Maine's two northern-most Christmas Bird Counts were run this past week.
-- We managed to hit a couple days with decent weather for a welcomed change. A paucity of natural food made it slow going out in the fields and forest, but the feeders were hopping with activity. Most water was frozen and a foot + of snow covered the countryside. Temperatures were 20 and below for both counts.
Though we may still have a couple reports not yet submitted for both of the counts, we can report some of the highlights now:
The second run of the Caribou/Limestone CBC happened on Dec 29. Among the 30 species seen, the highlights were a Black-backed Woodpecker, Cooper's Hawk and Hoary Redpoll. High counts included 913 Common Redpolls, 68 Pine Grosbeaks, four Bald Eagles and a record 5100+ individual birds. Forty Common Mergansers were also noteworthy considering the limited amount of open water to be had. One miserable American Robin lingered in Caribou.
The Presque Isle Count was a chilly affair on New Years Day with temperatures in the teens and a stiff breeze which helped keep the black flies away. Twenty birders in field and another 16 at feeders tallied 35 species and 3700+ individual birds on the day. Four other species, Snowy Owl, Hoary Redpoll, Bohemian Waxwing and Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen in the count week thus far.
Highlights were certainly the count-first Brown Thrasher and Savannah Sparrow which were neatly photo-documented. Both birds were unprecedented records for northern Maine in winter.
Wild Turkey (2) finally moved from a count week bird and also became a new count species. Red Crossbills (4) were found for only the second time ever in the 50+ year history of the count. Also noteworthy was a new high counts of Bald Eagles (34) and Mourning Doves (176). Perhaps reflecting the amount of time the field counters spent observing feeding stations, the second highest-ever tallies were made for Downy Woodpecker (19), Northern Cardinal (6), Black-capped Chickadee (518) and Common Redpoll (598). New to the count just a few years ago, Coopers Hawk is becoming an annual find now in northern Maine. A Rough-legged Hawk was located for the third year in a row.
Anyone wishing to receive the full count summaries, can let me know and I'll be happy to send them along once they are final.
Thanks to all the Aroostook Birders and intrepid "southerners" that helped with the counts!
Good birding in the New Year!
Bill
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