Monday, 28 August 2017

Re: [Maine-birds] Digest for maine-birds@googlegroups.com - 5 updates in 4 topics

> At 7:30 am on August 28, there were about 30 white rumped sandpipers at
> Pine Point, the highest number we've seen there. Later in the morning
> there were two Bairds sandpipers and two Oystercatchers at Hills Beach. Danny Danforth
> and Mark Rolerson

On Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 4:36 PM, <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Jeannette Lovitch <freeportwildbird@yahoo.com>: Aug 28 03:39PM -0400

Hello all,
 
The highlights of 10 species of shorebirds that Derek and I had this afternoon at Sanford Sewage Lagoons included 2 juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes (even less expected in such nice weather), along with 2 juvenile Stilt Sandpipers.
 
-Jeannette
 
Sent from my iPhone
RALPH ELDRIDGE <lightrae1@gmail.com>: Aug 28 06:42AM -0700

I returned to the island on Thursday, August 24th.
The significant number of Puffins remaining was apparent but I didn't get
much chance to roam around until Friday, the 25th.
Of particular note on Friday was the number of raptors, in particular
HARRIERS, of which I saw at least 20. Lots of interaction from them,
including:
one short-lived aerial scuffle involving 4 Harriers;
multiple attacks on prey;
two kills (1 sparrow & 1 Puffin);
several bathing & drinking episodes;
several instances of mistaken identity where clumps of dry, mowed grass
were attacked and tossed about by young Harriers.
 
Much less noticeable were a Sub-adult EAGLE and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON
which also spent part of the day on the island. Each made at least one kill.
 
Song birds were scarce, other than lots of SAVANNAH SPARROWS. No surprise
there, considering the raptor activity.
 
The Puffins seem to be getting decent food and, judging by the incoming
flights and birds on the water, there must be upwards of 100-150 active
nests.
 
Saturday proved to be unusually slow for birds with virtually no overnight
arrivals. The only Harrier that I saw all day was, I believe, a juvenile
hold-over from Friday.
 
Sunday was vastly different from Saturday.
The day began with PUFFLINGS moving in the wee hours. I took 7 to the water
and saw a couple others.
 
It would seem, from reports elsewhere and from what I saw, there was a
major migratory push through Saturday night.
 
Even more than usual we are over run by Sparrows: primarily SAVANNAH
SPARROWS but lots of SONG SPARROWS, too.
The bird of the day was a pristine adult LARK SPARROW that spent Sunday
around our patio .
There has also been a nice selection of regular warblers, several R.
THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, several NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, a couple BALTIMORE
ORIOLES, a single female RED WINGED BLACKBIRD and a nice little group of
CEDAR WAXWINGS displaying pretty much every age and plumage variation.
 
The Waxwings enjoyed about 3 pounds of grapes before a Baltimore Oriole
arrived and asserted its claim. Eventually the Waxwings forced a stalemate
and everyone worked to polish off another 2 pounds.
I put a single grape some distance away, with no other food around, and one
of the Orioles found it within 5 minutes.
 
There was a single Harrier around all of Sunday which I strongly suspect
has been here since Friday. It must be getting enough to eat but I haven't
seen it nab anything.
The only other raptors to finish the weekend were a MERLIN and an adult
EAGLE early in the morning.
 
I checked a couple LEACH'S STORM PETREL nests and found both chicks still
completely downy but quite large. Leach's Storm Petrels have 2 months of
growth and they typically reach 160%, and sometimes as much as 200%, of
adult mass (ca. 45 g). The storm-petrel chicks then begin refusing meals
and lose mass rapidly, fledging at an age of 60–70 days, when they weigh
about 55–60 g. The chicks that I checked are about 6 weeks old and 3-4
weeks from fledging.
 
There have been a few MONARCH BUTTERFLIES moving through each day but as
observed at Greenlaw Mountain, Sunday produced a large flight. During a
circuit of the island I observed close to a hundred nectaring on PURPLE
ASTER.
PAINTED LADY & AMERICAN LADY Butterflies are also present in numbers but
other species are rare. I've only seen to SULPHUR sp. and a couple RED
ADMIRALS.
 
Sunday ended with a single Puffling trying to climb the lighthouse and a
chorus from Leach's Storm Petrels.
 
This morning (Monday, the 28th) dawned sunny with just enough haze to
colour the sunrise and accent the very heavy dew.
Song birds are keeping low as a few raptors are making early forays. So far
I've seen 3 Northern Harriers, 2 Merlins, 1 Peregrine and 1 Eagle.
There's also been a RAVEN or two and although not proper raptors they are
distinctly predatory. One has just finished killing a Puffling and eating
it on the lawn.
The patio and lawns erupt just as soon as the raptors move off.
I see the Lark Sparrow is still here, as well as a MOURNING DOVE from
yesterday. New today is a FLICKER.
 
The first Monarch Butterflies were moving by the time the sun peeked above
the horizon.
 
Shorebirds continue in small numbers, mainly SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.
There are a number of (apparently) resident SPOTTED SANDPIPERS scattered
around the island and there are random visits by other species, like the
WINBREL that popped in yesterday.
 
Waterfowl is pretty uneventful.
There are lots of gulls, HERRING & GREAT BLACK BACKED; scattered
CORMORANTS, both DOUBLE CREASTED & GREAT; a few COMMON EIDERS, apparently
residents, with one late brood. The 4 ducklings are likely the same ones
that I watched make their first excursion to the water about 6 weeks ago.
They are still small enough to distinguish from their mother(?).
 
Marine mammals are normal. Scattered HARBOUR PORPOISE and a single MINKE
WHALE were seen west of us on Sunday.
HARBOUR & GRAY SEALS are always present.
"S. Davis" <kd7gxf@gmail.com>: Aug 28 05:55AM -0700

Howdy all-
 
I went out to Biddeford Pool beach again yesterday to try and redeem my
Western Sandpiper (after some conversation, I think it was deemed a juvie
Semi) and I think I may have gotten it this time. Pretty obvious rufous
scapulars, a fairly long bill and a noticeable bulging at the very tip.
 
Long story, short, I think the Western is still present for anyone
interested in trying to find it.
 
-Seth
 
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38865915
David Small <docfinsdave@gmail.com>: Aug 27 04:49PM -0400

This seen at Essex Woods in Bangor...I'm thinking a juvenile Nashville
warbler, but I'm almost always wrong when I try these things
myself....thank you.
 
 
 
http://photosbychance.zenfolio.com/p432832521/h944bf185#h944bf185
 
 
Cheers,
Dave
"S. Davis" <kd7gxf@gmail.com>: Aug 27 04:13PM -0700

I'm thinking it may be better for a female/first year male Common
Yellowthroat. I think even fall Nashville Warblers would have a bit more
yellow down the flanks, and a more complete eyering.
 
On Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 4:49:25 PM UTC-4, David Small wrote:
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Loring M. Danforth
Telephone: 207-786-6081
Fax: 207-786-8333
4 Andrews Rd.
Bates College
Lewiston, ME 04240

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