Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking

Tuesday, 31 December 2013

[Maine-birds] SNOWs at Biddeford Pool

Hi all -- 3 Snowies today found on a quick and incomplete visit to Biddeford Pool. Time was ~1:30, and the birds were all seen along the Mile Stretch Road. One on a roof peak near Rte 208, one on a chimney on a house due south of Hattie's Restaurant, and one on a large rock piling in the Pool north of Hattie's.

Others were out there today helping each other enjoy the sightings. With a few more cars we could have had a mini-Yellowstone moment on the road (aka wildlife jams, where you find the owl by finding the cars pulled hastily onto the shoulder).

Nice way to end the year.

Craig K

SW Harbor

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[Maine-birds] Caribou: Snowy owl

A friend saw this handsome guy on the wires on Route 1 in Caribou today. She also saw a Snowy on the same barn I did yesterday, but we can't tell from the photos if it's the same bird or not.

[Maine-birds] New Sweden: Pileated woodpecker

While snowshoeing on the New Sweden Trails, I heard, then saw, a Pileated woodpecker pounding on a tree quite near the ground, but above the snowline.

https://www.facebook.com/NewSwedenTrails

[Maine-birds] Paved paradise- put up a parking lot; snow buntings

The power-line tower construction on Browns Point Road (Bowdoinham) is in full swing. Remains to be seen the impact on bird habitat there.

Today, a flock of snow buntings was picking up grit on the road (now maintained for heavy trucks) then flying to the far corner of "Small Wonders" field, a spot that attracted many sparrows this fall. No other species seen in the flock.

[Maine-birds] Snow Buntings - Monhegan

There has been a large group of Snow Buntings here for almost a week. They finally made it up to my yard (and roof).

[Maine-birds] No White-wing Dove

Drive and short walks at the Pool-no WWDO. Pat

Sent from my iPhone

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[Maine-birds] Red-bellied wp

Had the first Red-bellied woodpecker at the feeders this morning in my Hollis yard.

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Re: [Maine-birds] Bohemian Waxwing

Even better!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Tue, Dec 31, 2013 at 1:11 PM, Smith, Michael <Michael.Smith@maine.gov> wrote:

And a flock of about 50 near the Viles Arboretum yesterday.

Michael Smith
Maine Office of GIS
On my spiffy Blackberry Z10 mobile
And no I wasn't driving!

From: rob speirs

Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 11:20 AM

To: Maine birds

Subject: [Maine-birds] Bohemian Waxwing

A single bird in fruit trees in front of 37 Orcutt Blvd, Biddeford Pool. Rob...Cumberland

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Re: [Maine-birds] Bohemian Waxwing

And a flock of about 50 near the Viles Arboretum yesterday.

Michael Smith
Maine Office of GIS
On my spiffy Blackberry Z10 mobile
And no I wasn't driving!

From: rob speirs

Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 11:20 AM

To: Maine birds

Subject: [Maine-birds] Bohemian Waxwing

A single bird in fruit trees in front of 37 Orcutt Blvd, Biddeford Pool. Rob...Cumberland

[Maine-birds] Bohemian Waxwing

A single bird in fruit trees in front of 37 Orcutt Blvd, Biddeford Pool. Rob...Cumberland

Re: [Maine-birds] New Sweden yard birds: Snow buntings

In Whitefield- Our first ever Snow Buntings (also four) are feeding on our platform feeder and resting on the snow-covered woodpile. They are joined by four American Tree Sparrows, three Cardinals (2 lovely, competitive females, 1 glowing male), and a muckle load of Black-capped Chickadees, a magnitude of Mourning Doves, a cacophony of Blue Jays, a sprinkling of Tufted Titmice, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, both Common and Red-breasted Nuthatches, and meandering American Goldfinches.

