Yesterday Brad and I visited Monhegan Island for the first time ever. What a glorious place it is, truly! I cannot wait to return again. Our day's birding was excellent, and we tallied a total of 51 species. Below were the highlights:
NORTHERN GANNET - 1 adult and 2 in their third year plumage, seen on the Hardy Boat ferry from New Harbor to Monhegan. Also three fly-by WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS.
The island itself was quite productive with migrant passerines. We got one fall immature male BALTIMORE ORIOLE right near the village, as well as decent warblers, most of which were right by the Ice Pond:
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8
Northern Parula - 5
American Redstart - 6
Blackpoll Warbler - 5
Black-throated Green Warbler - 6
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Also:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue-headed Vireo - 3
PHILADELPHIA VIREO - 1
Eastern Wood Pewee - 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 5
On our ferry trip back to the mainland, I was very surprised to spot a JAEGER perched on the water by the boat. The moment the boat approached, the bird took off in a fast flight directly away from the vessel, so it was difficult to see any distinguishing field marks. I can say for certain that the bird was an adult, for it was white below and dark chocolate brown above, with slightly pale bases to the primaries under the wing (so it's either a Pomarine or Parasitic). I looked closely at the tail and was disappointed I did not see any telltale central retrices projecting past the rest of the tail. If there were any slight "bumps" there, I did not notice them at a distance. I was surprised to see the jaeger so close to shore (our boat was no more than 4 miles away from the mainland at that point). Since Parasitics are known to be spotted from land far more often than Pomarines, I would hazard a conservative guess that that's what it was, but since I couldn't make a definitive ID, I am leaving it as "Jaeger sp." Any feedback on the topic would certainly be appreciated!
Finally, on our drive back to Biddeford we stopped in Wiscasset (couldn't resist getting a lobster roll at Red's Eats :), where we saw a NORTHERN HARRIER followed by the pleasant surprise of an adult winter FORSTER'S TERN that flew past us on the town pier at the end of Water Street. Suffice it to say, we were quite pleased with our day out and about!
Happy birding,
Lena Senko
Biddeford, ME
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