[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Chipping Sparrow, Snowy and Barred Owls

This is the time of year where I fill my feeders in the dark, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  I just have to wonder what is eating all the seed I'm putting out... until the weekend.  

Today, I found my grosbeak flock is still all Evenings and the American Goldfinch numbers have increased significantly.  Thanks to the deep snow and cold temps, there was no sign of the American Robin or juncos that were still here last weekend, but there was a notable new addition.  A winter plumaged Chipping Sparrow was feeding with the American Tree Sparrows on the seed table I've set in the yard.  This bird was the latest, by far, I have ever seen in northern Maine.  Most of these have departed Aroostook County by the second week of October.  Looking at the eBird range map for Chipper's, this appears to be the only one in Maine right now.  http://ebird.org/ebird/me/view/checklist/S32950204

To date, the only Snowy Owl I've heard reported in the area is one photographed by Nichol Soucy in Presque Isle last Saturday.  There have been numerous reports of Barred Owls hunting in the daylight lately.  Big numbers of Bohemian Waxwings, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks are being reported from Fort Kent to Hodgdon.  Reports of Northern Cardinals, (rare residents in this neck of the woods) always increase this time of year, but there seems to be more than usual this year. 

A lingering Red-winged Blackbird was reported in Perham today and a Brown-headed Cowbird visited a feeder on the Hardison Road in Caribou for a few days early this week.

The Caribou Christmas Bird Count is next Saturday and we have plenty of open territories!  Drop me a line if you want to join the search.

Good Birding

Bill

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

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