[Maine-birds] Maine-NH tour for WINGS: 159 species and highlights, 6/20-27

 Hi all,

I just wrapped up my comprehensive, exhaustive, and yes, rather exhausting 10-day (8 full days of birding) tour for WINGS. Despite some challenges from weather and the "odd" breeding season, we managed 159 species, including just about all (as usual, there were a few misses) of the regular breeders: 20 species of warblers, 9 species of flycatcher, 7 species of thrush (Bicknell's Thrush only in NH), 5 species of tern, 5 species of vireo, 4 species of alcids, etc.

While most of the highlights were the expected but much sought-after breeding species, a few of the unexpected goodies included the following:

- 6 White-winged Scoters, Pine Point Beach, Scarborough, 6/20.

- 1 imm. male Purple Martin, Pine Point, 6/20 (exploring possible nesting/roosting locations, including trying to fight a House Sparrow for the line-marker ball over the parking lot).

- 2 Black-bellied Plovers, Pine Point, 6/20.

- LITTLE EGRET, Falmouth, 6/20.

- 1 Northern Gannet continuing on Machias Seal Island, 6/24.

- 1 pair Black Scoters, Quoddy Head State Park, Lubec, 6/25.

- Bar Harbor Whale/puffin watch trip, 6/26:

2 Manx Shearwaters

3 Leach's Storm-Petrels

12 Great Shearwaters

10 Northern Fulmars

350+ Wilson's Storm-Petrels

4 Northern Gannets

- 7 Great Cormorants, Acadia National Park, 6/26.

A great 10 days!

-Derek

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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

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