[Maine-birds] Cuckoos--both flavors, Turner, Leeds, Livermore and other riverine species.

Hello All,

Both Yellow (2 calling and singing) and Black-billed (3) yesterday paddling the Androscoggin River north from Center Bridge in Turner.

Virginia Rail (Ibird "female call")  from edge of marshy backwater.

4 Black-billed Cuckoo singing today paddling north from Twin Bridges in Turner/Livermore.

Cuckoos seem undeterred by the heat of the day (or night for that matter).

Fledgling Common Loon, Canada Goose, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Mallard and Spotted Sandpiper.  Distraction displays by the last four. The latter is unbelievably cute while begging--breast to the ground tail and bill up.

Surprised to see loon chick on the river.  Someone suggested that people may be putting out floating nest platforms in some of the backwaters such as where I saw this one.

One of the few natural phoebe nest sites that I have seen was on the upturned root mass of a fallen tree on the river's edge.  A pair with four eggs left the nest area silently.

Lots of Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbird and Yellow Warlber.

Canoe/Kayak launches and parking at both sites.  Portable toilet only at Center Bridge.  At Center Bridge the river is like a lake.

At Twin Bridges there are some rips above the bridge which require some comfort with/knowledge of eddy turns etc.  I paddled upstream to the mouth of the Dead River (rips above there also) which connects the Androscoggin river to Androscoggin Lake and interestingly reverses direction from Spring to Summer, forming a rare reverse delta on Androscoggin Lake.

Interestingly no Green Heron seen or heard.

Dan Nickerson

Freeport

 

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