Holly & Stephen Torsey

On Tuesday, December 31, 2013 8:59 AM, Nancy Hudak <nehudak@gmail.com> wrote:

It's possible to tell how snowy it is by how close the buntings get to the house (usually in the driveway). The four this morning are early for the season.
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[Maine-birds] Dicksissel - Winter St Ext, Saco

Continuing...Missed on side trip, on way back from Boston yesterday, but found this AM. Check schrubby bush ouy back on right side of house as well as feeders. Rob ...Cumberland

[Maine-birds] New Sweden yard birds: Snow buntings

It's possible to tell how snowy it is by how close the buntings get to the house (usually in the driveway). The four this morning are early for the season.

Monday, 30 December 2013

[Maine-birds] Flicker in Union

12/30/13 Flicker in Union feeding on staghorn sumac berries.

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[Maine-birds] South Portland Gulls

There were a pair of second-cycle glaucous gulls in the flock behind the Mill Creek Hannaford this afternoon, as well as a nice third-cycle Iceland gull. Nice to have the white-winged gulls mixed together for close comparison...

Cheers,

Matt

[Maine-birds] RFI White-winged Dove

Hi all -- I would appreciate any specifics, off-list, on the location of the White-winged Dove in Biddeford; might try for it tomorrow. Thanks in advance.

Craig

[Maine-birds] Snowy at Strawberry Island

Yesterday morning Ken Janes and I were treated to a beautiful Snowy that sat there and let us get some great photos.

A lot of people up and down the Maine coast are enjoying the abundance of Snowy Owls. We are all so lucky. I hope they all

get enough to eat and stay around for the winter. You can see the owl on my flickr site.

Cheers...... Ken

ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ken_dibiccari-nature_images/11196404535/

[Maine-birds] Popham Beach - Dec 30

1 RB Merganser

8 Buffleheads

48 Black Ducks gathered on open beach at mouth of Morse R.

1 Snowy Owl - perched on ridge-line of Three Herons Island (No. 2). The numbers of Snowy Owls at Popham seem to have stabilized at one (1)

1 Ipswich Sparrow - in tiny patch of Spartina; Most of the dune grass is crusted over

Few gulls - 5 GBB, 18 Herring

No Short-eared Owls on the marsh, but a falconer flying his Peregrine may have affected the species distribution here this morning.

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

A circuit of the island turned up two SNOWY OWLS so apparently yesterday's arrival chose to stay at least long enough to check the location.
The "resident' owl continues to occupy its favorite ground perchs.

TODAY'S ARRIVALS: ROBINS have doubled to at least 6 and 2 TREE SPARROWS appeared about mid-morning.

Quite a lot of ALCIDS moving westward throughout the day. Nowhere near a "big" day which can produce >20,000 birds, but still notable.

[Maine-birds] Rusty Blackbird, etc.

Hi All,

Continuing Rusty Blackbird (f) at feeders in addition to regulars which inc. 1 white House sparrow, Tree Sparrows, 50-100 Goldfinch, ducks etc.

Rusty mostly at feeders at side of house but sometimes in back which can only be seen from inside house. If we're home you're welcome to come in. Also tail-less Carolina Wren on occasion.

Peggy Blair

65 Pleasant St

Clinton

426-8986

[Maine-birds] Caribou and Presque Isle: Snowy owls

2 Snowy owls in one day! First on the Rt. 161 bypass (on the lights near the Rt. 1 intersection) and the second on the PT Farms barn on Rt. 1 in Presque Isle. Note the lovely v-neck on the one sitting on the barn.

[Maine-birds] Blue birds

We have a few pair of healthy, happy Blue Birds feeding at our suet feeders here in Hollis this morning.

The Designers Chair

9 Swanton Drive

Hollis Ctr., Maine 04042

hair2@securespeed.us

[Maine-birds] Golden Eagle

Here is an update on the Golden Eagle from Avian Haven's facebook page.

Late yesterday afternoon, we admitted a Golden Eagle that had been rescued from a woods trail on Ovens Mouth Preserve in Boothbay. The bird has an elevated blood lead level and, presumably as a consequence of lead ingestion, is emaciated and severely anemic. The good news is that our x-ray reveals no metal fragments remaining in the GI tract. Our focus now is on supportive care; the bird did live the night – also good news!

