I was on the island January 13th through February 9th. We had delays for weather, 2 days going out and 1 day returning but in between we enjoyed 4 weeks that were fairly warm and mostly snowless, albeit windy many days.
I noticed EARTH WORMS right at the ground surface & under boards on several occasions.
I arrived too late for the CBC period but there has been nothing remarkable this winter.
3 SONG SPARROWS tried to over-winter on the island (They are the only species which ever does.)
I noticed EARTH WORMS right at the ground surface & under boards on several occasions.
I arrived too late for the CBC period but there has been nothing remarkable this winter.
3 SONG SPARROWS tried to over-winter on the island (They are the only species which ever does.)
At last check I could only locate 2 of them. That's not surprising since most years most or all don't survive to see Spring.
2 RAVENS are nearly daily visitors but don't stay full time.
On February 8th, 2 ROBINS were searching the lawns.
2 RAVENS are nearly daily visitors but don't stay full time.
On February 8th, 2 ROBINS were searching the lawns.
I think that they are our first Spring migrants, perhaps coming from wintering along the coastal areas just to our south.
Shore & seabirds are, as usual, the dominant species at MSI.
PURPLE SANPIPERS have exclusive claim to the shorebird category with a high count of 86 but most days I saw only 1/4 to 1/2 that number.
Shore & seabirds are, as usual, the dominant species at MSI.
PURPLE SANPIPERS have exclusive claim to the shorebird category with a high count of 86 but most days I saw only 1/4 to 1/2 that number.
That's on the low side of normal but much improved from the late Fall.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS are also a bit irregular with numbers ranging from a high of 93 to a more usual daily number of 20-30.
Like the Sandpipers, that's on the low side for recent years but still better that earlier times when 15-ish was the norm.
EAGLES continue as our sole raptor, with a handful of individuals being sighted on a frequent basis.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS are also a bit irregular with numbers ranging from a high of 93 to a more usual daily number of 20-30.
Like the Sandpipers, that's on the low side for recent years but still better that earlier times when 15-ish was the norm.
EAGLES continue as our sole raptor, with a handful of individuals being sighted on a frequent basis.
One, two or three Eagles will show up most days, occasionally leaving blowing feathers along the intertidal zone as evidence of their feeding.
A couple times I saw unsuccessful attacks on HERRING GULLS. Once, the intended victim was a NORTHERN FULMAR. (Don't know the outcome but Fulmars are a regular menu item).
And once, I could identify the eaten prey as a RAZORBILL (Also a regular on the menu).
Gulls have been variable, ranging from a few cruising around up to a few hundred sheltering on the shoreline, all according to weather and sea conditions. Winter gulls tend to be moving more or less constantly foraging for the less abundant food.
A couple times I saw unsuccessful attacks on HERRING GULLS. Once, the intended victim was a NORTHERN FULMAR. (Don't know the outcome but Fulmars are a regular menu item).
And once, I could identify the eaten prey as a RAZORBILL (Also a regular on the menu).
Gulls have been variable, ranging from a few cruising around up to a few hundred sheltering on the shoreline, all according to weather and sea conditions. Winter gulls tend to be moving more or less constantly foraging for the less abundant food.
I see them widely dispersed but abundant when we are flying over water. Areas with strong currents, varying depths and strong upwellings, like the Grand Manan Channel, are especially well populated.
The majority of the gulls around MSI are HERRING GULLS, with GREAT BLACK BACKED GULLS running a competitive second.
BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKES are common but numbers vary greatly with weather et cetera.
ICELAND GULLS are pretty much daily but rarely more than 2 or 3 at any one moment.
RING BILLED GULLS are a rarity, even in the summer.
Other than Harlequins, our duck numbers are usually quite low, with most of the birds shifting and moving between locations, widely dispersed, always foraging.
The majority of the gulls around MSI are HERRING GULLS, with GREAT BLACK BACKED GULLS running a competitive second.
BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKES are common but numbers vary greatly with weather et cetera.
ICELAND GULLS are pretty much daily but rarely more than 2 or 3 at any one moment.
RING BILLED GULLS are a rarity, even in the summer.
Other than Harlequins, our duck numbers are usually quite low, with most of the birds shifting and moving between locations, widely dispersed, always foraging.
A few ducks are more constant and usually found near the island, including perhaps 30 COMMON EIDERS and a half dozen RED BREASTED MERGANSERS.
LONG TAILED DUCKS & SCOTERS are frequently seen passing the island. Now and then a few will set down nearby to try the fishing.
LONG TAILED DUCKS & SCOTERS are frequently seen passing the island. Now and then a few will set down nearby to try the fishing.
There is one stand-out rarity (for this location): COMMON MERGANSER. Completely out of their inland/coastal habitat, from time to time one or two will appear with the expected Red Breasted Mergansers. They seldom linger very long.
I saw one this winter and it was gone within an hour.
COMMON LOONS, GREAT CORMORANTS & DOUBLE CREASTED CORMORANTS are generally present but rarely more than a couple at any one time.
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
0 comments:
Post a Comment