[Maine-birds] This Week's Highlights, Irruptives, and Goose Fields Update (now SIX CACG!), 12/8-14.

Hi all,

I had a nice helping of noteworthy sightings this week, including:  

- 1 Hermit Thrush, Yarmouth Town Landing, 12/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

- 4 American Wigeon and 9 Horned Larks, Eastern Road Trail, Scarborough Marsh, 12/9 (with Phil McCormack).

- 40 Dunlin and 5 Sanderlings, Pine Point, Scarborough, 12/9 (with Phil McCormack).

- 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers, Goosefare Brook overlook, Saco, 12/9 (with Phil McCormack).

- 1 adult Red-shouldered Hawk, Gates Road, Jefferson, 12/11 (with Angela Woodside).

- 1 immature Northern Goshawk, Great View Drive, Jefferson, 12/11 (with Angela Woodside).

- 25 Snow Buntings, Hedgehog Mountain Park, Freeport, 12/12.

- 5 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 2 Glaucous Gulls (1- 1st W, 1- 2nd W; first of season), and 3-4 Iceland Gulls, Old Port, Portland, 12/13.

 

And in the irruptives department:

- PINE GROSBEAKS continue to be widespread.  I'm still seeing them daily here in Freeport and Yarmouth, but in small groups.  My high count this week was only 8 on Rte 1 in Yarmouth this morning.

- Common Redpolls are increasing.  My high count was ~30 on Greely Road in Cumberland on the 12th.

- 1 male Purple Finch was at our Pownal feeders on 12/13, but no Pine Siskin this week.

 

And finally, the goose fields update:

The goose fields have been dynamic this week, with birds coming and going.  The 1st winter GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues through at least 12/12. ( I finally obtained decent photos this week, posted here: https://www.facebook.com/Freeportwildbird/posts/541435565886402?ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/photo.php?fbid=539927449370547&set=a.390755794287714.103180.198877036808925&type=1&theater). The two SNOW GEESE continue through at least 12/12 as well.  All of my observations this week were at Thornhurst Farm.  However, I did not see either of these species today - although at least one group of geese was mostly obscured when I visited.  .

- However, there are now _SIX_ CACKLING GEESE (CACG)!  I finally caught up with all three continuing individuals on 12/4 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group), and all three were present again on 12/12.  However, this morning there were a total of 6.  The threesome (including the one larger bird with the peachy/rust wash on the breast) appear to continue, while another group of three are new arrivals (I had five way back on 11/16).

- A new pulse of Canada Geese arrived over the weekend, with a high count of 974 on 12/8 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalks group), but diminished over the course of the week, down to 629 by today.

- I continue to encountered small numbers of Pine Grosbeaks while driving the loop through the fields, and a single Snow Bunting was at Thornhurst on 12/14. 

 

The upcoming storm system - especially if it is mostly snow - will impact when and where these geese come and go.  If you are still thinking about chasing them, I would do it this weekend, just in case!

 

-Derek

 

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Jeannette and Derek Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
Ph: (207)865-6000/Fax: (207)865-6069
http://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/
Visit our E-store http://store.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/