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[Maine-birds] Bremen shrike

Not a great way to start the day by seeing under the outside still-lit Christmas tree a Northern Shrike pulling apart a little songbird - probably a goldfinch!!! On the other hand, it's the first shrike of the season for me. It was around 7 a.m.

Juanita Roushdy
Bremen, ME

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[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

No new species seen since Saturday but yesterday's spring-like weather(+6C & light wind) brought at least 1 additional SNOWY OWL.
That brings our total since December 12th up to 9 confirmed, with 3 more possible.
One owl has managed to find enough food to keep it here for at least 10 days. I saw it feeding on a Harlequin and a bolus which I inspected showed that the owl had eaten at least 1 song bird. They certainly are more of a generalist than their stereotype.

The temperature has dipped to -3C this morning, creating a very light, ice sheen on parts of the boardwalks ...... just enough to catch one unawares. Nonetheless, with the ground here completely bare, a bit of icy walking is precious little hardship compared to the rest of the region.

HARLEQUIN DUCKS are holding at moderately high numbers and, on occassion, hitting new peaks. At one point on the 28th there were 68 in a single flock with at least 40 more scattered in small groups. That's the first time that I've actually counted over 100.

SNOW BUNTINGS seemed to drop but closer checking found the misssing birds scattered and foraging about the island.

A third FOX SPARROW has appeared

A 1st year EAGLE patroled the island much of Sunday, scavaging or killing a juvenile HERRING GULL. Because of the feeding location, I suspect it was a scavanged carcass.

[Maine-birds] Some Highlights from the "Bean Count"-Sunday, 12/29/13

The "Bean Count" - southwestern half of the Freeport-Brunswick CBC

From Gordon Smith in the Maquoit Bay Section:

2 Barred Owls

1 Great Horned Owl

1 Northern Saw-whet Owl

1 Bohemian with Cedar Waxwing flock foraging on crabapples in Parkview Hospital parking lot.

.....plus 848 American Crow

From Jay Adams and Chuck Barnes in the South Freeport Section:

5 Barrow's Goldeneyes

30 Dunlin

9 Ruddy Turnstone

8 Purple Sandpiper

From Beverly Johnson and Rob Lambert on Chebeague

1 Snowy Owl

1 Hermit Thrush

From Marie Jordan & Crew in the Cousin's Island Section

1 Great Blue Heron on the Royal River in Yarmouth

From Doug Hitchcox in the "Downtown Brunswick" Section

1 Northern Pintail hanging out with Mallards

From Becky Marvil and Nancy Houlihan in the Wolfe's Neck Section

3 Hermit Thrush

.....And from George Sergeant on Bailey and Orr's Island (northeastern half of the circle)

A Peregrine Falcon and Snowy Owl in the same binocular view off Lands End on Bailey's Island

2 Northern Flickers

Sunday, 29 December 2013

[Maine-birds] Bangor: Glaucous Gull

I forgot to report that on the late afternoon of the 27th a first winter Glaucous Gull flew over Saxl Park, wingtip-to-wingtip with Herring Gulls that were moving in low formation-type flocks from the north toward the river. There were well over 100 gulls and at least as many ducks (I only saw Mallards and Black Ducks) in their own flocks flying the same way, at about the same time.

Sean Smith

RE: [Maine-birds] Snowy video

Wicked good, Donna! Amazing how the owl’s head really can 360 the world.

Glenn Jenks

Camden

From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com [mailto:maine-birds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Donna Cundy
Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2013 4:36 PM
To: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Maine-birds] Snowy video

I have been hearing this owl screech off and on for several days, finally captured it on tape in the front yard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blEt8Bh0wVA

[Maine-birds] Golden Eagle

A Golden Eagle was rescued today, at Oven's Mouth Preserve in Boothbay. I understand the bird was taken to Avian Haven and may be suffering from a lead related issue. This is all I know at this point. Anyone with more information?

Lorri

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[Maine-birds] This Week's Highlights, 12/21-24

Hi all,

I apparently forgot to send this before we headed out of town for the holidays. I apologize to Freeport-Brunswick CBC teams that may of found some value in these local reports.

