Thursday, 5 October 2017

[Maine-birds] (Belated) Apparent CASSIN'S VIREO, Monhegan Island, 9/29-30 (and other weekend island notes).

Hi all,

I have neglected to post highlights from our store's Monhegan Fall Migration Weekend tour on 9/29-10/2. In part, because we are still trying to identify for certain the bird of the weekend! 

A bird observed and photographed on 9/29 and relocated by my group the next morning shows all of the characteristics consistent with CASSIN'S VIREO - a first for Maine. The "Solitary" Vireo complex is wrought with identification pitfalls, but short of a DNA test, it's hard to argue that this is just an exceptionally dull Blue-headed.  I've posted four of Bill Thompson's exquisite photos on our store's Flickr page, with cliff-notes versions of the identification discussion in the captions. The link goes to the first in the series of four photos. Click on the right arrow to continue. For those who are interested, more in-depth discussion on this bird can be found on the Advanced ID Facebook group page.

Other highlights from the weekend for just our group included:
- 1 continuing Orange-crowned Warbler, 9/29.
- 1 Pine Warbler, 9/29.
- 1 different Pine Warbler, 9/30.
- 1 Wood Thrush, 9/30 (my 208th species on the island!)
- 2-3 Dickcissels and 1 continuing juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, 10/1.
- 4+ Dickcissels, 1 Clay-colored Sparrow, and 1 female NORTHERN PINTAIL (perhaps fewer than 3 total island records), 10/2.

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