Thursday, 3 April 2014

Re: [Maine-birds] Digest for maine-birds@googlegroups.com - 25 updates in 22 topics

First phoebe seen yesterday. A northern harrier was scouring Manana and Smutty Nose. Lots of robins and song sparrows.


On Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 4:05 PM, <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds/topics

    Jan Pierson <jpierson@fieldguides.com> Apr 02 02:31PM -0400  

    John's good post about hearing Fish Crows on the Bowdoin campus this morning reminds me that I too wanted to mention their presence. We've been hearing them there since getting back to town on Saturday (Mar 29th) and Liz tells me she heard them there at least on Mar 24 before we left for a few days.
     
    A big wave of migrant birds in our yard all of a sudden this morning:
     
    60+ juncos
    4 Fox Sparrows (one singing)
    15+ Song Sparrows
    1 American Tree Sparrow
    10+ American Robins
     
    All new arrivals. And as of this past Sunday, Middle Bay in Brunswick is ice-free for, best I can recall, the first time since early December (the longest frozen-bay stretch we've had for many, many years). Spring's a-coming!
     
    Good birding all,
    Jan
     
    Jan Pierson
    Field Guides Birding Tours
    jpierson@fieldguides.com
    www.fieldguides.com
    www.facebook.com/fieldguides

     

    Mike Fahay <mfahay@gmail.com> Apr 02 03:34PM -0400  

    At the risk of piling on - I, too spent some time w/ two Fish Crows behind
    Hanneford's in Brunswick this afternoon. They were spending most of their
    time at the tippy-tops of two telephone poles, probing for something, and
    sometimes carrying off chunks of whitish material. They also had an
    interaction w/ an Am Crow, where their mid-air sizes could be compared. I
    played a tape, to which they responded with a long series of nasal calls,
    plus a few 'uh-oh' calls.
     
    Not only Middle Bay, but the upper reaches of Maquoit Bay are also ice-free
    (a first for me this spring), and today provided a bonanza of diversity and
    numbers of waterfowl. The marsh creek and its banks held a solo No.
    Shoveler, but larger numbers of Gadwalls, Am Wigeons (there HAD to be a
    Eurasian in there somewhere), Pintails, GWTeals, and of course C Geese,
    Mallards and Blacks. Also a few Grtr Yellowlegs. All these were vis from
    the Rossmore Overlook, and none from the landing. Out in open water here?
    a few buffleheads.
     
    Harpswell Neck was also worth the trip this morning.
     
     

     

    Denise Johnson Email <dpj113@maine.rr.com> Apr 02 02:49PM -0400  

    2:30-2:43pm 1 male, 2 female Hoodies
    Eiders - 6 pair
    RedGrebe- 1
    C Loons - nice pair, one female
    Bufflehead - 1 female/immature
    CGeese - 2 flyover
    Not one Mallard in this piece of river where hundreds stayed throughout the winter(close to river rd & beach st near bridge) high tide and turning.
    Sent from my iPhone

     

    Henry Donovan <henryldon@aol.com> Apr 02 02:32PM -0400  

    In the marsh on the land side of the creek across from Pelreco. Pine pt.
     
    Sent from my iPhone

     

    Denise Johnson Email <dpj113@maine.rr.com> Apr 02 01:53PM -0400  

    Off Rte 9 left onto Dyke Road about 200yds on right - Smith Brook; 12:45-1:30pm.
    Belted Kingfisher perched on TCarson sign
    GBHerons 5
    Hooded Mergansers 6
    RB Megansers 2
    C Geese 6 (*dozens further down both sides of road)
    Killdeer 1
    Amer Blacks 2 (*)
    Crows 5
    C Geese flyover - about 30-50?
    Have photos.
     
    Sent from my iPhone

     

    diana Davis <dedmaine@hotmail.com> Apr 02 01:08PM -0400  

    well finally red winged blackbirds and grackles have arrived here. and a nice bunch of geese flew over diana

     

    rob speirs <rspeirs1@gmail.com> Apr 02 01:05PM -0400  

    Currently 4 No Shovelers, at least one Am Wigeon and a dozen GW Teal
    viewable from end of Providence St, Falmouth. r speirs cumberland

     

    Raven Watcher <ravenwatcher@gmail.com> Apr 02 12:45PM -0400  

    Hello All,
     
    Eleven species of waterfowl plus one hybrid in Androscoggin County this
    morning.
     
    Most productive was Lincoln Street in Auburn which had a pair of Lesser
    Scaup and a couple of dozen each of Ring-necked Duck and Common Goldeneye.
    Hooded and Common Merganser were there as well as a single Wood Duck.
     
    A hen Northern Pintail was with the 100 plus Mallards at the Auburn River
    walk below the falls.
     
    Downtown Sabattus hosted a single drake Redhead above the dam opposite
    Phelan Road, near the American Legion along with Canada Geese and Hooded
    Mergansers. A search for Green-wingted Teal was fruitless though this can
    be a good spot for them.
     
    13 Killdeer on Upper Road in Turner. A single Eastern Phoebe off Meadow
    Road in Durham and a single Northern Shrike on North River Road.
     
    Spring birding is getting more interesting.
     
    Dan Nickerson
    Freeport ME
     
    Looks like the late date and still heavy ice is concentrating waterfowl in
    available habitat.

     

    Joe Shaw <shaw.bigred.joe@gmail.com> Apr 02 09:15AM -0700  

    Hello everyone !! Yesterday afternoon I was doing some birding down to
    Portland Headlight when I spotted a Snowy Owl sitting right on top of the
    Shipwreck sign painted on the rock. It was blind luck that I happened to
    see it ! It was around 5 p.m. when I saw it!! I got some really good views
    through the Binoculars ! What an experience !!