Just a handful of sightings of note from the past four days:

- 6 Greater Scaup, Madeleine Point, Cousin's Island, Yarmouth, 12/21 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

- 1 Northern Flicker, Cousin's Island, 12/21 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

- 9 Iceland Gulls (seven first-winter, 1 1st/2nd, 1 2nd/3rd) and 3 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls, Old Port, Portland, 12/23.

- 3 drake Barrow's Goldeneyes are now present in the Lower Harraseeket River in South Freeport, usually in view between Winslow Park and the Freeport Town Wharf.

- the merganser "hat trick" continues from Grist Mill Park in Yarmouth.

Happy Holidays,

-Derek

*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04069
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

****************************************

[Maine-birds] Snowy video

I have been hearing this owl screech off and on for several days, finally captured it on tape in the front yard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blEt8Bh0wVA

[Maine-birds] Re: Birds for healing

My dad passed away 9 days ago. My close friends and me and my mom went birding this morning. Saw a rough legged hawk, and a shrike at Weskeag. Also 40 or so snow buntings in field across between Weskeag farm and Apostolic church in field. Owls head had Glaucous gulls and Iceland gulls, Herring gulls, and black backed gulls, guillemot, and long tailed duck.

[Maine-birds] Golden Eagle

Present at the landfill in Bath was the Golden Eagle from 1-2pm. Also seen were, 1 Glaucous Gull and 3 Horned Larks. Thanks to Doug. I didn't get a last name but he helped me ID the golden.

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[Maine-birds] Aroostook County Snowy Owls

I saw two snowy owls in Presque Isle on Friday.....the first was on a utility pole directly in front of Theriault Equipment on Rt 1 just north of downtown. The second was 2 miles further north, working the fields around a lone barn that had the words PT Farms painted on the side. On my way south later in the day I saw a snowy (presumably the same one) sitting on top of that barn.

Jim McCree

[Maine-birds] GOEA

I saw the Golden Eagle from yellow gate at Bath landfill from 10:45 to 11:30 today.

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[Maine-birds] 8 snows at Biddeford Pool

Six of us birded the pool for the CBC, 8, possibly 9, Snowies, 30+ Razorbills off Eastern Point, no W-w Dove. York County.

Fun day.

Best, Peter

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[Maine-birds] Flicker in Readfield

There was a flicker at 12 Church Street in Readfield. Beautiful bird.

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[Maine-birds] Snowy - Mere Creek, Brunswick

My friend spotted a snowy owl at the Mere Creek Golf Course in Brunswick on 12/26. It was getting hassled by a couple of red-tailed hawks.

We searched the place for 2 hours yesterday but didn't come up with another sighting, fun cross-country skiing there however.

Jess

[Maine-birds] Brooksville, Red Tailed Hawk

Watched a RTHA observing our fields for about 1/2 hour. Have never seen one here in winter.

Shot on my iPhone 5s thru Swarovski slope @ 60 power

[Maine-birds] Bath Landfill Golden Eagle - Sunday Morning

The continuing Golden Eagle was photographed (from the yellow gate) by a couple from CT this morning (8:15). Thus the last four sightings have been when the landfill was closed. Just sayin'. Ten minutes later, the pile was occupied by crows and starlings, w/ a few imm Bald Eagles. Essentially no gulls. A search of the Kennebec also turned up no gulls. I did not find their roost this morning.

At dawn on the marshes around Popham Beach, the only birds were many Black Ducks and a few crows. No owls of any stripe.

Saturday, 28 December 2013

[Maine-birds] Biddeford/Kennebunkport CBC prelimianary report

Greetings,

We had a great day in the field for our 54^th B/K CBC.

One highlight was the 17, maybe 18 Snowy Owls that were located (need to check on possible double count of one owl) - topping the old record of 6. We had several other high species counts and a record 90 species totaled already ( without including any feeder watch data). Detailed data coming in a few days - time to get some sleep before tomorrow’s Freeport/Brunswick count!

Here are a few of the birds we missed today that someone might find within the circle during the next three days of Count Week. Please let me know if you do find any of these birds or any other unusual bird that we may have missed today: Great Blue Heron, Bonaparte’s Gull, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Grackle, and Northern finches.

