[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Glaucous Gulls, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Cackling Goose, Pine Grosbeak

There's been a good assortment of uncommon birds reported in northern Maine this week.  

Most noteworthy are probably two Red-bellied Woodpeckers that are being seen in Mars Hill and Mapleton.  The birds are apparently regular at feeders at both locations.  Photos of the Mars Hill bird show its a male.

A big influx of "white-winged gulls" appeared this week.  Though single Iceland Gulls had been seen previously at Lake Josephine in Easton and Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield numbers of the birds are now being seen in central Aroostook County.  16 were counted at the Tri-community Landfill in Fort Fairfield on the 8th and 23 were seen at Collins Pond in Caribou later that same day.  These were high counts for these uncommon visitors.

Glaucous Gulls were also spotted a both locations on that date: https://www.flickr.com/photos/71911844@N04/15745003842/in/photostream/

Louis Landry photographed a (the?) Snowy Owl at Frenchville.  He also got a nice image of a male Pine Grosbeak, presumably nearby.  This was the first I've heard of this fall.

Canada Geese numbers seem to be holding steady despite the deep snow in places.  Very large flocks (thousands) were seen in Limestone, Caribou, St Agatha and Presque Isle this weekend.  A flock feeding in a barley field north of the Brewer Road in Presque Isle held a lingering Cackling Goose.  The short little bird had to wallow through the snow in search of food: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20494396.

Other birds of interest were a latest-ever American Kestrel in St Agatha on the 8th and Northern Shovelers at Lake Jo on the 5th.  A Horned Grebe was at Madawaska Lake on the 1st and 2 Red-necked Grebes were seen at Christina Reservoir on the 5th. 10 Buffleheads constituted a high count at Daigle Pond in New Canada.

Red-tailed Hawks, White-breasted Nuthatches and Evening Grosbeaks are being widely reported this week.

Good Birding.

Bill

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Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

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