Paul and I came out to Monhegan yesterday morning, and while we missed Thursday's fallout, good numbers of birds continue on the island and good weather persists, adding up to a perfect couple of days so far.
In the past two days we've seen 21 warbler species, including a bright ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a bit unusual for spring, first found this morning by Jeremiah Trimble and Jeff Offermann. Other warbler highlights have been several singing Tennessee, several obliging Blackburnians in apple trees--is there anything more picturesque?--Canada, Wilson's, Nashville, many Blackpolls, Cape May, N. Waterthrush, Ovenbird, and Bay-breasted. We dipped on Mourning Warbler--at least 3 were seen this morning.
Today seemed to be Empid day, with lots of little flycatchers around, and many fortunately vocalizing. We had Yellow-bellied, Alder, Willow, and Least throughout the past two days, all over.
Other highlights for us:
Sooty Shearwater - 1 seen as our boat approaching the island yesterday
Great Blue Heron - a vocal flyby this morning
Green Heron - at the Ice Pond and in the Meadow
Sora - 1 or more birds continue to call loudly from the Meadow, day and night
Black-billed Cuckoo - I heard this morning, seen by others. At least 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo was also seen by several birders, but alas, not us.
Common Nighthawk - Derek Lovitch spotted 1 roosting on a tree branch near the Yew this morning, seen throughout the day
Chimney Swift - 2
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1, an island first for me, seen near Lobster Cove yesterday afternoon. (Thanks, Jeremiah and Jeff!)
Eastern Kingbird - not unusual, but always fun to watch them playing musical perches in the Meadow
White-eyed Vireo - from the various reports we heard this morning, I think there are several on the island, including one we heard this afternoon in the back of the Meadow
Philadelphia Vireo - we saw at least 2 individuals, maybe more
Red-eyed Vireo - great numbers, as can be typical this time of year; also a personal favorite, so I never get bored with them
House Wren
Swainson's Thrush - FOY, singing in Cathedral Woods
Brown Thrasher - several around and singing
Cedar Waxwing - a growing flock; common, I know, but my favorite bird of all, and is there anything more beautiful than a flock of waxwings in a blooming apple tree? (Other than the aforementioned Blackburnians, I mean.)
Orchard Oriole - 1 singing male yesterday
White-winged Crossbill - a small flock hanging out in the spruces near the Ice Pond. There is also a small number of RED CROSSBILLS here, which we haven't lucked on yet.
Pine Siskin - several small flocks all over.
Another miss for us has been DICKCISSEL, which several birders heard fly-over this morning.
I was also happy to twitch a new beer today: Mad Cow Milk Stout infused with bird-friendly coffee beans launched at the Monhegan Brewery this afternoon (as part of Freeport Wild Bird Supply's Birds on Tap weekend).
Happy holiday weekend!
--
Kristen Lindquist
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
--Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama
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