Enjoy a great 2014 birding year!

Marie

Link to count circle map: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201234176612499279491.00047b6f7b0dd5416ee1f&msa=0

[Maine-birds] American Kestrel / Barrow's / Snowy Owl (with prey)

Good Evening,

Yesterday I had an errand to run in Portland so I had my lunch break near the airport. Didn't see any Snowies at first, but did have several Red Tailed Hawks and a male American Kestrel. (Photo on the Maine Bird List Flickr page)

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mainebirdlist/

On my way to the Turnpike I observed a Snowy Owl in the snow towards the back of the runway / taxiway.

This morning I stopped by my office and observed an adult Drake Barrow's Goldeneye, several COGO and what I believe is an immature Drake BAGO. This is off of Water Street near Elm Street. (Please do not park in the lot at 35 or 40 Water Street as the Management has been towing vehicles without permit parking)

Photos are on the Maine Bird List Flickr Page.

I went to Biddeford Pool and observed a Snowy Owl with a Black Duck in the pool. I trudged my way into the muck slowly minding the bird for signs that I was getting to close. Oddly enough he flew towards me with his prey several times when Gulls were present. Did he think Gulls would be dettered by human presence?

I sat (literally) in the mud for about 1 hour watching the Snowy and taking a lot of photos of it eating and sometimes dragging the Black Duck.

Several photos on my flickr and the Maine Bird List Flickr page. I'll be adding more photos and videos on my facebook page (link in my signature). You do not have to be a member of Facebook to view any of the content on that page.

Cheers,
Chuck

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[Maine-birds] Fem. Rusty Blackbird?

not a cooperative photo subject. this bird has been showing up off and on for a few weeks. Am I guessing right on this bird? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ztUlWKA5A&feature=share&list=PLo9OByNOTC1H7Ooe_VBfJjLvfMJKpSQVm&index=4

[Maine-birds] Short-eared Owl +++ at Goose Rocks Beach (Kennebunkport)

Had a spectacular end to our CBC day. At about 3:30 at the south end of
Kings Highway in Goose Rocks, with a Snowy Owl perched on a chimney, a
Cooper's Hawk zipped overhead, a Razorbill flew N over the water, a
Short-eared Owl appeared over the marsh and spooked into the open 15
Horned Larks. No, I'm not making this up.

The Short-eared Owl flew back and forth over the marsh for 10-20 minutes.

Early in day, we also had a Swamp Sparrow a little further up Kings Highway.

Not a bad CBC! Bill Grabin, with Monica Grabin and Shiloh Schulte

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[Maine-birds] Dickcissel - Saco

Today during the Biddeford CBC, our group had a Dickcissel on Winter St Exd in Saco. It was feeding on the ground under a bird feeder, with a flock of house sparrows. Pictures and location are in the eBird report http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16103289.

Becky Marvil

Yarmouth

[Maine-birds] Winslow Park, South Freeport Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, Purple Sandpiper

Hello All,

With the Freeport Wild Bird Supply bird walk this morning:

30 Dunlin viewed SW of the boat launch at several hundred yards. One observed yesterday on beach and photographed.

16 Purple Sandpipers and 12 Ruddy Turnstones viewed at the end of the park road at the mouth of the Harraseeket Harbor roosting and feeding on ledges as tide recedes.

Very few sea ducks and no grebes as several hunting parties were working the bat.

Dan Nickerson

Freeport

[Maine-birds] Camden Bufflehead

These guys always cheer me up on an otherwise,

somewhat dreary day.

https://davidsmallphotography.shutterfly.com/51

Cheers,

Dave

[Maine-birds] Snowy owl., Barrows, No Pintail

Currently a snowy owl on spit off point at far end of Kettle Cove beach. Also, earlier, a Northern Pintail at Bay Harbor Car Wash, south Portland and a continuing Drake Barrows Goldeneye across street. Rob Comberland

[Maine-birds] Bath

Saw the Golden Eagle Saturday at about 1030 from the gate at the Bath landfill. Got two pretty good looks at it. At least four juvenile baldies, all seen at the same time. Could be more there. Two Iceland gulls, and a pile o’ ravens, crows and starlings and other gulls too.

