isn't. We'll get two chances to see how successful this type of social/educational event is because on February 1st, we'll try it again: "Bears and Beers" with state bear biologist Randy Cross.
Bob Duchesne
They really do attempt to trash cars. I witnessed it while in Everglades National Parks last month: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wnbirder/8328349052/ The tarps do work.
Not exactly shooting, but I did see a ranger go at them with a broom...
-WilliamOn Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 7:14 AM, Susan Guare <susanguare@gmail.com> wrote:
That's odd, all right. I lived in Florida for fourteen years and never heard of vultures eating cars.
Good thing it's in the Everglades, and not at Disney, or they'd start shooting them again.On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 4:26 PM, Noah Gibb <voodoochitlins@yahoo.com> wrote:--This short article from USA Today documents some odd behavior from vultures in Florida.Bird haahd,Noah Gibb - Portland
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Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
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Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
That's odd, all right. I lived in Florida for fourteen years and never heard of vultures eating cars.
Good thing it's in the Everglades, and not at Disney, or they'd start shooting them again.On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 4:26 PM, Noah Gibb <voodoochitlins@yahoo.com> wrote:--This short article from USA Today documents some odd behavior from vultures in Florida.Bird haahd,Noah Gibb - Portland
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
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Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
Highlights from the western half of the Freeport/Brunswick CBC. Preliminary figures show a total of 70 species on December 29. No new species this year.
Among the other “good” birds were 3 Barrow’s Goldeneyes, 2 Gray Catbirds, and 2 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers, and just 2 Pine Siskins.
The woods were quiet with most songbirds found at or nearby feeders. Blue Jays everywhere thanks to the decent acorn crop this year. If anyone wants a copy of the figures once I have them all proofed, please let me know off line.
Stella Walsh
This week’s birding column in the Bangor Daily News is a twofer: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/12/28/outdoors/whale-watching-trip-perfect-for-ignoring-whales-watching-birds/
Not only is it about pelagic birding on Bar Harbor Whale Watch, but it’s also an invitation to try a new event from the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon. Zack Klyver is presenting a program on whales at the Sea Dog in Bangor this coming Friday night at 7pm. It combines two of my favorite concepts: nature and beer. The program is free. The beer isn’t. We’ll get two chances to see how successful this type of social/educational event is because on February 1st, we’ll try it again: “Bears and Beers” with state bear biologist Randy Cross.
Bob Duchesne
FYI - I have rescheduled the MEBK from tomorrow to Monday the 31st because of the current winter storm. Second year in a row that the weather has not cooperated for this count! Drats!!!
So now COUNT WEEK includes the 28th of Dec. thru Jan. 3rd. I would like to hear from you if you are birding in the circle and find any rare or out of season or hard to locate birds.
Thank you, Complier - Marie Jordan
Iink to circle:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201234176612499279491.00047b6f7b0dd5416ee1f&msa=0
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--This short article from USA Today documents some odd behavior from vultures in Florida.Bird haahd,Noah Gibb - Portland
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
FYI - I have rescheduled the MEBK from tomorrow to Monday the 31st because of the current winter storm. Second year in a row that the weather has not cooperated for this count! Drats!!!
So now COUNT WEEK includes the 28th of Dec. thru Jan. 3rd. I would like to hear from you if you are birding in the circle and find any rare or out of season or hard to locate birds.
Thank you, Complier - Marie Jordan
Iink to circle:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201234176612499279491.00047b6f7b0dd5416ee1f&msa=0
Highlights from several locations today:
Popham Beach - 2 continuing lingering BB Plovers
Below is a list of species and numbers seen during the Eastport Area Count which includes Eastport, portions of Pembroke and Perry, Lubec, Campobello, and Deer Island. I have breakdowns of where species wwere seen in excel and pdf, if interested contact me off-line.
2012 Eastport Area Christmas Bird Count-December 26, 2012 "
Species Total
Canada Goose 63
American Black Duck 882
Mallard 68
Northern Pintail 1
Greater Scaup 5
Common Eider 417
White-winged Scoter 27
Surf Scoter 20
Black Scoter 4
Long-tailed Duck 160
Bufflehead 249
Common Goldeneye 28
Hooded Merganser 6
Common Merganser 4
Red-breasted Merganser 114
Ruffed Grouse 3
Common Loon 41
Horned Grebe 30
Red-necked Grebe 88
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Cormorant 53
Bald Eagle 62
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Black-legged Kittiwake 6
Bonaparte's Gull 276
Ring-billed Gull 109
Herring Gull 4100
Iceland Gull 5
Great black-backed Gull 659
Raorbill 8
Black Guillemot 12
Rock Pigeon 106
Mourning Dove 158
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 8
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Shrike 2
Blue Jay 19
American Crow 344
Common Raven 16
Black-capped Chickadee 176
Red-breasted Nuthatch 91
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
Brown Creeper 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
American Robin 13
Snow Bunting 1
European Starling 252
Pine Warbler 1
American Tree Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 8
White Throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 19
Northern Cardinal 9
Rusty Blackbird 10
Pine Grosbeak 9
House Finch 5
Common Redpoll 35
Hoary Redpoll 1
Pine Siskin 1
House Sparrow 15
No. Species 63
No. Individuals 8836
No. Observers 12
No. Parties 6
No. Feeder Watchers 4
Had to report this one as they are a new yard bird for me - they came into my crabapple beside the driveway as we were “playing” in the snow with shovel and the snow blower!! About 15 of them - they stayed and fed for a while as we continued digging out - I finally grabbed the camera for a few shots just for a memoir - the lighting and almost horizontal blowing snow/sleet did not make for ideal picture taking conditions to put it mildly!!
A great two days as yesterday as I was saying goodbye to my grandson, a Pileated Woodpecker flew over the house - another new yard bird (sure wish he had stopped for a while but flyovers count!!). I am anxiously waiting to see what bird will show up tomorrow - why not new ones three in a row?
Today, lots of Juncos (at least 30), a few Tree Sparrows, 2 WT Sparrows, all my Cardinals, plus the usual gang along with the return of the 2 C Redpolls I had earlier in the month.
We have only had about 15 minutes of rain and ½ hour of sleet - otherwise all snow even tho most weather reports predicated rain as the day progressed. Current radar shows the sleet line about on top of us. Hope you are all safe and warm and enjoying your favorite warm beverage as the storm rages outside.
Marie - South Portland
Great looks at an Iceland Gull today from the Hannaford parking lot, and didn’t even have to get out of the car on this cold day!
Becky Marvil
Yarmouth
