This morning's birdwalk at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth started out quiet and overcast. Things were slow around the building and pond except for a Nashville Warbler feeding in the apple trees. A high tide delivered some duck diversity around the West Meadow including our first Red-breasted Mergansers of the fall. By the time we made it to the North Meadow the sun was out and the sky predominately blue! A few other highlights from the walk included:
An unidentified hummingbird buzzed by when we entered the West Meadow. Unfortunately it was back-lit and made no noise. It may have been a late Ruby-throated Hummingbird and I have no reason to think it was something else, but it is the time of year to check them all. To illustrate their departure timing, here is a bar chart for RTHUs in Maine: http://tinyurl.com/knhzlhg Keep your feeders up and full!
The Eastern Bluebirds in the North Meadow definitely stole the show today. A flock of 16+ provided a great study as they flew around the meadow calling, and feeding on berries. Between the bluebirds and the mass of sparrows hanging around the feeders left out from the Big Sit, the North Meadow was a great place to spend the morning.
Here is a complete checklist from the walk: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15427143
FYI: Our first session of Saw-whet Owl banding had to be rescheduled until Monday the 21st and there is currently space available. The opportunity to see these tiny owls up close really should not be missed. More information is available at: http://maineaudubon.org/events/2013/saw-whet-owl-banding-1-2/
Good birding,
Doug Hitchcox
Staff Naturalist
Maine Audubon
207-781-2330 x237
dhitchcox@maineaudubon.org
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