Also tried the two boat launches on the river in Bath. Found a near adult bald eagle riding a floe at the north launch. And there was a Northern Shrike at the south launch along with a smattering of typical waterfowl.

Dave Tucker, Kittery Point

[Maine-birds] X-mas day dump GOEA and SNBU at Popham

Hi All,

Just getting to posting now, but on Christmas day we had no snowy owls on a quick Fort Popham loop (though search effort was very limited). We did see a flock of 30+ snow buntings across the road from the main gate to Popham Beach. We swung by the Bath dump in the afternoon and the GOEA was sitting in plain sight on the trash mountain visible from the gate. Watched for about 10 minutes until it flew away to the north. At least 8 other bald eagles around, one young baldy was very ragged, missing many feathers (tail, body, and head) and was being beaten up by the other birds. Tough life being a dump eagle.

Hope everyone had a peaceful holiday, here's to a birdy 2014!

Lauren

Lauren Gilpatrick, AWB
President Elect, Maine Chapter of The Wildlife Society
www.burlybird.com - getcha' bird stickahs'

[Maine-birds] MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT

Our temperature took a brief nose dive but surfaced above the freezing mark again yesterday long enough to melt the small amount of icy sheen that accumulated during the weather change. We saw -3C overnight but we're back up to +4C today.
It's always interesting to note the temperature differences between here, Grand Manan and the Mainland.
At one point yesterday we were 13 degrees C warmer that Grand Manan Airport, 19 degrees C warmer than Saint Stephen Airport and 16 degrees C warmer than Point Lepreau.

As I predicted Thursday, we picked up new species taking advantage of our bare ground.
1 HORNED LARK and 2 FOX SPARROWS arrived Yesterday, as well as 5 more ROBINS and another STARLING.
SNOW BUNTINGS are now over 150 and they've developed a taste for white millet. Fun to have that many feeding just outside the livingroom window and they are getting more tolerent of human movement outside.

The Boxing Day Rough Legged Hawk did stay over night and offered some good viewing as it ground-perched a short distance from the house.

"Our" SNOWY OWL continues, apparently content with the victuals that the island offers.

[Maine-birds] Bath Landfill - Fri evening

Stood a watch at the landfill at dusk (right up until they started to close the gate) and hid out under the tall trees where Bald Eagles usually roost. The cat stopped work with about 25 min to go, so the pile was left to gulls and eagles alone.

No Golden Eagle present. But watched an adult Bald Eagle give chase to a Herring Gull, at high altitude and at high speed. Went on for a few minutes, generally in a circle, then out toward the Kennebec. Eagle got close, but no contact. Have no idea why this one particular gull was singled out.

The Golden Eagle may be diversifying (if still around). One of us should scope from the gate at dawn (before any activity on the pile). Also pay more attention to the Kennebec ice floes.

Friday, 27 December 2013

[Maine-birds] Maine Bird Locations - List County

A suggestion for the list. Please list the County where you are
reporting in the subject line. This works for several of the list
serves that I subscribe to & is a great help to birders

Rett
Bethlehem, PA
Visitor to daughter in Maine

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Re: [Maine-birds] Christmas Carolina Wren - North Haven

A friend has a Carolina Wren at her feeder in Springvale (York Cty.,NE of Sanford). A first for her also. Hope they live through the next even colder spell.