     

    John Berry <Berry.John@comcast.net> Apr 02 11:30AM -0400  

    At least two calling on the Bowdoin campus this morning
     
    Sent from my iPhone

     

    Paul Wells <pfwells51@gmail.com> Apr 02 11:30AM -0400  

    I'm enjoying the presence of at least nine Fox Sparrows in my yard in West
    Kennebunk this morning. A bit later than some years, but I've never had
    this many at one time before.
     
    FOY (or at least first I've noticed) Song Sparrows, too. Juncos still
    plentiful, Goldfinches turning, Robins a-plenty.
     
    --
    ================================================================
    Paul F. Wells
    West Kennebunk, ME
    USA
     
    "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
    --Albert
    Schweitzer

     

    Kristen Lindquist <kelindquist@gmail.com> Apr 02 11:24AM -0400  

    Seen on the river from my office window this morning:
     
    Common Merganser - 2
    Hooded Merganser - 3
    Bufflehead - 2
     
    Also, on the lawn:
     
    Am. Robin - 12
    Dark-eyed Junco - 3
    Song Sparrow - 1
     
    Kristen
    --
    Kristen Lindquist
    12 Mount Battie St.
    Camden, ME 04843
    www.klindquist.blogspot.com
     
    "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
    --Mary Oliver

     

    Marie Jordan <mijord@maine.rr.com> Apr 02 10:23AM -0400  

    The pair is still there - unusually "tame" for teal - must be taking their laid back attitude from the mallards as they only move to the center of the small pond when people get near the edge - not fly off!!! Easy photo subjects!
    Marie
    Sent from my iPhone

     

    ellenrc@myfairpoint.net Apr 02 09:41AM -0400  

    Today at Lower Dedham Road I have the first purple finch (male) in months!  I have too many goldfinches to count, but the males are beginning to sport their new colors.  One of them has already changed completely and is a golden standout in this freezing weather.  I have almost daily visits from a pair of cardinals and a pair of brown creepers.
     
    Ellen
     
     

     

    Bruce Cole <rx7fbbc@gmail.com> Apr 02 04:42AM -0700  

    At Rt 202 industrial park on utility pole as previously reported.

     

    Chris Bartlett <christophabartlett@gmail.com> Apr 02 04:28AM -0700  

    We had a first-of-the-year fox sparrow show up at our home feeders in
    Eastport this morning. The number of song sparrows in our yard has also
    increased from one to four birds this week.
    I saw five gadwall in Carryingplace Cove, Eastport yesterday from Drummond
    Road. There have been up to eight gadwall at this location within the past
    week.
     
    Cheers,
     
    Chris Bartlett

     

    Kit Pfeiffer <kit.pfeiffer.maine@gmail.com> Apr 02 03:56AM -0700  

    I too saw my FOY Great Blue flying over the Brunswick-Topsham bridge. No
    fooling!
     
    On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 10:26:01 PM UTC-4, Nancy wrote:

     

    Sean Rune <seanrune48@gmail.com> Apr 01 05:58PM -0700  

    This morning I went out to the ornamental gardens on the Univ. of Maine
    Orono campus, and photographed a very large flock of Bohemian waxwings in a
    tree. By examining the photo later I got a count of 278! I undershot the
    county by about 100 before using the photo. There were also about 5 Cedar
    Waxwings mixed in.
     
    <http://i60.tinypic.com/10ibg1y.jpg> <http://i61.tinypic.com/2s0eko8.jpg>

     

    Robin R Robinson <rrrobinson2010@hotmail.com> Apr 01 05:43PM -0500  

    Phippsburg, Maine Map 6 Totman Cove

    The Bald eagles have been very busy here lately, especially two juveniles. Today, I watched them kill a Herring gull in mid air, which dropped into the water here in Totman Cove. Then, they tried for about 15 mins to lift it. A couple of times they got it out of the water only to drop it. Then, an adult showed up and gave it a go, also unsuccessfully. I found it interesting that they were not fighting with each other, but each taking turns at the downed gull. Poor thing took a real beating. In the end, they all gave up and left. The youngsters each spent quite a lot of time in the water, so were probably exhausted by the effort.

    Robin R Robinson
    Reporting the Bald Beat in The Burg
    http://robinrobinsonmaine.com

     

    Don and Sherry Reimer <sherreal@hotmail.com> Apr 01 08:51PM  

    This early morning I retrieved a road-killed male fisher from the center line on RTE 1 near the Dragon Cement plant in Thomaston. The fisher remains are in excellent condition if anyone from IF&W has any interest in it. Through the years, this high speed stretch of highway has claimed at least one bobcat, numerous foxes and ground hogs, to name a few. I mention this sighting only because we get limited views of fishers, dead or alive. I recall one fisher in particular that lunched on a duck carcass at the far side of a woods lily pond.
     
    Don

     

    "Smith, Michael" <Michael.Smith@maine.gov> Apr 01 09:55PM  

    The Viles Arboretum will take it if that's OK
     
    Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.
    From: Don and Sherry Reimer
    Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 4:51 PM
    To: Doug Hitchcox
    Subject: [Maine-birds] a mammal, not a bird
     
     
    This early morning I retrieved a road-killed male fisher from the center line on RTE 1 near the Dragon Cement plant in Thomaston. The fisher remains are in excellent condition if anyone from IF&W has any interest in it. Through the years, this high speed stretch of highway has claimed at least one bobcat, numerous foxes and ground hogs, to name a few. I mention this sighting only because we get limited views of fishers, dead or alive. I recall one fisher in particular that lunched on a duck carcass at the far side of a woods lily pond.
     
    Don
     
    --
    Maine birds mailing list
    maine-birds@googlegroups.com
    http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
    https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
    ---
    You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
    To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com<mailto:maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>.
    For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

     

--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Posted by at

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)