Barbara

~~~

Barbara Partridge Herrgesell
Sanford, ME

herpartb@aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Sprague <tigngump@midcoast.com>
To: Maine-birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Dec 27, 2013 6:54 pm
Subject: [Maine-birds] Christmas Carolina Wren - North Haven

A first for me at my feeders! Some shots through the livingroom window here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/native_islander/sets/72157639096534104/with/11593499334/

[Maine-birds] Christmas Carolina Wren - North Haven

A first for me at my feeders! Some shots through the livingroom window here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/native_islander/sets/72157639096534104/with/11593499334/

[Maine-birds] No Golden Eagle at Bath Landfill

Many Bald Eagles, two Glaucous Gulls (1 first winter, 1 second winter), and 5 Iceland Gulls. A small band of Horned Larks and many more Herring, Ring-billed and Black-backs than I cared to count...but I bet Becky M. and Luke did.

Brunswick Landfill was very quiet. No white winged gulls and < 50 gulls altogether.

Stella

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[Maine-birds] PIGR Gardiner

Heard Pine Grosbeaks while shoveling snow today

Michael Smith
Maine Office of GIS
On my spiffy Blackberry Z10 mobile
And no I wasn't driving!

[Maine-birds] Unity Rusty Blackbirds

Despite snow, ice and cold, the Rusty Blackbird flock in Unity continues. Today there were 8 while on Christmas Eve, there were 14 in the field with the standing corn on Quaker Hill Rd. Good numbers of tree sparrows and a Song Sparrow also remain. I have found these birds difficult to miss as they are usually in the hedgerow along the road or next to the green house.

Good birding,

tom

[Maine-birds] Snowy, No Pintail, Barrows

At approx 9:30 this AM there was a Northern Pintail drake at Bay Harbor Car Wash in South Portland and a drake Barrows Goldeneye across the street seen from Greenbelt Trail.

Later we found a Snowy Owl on rocky spit off the point at far end of small Kettle Cove Beach. rob cumberland

Re: [Maine-birds] Locations

Agreed. For example, there are at least two Sandy Points in Maine that I can bring to mind.

On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 9:24 PM, B G <bootsg@gmail.com> wrote:

Woot! Woot! Hear, hear! Huzzah!

But where the gd hell is Nobleboro!? ;-)

Boots.
Franklin, ME

On Friday, December 20, 2013, Bruce Bartrug wrote:

Please forgive my annoyance at directions like: "WOW, a small green pteradactyl with a brownish tail just across from Joe's Place !!" I'm so glad for you, but where the gd hell is Joe's Place?

Sorry. Maybe we could start with "Seapoint" near Crescent Beach. Not on google and I don't feel like getting my map in the car.

At the very least could we use DeLorme pages and reference points. As in: Joe's place is on Rte one a mile or two past the intersection of Rte one and Somewhere road, Delorme map 6, A4. Or at least SOME reference point, for those who don't live near Joe's Place.

Thank you,
BAB

--
Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine, USA
bbartrug@gmail.com
www.brucebartrug.com

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Re: [Maine-birds] Sharp-shin or Cooper's

And while we're on the subject, I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago, about a hawk in Bangor, and forgot to say Thanks for all the answers I got. A belated, red-faced Thank You to all who responded. Mine appears to have been a likely Cooper's, on the description of size and behavior. When school starts again, I'm hoping to get another look.

On Sat, Dec 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM, Louis Bevier <lrbevier@colby.edu> wrote:

Kit,

Even experienced birders struggle with the identification; so this is a great question. The identification problem is not restricted to these two species either. I've seen other hawks mistaken for these two species fairly often. Goshawk, Red-shouldered, and even Red-tailed have been confused by birders. We all need to admit when we don't know, and leaving a bird unidentified is okay (e.g. Accipiter sp. or Copper's/Sharp-shinned), especially if one is entering data for a Christmas Bird Count or eBird, for example.

I'll assume you saw either a Cooper's or Sharp-shinned and get on with some ways to tackle the identification. In short, you are on the right track: one needs to look at size (and shape) and markings (including coloration). A difficulty learning these outside of field guides is having good reference material and gaining experience in the field with known, correctly identified birds. Photos on the internet are frequently misidentified, and this makes trustworthy comparative material difficult to find. Try to study single birds that allow extended looks, like the one that caught a dove at your feeder. Learn to thoroughly describe characters so that you "see" them more readily on the next encounter. Don't worry too much about ID at first. Keep the detailed notes or photos and try to ID later (learning in the process).

Expectations are something to keep in mind. In the past, Cooper's Hawk numbers were much reduced and Sharp-shinned was the more expected species. That seems reversed now, with Cooper's twice as common in fields, wood edge, and the like (numbers that pass over hawkwatch sites are a different matter; let's keep this is about general encounters in winter). Complicating that is a change in Sharp-shinned status, it seems to be increasing as a wintering bird, mainly being seen at backyard feeders where they prey on birds. In general, I think Cooper's are under-reported and Sharp-shinned are over-reported, but it depends. Try to ask yourself why a bird under study is NOT a Cooper's, instead of approaching the identification from what you see that "makes it" a Sharpie. (Using this methodology of attempting to "reject" a tentative ID is good to practice.)

For a simple start, these websites may be helpful. They include a lot of shape and size differences that take some practice. The photos are probably reasonably useful for birds seen at feeding stations.

http://static.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/sharp-shinned_hawk/id

A few tips.

Juveniles (aka immatures) UNDERPART markings

SHARP-SHINNED: look for reddish tinted streaks that are fairly thick and spread across the underparts; the shape of these reddish streaks turn into spade-shaped markings down the flanks and belly.

COOPER'S: Relatively thinner and sparser blackish streaks that are shaped like elongated teardrops; these are concentrated across the breast and sparse to absent down the mid-abdomen. These markings can be brownish (not usually or ever as reddish as juv. sharpie though) and may be more spade-shaped at the extreme sides.

Adults (gray or blue-gray above; reddish barred below; red or deep orange eyes)
SHARP-SHINNED: small and rounded head with dark of crown continuous down back of neck and with back; pencils for legs
COOPER'S: paler nape accentuates hackled appearance (crown looks tipped up with squared off back of head); older males can be grayish in the cheeks, something not shown by Sharp-shinned.

Tail shape (both ages)
A key difference largely overlooked is the GRADUATED tail shape of Cooper's. On a perched bird, try to see the tail from the ventral (belly) side. Look at where the tips of the tail feathers lie. On a Cooper's, the outer tail feathers are much shorter and don't reach the tip of the innermost tail feathers (this is well shown in some of the photos at the above links). Sharp-shinned has all the tail feathers more or less even in length. This difference contributes to the oft mentioned "rounded" versus "squared" tail tip of Cooper's versus Sharp-shinned. Male Sharpies have even more square-shaped tips to their outer tail feathers, and this enhances the difference. Female Sharpies have more rounded outer tail feather tips, and this makes them, along with their larger body size, look more Cooper's-like. Small male Cooper's are probably most frequently called Sharp-shinned (but I've seen even experienced observers misidentify large female Cooper's as Sharp-shinned). This is probably the most frequent problem. In flight, even a small male Cooper's shows a largish head sticking out beyond the leading edge of the wings. Look for the tail shape too. Cooper's tend to show a broader pale tip to the tail, but this might be a relative character hard to judge when starting out (and it does wear away by spring).

I hope this helps you and others who have asked this question. Remember, it's okay to leave a bird unidentified.

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

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Thursday, 26 December 2013

[Maine-birds] Farmington CBC rescheduled for January 4th

The Farmington Christmas Bird Count, originally scheduled for December 21st, has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 4th. All are welcome! If interested, just contact me at this email (best) or the number below, ideally by the middle of next week.

Trevor

********************************************************
Trevor Persons, Herpetology
USGS Southwest Biological Science Center
Colorado Plateau Research Station, Flagstaff, AZ

CURRENT ADDRESS:

Trevor Persons
206 Bigelow Hill Road
Norridgewock, Maine 04957
(207) 634-2280

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[Maine-birds] NO White-winged Dove, Biddeford, 12/26 Late PM

I was at the entrance to the Biddeford Sanctuary from 2 to 3:30 today in the driving snow, but had no luck on the White-winged Dove. I had 2 Mourning Doves hunkered down in a spruce close to the entrance, lots of typical feeder birds at the house next to the entrance, plus 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler. There was about 4 inches of new snow on the ground when I left; the snow-covered roads made for an interesting drive to and from the area.

On the drive out I saw a Snowy Owl perched atop a house not too far from Hattie's.

Mike Resch

www.statebirding.blogspot.com

Pepperell, MA